No matter how much the Democrats state that they love our troops, periodically, one of them comes out with some statement that demonstrates that many of them (not all) actually have disdain for the institution of the American military. In recent times, we have seen Democratic members of Congress compare our military to Nazis, Soviets, and Genghis Khan in their conduct of the war in Iraq. Names? Ted Kennedy, John Murtha, Dick Durbin, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. (Murtha and Kerry are combat veterans themselves, which must be pointed out.)
The latest is West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller. This is what he stated this week about John McCain:
"McCain was a fighter pilot who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they (the missiles) get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues".
Here is the response from the McCain side:
"Senator Rockefeller's statement is an insult to all the men and women who are serving or have served in America's military. Had Senator Rockefeller served himself, he would appreciate and understand that most who have been to war emerge with a much deeper concern for humanity than they otherwise might. If he knew what he was talking about, he would know that John McCain wasn't dropping laser-guided missiles at 35,000 feet in 1967."
Today, Rockefeller issued a statement saying, "I have deep respect for John McCain's honorable and noble service to our country. I made an inaccurate and wrong analogy and I have extended my sincere apology to him.
While we differ a great deal on policy issues, I profoundly respect and appreciate his dedication to our country, and I regret my very poor choice of words."
So, Senator Rockefeller, what was your innacurate and wrong analogy, plus your very poor choice of words? Was it the fact that laser-guided bombs were not used until after McCain was a POW? Was it the fact that he was shot down at 4,500 feet, an altitude used in order to decrease collateral damage? Was it the fact that on the last occasion, McCain was not "long gone", rather was shot down and taken prisoner? Or was it, perhaps that you condemned McCain for merely carrying out his duty as a pilot?
As has been pointed out, Rockefeller, who is almost the same age as McCain, did not serve in the military during that era-nor any other era. (He was in the Peace Corps.) Yet, he joins oher prominent hypocrites like Michael Moore, Bill Maher and Howard Dean, none of whom ever served in the military, yet had the gumption to call President Bush words, like "draftdodger", "deserter" and "AWOL" because of his National Guard service.
It is fine that Rockefeller apologized, but is this what he really feels about military pilots? Why did he say this to begin with? I hope the voters of West Virginia remember this statement the next time Rockefeller runs for re-election.
I don't get why it's being hypocritical to point out Bush's spotty military record simply because you didn't serve in the military. Now, if Moore, Maher, etc. were draft dodgers, then that would make sense. But why do you have to serve in the military to point out that somebody who claimed to actually didn't do what he said he did? Does the truth somehow change when certain people say it?
ReplyDeleteI mean, I've never learned how to drive a bus, but isn't it fair for me to point out that a bus driver who crashes into every stop isn't a good bus driver? Am I being a hypocrite if I do that?
Anyway, I don't know enough about what Bush did or didn't do to comment one way or the other. Your criticism is simply an attack on the accuser, which doesn't prove anything one way or the other. It's the adult equivalent of saying that they're wrong because they have poopy pants.
I saw an interview with Jesse Ventura where he made the same accusation though, and he was a Navy SEAL. Is it true when he says it but false when Bill Maher says it?
Oh, and you left out Ted Kennedy in your list in the first paragraph. ; )
Lance,
ReplyDeleteRather than write a long response, check out my post of 9-29-07 Military service totem pole for my thoughts.
Rockefeller's comments about McCain were dispicable. In addition, Howard Dean, Terry McCauliffe, Bill Maher and Michael Moore have all used terms like draft dodger, deserter and AWOL to describe Bush's National Guard service. Yet, they have never served a day in uniform. They are hypocrites.
That's a strange definition of "hypocrite" that you're using then. Unless they are draft dodgers themselves, it doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteI believe in respecting military service, but you seem to be turning it into a sacred cow that's beyond criticism. If Bush really did what he's accused of, I don't care who's saying it.
Well, I guess we just have to disagree on this one. It's the same reasoning I use when I refuse to question John Kerry's military record.
ReplyDeleteIf Bush cut corners on his NG service, shame on him, but I am not prepared to condemn him based on the reporting of folks like Dan Rather. I still would argue that his military service ranks above the non-military service of Mahar, Dean, McCauliffe, Moore-and Jay Rockefeller for that matter. That was my point.
Yeah, but did any of those guys claim to have served in the military?
ReplyDeleteI understand your overall point, and I think that when it comes to judging a soldier's behavior in a time of war shouldn't be judged by armchair analysts.
I think that the point with Bush, if it's all true, is that he didn't do what he claimed to do, and if anybody else tried to pull what he did, they'd be in some serious trouble. It's a question of honesty and integrity.
Like I said before though, it seems like there are some people who have served who are saying the same thing. Personally, I don't care who says something so long as it's the truth.
Lance,
ReplyDeleteGeorge Bush has only claimed that he served in the NG and is proud of his service. If he skipped weekends or got in due to influence, that may be true. I am no expert on reserves because I did 3 years active duty. (If a Viet Nam veteran wants to claim that I spent the war drinking beer in Germany, he has a point, though I did enlist and it was the Army's choice to send me to Germany rather than Viet Nam.)
Bill Clinton, on the other hand, used trickery lies, and deceit to escape military service during the war. I will condemn him all day long on that one. I also feel I have the standing to criticize Bush if the above is true.
As to the hypocrites I mentioned, I am sure they never claimed to serve in the military, but the fact remains that they did less than Bush did. So, while they have the CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SAY THEIR PIECE, they should keep their mouths shut-lest they become hypocrites.
Hey, who's defending Clinton here? Not me.
ReplyDeleteI also don't know enough about what Bush did or didn't do to comment one way or another on that. Your definition of hypocrite just doesn't seem to jive with the definition that I know. Last I checked, military service wasn't mandatory in this country, so those guys weren't breaking any laws (which is the heart of what they were accusing Bush of doing.)
No offense, but your stance on this one seems to stem more from emotion than logic. (Which is understandable, I suppose.) I'm just weary of any kind of, "You shouldn't be saying that" sort of argument. I mean, why does one have to be an expert to criticize? I don't know how to perform a heart operation, but if the doctor leaves a shoe in my chest, I think that it's pretty fair for me to say that he did a crappy job.
Sorry if it seems like I'm beating this to death, but I'm honestly just trying to see your point here.
Nor do I know what Bush did or didn't do re military service, I am just saying he did more than the people who I named that called him, deserter, awol, draft dodger, etc.
ReplyDeleteNo one is suggesting that these guys broke the law because military service was not cumpulsory. I do repeat that Clinton used every trick in the book to evade the draft when it was in effect.
So anyone can go ahead and criticize, and someone like me can express my view. It's not a matter of freedom of speech, it's just a matter of who would do better to keep their mouths shut. That applies to Messers, Moore, Dean, Maher and McAuliffe-and Rockefeller.
Goodnight-I am going to bed.