Congressman Jack Kingston Is A Liar
Last night I attended the taping of Real Time With Bill Maher in Los Angeles and was absolutely horrified at the many lies and distortions coming unchallenged from Republican Congressman Jack Kingston. The rest of the panel, David Frum and Amy Walter, are no prizes but at least have some credibility left after Friday's episode.
Let's take a close look at Kingston's nonsense.
-- Rambling on about Michelle Obama's patriotism, Kingston either lied or is completely misinformed about her "pride" remark, "She could have jumped up and said 'You know what, that's not what I meant to say and I'm sorry if people are twisting it - this is politics,' but she hasn't said anything!" That's totally untrue; both Sen.Obama and Michelle have responded to the comments. "I know I wouldn't be here. Standing here. Barack and I, our stories wouldn't be possible if it weren't for a fundamental belief in pride in this country and what it stands for," she said on Feb 20th while campaigning in Rhode Island.
-- Kingston tells us that Obama refuses to say the Pledge Of Allegiance, citing the "famous picture" of Obama not saluting the flag. This rumor originated in an anonymous e-mail and has since been debunked repeatedly by the mainstream media. The truth is that the photo is actually of Obama singing the Star Spangled Banner. It's sad to see any elected official still parroting the lies in that now-notorious chain e-mail.
-- The Congressman says Obama wants to "Bomb Pakistan" -- which is a broad oversimplification of the truth. "Barack Obama has never said he would "attack Pakistan." According to Obama's website, he has said that he would attack "high-level terrorist targets" even within Pakistan, a policy which has been endorsed in the Washington Post by the Co-Chairmen of the 9/11 Commission, Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton.
-- Attacking Obama's legislative record, Kingston tells quite a few lies. "There is nothing out there that he's done," is an old lazy favorite. "Obama hasn't reached across party lines" is a canard Republican Senators like Bond, Coburn, Hagel, and Lugar would disagree with since each of them have worked closely on bills with Senator Obama. Kingston says Obama didn't oppose the Military Commissions Act, but he did oppose it. (Kingston talks lots about experience for a guy who spent his non-political life as an insurance salesman.)
I have no idea why Bill Maher would provide someone like Jack Kingston a national platform. This is a guy who opposes embryonic stem cell research, has sponsored resolutions calling for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in Congressional Chambers, and was a cosponsor of the original Clinton impeachment inquiry. The National Journal has called him "the most conservative member of the house." In one of his rare truthful moments, Kingston referred to Obama using his full name, just to show how utterly classless he is. An eight-term Congressman, Kingston is the strongest argument I've seen for congressional term limits. (Hell, he couldn't even pronounce Gitmo.)
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"In one of his rare truthful moments, Kingston referred to Obama using his full name, just to show how utterly classless he is."
That is his name. Presidents, for a reason unknown to me, get known by their full name. "William Jefferson Clinton" was used quite a lot during his Presidency by the press and others.
Even if Barak did not have an unusual middle name, people would use it if he were President.
So get used to it.
People have every right to use his middle name. A true Obama fan shouldn't be upset when it is used.
You think Hussein is an unusual name? Seriously?
I thought I was the only one yelling at my television. I usually cut Bill a lot of slack because his show is about discussion and opposing view points should be voiced. But - there is a big difference between bold faced lies and opposing views and Bill should have called him on it when no one else did.
Kingston is from the First Congressional District in Georgia. It is glowing Red and has a majority of Bible pounding, red neck, cretins. While there are certainly some Progressives and Blacks who vote with intelligence, it's basically a safe, Republican bastion of incestuous ignorance. The “29 percenters” are the majority. In short, these people are not confused by facts. Knowing this, in the past Democrats have conceded this district offering only token and unfunded opposition. Kingston, despite his lack of intelligence, has aspirations for improving his lot in the Republican Hierarchy. This is one reason that he trots out the Right Wing garbage on a National level. He plans to move up from his current water boy position to National prominence. Bill Maher must have a secret agenda in helping Republicans stay in power. Could it be that they are more important to his career as foils than is his ballyhooed liberal reputation?
Right you are, olephart.
I'm sure that there is even more to say about the denizens of Dupedom South, who have proven for decades that the Southern Strategy works and works very well for the ultra-Right and its media propagandists.
Kingston is just one of the multitude of pure right-winger stooges in the House and Senate who have been sent there by the Dupes, especially those voters in Bibleland, where unalloyed political ignorance, bereft of the skills of critical thinking, is the norm.
It is appalling to listen to these mendacious, deceitful characters as they take their turn to blather their nonsense during the House and Senate sessions but especially during the Special Orders in the House following the day's adjournment. Meanwhile back home those of the constiuency who are watching are worked into a flag-waving frenzy of cheering against their own interests.
Only by informing themselves and others of the monstrous efficiency of the REPUBLICAN LIE MACHINE, can Democrats see a hope of getting the right people elected in November. It's time to stop sipping lattes and go on the offensive, Democrats, or we can expect nothing more than MORE OF THE SAME--war, inflation, overspending, reductions in services..
You mean republicans don't drink Latte's? What planet are you on. I work with several of them every day who start their day off with a Latte. I appreciate where you're coming from but that was a stupid slap at democrats.
Hey, Maher always has a right-winger on. Usually the panel is one Dem, one Repub, and one entertainer. This time was two Repubs and quiet Amy Walter, so they get more air time. Some of these offending remarks were said while a different point was being made, so Maher interrupting to correct them would have been beside the point.
By the way though he did a fair amount of interrupting anyway, but just not all of them. Usually it's the role of the other panelists to get involved, not Maher all the time, so at his end I think he's been consistent.
