Sunday, August 14, 2005
Far be it for me to underestimate the MSM's ability to gloss over and hide the more extreme views of people who can be used for the MSM's own political agenda -- witness the absolute non-reportage of the large "anti-war" demonstrations organizers' ties to extreme Left groups -- but I think the era of Cindy Sheehan is reaching its limit. Not only because the press is likely to start realizing that they're overdoing it, even by their own standards, but her activities are now turning into what's more accurately described as "antics," and because the more she speaks, the more difficult it is becoming to keep a gloss on what she says (and what the group that's using her stands for). Omri at Mere Rhetoric and Israpundit notes the following quote:
You can almost feel the news producers cringing.
I've never linked to Wonkette before, in fact, I'm not sure I've ever read Wonkette, but this extract posted at Winds of Change is spot-on (I, like Armed Liberal who posted it, agree with it all aside from what she says about the Administration):
Never underestimate the American people's ability to "get it." Cindy Sheehan is pretending to wish to speak to the President again, but most people understand that she's made it clear there's no point to it.
She lost her son. That buys a LOT of leeway, but when you use that loss for politics, and you start spouting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and you start saying things that some people feel puts other kids lives at stake, you start squandering that good will and may even start calling down for a bit of tough love.
Let Cindy Sheehan practice her free speech, but please beatify someone else.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Not a Saint.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.solomonia.com/cgi-bin/mt4/mt-renamedtb.cgi/4583
2 Comments
Leave a comment to: Not a Saint
Comment Info and Policy:
1) You must have Javascript enabled in your browser in order to comment (blame the spammers). If you don't know what that is, you're probably fine.
2) HTML is on, so basic html should work. Raw links will be made auto-clickable, too, so even if you don't know html you can just paste in the link and it should work fine. Keep the "http://" in it.
3) Comments are generally unmoderated, which means I don't necessarily agree with the tone and tenor of everything posted. In fact, sometimes people post things they don't really mean just to make other people look bad. The internet is an anonymous place for the most part. That said...
4) I welcome you to post here. I'd love to have your input, agree, disagree or just offer a different data point, really. If I didn't want any participation, I'd turn off comments. Be aware, however, that this blog and the comments section exist for my entertainment. Therefore, I reserve ALL RIGHTS here, including the right to remove any or all comments on nothing more than a whim. Please don't even bother complaining. I'm the one providing the space and the free news and thought buffet. I don't owe anyone anything.
Anyone who posts here will be treated as my guest. That means I'm happy to be polite as a default, but if anyone is rude to the host they'll be unceremoniously shown the door.
It may pay to recall a famous line from the Tom Selleck magnum opus, Mr. Baseball: "Jack-san, you want Yoji's advice about the babes, you come to Yoji with respect."
5) Enjoy your stay!
I think everybody misses Cindy Sheehan’s value to the left. She allows them to avoid the debate.
To the left, the most exalted position one could have is that of victim. It cleanses one of all sins and indiscretions and renders one impervious to criticism. (This especially manifests itself in their forgiveness of all manner of atrocities committed by the Palestinians.) I remember a post on another blog (can’t remember which) about Sheehan. The post and the first few comments were quite innocuous, yet the next commenter accused them of “spit[ting] on†the mothers of the dead. Cindy Sheehan’s status as victim allows her supporters label all criticism of her as insensitive or worse.
The left has been consistently losing the battle of ideas for twenty-plus years. The anti-war movement lost the debate before the war and they lost the last two elections, which were greatly influenced by foreign policy. The last thing they want is a debate. That’s why Cindy Sheehan is their perfect spokesperson. The point is not to spark debate; the point is to stifle debate. She can spout whatever nonsense she wants while her supporters can suppress any dissent by declaring all criticism of her beliefs, statements, motives, etc. to be out of bounds.
It's so interesting:,