Senator Obama has come under fire from William Kristol and others for not mentioning military service at Wesleyan. Frank Shaeffer has blogged about this issue and has rightly noted the importance of progressives honoring the military http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/william-kristols-hypocris_b_104674.html
Of course, Senator Obama should have noted military service in his Wesleyan commencement address last Sunday. He has praised the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces on many occasions to many different audiences. This was an oversight noticed by many of us who support the Senator.
William Kristol, in his desire to paint Democrats on an "elite northeastern college campus" as anti-military, wants to make more of it. Kristol comments: "Obama failed to challenge--even gently--what he must have assumed would be the prejudices of most of his audience."
Whatever Kristol means, he is fighting a culture war that ended many years ago. I know dozens of Obama supporters. I teach on an elite campus. Most of my students are liberal Obama supporters. Everyone I know admires our men and women in uniform. We are grateful for their achievements and their sacrifice. We are concerned about the hardships they now endure. By the way, we also want them to defeat al Quada terrorists who are trying to kill us.
There is no ideological or partisan divide when it comes to caring about Americans in harm's way. Whatever we believe about gay marriage, universal health care, the Arab-Israeli peace process, or Donald Rumsfeld, we care just as deeply about the Marine in Kirkuk and the special forces operative in Afghanistan. We want them to have the best equipment, the best training and support, the smartest leadership, the best medical care if they are hurt. I'm sure that almost every Wesleyan student and parent feels exactly the same way.
Mr. Kristol chides Senator Obama for indulging "a soft patriotism of low expectations." This is such a cheap shot. Anyone can praise the troops in a Sunday speech. True patriotism requires that our next president do what President Bush has not: Sweating the details to manage our diplomacy and our military more effectively, to honor our commitments to both active-duty and former personnel.
One more thing: Given the Bush administration's horrendous treatment of our troops on repeat tours, its poor planning and baffling mismanagement of the Iraq war, I expect many service members, veterans, and their families will be supporting Senator Obama come November.
middle of, sectarian civil war in Iraq. Totally improper use of our armed forces.
Reagan, Bush Sr, or Clinton would NOT have done this. It took some totally inept.
It's of course way past time to get them out of there. And we can't expect McCain to do so.
Obama OR Clinton are both far better choices for the pro-military faction than the Republican nominee.
"Mr. Kristol chides Senator Obama for indulging "a soft patriotism of low expectations." This is such a cheap shot. Anyone can praise the troops in a Sunday speech. True patriotism requires that our next president do what President Bush has not: Sweating the details to manage our diplomacy and our military more effectively, to honor our commitments to both active-duty and former personnel.
True patriotism is not using the word patriotism to promote fear and divisiveness amongst citizens.
True patriotism requires that the President does not send our troops into frivolous wars and use human lives to promote an agenda without thorough and comprehensive analysis. True patriotism requires that the President recognizes the immesurable sacrifices these young people go through war time and honor them when they return. True patriotism is honoring them with a GI bill that reflects the costs of the time we live in and not whine that it is too expensive.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-hendra/prominent-rightwing-cowar_b_104787.html
Just like Rush Limbaugh, who is still obsessed with feminists, many of these people are still obsessed with hippies.
To Kristol and the republicans meaningless blather about flag pins and placing one's hand over their heart during the National Anthem (a practice started by Reagan because he was unsure of the protocol) is how they define patriotisim.
Supporting Bush/Cheney in their lies about Iraq which led Americans into war is how republicans define patriotisim.
Ignoring the gross violations of military contractors like Haliburton/KBR whose actions put troops at risk is how the republicans define patriotisim.
Sending off our troops to fight in a war without proper body armor and vehicle armor is how the republicans define patriotisim.
Refusing to show up to cast a vote Yea or Nay on the GI bill is how the republicans define patriotisim.
The list goes on ...
Sen Obama was basically encouraging these grads to consider a life of public service. In his lexicon, public service includes political office which, thanks to Mr. Kristol's friends, has fallen into much lower repute than military service has ever reached.