President Obama gets heckled - cue the laugh track
Written by Michael Vass
So how surprised can we all be now that President Obama was effectively heckled on national television?
I know some will claim that this was a racial event. That this has never happened to a White President. That it’s because of a lack of respect to African Americans, or some such theory. I think that argument is garbage. It hides the truth of the matter.
The fact is, I believe, that the major media and Democrats are responsible for what happened last night. And this is not because of my politics, it’s based on precedent.
The moment that the media and Democrats laughed off, and in some cases applauded, the reporter in Iraq that threw a shoe at President Bush a precedent was created. They instilled the thought that the President is not to be respected, that to publicly insult a President is acceptable. They opened a door that diminished the President, every President. They just didn’t think it would apply to them.
But they were wrong. This event proved it. And it will now become something that I fear will happen over and over again. This is now a problem that ALL Presidents will be faced with in the future. Because some decisions have consequences you just can’t backtrack through.
Do I think that Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina was wrong? In the most stern manner. EVERY President deserves the utmost respect. Even when they are mixing facts, spinning polispeak, and/or blatantly lying – even on national television. There are forums for disputing and proving the misinformation of a President, what happened last night was not one of them.
Still it is not possible to completely disrespect one President, to lambast him and openly ridicule him, and assume that you are not affecting the Office of the President. Disagreeing, arguing, debating, are all the most American of political actions involving our elected officials. I support all forms of RESPECTFUL discourse in our political system. But for the last 8 years before President Obama, respect was not the word of the day. And this is the result.
So am I surprised? No. When the media and Democrats encouraged the shoe throwing at President Bush I was just waiting for the next shoe to drop. And now it has. I hope that the same people that were laughing at President Bush are as cheerful now. They should be since they are the ones that made it all possible.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Michael I agree with a lot of what you said, but no matter what when an American President is addressing members of congress, he should not be heckled. We have very little control over how officials are treated outside of the U.S., but within our own boarders that should not be tolerated. What I would like to know is if a previous president has ever been rudely interuprted in such a manner in the chambers of congress. If anyone has an afirmative answer can you please reply with information concerning the occurance.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Melvin,
I too wonder if this has ever happened before. To my knowledge this is a first in American history, which is sad.
I am not in favor of what Rep. Wilson did. I found it shocking and disrespectful. But as I stated, what has been done for years is now leading America down a path that is far less bright. The chickens have come home to roost for Liberal media and Democrats, yet the greatest shame is that the rest of America must suffer - as well as that of our highest institution - because of it.
I was watching a bit of CNN and MSNBC today to see their reaction, and it’s just amazing how so far none in the media has made the connection that instantly hit me and that I wrote about in this post. It just makes me wonder why not.