E&P: Press Wanting To Know If Pro-War Officials Will Send Their Own Kids

[Hissyspit]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001050097

Press Wants to Know if Pro-War Officials Will Send Their Own Kids to War
By E&P Staff

NEW YORK It's a question from the press sure to be posed more and more as the months go on, directed at public officials who continue to support the Iraq war: If you believe in the cause so deeply, why aren't your own kids signing up? Most prominently, President Bush (through his press spokesmen) is now hearing it, but it's now trickling down to the congressional and state level.

Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a strong backer of Bush policy in Iraq -- who has give sons age 24 to 35 -- heard the query yesterday, from a Boston Herald reporter. Romney, who has promoted National Guard recruitment, replied, a bit angrily, that he has not urged his own sons to enlist -- and isn't sure whether they would.

The Herald tossed the question as Romney as he was honored by the Massachusetts National Guard. "No, I have not urged my own children to enlist. I don't know the status of my childrens' potentially enlisting in the Guard and Reserve," Romney said, his voice tinged with anger, the Herald reported.

Neither the Romney children nor the governor have served in the military, a Romney spokeswoman said.

MORE

[Fovea]

1. Not just the press

*everybody* should buttonhole a pro-occupation pol, and jab this question in a painful place... like the foodstore, restaurant, or public event.

[Dr Fate]

2. This tough question applies to Kerry's daughters & Chelsea as well.

Does it not?

[mbperrin]

3. Yes, I think so.

If it's worth anybody's time, it certainly ought to be worth the time of those pushing it so hard.

[jrthin]

6. Absolutely!!!

It's okay to say let's support the war and send in more troops (as Chris Rocks said on the Bill Maher Show) "as long as they are talking niggers and mexicans." And may I add, poor whites.

[JustSayNO 2 Sheeples]

14. Speaking of the Bill Maher show

Who was that blonde on the show? I forgot to catch her name. Mostly because I was rolling on the floor laughing so hard at her idiotic comebacks. I just loved when Chris Rock said (something to the effect of "They got gas in Iraq, how come we don't got cheap gas?" and she said "They don't have gas, they have OIL". DUH!

[BQueen]

23. Bimbo id'd as

KellyAnne Conway of The Polling Company

www.crooksandliars.com has the video - aired 8/19 i think...what a piece of work...

[calimary]

24. Welcome to DU!

Glad to have you here. Now, roll up yer sleeves...

[goforit]

38. LOL!!!...Yah I saw that show...hilarious!!...Blond? Can't remember!

Yes and welcome Justsay NO!!

[Orsino]

42. I was disappointed with Rock.

One "cheap gas" comment could have been a joke, but as a thesis it seemed as shallow as anything the right-wingers brought to the table, and undercut all of his attempts to cry bullshit on the other guests.

Chris Rock got famous, and rightly so, for telling the truth. Yeah, we all want cheaper gas, but damn, Chris--couldn't you have at least pretended to champion ordinary Americans in some other way?

[JustSayNO 2 Sheeples]

49. AGREE!

I was disappointed in the whole season premier, myself... except for Hackett, ya gotta love that guy. But to have the panel so loaded to the right and then have to endure the likes of Schlafly on top of it... ugh.

[Child_Of_Isis]

19. That is so sickening.

But it is true. Which makes it even more sickening.

[existentialist]

35. and of course

Native Americans who have contributed the largest per capita number of military personnel of any ethnic group ever since Vietnam.

[CatWoman]

9. yes!!

[leetrisck]

10. Kerry & Clinton have not "pushed" the war

As I keep saying - put the blame where it belongs squarely on bush's shoulders - he keeps doing recruiting ads for the military so let him him help out -for pete's sake, he is a deserter and you guys keep wanting to lay it at the feet of others.

[Dr Fate]

17. If this is going to be a question we ask, then expect it to be asked back.

That is all I'm saying- sooner or later, someone is going to ask "stay the course" DEMs "the question": whether THEIR relatves are serving in the noble cause.

The failed, nuanced arguments of 2004- about why some DEMs voted "yes" instead of "no" wont answer "the question."

