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The wages of disrespect
Sep. 11th, 2009 11:44 amFascinating CNN article today: in the wake of his uncalled-for outburst, Joe Wilson has tucked another $200,000 into his war chest.
Such an outburst would hardly be newsworthy in the august [shut up, you wags, I know it's September] chambers of many of our foreign allies - I actually have the famous "¿Por qué no te callas?" ring tone on my phone, which was the subject of so much national pride in Spain. And let's not even talk about the daily House of Commons circus, with all due respect to our British cousins.
Yet despite the vulgarity of our political process, the incessant mudslinging, backbiting, calumniation, innuendo and vituperation - showing respect for the office of the president has been a long-hallowed tradition. The worst thing that's ever happened during a State of the Union speech is that half the body fails to applaud... until now.
Wilson apologized, Obama forgave - and now the offender is cashing in on his philistinism. It doesn't sound much like he's sorry to me.
A sad day for the dignity of our nation, but no sadder in truth than the lack of respect for the office shown by those who have occupied it - Nixon, Clinton and W come glaringly to mind. If ever a president of this country were to commit errors of judgment that besmirch the honor of the office, and had the decency to step up and say, "I'm sorry. I screwed up big time. For the good of the nation I'm resigning." - I think my heart would stop. But I'm not holding my breath. The sad fact of politics is that those who have the integrity to qualify for the office of Commander in Chief do not, as a rule, run for office.
Bah.
Such an outburst would hardly be newsworthy in the august [shut up, you wags, I know it's September] chambers of many of our foreign allies - I actually have the famous "¿Por qué no te callas?" ring tone on my phone, which was the subject of so much national pride in Spain. And let's not even talk about the daily House of Commons circus, with all due respect to our British cousins.
Yet despite the vulgarity of our political process, the incessant mudslinging, backbiting, calumniation, innuendo and vituperation - showing respect for the office of the president has been a long-hallowed tradition. The worst thing that's ever happened during a State of the Union speech is that half the body fails to applaud... until now.
Wilson apologized, Obama forgave - and now the offender is cashing in on his philistinism. It doesn't sound much like he's sorry to me.
A sad day for the dignity of our nation, but no sadder in truth than the lack of respect for the office shown by those who have occupied it - Nixon, Clinton and W come glaringly to mind. If ever a president of this country were to commit errors of judgment that besmirch the honor of the office, and had the decency to step up and say, "I'm sorry. I screwed up big time. For the good of the nation I'm resigning." - I think my heart would stop. But I'm not holding my breath. The sad fact of politics is that those who have the integrity to qualify for the office of Commander in Chief do not, as a rule, run for office.
Bah.
