Bill Kristol is Not Stupid, So Why Does He Pretend to Be?

Republicans, especially the near-extinct war-mongering faction of the party, aren't really good at anything these days, but they sure have perfected the art of framing a political issue to suit their rhetoric. In his New York Times op-ed column Monday, "Someone Else's Alex," uber neo-con Bill Kristol demonstrates the skill with such uber-deftness that it's a painful reminder of how much the left still needs to learn. And hopefully well before November when, in Kristol's dreams, the nation could elect the GOP's nominee, Sen. John McCain, as Bush 3.

In his column Kristol whines about the new MoveOn.org 30-second ad, "Not Alex," about the Iraq war and McCain's position on keeping troops there indefinitely, even for as much as "100 years," as he's been quoted. In attacking the ad, Kristol claims all it does is "express contempt for all who might choose to serve their country in uniform." Nice catchy soundbite, Bill. Damn those unpatriotic Democrats, right? Well here's what the ad actually says, according to Kristol's own account:

A mother speaks as she holds her baby boy:

"Hi, John McCain. This is Alex. And he's my first. So far his talents include trying any new food and chasing after our dog. That, and making my heart pound every time I look at him. And so, John McCain, when you say you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because if you were, you can't have him."

Now, let's play a fun little game. Can anyone actually spot the part where the ad expresses "contempt for all who might choose to serve their country in uniform?" Kristol's accusation is a pretty big leap, no? Here's a woman who "simply" (as Kristol writes) says she does not want McCain or anyone else to send her baby to fight in Iraq someday. Where does she say anything...anything...about our military forces in general or her "contempt" for them?

Kristol continues by quoting the reaction of the mother of an "actual" soldier (as if only mothers of actual soldiers can have an opinion about the war):

"Does that mean that she wants other people's sons to keep the wolves at bay so that her son can live a life of complete narcissism? What is it she thinks happens in the world? ... Someone has to stand between our society and danger. If not my son, then who? If not little Alex then someone else will have to stand and deliver. Someone's son, somewhere."

No ma'am, I believe what Alex's mother is "simply" saying is that she does not believe the Iraq war is justified; or that it's accomplishing the mission it set out to achieve; and that she does not want her son to have to grow up and be shipped off to another futile Vietnam-like debacle which the Republicans so cavalierly started and are now so clueless as to finding an end.

Kristol finishes his piece with a preachy, nauseatingly faux-compassionate sermon about patriotism and fairness:

"The MoveOn ad is unapologetic in its selfishness, and barely disguised in its disdain for those who have chosen to serve -- and its contempt for those parents who might be proud of sons and daughters who are serving. The ad boldly embraces a vision of a selfish and infantilized America, suggesting that military service and sacrifice are unnecessary and deplorable relics of the past. And the sole responsibility of others."

That's pretty ironic, Bill. This is what Democrats have been saying since the war began. That our soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq are the sons and daughters of the poor and middle classes, not those of the wealthy, or those of the Republican war-mongers who sent them there. The true contempt for our soldiers comes from you and your neo-con pals who sent them off to fight and die in a totally bogus, elective war where America faced no threat whatsoever. It is you and your testosterone-starved henchman who need to apologize, not MoveOn.org or Alex's mother.

But as I said, Kristol's a great framer. He's not as dumb as he sounds. He's actually quite smart. Smart enough to know his audience, who's clearly not nearly as smart as he is.

Comments

[repearwo]

One of the defining characteristics of the Neo-Cons is that their smear tactics are not a tactic of choice, the idea that if you disagree with them you are evil is wired into their brains.

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

There are days when I think the neocon power elite are secretly campaigning for the Democrats by driving the American public away from the Republican Party.

It almost makes a perverse kind of sense, since it's pretty obvious the neocons have also infiltrated Democratic party (Feinstein, Clinton, Hoyer, LIEberman, etc.). This internal coup ensures the Democrats will roll over and play dead every time the neocons make their demands. Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss, blah, blah, blah.

[MilwaukeeDan]

Bull Kristol is a paid salesman for the neocon cause, I don't think he believes the sh*t coming out of his mouth. He is paid to sell you on death, destruction, enslavement, misery, empire building, ect. Someone should tell him it's over, the neocon wet dream is dead.