[pop goes the weasel]

22. it should be asked of them

I don't care what party the war supporters are with. We will gauge the sincerity of their devotion to their cause with the extent to which they are willing to offer their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

54. It should be asked of our war supporting neighbors too. n/t

[calimary]

25. It's a fair question. There were plenty of our people who fell obediently

in line and became appeasers. Are any of THEIR kids over there? What have they done to put their money where their mouths are, if indeed they really do think this war is worth their support?

It's a VERY fair question. Maybe if it's pushed on enough of our pink tutu pals, it will set some of them straight and help them wake up. If you support the war, then PROVE IT. SEND YOUR KID.

I think there's only one member of Congress who has either a son or a nephew over there - Duncan Hunter of California (a republi-CON).

And if they don't have kids, why aren't they enlisting themselves? I mean, some of the casualties over there from the National Guard and Reserves are in their 40's and 50's. They aren't all kids.

It's a VERY worthwhile question. BRING THE WAR STRAIGHT HOME - DIRECTLY TO THEIR OWN DOORSTEPS. It's easy for them to pontificate because they don't have a dog in this hunt. Maybe they need one.

THEY should be HELD ACCOUNTABLE, too, because they enabled this war. It IS as much their fault as it is the bushies' and their friends'. They were positioned to be able to stop it, or at least slow it down. And they did nothing but capitulate. There should be a price for that.

I say start, whole hog, with the republi-CONS, and then work the Dems in, too.

In fact, that should be a new battle cry for our side: If you think it's such a noble war, WHY AREN'T YOU OVER THERE FIGHTING IT?!?!?!? WHY ISN'T YOUR KID SACRIFICING FOR THIS "NOBLE CAUSE"? And that should be said to ANY of the "yay-war" crowd, whether they're in public office or not. They don't deserve to get out of this one for free.

[Pepperbelly]

28. and they should ask them.

Hell, I'd like to ask them.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

50. Absolutely not...

Bush is pushing a war and expecting other people's children to fight it. Neither John Kerry nor Bill (or Hillary) Clinton is arguing a "stay the course" policy in Iraq, so there is certainly no hypocrisy in their children not serving in the military.

[Dr Fate]

71. When did they say they supported a pull-out?

This is news to me.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

73. What they're recommending

is the gradual drawdown of U.S. combat forces, to be replaced by a combination of Arab League, NATO, and Iraqi Civil Defense troops. They are not advocating the unilateral, complete, and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. I would note that a gradual drawdown is precisely what Dennis Kucinich has advocated, although his timetable of all troops out by October, 2006 is more aggressive than theirs.

[Dr Fate]

74. So Kerry & Hill have promised not to send any new troops?

If they have not, then I'd like to know if they are willing to send their kids. Kerry's daughters & Chelsea are bright- I'm sure they would make great nurses, truck-drivers, electronics experts, paralegals, etc,etc.

At the least they should be Red Cross volunteers or somthing.

I'm not willing to send ANYONE I know anywhere near Iraq- but I opposed this war from day one.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

76. What is a "new" troop?

Several units are starting to look forward to their third rotation in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, so they would hardly be considered "new." I don't think they're looking to increase troop strength in Iraq, if that's what you mean.

[Dr Fate]

79. "New" as in, they are not in Iraq today, but will be in the future.

So, I ask again, has Kerry & Hill promised that no new troops will go to Iraq?

If they cant make this promise, then I'd like to know if those cute girls are in line to be "new troops"- cuz my relavives oppose this and are not going.

3rd rotation? How many "rotations" are there going to be until we need "new" sons & daughters? Have Kerry & Hill assured us that after, say the 4th, 5th, 6th or 8th rotation, that they will come home and not be replaced by "new" troops?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

85. No. Because that would be stunningly irresponsible...

It would require either a) extending the current rotation of troops in Iraq almost indefinitely or b) a unilaterial disengagement from Iraq which would -- best case scenario -- result in the establishment of a radical islamic state. The worst case scenario is that Iraq goes the way of Somolia and Afghanistan and becomes a training ground for international terrorists.