I'd say the author is a liar. Michelle Obama did go back and clarify her remarks after the press picked up on her lack of pride in America. I guess this polished, prepared, veteran public speaker didn't know what she was saying.
Barack Obama said he would persue terrorists inside of Pakistan with or without their permission. So this candidate would violate the borders of one of the few nations helping us fight Al Quaida. I don't believe the word bomb was actually used. Invade would be more accurate.
Ask ten Obama supporters to list 3 of the candidates accomplishments and most won't get past saying he's a black man with a chance to be president. They'll then mumble something about hope. If his supporters can't list his accomplishments what are those that don't deify the man to believe.
What is this, a naivette census? You were making a reasonable (though debatable) argument until your quip about the plague of ignorance within the Obama camp. Truth is, some are informed and some are not. Considering Obama's high support among citizens with college degrees, his is likely a more informed camp than most. Ask ten Jack Kingston supporters to list one accomplishment (other than 1st Prize in burp contest at Speedy Pig Barbecue).
I should tell you that Obama's introduced legislation actually reveals the 8th most active Senate record according to CQ and that he has created ethics legislation, nuclear disarm. legislation, and even urban renewal legislation, but you will not accept it and I have not the time to list all the bills.
Instead, let us say you are write and he does not have the record - he is still beating Hillary and shall beat McCain - how bad do you have to be in order to be beaten by a guy with no record. So, this is me laughing in your face while your head explodes..
How many of his bills passed and how many are worthless paper? It's hard to lead if no one will follow. Anyone can propose new laws. If he got no support then all he did was breath and take up space while proposing new legislation.
So Obama wants to disarm us of our nukes in addition to invading an ally (Pakistan). Wow, he is presidental. It's clear that once we give up our nukes China, Russia, N. Korea and the rest will get rid of theirs. What a well thought out plan. I guess that's the "Hope" coming into play.
If Bill cant call someone out on an obvious lie, he has no business on television. Is the purpose to let republican slimeball propaganda reach a national audience? Could not believe he just let the guy keep going on. Whatever state and district that kingston is from, how did you elect this moron. PS Bill, grow a pair, Jon Stewart would of called that guy a liar to his face.
Thank You for saying that. I yelled at my TV all through the program. Bill Maher is well-read, why didn't he speak up?
Everyone who serves in Congress knows better than to repeat the "what has he done" theme. Especially Hillary Clinton, who sat on the sidelines while he passed legislation with the afore-mentioned GOP senators, all good and important legislation vs. naming libraries.
Kingston is making fools of us down here in Georgia. There is a great guy running against Kingston this year, Bill Gillespie. He is a retired Army Lt. Col., Iraq Veteran, and has already garnered union support. Kingston's margin of victory has been decreasing in the last decade. Let's hope this is the year that will end the insanity.
Thanks for that information.
I watched the episode of "Real Time" that featured Congressman Kingston. His comments were very reminiscent of those put forth by Coultergeist, Rush Limbaugh, and others of that ilk. They all use the same talking points, so any responses can apply to all of them. By the way, my theory is that Kingston has replaced Coultergeist as the featured right-wing looney on "Real Time".
I agree. The Democratic candidate needs a well oiled response system to the attacks that are coming. Not to have the system is abandoment of their supporters. The candidate and or DNC needs to establish a Department of Counterattack- in artillery,
Combatveteran - I used to think the same thing. However, I think it is what separate us from the low life repuglies. It does not come natural to Dems to attack. It may be in our best interests now not to stoop to their level as it is apparent this country wants something different than politics and attacks as usual. I hope I am right.
Thank you for this post - I'm glad you are setting the record straight. However, more needs to be done - by the grass roots - the people who are disgusted by these smears.
Send a protest note to HBO - Bill Maher needs to set the record straight.
Also, send a letter to Jack Kingston - tell him that he needs to apologize to the Obamas for these smears - in particular the smears about their patriotism.
I have done both of these things.
Whenever someone on the right wing (or the left wing for that matter) tries this sort of BS, we should call them on it. I don't care if you are an Obama support, a Clinton supporter, or a McCain supporter, these sorts of lies and smears should have no place in our politics.
In my letter to Kingston (which I submitted through his congressional website), I closed with the following paragraph - which I think gets to the point. (Elsewhere in the letter, I pointed out his allegations were false).
"While I understand that Senator Obama is the likely Presidential nominee for the opposing party, I find it reprehensible that you would impugn the patriotism of a fellow member of Congress and that of his wife, especially using false and inflammatory statements. This is conduct unbecoming any representative of our government. I feel you owe the Obamas a public apology."
Sorry, but my comment is rather obvious. If we can't handle one Republican Congressman on the Bill Maher show, how are we going to handle the entire right wing hate machine this summer?
IMHO we need to stop underestimating the damage the right is capable of doing. I am worried that libs think that Obama can brush off the hate campaign to come. We need to learn to fight and build coalitions. As of the moment it does not look like we can do either. Now is the time to start.
This isn't about Obama 'handling the smear', it's about Bill Maher, a supposed professional allowing that kind of whacked out Swift Boat smear on his show without at least some balance or at least calling the guy on it. This is about Maher's credibility and he showed none that night.
I'm sure the Obama campaign can 'handle it' as the smears that moron Kingston was mouthing off about have been circulating on the internet for over a year. And some jerk-off verbally attacking a candidate's spouse never comes off very well.
By the way, how would someone in the House of Representatives know what legislation Obama has worked on with other senators on in the Senate? What a freaking tool.
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