Letters to the Editor
Rob H.
Published Letters: 122 Editor's Choice: 30
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Farhad, buddy, you're drowning here...
[Read the article: Jon Stewart, John McCain and "Bullshit Town"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I went after you because of the statement you made that McCain has "swung to the right recently."
But in a follow-up letter, you admit that McCain, "is a conservative -- his voting record shows that."
So which is it? Has he swung to the right recently or has he always swung to the right? I think you know the answer to that question and it would be nice if you would own up to the silliness of the statement.
As for John Kerry's record in the Senate and you still not being sure of any issues he's championed, are you serious? Really, are you being serious?
I won't get into it that much but you do remember that little scandal called Iran-Contra which was blown open by a certain junior senator from Massachusetts? Maybe I should refresh your memory on the fact that Kerry has always been one of the leading supporters on progressive energy issues and fighting against drilling in ANWR. Or how about the critically important POW/MIA issues that he and McCain actually teamed up on? Or his work on the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act in 2000?
As for your spiel about other Democrats and fighting for issues and being on TV, it's simply ridiculous. You admit that there were Democrats going on TV talking about soft money. So they were fighting for that issue, correct? And they've fought for other issues far too numerous to list here. Certainly, there have been Dems who have not fought the good fight, but there are a lot who have, despite your rather flimsy arguments to the contrary.
As for McCain, I never said that he hasn't waged an admirable fight on some issues. But like I said before, and as you've admitted, his voting record is very conservative. And last I checked, after all is said and done, a vote in the United States Senate still counts for something. And for McCain, it has counted far more for the conservatives.
And that is, quite simply, the bottom line.
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Talk about Bullshit Town...
[Read the article: Jon Stewart, John McCain and "Bullshit Town"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Keep telling us what you meant to say, Farhad. It seems to be one of your strengths.
"I should have clarified..", "I didn't mean to suggest, as I may have.."
But now you actually have clarified something. You admit that McCain has always been conservative. So please, tell us why you were so enamored of this guy who's always been conservative? It makes zero sense. Because he's straight-talking? Give me a break. When he endorsed Bush in 2004 and put his arm around him at all those campaign events, that should have told you then and there everything you needed to know about John McCain.
But no, you wanted to reward a right-wing conservative for taking a stand on a few issues, while conveniently forgetting about the rest of his positions, including his enthusiastic endorsement of Bush who strongly opposes those same positions.
And it's funny how you write that, "Stewart was, for once, tough with a politician." Yet you seemed to show none of that same toughness with McCain. Only now, when he gets in bed with Falwell, do you express any shock. I mean you "usually love," McCain. So you take Stewart to the wood shed for failing to confront Santorum, but your love affair with McCain continues (even though you know he's always been conservative) until he does something so ridiculous that finally you have to say something. Isn't that a mite hypocritical?
As for your ridiculous swipes at Kerry, you may want to do just an ounce of research before you go off on that subject.
Kerry has made numerous statements on the the Iraq war before today. So it's pretty much patently false to say he "took a stand on the war," just today.
Maybe you want to check out his statement from January 23, 2003. Or February 6, 2003. Or March 17, 2003. Or September 9, 2003. Or April 30, 2004. Or September 20, 2004. Or June 2, 2005. Or October 26, 2005.
Or maybe you were just making one of your facetious comments that has no substance but which you think sounds good. I have to tell you, there are a bunch of people on the right that are quite adept at that, too.
And really, Farhad, if you're going to bring Iraq into the debate, why don't you educate us on John McCain's position on Iraq. Or would you rather forget about that when you speak of your love of McCain?
As for your other rather weak 1980's Kerry remark, the other issues I mentioned besides Iran-Contra -- as you know -- were all from the 1990's or 2000's.
But hey, why let facts get in the way when you're trying to glibly ridicule people?
You're getting mauled here for a reason, Farhad. And no matter how much you backpedal or try to clarify, it's obvious that you've been succesfully called out and you really can't back yourself up.
Next time try doing some research. In reporting, as in life, it does help.