I was opposed to this war from before the start -- the (unsuccessful) congressional candidate that I worked for in 2002 warned that invading Iraq would be a military disaster and a moral blemish for the country. That was nearly a year before the invasion.

But since we couldn't stop this cluster-fuck from happening, and since we've now taken an Iraq that was a basket-case and turned it into a freaking disaster area, it would be a sign of further moral bankruptcy for the United States to simply walk away. We fucked up. We have a moral obligation to make a good faith attempt to fix this.

It's not like I expect anything along those lines to happen by the Bush Administration, mind you. They think they're making great progress and stability is just around the corner. It's going to take a new Congress -- one with the cojones to admit that this invasion was a colossal mistake and to dedicate itself to the earliest possible withdrawal of U.S. Troops.

It ain't happening next week. Best case scenario is that by this time next year, enough Republicans will be running scared in their bid for re-election, and they'll force Bush and Rumsfeld to eat a big old shitburger and announce that "stay the course" is no longer an operative strategy.

A reasonably sane man would have admitted months ago, even if he or she supported the initial invasion, that nothing has gone according to plan (THE PLAN: Enrich Halliburton) and nothing ever will. A reasonably sane man would have been looking for the exits a year ago. A reasonably sane man would have found alternatives and would be drawing down troops right now.

But we're not dealing with reasonable men.

[Dr Fate]

87. Swing voter: "Huh? Is he for sending HIS kids to this war or not?"

Swing voter: "I was for the war last year, but now I have my doubts- I know I would not want my kids over there though- I'm sure of that."


I did not ask for a restatement of the "nuanced" 2004 election position- what I want to know is whether Kerry & Hillary would be willing to send their kids to fufill this "moral obligation" that you claim has been hoisted on them.

Hoisted on THEM-not my good, non-nuanced, war opposing relatives- right?

(ON EDIT: I meant "foisted," I guess!)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

88. The word you're searching for is "foisted"

and I have no idea what their position about sending their own children there might be. Although I think I can speak on behalf of the entire First Marine Division when I say that in a firefight, I would hardly take any comfort from knowing that Jenna Bush has my back.

[Dr Fate]

89. Foisted then. Its too bad this zinger of a question has been neutralized..

It would be a sweet question to ask Republicans- but it appears we don't have very good come-backs of our own.

I'm not sure I was the one doing the searching, but its all cool! :)

Personally, I feel like I've been fucking hoisted.

[karynnj]

83. Kerry's younger daughter is a doctor

With addition work in Public Health - It is clear that she intends to use her intelligence for public good. They volunteered for nearly a year on their dad's campaign - which would have improved the chances of ending the war.

[Dr Fate]

84. I like Kerry's daughters- "the question" is more about Kerry than them.

I'd like to see how Bush and Kerry would answer this question.

Perhaps how each of them would handle their answers would be telling.

If "reporters" are going to ask Repubs this question, be damn sure DEMs are going to be asked the same question- probably a more pointed version of it, in fact.

How do you think Kerry will answer? "My daughter is busy being a high-paid Doctor, and volunteering for my campaigns- now, about those troops we need..."

I'm sure plenty of troops stuck in that god-forsaken desert would love to come home & use their abilities for public good too- or even work on a political campaign.

[leesa]

20. They have both said more troops need to go there...let's have them

put there children where their mouth is. Neither one has condemned the war, only the way it's been run.

[existentialist]

39. They may not have pushed the war, but

they don't seem to have done much to oppose it either.

I agree that the primary heat belongs on the neocons, the Bush administration, and on Congress in general. But hey, Kerry is still a member of Congress too, indeed, the Senate. And I do not see him doing much to oppose the war.

I'm not going to spend much of my energy putting heat on Kerry, but until he starts doing something I'm damn sure not going to spend any energy trying to deflect any heat anybody else puts on him.

And the question remains a fair question.

[Skwmom]

48. Anyone who voted yes on the Iraq War Resolution should

be encouraging their children/grandchildren to enlist.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Clinton didn't start a war of choice. So, no, it doesn't. (nt)

[Dr Fate]

18. So when asked the question, they should say "Of course not."

"Of course I'm not sending my kids- I but I do support "finishing the job"- why dont you ask some Republican chickenhawk these tough questions- I've got a war to fight with your kids..."

