Video: Shep Smith rants on flag-draped coffin policy
posted at 12:06 am on April 26, 2007 by Ian
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Covering the burial of a Blue Angels pilot who crashed his plane last weekend, Fox News anchor Shepard commented on the flag draped coffin shown on screen. Smith compared the showing of this pilot’s flag draped coffin to the flag draped coffins troops are laid to rest in. He used the death of a pilot to bash an administration war policy.
Transcript, emphasis mine:
SHEPARD SMITH, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: “This is a scene we are not accustomed to see during war times. They don’t allow us to see the victims — uh, heroes who died for us in Iraq. We don’t get to see their caskets come back. It’s a wonderful honor to be able to pay tribute to this man in this way. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to do this with the hundreds upon hundreds who have died for us in Iraq?”
Sure. It would also be nice if reporters didn’t slip up and call our troops “victims.” And it would be even nicer if people weren’t out there ready to pounce on every war casualty and make them political footballs. You know, like Smith did in this very story.
(h/t Randy)
(bp)
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Shep Smith aka Geraldo Lite
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 12:10 AM
I actually once liked this guy..now he is just a dick.
EnochCain on April 26, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Shep, do us a favor, stick to the light entertaining stuff, its what your good at.
Bradky, since you threw it out there first, you remember when Shep and Geraldo were freaking out during the Katrina coverage?
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 12:16 AM
Make that an arrogant dick! I’ve never liked him.
thedecider on April 26, 2007 at 12:17 AM
This can’t be true because Foxnews is an evil right-wing propaganda news network for republicans right? He’s just spoofing a liberal news reporter’s point of view probably.
Ballistic on April 26, 2007 at 12:20 AM
All too well – their performance during Katrina should be used in every Journalism 101 class there is to show what happens when journalists let their emotion override their professionalism.
Maybe he could go on the View to replace Rosie — kind of a metrosexual kind of guy to share the tears.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 12:20 AM
I got the impression he was expressing admiration for the troops.
mikeyboss on April 26, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Hey Shep, why don’t you head back to that overpass in Nawlins and report on the anarchy in the Superdome.
Exit question: Who spends more time on their hair: Shep or the Silky Pony?
Mallard T. Drake on April 26, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Off, Off topic, but I wanted to bring your attention to it, Ian. Oakland has condemned immigration raids by federal agents, and said it won’t cooperate with deportations.
amerpundit on April 26, 2007 at 12:26 AM
I used to like Shep, but he’s turned into just another annoying newscaster.
amerpundit on April 26, 2007 at 12:34 AM
Yeah, Shep, can’t even find any “war coverage” that remembers the fallen…….. I think you have been hanging out with Geraldo and Gretta a little too much, by the way, have you ever been to a Military funeral?
For “Sam“…
“What started it all……”
Idiot…….
PinkyBigglesworth on April 26, 2007 at 12:41 AM
This is one of those eternal queries right? Like the one if God could make a burrito so hot he couldn’t eat it. (Yeah I know, Simpsons haven’t been funny for years, I havent watched in years)
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 12:41 AM
As one of the fellas who had the honor for a year of my service to carry the honored I say this to Shep and his media….STFUYSSOB
Apologies to HA for the outburst…..just got a button punched I guess.
Limerick on April 26, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Watch again, and watch as he says “victims… uh, heroes”, and given the history of the heated issue, you must understand what he’s doing. I’m too lazy to explain it again, so I’ll just post what I said in my email to Ian on this:
RightWinged on April 26, 2007 at 12:57 AM
No apologies to this “blog” necessary, sir, none what so ever…………
PinkyBigglesworth on April 26, 2007 at 12:59 AM
so long as it pulls at heartstrings and erodes support for the war.
Bingo….score….points….game over…nothing strips down this argument like that does.
Limerick on April 26, 2007 at 1:05 AM
I think Shep has always leaned to the left. In his early days on FOX it was innocuous. Since Katrina, it has become obvious. Shep, Greta, Chris Wallace, Bill Hemmer…how can anyone say FOX isn’t balanced by offering up these folks – one of which is a pretty heavy hitter?
thedecider on April 26, 2007 at 1:07 AM
i miss when shep went nutso in new orleans.
Vincenzo on April 26, 2007 at 1:09 AM
I kinda liked Smith when I first started watching FOX regularly, (During and after 9/11/01).
He was self-effacing, likable and not too obvious about his liberal leanings. But then he started taking himself oh-so-seriously, and lost every iota of charm and (appearance of) objectivity he may have ever had.
Can’t remember when the last time it was that I caught more than a couple of minutes at a time of his ‘act’.
He’d make a great co-anchor for some morning news-variety hour on a local station in a small predominantly liberal market somewhere in California, Florida or Massachusetts etc. That’s about the best I could say about him anymore.
