From the September 26 edition of Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: Well, that’s pretty much what [anti-war protester] Cindy Sheehan has been saying: America is not worth dying for, that it’s been taken over by thugs. America without the Internet would be a fascist state. Are you willing to align yourself with all that radical extremism?
LEWIS: Well, good evening, Sean.
HANNITY: Good evening.
LEWIS: You know, I saw kind of a different protest out there. There were a lot of things going on. It really affected me to see so many Iraq veterans out there marching in front of the White House, talking about their experiences and why they’re disillusioned with this policy. You know, it’s —
HANNITY: All right, Ted, I honestly, I’m not really — I don’t care about your thoughts. You can tell them to Alan. I’m not asking you that.
Classic Hannity.
Of course the compassionate conservatives will claim that Hannity doesn’t represent the right anyway.
It’s the same as Vietnam. Veterans with something to say against the war MUST be traitors.
Any Iraq War vet has the right to protest the war, or American policy, just as we all have the right. Isn’t America a great country?
Yep, it sure is. But then again, I’m a well-off white guy with a good job, nice family, etc. And I’m about as far away from desert combat as is possible (knock on wood).
Everyone has the right to protest, but Republicans excel at casting shame upon any soldier who criticizes an on-going war. Hell, conservatives still love to bash Kerry because he stood up and spoke about Vietnam. I suppose you think that was a good and just war.
When would a conservative encourage a soldier to speak out against a war?
Could there ever be such a war that conservatives would encourage active duty military to speak out against it? Or is it really a catch 22, that if the president (let’s assume a Republican president) got us into a war then it must be justified, and soldiers should do their duty, and fulfill their oaths?
If a Democrat was President, and he initiated the war. When I was enlisted and my unit was sent to Kosovo (I luckily got to miss that one), Sean Hannity and many many talkers and politicians got on Clinton’s case for everything from…having no exit strategy, the mission didn’t support American interests directly, etc.
You’ll see the same conservatives who ignore problems with Iraq point out these things when a Democrat is in the White House.
They have to root for their team.
You know what I’m a bit sick of?
The administration keeps announcing… “things are expected to get worse in Iraq in the short term”.
At what point do a series of short-term increases in violence become a long-term trend illustrating an overall increase in violence?
On the bright side, my father in-law came up to visit us yesterday. He voted for Bush (which I can forgive him for). At the time he said it was wrong to switch gears during a time of war. Lame theory, but oh well. And he had also bought into the propaganda about Kerry betraying the Vietnam soldiers.
Last night I overheard him talking with my wife about how disgusted he is with the state of the nation (and the administration), and how he had definitely bet on the wrong horse. It doesn’t make the situation any better, but it is good to hear that some individuals are finally seeing the light.