Are we assuning that no one else will ask US this question?

[calimary]

32. True enough. But he certainly hasn't broken his neck opposing the war.

His should be the loudest and strongest voice out there denouncing the war and demanding that it be brought to an IMMEDIATE end. He was smart enough, and honest enough, to avoid the draft during Vietnam, and didn't mind saying so. Isn't this another war that is clearly and obviously worth opposing, just as much?

Look, I love Big Dog. Every day, in every way, bush is making him look better and better - except when he goes on Larry King or something and talks up what "the president" is trying to accomplish, or somehow offers a defense to bush. Then, in my opinion, he's fraternizing with the enemy, and nothing more than an enabler.

[Jackpine Radical]

58. Hillary wants to stay in.

It's not about Bill.

[kodi]

26. it applies to all the rich and powerful who wet their beaks in america

america has been very good to them, yet when they call for sacrifice its always the poor and working classes who do the sacrificing, fighting, bleeding and dying.

i am no longer convinced that the problems of america will be resolved by peaceful means. once i did, thinking humanity was moving toward to an age of enlightened behavior. but no longer do i feel this way.

i believe we are in for a lot of bloodshed across the land in the near future.

[kath]

55. Here in red-state hell. a fabulous local liberal minister discussed this

in a column he wrote during all the Terry Schiavo bullshit:

"Err on the side of life? That always is the rhetoric of those who are, in fact, dealing death. Poor sons and daughters dying in foreign lands to protect the silk suits and luxury cars of the old men who send them to the slaughter. If this is pro-life, then what has death got left to do?"

http://www.okgazette.com/builder/BuilderCM.asp?DocDate=3/30/2005&Prefix=CM&PathIn=f:\inetpub\wwwroot\inex008\builder\docin&RelPathIn=builder/docin&menudate=8/28/2005

[Blue_Tires]

68. well said n/t

[Pepperbelly]

27. if Kerry still supports the war ...

and any of the others as well ... the question should be asked and then followed up with ... would you believe that the death of one of your children in the Iraq War was justified by the policy?

[BiggJawn]

57. Indeed it does.

AND Evan Bayh's kids, too. Shit, they're A-OK with the idea of MY daughter going over there and making me a gold star dad, so they should be willing to throw THEIR kids in the fray.

It's part of that "Sacrifice" thing Dumbya was talkin' about, Hill....

[roguevalley]

60. their father and mother signed the authorization. they are honor

bound to put up kids. Otherwise, they are all fuckers. Just like the rest of the dogs of war that have gutted us out like a fish. Its almost like poor New Orleans has to pay the price for our evil.

[samsingh]

62. NO ! Neither started the war or have talked so passionately

about its importance regardless of the civilian and military casualties.

The people starting the war should stop being cowards and enlist themselves and their families. Now.

[Dr Fate]

72. So what do they say when a media person asks them this question?

"I support staying in the war, but only Republican kids should have to fight."

Is that what their response would be?

[samsingh]

91. the 42% of the people supporting the war need to do their

part in fighting it.

[karynnj]

81. Kerry said he would not have gone to war

His daughters were NOT pro-war. I have no idea what Chelsea's political POV is.

[TankLV]

90. It belongs to anybody who doesn't support an IMMEDIATE withdrawl

It's entirely fair.

But I bet we'll see thousands of questions of our "democratic" leaders and NONE for bunkerboy and repukes!

[surratt616]

92. Cickenhawks have special obligation

Their parents are not pro war hawks. It makes a difference.

[indepat]

4. Cowardly reichous hypocrite?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

5. It's a valid question and it deserves a response.

Maybe DUers should push on their local papers to ask these questions of all local politicians and office holders. No sense pushing the cable msm because the request would be ignored.

[geckosfeet]

8. Yes! If they feel it is legitimate to pass legislation allowing the

military to recruit kids on college and high school campus's, and gather information on potential recruits in grade school, they can at least explain why its not important to answer the question.

