So much for civil and honest public discourse
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
What a difference a few months make.
Back in January of this year after the Arizona shooting that left six people dead and 20 wounded, including Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, President Obama called on the nation for "civil and honest public discourse."
Maybe the president forgot this request. Or maybe it just doesn't apply to him or his supporters.
Consider just a couple of comments over the recent Labor Day weekend.
Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at a union rally in Cincinnati likened members of the TEA Party to barbarians, saying to the union members, "You are the only folks keeping the barbarians from the gates...the other side has declared war on labor's house."
Meanwhile, at a Labor Day rally in Detroit, union leader Jimmy Hoffa said prior to President Obama's introduction: "We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the TEA Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They've got a war, they got a war with us and there's only going to be one winner. … President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these (SOBs) out…"
Nice.
"Civil and honest public discourse," is what Obama demanded in January. In September, he has no objection to a union supporter calling his detractors "SOBs." Nor does he object to his vice president calling TEA Party members "barbarians." Nor did he object to Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Waters saying last month, "As far as I’m concerned, the TEA Party can go straight to hell.”
As of Tuesday morning, Obama refused to denounce either Biden's or Hoffa's Labor Day insults.
All in the name of "civil and honest public discourse."
When pressed for a comment this week, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz tried to deflect specific questions about Hoffa's comments.
"I know you'd like to focus on language – that's not what the American people are focused on," Wasserman-Schultz told "Fox and Friends" Tuesday. "The American people are focused on job creation."
Well, no, Debbie. The president of the United States told the world in January of this year that we needed "civil and honest public discourse."
Did you disagree with the president then or do you agree with the Biden-Waters-Hoffa rhetoric now? Which is it?
Maybe it's worth reminding the president, Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, et al., of a 2008 presidential campaign rally in Cincinnati. Conservative talk radio host Bill Cunningham was speaking before GOP candidate Sen. John McCain at an official campaign stop in the Buckeye State. Cunningham called Obama a “hack, Chicago-style Daly politician.”
McCain was not on stage during Cunningham's remarks. However, immediately after the event, he distanced himself from the comments.
“I have repeatedly stated my respect for Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, and I will treat them with respect,” McCain said. “I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals who are honorable Americans, we just have strong philosophical differences, so I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them. I absolutely repudiate such comments, and again I will take responsibility it will never happen again."
Is it too much to ask Obama to repudiate much harsher recent comments made by his supporters, Biden, Waters, Hoffa et al.?
What was that again, Mr. President, about "civil and honest public discourse?"
Or does "civil and honest public discourse," only apply when it fits your agenda?
For full disclosure, I've been to a grand total of two Highland County TEA Party events in two years and I've found nothing less than "civil and honest public discourse."
Conservatives, of course, have grown accustomed to such name-calling from the usual circles. However, it is disgraceful that the president of the United States – by his silence – condones the practice.
Civil and honest public discourse. Indeed.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Back in January of this year after the Arizona shooting that left six people dead and 20 wounded, including Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, President Obama called on the nation for "civil and honest public discourse."
Maybe the president forgot this request. Or maybe it just doesn't apply to him or his supporters.
Consider just a couple of comments over the recent Labor Day weekend.
Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at a union rally in Cincinnati likened members of the TEA Party to barbarians, saying to the union members, "You are the only folks keeping the barbarians from the gates...the other side has declared war on labor's house."
Meanwhile, at a Labor Day rally in Detroit, union leader Jimmy Hoffa said prior to President Obama's introduction: "We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the TEA Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They've got a war, they got a war with us and there's only going to be one winner. … President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these (SOBs) out…"
Nice.
"Civil and honest public discourse," is what Obama demanded in January. In September, he has no objection to a union supporter calling his detractors "SOBs." Nor does he object to his vice president calling TEA Party members "barbarians." Nor did he object to Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Waters saying last month, "As far as I’m concerned, the TEA Party can go straight to hell.”
As of Tuesday morning, Obama refused to denounce either Biden's or Hoffa's Labor Day insults.
All in the name of "civil and honest public discourse."
When pressed for a comment this week, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz tried to deflect specific questions about Hoffa's comments.
"I know you'd like to focus on language – that's not what the American people are focused on," Wasserman-Schultz told "Fox and Friends" Tuesday. "The American people are focused on job creation."
Well, no, Debbie. The president of the United States told the world in January of this year that we needed "civil and honest public discourse."
Did you disagree with the president then or do you agree with the Biden-Waters-Hoffa rhetoric now? Which is it?
Maybe it's worth reminding the president, Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, et al., of a 2008 presidential campaign rally in Cincinnati. Conservative talk radio host Bill Cunningham was speaking before GOP candidate Sen. John McCain at an official campaign stop in the Buckeye State. Cunningham called Obama a “hack, Chicago-style Daly politician.”
McCain was not on stage during Cunningham's remarks. However, immediately after the event, he distanced himself from the comments.
“I have repeatedly stated my respect for Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, and I will treat them with respect,” McCain said. “I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals who are honorable Americans, we just have strong philosophical differences, so I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them. I absolutely repudiate such comments, and again I will take responsibility it will never happen again."
Is it too much to ask Obama to repudiate much harsher recent comments made by his supporters, Biden, Waters, Hoffa et al.?
What was that again, Mr. President, about "civil and honest public discourse?"
Or does "civil and honest public discourse," only apply when it fits your agenda?
For full disclosure, I've been to a grand total of two Highland County TEA Party events in two years and I've found nothing less than "civil and honest public discourse."
Conservatives, of course, have grown accustomed to such name-calling from the usual circles. However, it is disgraceful that the president of the United States – by his silence – condones the practice.
Civil and honest public discourse. Indeed.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]