I find two recent declarations of Congress, both of which have received loads of media attention, to be not only ridiculous, but distressing.
The first declaration was one strongly condemning the ad taken out in the NYTimes by MoveOn.org featuring the now infamous statement "General Petraeus or General Betray-Us?" The second declaration, not yet passed, condemns remarks by Rush Limbaugh in which he used the descriptive "Phony Soldiers," apparently meaning to describe soldiers who lie about having been in combat in an effort to discredit the war.
Without significant comment on the incidents (I think the one comment by MoveOn was very stupid and wrong, and the comment by Rush was pretty stupid, but probably right), one concerns me is this: as the nation is in two agressive wars, faces a possible economic crisis, has no long term budget plans passed, etc., our glorious legislative body -- which keeps trying to convince us of how important they are -- concerns themselves with condemning the statements of private U.S. Citizens or Corporations, purely for political capital.
Yes -- both resolutions are equally bad. I understand one of them, supporting a senior military commander, has more merit, but both are bad government business. Even if we stop short of saying that this kind of government condemnation of the free speech of individuals strikes close to the heart of what this nation was founded to prevent -- the unnecessary intrusion of government into the private lives of its citizens -- we can still say that it only discredits the Congress, if it has nothing better to discuss.
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4 comments:
I entirely agree with your assessment of the Rush incident. Let Talk-Show hosts say what they will. And they will say lots.
However, I find MoveOn.org entirely different. While a congressional condemnation of the offensive ad might be for political gain, MoveOn.org is more than a private corporation. It is in the business of political gain for its congressional minions, and it is doing so by slander. More and more now, political clout is determined by interest groups with influence and money -- and entirely without scruple.
While it is unfortunate that Congress had to stoop to such a level, it was necessary. Because of MoveOn.org's undeniable influence -- and because it uses that influence strikingly like an unscrupulous bully -- it needs a rap on the knuckles and then one more. Slander is not free speech. Financially supported slander isn't either. And financially supported slander for political gain is -- guess what -- much, much worse.
Well...I see your point; and the Rush resolution was absurdly bold-faced politics. But I still -- meanwhile deploring the ad -- have to say I disagree about the MoveOn incident.
MoveOn.org is a private corporation, but it is a non-profit, privately funded corporation. As such, it has to be treated with the same respect as a U.S. person. Sure, it has a great deal of influence in the public, and as a lobbying group with the Congress. But how in the world can we say it is ok for the Congress as a body of law-making government, officially condemn the legal statements of that group in a private venue?
If they had said anything about the General that might constitute libel, you have a different issue. But as it is, while shameful, it is a bad policy for the government, in official capacity, to respond.
If they REALLY had to respond in some way, it should have been a statement purely limited to something like "The Congress re-states its high confidence in the fidelity, integrity, and abilities of General Patraeus." Addressing the ad directly, if they should even address it at all, is a mistake.
I think that's fair.
See? Discussions DO work!
i concur...mostly so i can use the word "concur."
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