Shots Across The Bow

More hypocrisy from the left...

Some democrats are accusing President Bush of grandstanding by holding his speech on the USS Lincoln.

"To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the president to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech," said West Virginia Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd (search) on the Senate floor Tuesday. "I do question the motives of a deskbound president who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech."

Hmmm. I seem to recall another President doing a similar bit of grandstanding, kneeling contemplatively on Omaha beach on the 50th anniversary of the landings. As I recall, he truly was a "deskbound president", who did not serve in the military, and in fact lead protests against it during his days at Oxford.

Did Sen Byrd question his motives, or is his doubt reserved only for republicans?

Folks, it's politics. It's all about the photo op. It's also about good theater, and Bush flying out to the carrier was good theater, just as Clinton biting back tears on Omaha Beach was good theater.

But, we do have to consider the source in this case. Sen. Byrd has long been known as a man of intemperate outbursts, and opinions which, to be charitible, vary from the mainstream. A few examples:

"There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time. I'm going to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

March, 2001

"The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia" and "in every state in the Union."

1946

"[I'll never fight] with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

Note: the last two quotes came several years after Sen Byrd claims to have left the Klan.

Yep, he's certainly a man I'd turn to if in search of a moral compass.

Posted by Rich at May 8, 2003 2:26 PM | TrackBack