[liberaldawg]

I think the mother in the Moveon ad just wants Alex to
be able to "sit" this one out like Bush & Cheney did.
I think she is worried that if the cowboy mentality
of the right wing continues to run US foreign policy,
a draft will certainly follow. Alex may not be able to
"sit" this one out, but I'll bet you the children of Kristol,
Hannity, Matalin, Bush & Cheney will (as Cheney
stated about his lack of Vietnam service) "other
priorities"

The Right Wing can't have it both ways. They claim
to value military service, but then denegrate the records
of men (and women) such as John Kerry (earned mutiple
commendations), Max Cleland (lost 3 limbs in Vietnam)
and George McGovern (flew multiple bombing missions
over Europe in WWII)

[SoldDowntheRiver]

I've made it a point not to read Kristol's column. If we all ignore him then the NYT might/should/could/but unfortunately probably won't extend his contract. Admittedly it's hard to ignore his idiocy, but if we all grit our teeth and do it he'll lose his voice and become even more irrelevant.

[Jazz42]

As usual Kristol is being dussional. (pathetic)

[Jazz42]

(Correction)
As usual Kristol is being delusional. (Pathetic)

[Dunnage]

If your policy leads to the death of tens of thousands, well, I guess I wouldn't want to stop talking. What if Mr. Kristol was left alone with his thoughts?

[DrDemon]

--> Andy O - Job well done here!

However, you stated, "Smart enough to know his audience, who's clearly not nearly as smart as he is."

I am not too sure you really have to be all that smart ( as you & me - kid.) to recognize phony, hypocritical & political rhetoric...you know; the kind that Bill dishes out, oh so often.

[flanardiente]

Who died in Vietnam in George W's place? Who took Cheney's place on the front lines? Did little Billy Kristol's daddy have contempt for those in uniform? Or just a sense of entitlement?

[FW]

The current crop of so called republicans, are either delusional or liars.
In Kristols case, it's both!

[Thron]

We are floating in a conservatism world people when we are dissecting living cancers like him.
You see, this is a world just like Faux news or New York plot. Everything is based on denial lies, attacks, hatred of who ever is different or simply thinking differently than you. They are not stupid, this is intelligent designed. They are smart, smart with money where ever it comes from or however they made it. There is no consciousness or what so ever as long as they reach their gold.
Faith, is their biggest shameless claim and worst distorted instrument of good. They will make god say what ever suit their suffocated vision of life.
War, is their tortured tool of domination for political and economical purposes. Sadly, war has always been the nerve and extended arm of any Great empires. I guess faith, which as never been truly separated from the political power has been the blood of these empires and their rational must of the time to rage any conquering.
Patriotism, Is their...I'm already disgust to think how they use that word and how they prosecute other innocent good citizen just to spread fear and sit deeply their influences and power.
I need to go to for a shower, I feel infected right now.

[Skepticat]

Kristol was born with a silver foot in his mouth.

[Economike]

"The MoveOn ad is unapologetic in its selfishness, and barely disguised in its disdain for those who have chosen to serve -- and its contempt for those parents who might be proud of sons and daughters who are serving.

For serving who? The Oil Companies? With my tax dollars, Thanks a lot.

[RumiSouth]

It is the conservative movement in America that "embraces a vision of a selfish and infantilized America, suggesting that" PAYING TAXES IN TIME OF WAR IS AN "unnecessary and deplorable relic of the past. And the sole responsibility of" FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO WILL OWE TRILLIONS TO CHINA.

[larryfishkorn]

Exactly! And after viewing the horror of 9-11, their advice was to go shop, because that's all your average asshole on the street is good for. And global warming? Who cares, just keep driving big cars past all your neighbors and your community to the overstocked supermarket or your job.

[Guynemer]

As for your statement, "soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq are [not] those of the Republican war-mongers who sent them there" - oh come on! Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, Rep. Todd Akin, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, have all had sons serve in Iraq, and John McCain's own son Jimmy returned last February from seven months on patrol in Anbar Province.

[BillZBubb]

Wow, Guy, that's quite an impressive list! All four of them.

But, thanks for at least tacitly admitting they are part of the gang of Republican war mongers.

[Guynemer]

Tell you what, randomly pick out about two or three hundred middle-aged men and women and count how many have had kids in Iraq. If you do the math I'm sure you'll discover that these Republicans are representative of the demographic. In other words, Mr. Ostroy's statement is demonstrably false.