Letters to the Editor
Baldie McEagle
Published Letters: 992 Editor's Choice: 3
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Of COURSE, we all know about Tuskegee
[Read the article: Brian Williams nominates Peggy Noonan for a Pulitzer Prize]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But what, exactly, is its relevance to today? Doctors aren't allowed to do that any more.
Next question ...
Lynching? Of COURSE, we all know about slavery, but what, exactly, is its relevance to today? Rednecks aren't allowed to do that any more.
Slavery? Of COURSE, we all know about slavery, but ...
Ad infinitum.
It's occurred to me that there is a simple yet highly strategic aspect to the Right's use of the media here:
(1) Don't EVER mention Tuskegee, lynching, slavery, etc. unless the president is visiting a cemetery or memorial or widow or whatever.
(2) If anyone EVER mentions Tuskegee, lynching, slavery, etc., just say
(a: if the person is white) "Well, you're a liberal, so that makes sense that you'd bring THAT up. Next, we have the regular American point of view."
(b: if the person is black) "Thank you. That was very profound and sad. We're glad to hear from you every once in a while, and we respect you very much. Please don't hurt us. (Of course he said that. Next ...)"
With these simple principles in hand a media mogul shall rule the world.
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Damn that Obama
[Read the article: Brian Williams nominates Peggy Noonan for a Pulitzer Prize]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]No, if Obama had kept silent about it, I wouldn't give a fig. It's the fact that he felt the need to lecture us on what he's better than having to wear a flag pin is what sets so many teeth on edge. It fits perfectly into the whole San Francisco-bitter thing; it merely confirms the type of person Obama is.
Why does he KEEP BRINGING UP THAT LAPEL PIN!!!!
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And if it weren't for those lousy kids ...
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]“I know it may not be possible to use this solution, but it does work,” Niven replied.
they might have implemented it!
I wonder if any author suggested genocide? That's been known to "work" too.
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Wait!
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That is the irony. A man with a long history of helping Americans is painted as anti-American by people who only help themselves.
What irony? Helping yourself is American. It is the very essence of "American."
That's why McCain got it in his "bones."
(Or was it "boner"? I didn't read the whole Noonan piece.)
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Some help for you new trolls out there
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I doubt anyone here thinks Wright is of no interest whatsoever in this election year. Personally, I find him to be extremely interesting, and refreshing. Voters do want to know how their candidates think, what drives them, who mentored them. And they don't necessarily want to read their books to find out. So Wright is fair game for media inspection, and inevitably that will mean lots of hand-wringing concern and some extremely shallow analysis. That's how we play it in the US of A.
But all that's got very little to do with the sudden media discovery that Obama has been mentally enslaved for decades by a bomb-throwing, flag-burning, whitey-hating, anti-American terrorist who preaches government overthrow from his secret-island-urban-church-lair, and its repeated echoing and re-echoing of this almost totally made-up story to the point that it short-circuits and even replaces entirely what could have been semi-thoughtful discussion. Especially when the same media have been so utterly uninterested in people McCain is busy hugging onstage or what simple concept he currently is stumbling over.
Please do let us know if you have further questions about the nature of the controversy under discussion here.
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@Green Job
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]To whom has Obama pandered? Please explain.
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@Joel_Grant
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Jeremiah Wright's opinions are intesting as an election issue only insofar as they are shared by a candidate. And that means they are of no election interest at all, because if a candidate shares those views they are interesting because they are the views of a candidate.
Fair enough, and perfectly logical.
But not very realistic. The media are justified in seeking out and talking to, and writing about, people who have significantly associated with or mentored a candidate. I believe that applies here.
You're assuming that the proper interest in Wright is to find out what he thinks, because inevitably Obama will think the same thing Wright thinks. I didn't say that. It's been the media's approach, and I don't agree with it. That was my point.
Remember, too, not all candidates will be as forthright as Obama. Some will have friends who are criminals, such as the NYC police chief who was such a pal of Giuliani's.
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@Green Job
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]His littering South Carolina with brochures about what a committed Cbristian he is
That's the only item on your list that is actual pandering. I'll give you that one. But please heed the meaning of the word.
To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses
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@LWM
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Green Job doesn't even get that one unless he has some compelling evidence that Obama isn't really a committed Christian. Pandering in a political context is more specific.
Perhaps you're right. Generally, I consider all highlighting of "faith" to be a kind of mild pandering, the kind no candidate can escape. I try not to pay too close attention.
I recall the Muslim accusations were flying at the time. Self-defense is certainly not pandering ...
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Another aspect that is overlooked
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think the fact that Wright has been center stage for so long now is a definite sign of America's rapid descent into mass stupidity and infantilism. It's a definite sign of major decline. But I think it says something far more disturbing about our collective soul that so few are comparing the radically different visions of god . . . . and how this has obvious implications regarding acceptable behavior on earth as it is in heaven.
Despite the poster's assertion that the Wright should not be discussed in the media at all, I think this would be a VERY good topic for public discussion. And good for the Democrats.
I think there has been black-and-white thinking on the issue. I think that liberals need to learn to see opportunity in disaster, like Karl does. Here's one.
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@Greenie
[Read the article: Why the Jeremiah Wright story deserves more attention]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Right. None of those are pandering.
Is it pandering when Virginia politicians go shad planking? Or is it just traditional for politicians to show up in public doing mildly stupid things?