so NOW it's a bad thing to disrespect a war hero

[ginnyinWI]

Glenn Greenwald comments on the hypocrisy of Rich Lowry--when it's John McCain, well that's just not allowed. He mentions Kerry and Max Cleland:

(2) National Review Editor Rich Lowry can't believe that John McCain, whom Lowry notes is a "war hero," was treated so disrespectfully when he spoke last night at the New School in Manhattan. Lowry finds it "incredible" and "amazing" that a war heo would be subjected to heckling when giving a highly controversial speech praising a highly unpopular war.

Apparently, heckling a war hero during a speech is a despicable act. But it's perfectly OK to waive purple band-aids at decorated, wounded war veterans; and it's fine to accuse them of being soft on Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein even after they voted for the Iraq invasion and co-sponsored creation of the Homeland Security Department; and there is nothing wrong with going to the floor of the House and labeling a war hero a "coward" and then following it up with a year's worth of accusations that they are also a traitor. Calling into question a war hero's patriotism, their courage, the seriousness of their war wounds, and their allegiance to the United States is all perfectly fine. Just don't boo them at a speech.

Oddly, Rich Lowry's Chivalrous Code of Conduct for how a War Hero should be treated wasn't much in evidence when he penned this column back in July, 2004 -- entitled "Max Cleland, Liberal Victim -- in which Lowry snidely dismissed complaints about how Cleland was treated during his election defeat with tough-guy, suck-it-up, politics-is-tough sermons like this:


If you can't criticize the Senate votes of a senator in a Senate race, what can you criticize? . . . If John Kerry wants to surround himself with veterans like Max Cleland, fine — their country owes them a lot. But, please, stop the whining.


Today, though, Lowry is effetely lamenting the fact that McCain was booed at a highly politicized college by liberal students when McCain praised the Iraq War. John McCain is running for President, but he's a war hero, so no booing him.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

[JohnKleeb]

1. Hypocritical bullshit

If these students were mocking McCain's service than I understand but they were booing him for his position on the Iraq War meanwhile the RNC Convention and those stupid purple heart band aids were clearly mocking Kerry's service. One thing to disagree with a guy as these students did but another to mock someone's service.

[ProSense]

2. Exactly! They would have booed Cheney,

and it wouldn't have been about his six deferrals!

[JohnKleeb]

3. I would have booed Cheney more

for that matter. Is this Rich Lowery the same one Al Franken challenged to a fight by the way? I esem to remember something from Lying Liars. There's nothing more in politics I hate than double standarded bullshit. I bet you Lowery didn't whine when Kerry had the authencity of his medals questioned. I don't like McCain politically but i acknowledge what he endured in the Hanoi Hilton was brave. Hopefully since McCain isn't as thin skinned as some of these guys are he will say it wasn't an attack on his service.

[ProSense]

4. Yup!

Same guy! Iraq is extremely unpopular and yet he feels the need to whine in defense of McCain. When you strip away the BS, these jerks are a bunch of wimps!

[JohnKleeb]

5. do you think Richie is feeling a little guilty of not serving his country?

I awear most of the most annoying right wing talking heads are guys who haven't served their country. The irony though is some of their more tolerable ones like McCain before he decided that he was going to kiss Bush's ass and hope it would work for him and Hagel who criticized the administration for the wiretapping and other things, and I am sure others too. I really think part of the discord we have in American politics today is due to the fact that fewer and fewer members of Congress have served their country, it's shot way down since the end of the Cold War.

[karynnj]

6. McCain WANTED this confrontation

His appearances at Liberty University, Columbia University and New School were totally about John McCain. In both cases he made absolutely no effort to reach out to the students, respect their accomplishments or to intellectually challange them. In both cases, he was there because school officials invited him. He gave essentially the same speech to two enormously different groups. You could say this showed consistency, but it really shows utter lack of respect for the honored students. Even at New School, he could have spoken about the environment or some general need for political involvement - he just didn't try. He picked three schools where the majority of kids didn't want him.

Contrast that to Senator Kerry. At this morning's commencement, the student who introduced him was clearly blown away because a week or so before the speech, Kerry met in DC with Kenyon College allumni to learn more about the college. His speech praised the students for who they were and their persisance when they waited as long as 10 hours to vote. The commencement speech was easilly the best I have ever heard. Even a Republican there would have not been offended - even if he/she might still feel they could never vote for Kerry. The other commencement speech Kerry gave was totally different. It was in Boston and the humor was unique to MA - there were many jokes, but there was a 10 to 15 minute serious call to action part as well. Both of these speeches were clearly special and liked by the students.

I think this says something about who REALLY connects, really cares and really respects the kids.

[beachmom]

7. Ever notice how many times McCain uses the word "I" in his speeches?

He really does represent the rugged individualism of the West. I guess that's fine for some, but we're looking at a future where the cities will become bigger and people will live in large communities. I prefer JK's often used "we" to McCain's "I". We're all in this together. Sometimes I really wish it were Kerry vs. McCain in '08. Everyone would think McCain had it in the bag, unless they bothered to truly listen to their philosophies and world views. Then people might question their original assumption.

