Sneering at War & One of Its Heroes
The Wall Street Journal notes the immolating rage that was directed at Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain over the weekend.
It will be interesting to see what kind of media coverage Lieberman's anti-war opponent receives (he's already wrapped in a python-like embrace from the left blogosphere). Primary challenges to a Republican from the right don't win much respect from the MSM -- imagine the coverage if a doctrinaire conservative challenged John McCain or just think of the press RINO Lincoln Chafee's Republican competitor, Steve Laffey, hasn't received.
As for the students who heckled John McCain at the New School, they should be ashamed -- but we shouldn't be surprised. For more than 30 years, our culture has engendered the idea that rudeness is a sign of authenticity -- to the point where supposedly now-"educated" young people are free to verbally abuse speakers with whom they disagree. Part of keeping a democratic process is honoring the right to disagree; the other part, however, is maintaining standards under which disagreements can be aired civilly. We've done a fine part with the first, not so well with second.
But who can blame the female speaker who threw out her notes and instead chose to criticize McCain? Hillary Clinton's decision to do the same to Senator Eward Brooke has become the stuff of lionizing press and liberal legend.
Just one question: Conservative grads are routinely expected to sit tight and hear opinions with which they disagree (the speaker my year was none other than Patricia Schroeder, of all people). Why aren't liberals held to the same standards?
It will be interesting to see what kind of media coverage Lieberman's anti-war opponent receives (he's already wrapped in a python-like embrace from the left blogosphere). Primary challenges to a Republican from the right don't win much respect from the MSM -- imagine the coverage if a doctrinaire conservative challenged John McCain or just think of the press RINO Lincoln Chafee's Republican competitor, Steve Laffey, hasn't received.
As for the students who heckled John McCain at the New School, they should be ashamed -- but we shouldn't be surprised. For more than 30 years, our culture has engendered the idea that rudeness is a sign of authenticity -- to the point where supposedly now-"educated" young people are free to verbally abuse speakers with whom they disagree. Part of keeping a democratic process is honoring the right to disagree; the other part, however, is maintaining standards under which disagreements can be aired civilly. We've done a fine part with the first, not so well with second.
But who can blame the female speaker who threw out her notes and instead chose to criticize McCain? Hillary Clinton's decision to do the same to Senator Eward Brooke has become the stuff of lionizing press and liberal legend.
Just one question: Conservative grads are routinely expected to sit tight and hear opinions with which they disagree (the speaker my year was none other than Patricia Schroeder, of all people). Why aren't liberals held to the same standards?
posted by LadybugUSA at 8:53 AM
8 Comments:
No one can condone the relatively restricted behavior that you reference at the Republican convention.
However, like most lefties, you'd like to believe that having worn the uniform somehow immunizes liberals from having their political positions scrutinized and criticized. It doesn't -- and this idea that Dems have shows how little they really understand the military and what service means. I honor Murtha and McCain's service -- but disagree with both on a regular basis when it comes to politics, especially the despicable, military-trashing Murtha.
I believe Ann Coulter didn't call Max Cleland's wounds self-inflicted; that controversy centered on John Kerry -- who, by trying to claim a scratch covered by a bandaid as a "war wound" for purposes of obtaining a Purple Heart, "trash[ed] the entire institution" more effectively than a group of idiots at a convention ever could.
Carol writes, "No one can condone the relatively restricted behavior that you reference at the Republican convention."
Carol then goes on to condone the behavior she claims no one can condone by writing, "I believe Ann Coulter didn't call Max Cleland's wounds self-inflicted; that controversy centered on John Kerry -- who, by trying to claim a scratch covered by a bandaid as a "war wound" for purposes of obtaining a Purple Heart, 'trash[ed] the entire institution' more effectively than a group of idiots at a convention ever could."
So which is it Carol? Do you condone trashing a decorated war veteran or not?
Carol writes, "I believe Ann Coulter didn't call Max Cleland's wounds self-inflicted..."
I'll let all y'all be the judge...
Ann Coulter on Max Cleland, "There was no bravery involved in dropping a grenade on himself with no enemy troops in sight."
Just to demonstrate that Carol can't even be trusted to get even her opening points right, we have the following tripe. "Primary challenges to a Republican from the right don't win much respect from the MSM..."
Carol, it was a scant two years ago that Arlen Specter was in a fight for his political life against Pat Toomey (ultra-right wing candidate). Toomey received a great deal of respect from the corporate media as this article from the Washington Post report on the contest will attest.
The funny thing is Carol can't even realistically pretend that she didn't know this. After Specter was re-elected, Carol spent the better part of a week whining and moaning in this blog about Specter's lack of gratefulness towards President Bush after all Dubya had done to help Arlen defeat Pat.
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Dodger, John Kerry was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts. He left the Navy as a recognized war hero.
To date, whenever a claim made in the official Naval records has been able to be compared to the contradictory claims by the Swift Boat Veterans and other right wing smear groups (the ones you are parrotting)--the official Naval records have been shown to be correct.
For example, Larry Thurlow claimed that John Kerry's boat was never under enemy fire when he rescued Jim Rasmussen from the water. Citations issued to other patrol officers during that time, including ones that Thrulow attested to, claimed that all five boats in the floatilla were under fire. In addition, "A damage survey filed with the Navy report said that three of the five boats involved sustained 'battle damage,' and Thurlow's boat had 30 caliber bullet holes about super structure."
Dodger, whether you want to believe it our not, you are lying about a decorated war veteran. John Kerry was a man who shed his blood for his country. At long last have you no shame, sir?
Ummm...
I believe the post was about disrespecting someone while they were speaking. The point is that, in our society, anyone should be allowed to speak. Those who disagree with what is said should be civil enough to listen politely. When it's their turn, they can vent their disagreements as passionately as they desire.
The Republicans at the convention and Ann Coulter in her writings are expressing their opinions - not interrupting others while they are speaking.
As for the "how dare you say anything negative about a decorated war hero" schtick, put a sock in it! I will not be shouted down when I call Murtha's current political position (or Kerry's entire political career) a disgrace and a shame. That is my right as an American.
You can say whatever you want about Bush, Ann Coulter, Carol, or anyone else. And I can say anything I want about anyone I want.
But if you have the floor I will be polite enough to listen or quietly excuse myself from your presence. I would expect the same treatment from anyone else. It's the polite thing to do. It's the civilized way to act. It's a core concept in our LIBERAL society.
Greg writes, "As for the 'how dare you say anything negative about a decorated war hero' schtick, put a sock in it!"
As Greg is lying about what I wrote, let me make my position crystal clear. I am opposed to lying about the service records of anyone who chose to serve their country in the military.
It is sad that this is too high a standard for the Republicans on this board to live up to.
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