The Naive Washington Post
Willful naivete ranks right up there with intentional ignorance on my list of the most annoying American characteristics. My disgust at this disingenuousness is intensified when one (or both) of these characteristics is manifested by the press. Case in point? An editorial in today's Washington Post:
First, they removed from the House chamber, arrested and handcuffed antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan for the non-crime of wearing an antiwar T-shirt. Then, demonstrating that they were at least somewhat evenhanded in their boneheadedness, the officers ejected the wife of Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) for the non-crime of wearing a T-shirt reading "Support the Troops." On Wednesday, the chief apologized to both women.
Forgive us, though, for wondering whether, if it hadn't been for an officer's going after Beverly Young as well, the charges against Ms. Sheehan would have been dropped quite so quickly. Mr. Young, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, had Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood and Chief Gainer in his office within 20 minutes of hearing from his very unhappy wife. [Emphasis added]
First of all, who believes that it was simply a boneheaded mistake made by a police officer acting on his own? If you'll raise your hand I'll email you some literature on a bridge I'm interested in selling. Once word was out that Ms. Sheehan would be in attendance at the State of the Union Address, I'm reasonably certain that the congressional version of a red-alert was called by Republicans who didn't want the cameras panning the gallery and identifying the Gold Star Mother-Peace Activist.
Second of all, notice the difference in treatment of the women. Ms. Sheehan was arrested and handcuffed. Ms. Young was simply ejected. How interesting, by the way, that the wife of a sitting congressman would appear at a traditionally high-mass event as the SOTU wearing a tee shirt. How choreographed is that?
The whole affair smells. Yes, charges were dropped against Ms. Sheehan and both women received an apology, but the desired result was accomplished: Ms. Sheehan was removed from the address.
How small minded was that? And how unAmerican? The editorial in question never touched those questions. The Washington Post obviously needs to have its cranio-rectal condition treated, and soon.
First, they removed from the House chamber, arrested and handcuffed antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan for the non-crime of wearing an antiwar T-shirt. Then, demonstrating that they were at least somewhat evenhanded in their boneheadedness, the officers ejected the wife of Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) for the non-crime of wearing a T-shirt reading "Support the Troops." On Wednesday, the chief apologized to both women.
Forgive us, though, for wondering whether, if it hadn't been for an officer's going after Beverly Young as well, the charges against Ms. Sheehan would have been dropped quite so quickly. Mr. Young, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, had Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood and Chief Gainer in his office within 20 minutes of hearing from his very unhappy wife. [Emphasis added]
First of all, who believes that it was simply a boneheaded mistake made by a police officer acting on his own? If you'll raise your hand I'll email you some literature on a bridge I'm interested in selling. Once word was out that Ms. Sheehan would be in attendance at the State of the Union Address, I'm reasonably certain that the congressional version of a red-alert was called by Republicans who didn't want the cameras panning the gallery and identifying the Gold Star Mother-Peace Activist.
Second of all, notice the difference in treatment of the women. Ms. Sheehan was arrested and handcuffed. Ms. Young was simply ejected. How interesting, by the way, that the wife of a sitting congressman would appear at a traditionally high-mass event as the SOTU wearing a tee shirt. How choreographed is that?
The whole affair smells. Yes, charges were dropped against Ms. Sheehan and both women received an apology, but the desired result was accomplished: Ms. Sheehan was removed from the address.
How small minded was that? And how unAmerican? The editorial in question never touched those questions. The Washington Post obviously needs to have its cranio-rectal condition treated, and soon.
posted by Diane at 4:28 AM
4 Comments:
Where's a good t-shirt camera when you need one? Kinda' makes you wonder if Ms. Young had her shirt under her seat or in her purse and the house security officers on speed dial on her cell phone? This administration and its connection with illegal payments and extremely big business has made this business man very skeptical of anything that happens in the radius of its influence. This sounds fairly Karlrovian to me.
"None but a coward, dares to boast that he has never known fear." ~ Ferdinand Foch and
"Destiny is a tyrant's excuse for crime and a fool's excuse for failure." ~ Ambrose Bierce
This country will not lose its freedom of speech with a big bang, but rather with the small subtle whimpers like the t-shirt incident the other night. Cindy Sheehan sat in the gallery and refused to put on her coat much as Rosa Parks refused to get up! Where is the outrage regarding her arrest, and why were two women treated so differently for the same "crime"?
We are beginning down a very slippery slope!
C.W. Bill Young is outraged because he feels his wife was mistreated by law enforcement?
That's rich.
In April 2004 he was informed of the false arrest of a constituent (a veteran) in his district and couldn't have cared less. Where was his outrage then?
Such lack of action then, and his aggressive actions now, along with his statement that he would have been less angry if it had been only Cindy Sheehan who was ejected demonstrates what an outrageous hypocrite and menace to the Constitution he really is.
During the beginning of NBC's coverage of the State of the Union address, it was mentioned that Sheehan had been arrested.
After the evening's coverage, i went to both the Wash. Post and the N.Y. Times searching for the facts, so i could cover it in my blog.
Note: the NY Times did not cover the story at all, until Young's wife was also evicted.
AND the initial coverage in the W.Post stated that Sheehan was belligerant and that is one of the reasons she was arrested !!! Totally unfair coverage as the facts have subsequently shown.
Your comments on this issue are valuable and appreciated.
Chae
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