I am sure that many of their children are service age, very healthy, with fine educations. Our military would benefit from their help almost immediately. No need to wait for the current crop of 12 year olds.

Pardon me while I express my inner child: Romney is a b*stard.

[calimary]

34. Another great idea! YES! Whenever you get the chance, put it to your

own local paper. Or if you have a radio station with a full-service news department or an "all-news" station. Write them a note. Urge them to ask public officials and other war-pushers. It's a VERY fair question. Make sure they know that the Boston Herald is already doing this, so it's nothing they'd necessarily be sticking their necks out to far to do. It's an EXTREMELY fair (and balanced!) question. And it deserves to be asked - of ALL of them.

[MADem]

7. The HERALD, of all papers!!!!!

GOP shills, they, in good times!!!

Guess the bloom is off the friken rose!!

If that sort of question can make Mitt the Shit ANGRY, he must be under a bit more pressure than we realize. His dreams of being a national force are fading, and his best bet is to hang in there in MA, and hope for another shot at the brass ring later.

Dream on, ya bungahole!

I do hate that plastic cretin!

[abb9]

13. Its questions for warmongers and supporters of this war

You ask should this be applied to Kerry? It should be asked more of the warmongering liars and flag wavers,mostly Republicans and right wingers who are savaging Carol Sheeney.

I have been asking this same question ever since this war started,why are they not encouraging their own children and families to enlist and help defend our freedoms,know why? They are hypocrites to the highest degree,and downright immmoral.

My eldest son is over there on his second tour,only because the alternative would be jail.
Many of those guys in Iraq would speak out if the knew they would not be penalized or faced retaliation.
They are not so foolish as to risk their career

The pro war ones get their views out,and of course you are going to get almost 100% supporters of Bush and the war in the military,They dont have the freedom to speak their mind.

These phony immoral,so called christians like Bush and his ilk,are not going to risk their children,or their families life for defending America or anything else for that matter,when they can get others to do it.

[yorkiemommie1]

21. i have asked this question many times in lttes and in person

those whom i have asked in person say, 'NOT MY GRANDSON !!' or respond w/ uncomfortable snickers... or... dead silence.

[calimary]

40. Reminds me of this flyer I found on the internet (and tweaked just a bit)

that I had printed out on yellow paper, and I keep in the trunk of my car. If ever I spot a parked car with a "w04" sticker or a "bush/cheney" sticker, and I have the opportunity, I put one of those flyers on their windshields. Here it is:

Dear friend and fellow American:

I know how much you support President Bush and the war effort in Iraq. But I noticed that you haven’t signed up to fight yet. It might be because you are too busy, or maybe you just didn’t know how easy it is to join! I know you probably feel guilty about sending other young men and women off to die in your place, so I am sure you’ll take this opportunity to do the right thing:

Sign up for a tour or two in Iraq today!

You will enable some poor soldier who’s stuck there, exhausted, scared, isolated, frustrated, thirsty, poorly supplied, insufficiently armored, under constant threat, lied to about why he’s there and when he’s going to be released, and yearning to come home – to do just that: come home!

What could possibly be more patriotic?

What better way could there be to prove your devotion to President Bush?

“…And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.”

Below are the links you can use to sign up to join any branch of the armed forces!

http://www.airforce.com/contact/locator_fr.htm
http://www.navy.com
http://www.marines.com/request/contact_recruiter_request.asp
http://www.goarmy.com/contact/find_a_recruiter.jsp
http://www.gocoastguard.com/offices/recindex.htm
http://www.dior.whs.mil/forms/DD0004.pdf

Line Up!
Sign up!
Today!

[yorkiemommie1]

56. you are brave !

i'm always afraid i'll be seen and confronted. i dropped a flyer from jusicefornone.com next to a freeper's car; weighted it down w/ a bulldog clip. and i leave flyers in restrooms and fitting rooms, and hah hah , in hannity's book at Target. but i haven't gotten brave enough to do windshields.

good for you !

[proud2BlibKansan]

67. Now there's an idea!!

In Hannity's book. Thanks.