[sandnsea]

9. Don't misunderstand the west

The west is very much community, think Grange. Just like the south, the west is all about carrying your weight, taking care of your family, helping your neighbor. Unlike the south, religion and a strict set of morals doesn't come into play, at least until recently when Dobson showed up in Colorado. The rugged individualism is really more of a mind your own business sort of thing, self-determination without the judgement and nosiness of neighbors and the government. McCain's *I* problem is more egotistic Republican related, or perhaps (ducking) California influence.

[jenndar]

10. Yeah, that's the problem with McCain.

He's sort of Californian.

:eyes:

[sandnsea]

11. The least of his problems

For sure. But I was specifically referring to the *I* problem. And while people from California may not notice it, those of us who were raised there and then moved away, well we notice it quite a bit. Sorry to offend, that's why I said "ducking" when I wrote it. There are soooo many people in California, that it would be impossible to be as involved in each others' lives as smaller places, which can come across as self-centeredness.

[ginnyinWI]

8. well stated!

And I especially agree with you about Kerry's speech--easily the best I've heard too (and I've sat through quite a few!)

[beachmom]

12. Hey -- did you guys see that McCain's top aide

attacked the student who gave a defiant (and excellent) speech right before John McCain? Unbelieveable -- I REALLY don't want this guy for president. The way they're treating a student, who has no real power, is how he'll treat EVERYONE. This guy is no better than * -- and I guess, he didn't ad lib after her preemptive speech, whereas I think Kerry, put in a similar situation, would have. I mean is John McCain such a baby that he needs staffers to go on the attack of a college student who is a musician? Why are they afraid of a liberal college graduate valedictorian? What do they care?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jean-rohe/response-to-mccains-aide_b_21442.html

And from her original post, read this:

The entire afternoon leading up to my speech I imagined that everyone who saw me knew what I was up to. I felt like an infiltrator. I wanted to go home and I was sick to my stomach. But when I heard an organizer on her walkie-talkie speaking nervously with another coordinator about the students outside who had leaflets and armbands, I knew that I would have my supporters. Later, John McCain arrived in the green room, and with the encouragement of Laurie Anderson, another honoree, Christina and I introduced ourselves to him. I almost wanted to warn the guy that I was about to make him look like an idiot so that he would at least have a fighting chance and an extra moment to change his speech to save himself. But he didn't even make eye contact when we shook hands, so I figured I didn't owe him anything.

The rest is a blur. I didn't have a high school graduation, so I was kind of looking forward to the whole ceremony of it, but all I remember is suddenly being in a robe, walking down the aisle of the MSG Theater to the cheers of my friends (who, incidentally, had no idea what to expect) and then I was on stage staring out at thousands of people and trying not to vomit. Eventually I spoke, and everyone loved it. And McCain spoke and we all had a bit of déjà vu. Then some other people spoke and I tried to pay attention but I couldn't stop gawking at the protesters in the audience. And just before the end of the ceremony Bob Kerrey asked if I wanted to walk out with McCain. I said that would be OK. Kerrey led me over to him as the recessional music began, and I took McCain's arm. "I'm sorry, man," I told him, "I just had to do it." He mumbled something about it being alright, but I think he probably would've rather not had me there. It really wasn't his fault that he got invited into a pit of very well-educated vipers, and it really wasn't my fault that I did what I had to do in the situation. Had he been speaking at something other than our graduation, or had he spoken about almost anything other than his life and his position on the Iraq War and Darfur it might have been OK. But what did he expect? Campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination at the New School is like trying to catch fish in a swimming pool. It was just totally out of place. Many thanks go to the people in the audience who managed to capture with a few yelled and widely-quoted phrases, just exactly what was going on there.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jean-rohe/why-i-spoke-up_b_21358.html

Okay, so we're considering somebody for president who has problems making eye contact, and mumbles to people? I'm sorry -- that guy has some character problems. He had a good rackett going on playing "maverick" in the Senate, but I don't know if this guy is ready for prime time, which will be a lot more brutal than 2000. GOPers better have a plan B if this guy implodes (or not, so that we can win!).

[jenndar]

13. What's so upsetting to me

is that this is exactly the kind of person the RW and the media tried to make JK out to be. Meanwhile, there are still plenty of people who think McCain is someone who's willing to be President to the whole country. I think this post proves he's not.

[karynnj]

14. This was also a total set up - everyone knew there would be protests

for weeks. My oldest went here for a year and a half before leaving. She was there in November 2004. To get an idea of the school the question was not Bush or Kerry, but was Kerry progressive enough. I think the average student is slightly to the left of the average DU poster. It prides itself on being radical.

This would be equivilent to say Feingold getting invited to Bob Jones University and choosing to speak on gay marriage, abortion, and censuring Bush. The fact is a school as far to the right would never invite a centrist or left wing Democrat. If Kerry accepted a speaking engagement at a conservative college (by some mistake), I'm sure he would find a very acceptable topic to speak on. Possibly a version of his call for being involved in government or caring for others. Something where his values intersect theirs - and I'm sure that with all people there is something.

The one I blame for this is Kerrey who unilaterally invited McCain.

[ginnyinWI]

15. Lowry answers, Greenwald rebuts--a followup to the Sat. post

at Greenwald's blog here: http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

The hypocrisy of the Right continues to amaze.

[ProSense]

16. Amazing hypocrisy! n/t