[shanti]

12. romney is a

motherfreaking HYPOCRITE!!!!! the press DOES need to be calling these assholes out about this! :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Hissyspit]

15. Questions they should have asked two and half years ago!!!!

It's a shitty, pathetic "mainstream" corporate media, but it's ours. :-)

[VegasWolf]

16. Chickenhawk - a big fat chicken that screeches like a hawk. nt

[1democracy]

30. These are the right questions...

The answer for those who voted to support the invasion (Kerry)-- they need to become ANGRY that they were lied to, over and over again. They need to say they do not trust the President any longer to tell the truth. They need to say this administration has to EARN the trust of the Congress and the American people by telling the truth NOW. They need to say that Iraq should be turned over to the U.N. asap, that not one more American soldier must die for their boondoggle. They need to demand George W. apologize and admit that mistake. They must never let up on their anger at being deceived until he apologizes.

[calimary]

43. You're correct, of course, and Welcome to DU! Their response is simple:

ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY is the following:

"Because I TRUSTED my president, and he LIED to me."

It's ten little words. It's ALL that needs to be said. Because you know there are many Dems who felt coerced by the threats, bullying, and arm-twisting of the republi-CONS on the Hill, and all their freeper/dittohead minions who were backing them up with death threats and hate mail. They voted reluctantly, against their better judgment, and they need to act like adults and admit they were had. Because they, I believe, DID TRUST their president, and he LIED to them (and to all the rest of us, too). That's the simple truth. And it should be spoke out loudly, again and again, across the board, across the land, from coast-to-coast.

[Peace Patriot]

29. Har-har-har! Did you'll see this thread on the Velvet Revolution's new

ad in the Lone Star Iconoclast: "The cluck stops here!"?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x391628

[calimary]

44. SUPERB!

I LOVE that - "the cluck stops here!"

YOWZA!!!!!

[sakabatou]

31. The search for hypocrits continues!

[Hissyspit]

65. There's plenty to go around. Funny to see the press call the leaders that

though.

Everyone is a hypocrite to a certain extent. But some ways of being a hypocrite are worse than others. Like those ways that get people killed and ruin a country's reputation.

[daleo]

33. Oh no! His voice was tinged with anger.

The press had better stop all these impertinent questions, then.

On edit - I agree, this is a very appropriate question for anyone who claims to support the war, especially politicians, corporate types, pretend Christian evangelists and public figures of all stripes.

[Jester_11218]

36. Draft The Media - They sold the war, they should fight it!

I wrote this a while back. It applies now.

http://tvnewslies.org/html/draft_the_media_.html

TvNewsLIES.org maintains that the American news media are as responsible for the invasion of Iraq as the neocon liars in Washington who used who used any and every rationale they could conjure up to implement their imperialist agenda. The media, for their own purposes, did the same. They sold this war to the American people using every type of deception imaginable. Now, it is time for them to pay the price.

More: http://tvnewslies.org/html/draft_the_media_.html

[goforit]

41. YAH!!!!!......Now this is an idea!!...And their kids too!!! And their dogs

[existentialist]

46. and

"And their sisters and their cousins and their aunts."

(apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan)

[Orsino]

37. Bad question...

No one sends his/her own children. Children either volunteer, or are drafted by the government.

What the press should be asking, but won't, is why the children of the priveleged class are not enlisting.

[calimary]

45. Doesn't matter. It should still be asked.

It should STILL be asked. Because people NEED to be forced to think about this. What would they say about a war that's brought straight into their own lives and families, as opposed to letting somebody else do the dirty work?

It NEEDS to be asked.

[Orsino]

47. Yeah...

...but in the form: "Why aren't you encouraging your own children or other relatives to enlist? Are they too good to risk their lives in the poor man's army?"

Better yet, the press should be confronting the relatives of military age, and asking: "What do you think of the war your ____ is supporting? Are you planning to go fight it? Why or why not?"

We need to drive a wedge between the war profiteers and any suckers who are still listening to them.

[johnny_yuma]

63. "Bad question..."...exactly

No one sends his/her own children. Children either volunteer, or are drafted by the government.

What the press should be asking, but won't, is why the children of the priveleged class are not enlisting.

I totally agree...and while I see the majority of the soliders as "children"...these "children" see themselves as adults(and so does the law)

[Dr Fate]

78. Bad question?- Or is the answer you fear?

It's the ANSWER to the question that will get families with kids in the military thinking about the big picture.

I think its a great question and it needs to be asked more often.

[Dr Fate]

77. It is the ANSWER, not the question that is telling.

I'd like to hear their answer/excuse & then hear follow up questions.

[Megahurtz]

80. Maybe because they think that their parents are full of shit?

:shrug:

[PuraVidaDreamin]

51. Everyone of our elected must be asked these two question-

Why not your kids,
AND
What is the noble cause?

Tell me they haven't tortured over that
answer, if only in relation as to what
the lobbiests want- And guess whose side
they come down on?- THE CORPORATIONS

Yeah right, they knew it would always be
with the corportations- So how do they spin
it on Corporate Media-ANd the BIG QUESTION
is have the sheeple really and truly waking up.
THe torture to our electeds- convinvcing the
American people that the lies they spew weren't
written for them.

Good a time as any to find out. UNLEASH THE poodle press!

[bribri16]

52. No, everyone of our "elected" who voted "yes" on the war.

Who voted "no?"

[PuraVidaDreamin]

53. The newlywed Kicinch is one....

and they ALL should answer the question.
Dennis could have some good fun answering.

[tinrobot]

59. Since when can parents "volunteer" kids for the military?

I have a real problem with the premise of this argument. No parent can send their kids into the military. The law requires that people volunteer of their own free will. Just because a parent supports the war doesn't mean the child feels the same way.

I think you need to judge people on their individual actions, not the actions of their parents. If a child of a public official has gone on record as supporting the war, then by all means ask questions as to why they haven't enlisted. Otherwise, leave the poor kids alone.

I sure wouldn't want my daughter over there, and I wouldn't wish it on any other young adult her age, regardless of their parentage. Why condemn a child to death for the sins of the father?

[PuraVidaDreamin]

61. If only they were poor kids.

Most sons and daughters of our congressmen and senators
are not 'poor kids' let me assure you. They are
well connected kids.

Perhaps to make you more at ease with this we should
ask elected parents what strings they would pull
to keep their kids in state-side desk jobs if
enlisted. Or how long they will go to college
to avoid enlisting. Trying to see your position,
but it's not happening.

[tinrobot]

66. It's a pointless question

So the press asks an official:

"Have you urged your kids to join the military?"

The official can answer it any way he/she wants. Even if the official says "Yes, I have urged my kid to join," the kid still can't be forced to join up becaus we have an all-volunteer military. So, what's the point of the question? To make the official give out a non-binding answer? To guilt kids of elected officials into joining up because their parents voted for the war? I'm sorry, but I don't think anyone should be coerced into fighting this stupid war, rich or poor.

I do understand that if an elected official's child was in Iraq, it would certainly change his/her voting patterns. But short of enacting the draft, you can't force anyone to join, so asking those questions an intellectual exercise, but nothing else.

I'd much rather the press start asking all war supporters "When are YOU joining up?" and leave the kids out of this.

[nolabels]

70. The whole Idea sounds like a setup to me

The press announces that reporters are all asking the same question, yea right :argh:

[Dr Fate]

75. I'd still like to see the way war supporters answer the question.

The premise of the question is not the focus- it is the WAY it is answered that sheds light on hypocrisy.

[Mari333]

64. Video: trying to get the republicans to enlist

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~atevans/Yellow_Elephant.mov

[4bucksagallon]

69. joke

Question: Why do republicans hate Jane Fonda??
Hint: She had the courage to venture where these cowards were to scared to go.
Answer: She actually WENT to VietNam.

[Megahurtz]

82. They should be asking the Pro-War Officials themselves

why THEY aren't signing up and serving?

Who cares what their age is???
If they're so fucking Gung-Ho:patriot: then THEY should go!!!:nuke:

:rofl:

[saigon68]

86. another mother fucking repuke chicken hawk

got to love these SCUMBAGS </SARCASM>