LegendHasIt on April 26, 2007 at 1:20 AM
But… but… but….
He’s on Fox! He’s supposed to be Bush’s sock-puppet. Is there a typo in the Liberal Handbook?
hadsil on April 26, 2007 at 1:23 AM
thedecider on April 26, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Make that a pretty boy arrogant dick, with a name that sounds like one of the three stooges.
sonnyspats1 on April 26, 2007 at 1:28 AM
He’d make a great co-anchor for some morning news-variety hour on a local station in a small predominantly liberal market somewhere in California, Florida or Massachusetts etc. That’s about the best I could say about him anymore.
LegendHasIt on April 26, 2007 at 1:20 AM
Whoa… Florida?
sonnyspats1 on April 26, 2007 at 1:29 AM
Nah, this is just a trick by us agents of the VRWC to try and push the media right, didn’t you get the memo?
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 1:31 AM
Greta’s a leftie? If there is no national story, I thought her only view of the world consisted of “Breaking News! – [Insert Name][Show generic picture of *attractive* - *young* - *white* - *woman*] has just been []kidnapped []attacked []killed [check one]! Horrific details after these messages…”
eeyore on April 26, 2007 at 1:32 AM
Yeah, I figure the little old ladies in ‘hanging-chad-land’ would go ga-ga over him and his non-threatening, ambigously gay, good looks.
LegendHasIt on April 26, 2007 at 1:36 AM
I (apparently like some of the other commenters) liked Shep somewhat better a few years back. His straight-up reporting has typically been a solid mid-afternoon and early evening mainstay for FNC. Just compare him to Olbermann, who ostensibly broadcasts in the same cable TV vain of televised journalism, versus televised opinion or editorializing. I’ll concede that Shep’s comments here were poorly thought out, but filling time on an unexpected segment, unprepared and unscripted (as I expect this was), one’s bound to say ocassional things that are regrettable or objectionable in hindsight. I’m not convinced Shep was deliberately slingling subtext akin to Bush bashing or that he truly meant to paint fallen soldiers as “victims”.
Regrettable phrasing and framing of the situation for sure, but offering Shep even the very mild mild benefit of the doubt, I could read his comments this way:
“Here was a brave American pilot who died, to whom we appropriately pay homage. We see a lot of brave Americans dying these days and we don’t always have this special opportunity to mourn their passings en masse like this, but clearly all fallen American soldiers deserve that much.”
The war allusion is a bit sensationalized and more than a bit off-topic, but really that transgression only diagnoses Shep with a mild case of Gerldo Pox, not BDSitis or MSMosis.
flip on April 26, 2007 at 1:45 AM
Eh, I’m not sure flip. He’s been harping on the global warming crap too. I wouldn’t say he’s quite an Alvengelical, but its a bit annoying. I want mindless goofy news dammit. I’ve read about everything newswise in the intarwebs before I turn on the TV.
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 1:49 AM
Bad Candy, I’ll have to defer to your (and apparently the consensus) judgment as to Shep’s prevailing leanings. I really haven’t caught many Smith segments in the last couple years, so he may have bailed from the objectivity train since I last watched him regularly.
And if that’s indeed the context, I could see reading additional subtext into the clip adorning this post. But taken at face value, the clip in isolation shows me more a failure to think critically about what he’s saying and an appetite for the sensational, than a pundit with a burning agenda.
flip on April 26, 2007 at 1:56 AM
I got nuthin’ to add to this Shep Smith thing, but saw Bill Hemmer at the White House Correspondents Dinner standing next to Brian Wilson. Hemmer looked like a hobbit compared to Wilson.
ScottMcC on April 26, 2007 at 1:58 AM
Its plausible, even with his history that he just started rambling and it came out.
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 2:01 AM
http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/news/erniepyle/waskow.html
Now substitute Shep or Rather or, God forbid, Couric as the author. Put 3″ NYT headlines on it and a Pelosi/Reed 60 minutes interview behind it. Let Geraldo walk the ‘line’ with his camera man. Give Olberman 5 minutes with the parents as the captain comes home.
Limerick on April 26, 2007 at 2:05 AM
Shep should understand that our fallen hero’s families have a right privacy.
And yes he should be taken by the shirt collar to a few military funerals and if he then he doesn’t gain some respect and understanding, he should then be taken gently by the hand around back and get his ass kicked.
Speakup on April 26, 2007 at 2:09 AM
Are you kidding, I stopped watching whiney Shep during Katrina.
Captain America on April 26, 2007 at 2:11 AM
That’s my guess, frankly. Despite being out of the recent Shep-loop, I’ve seen enough of his broadcasts over the years to recognize when he appears to be vamping for time during an unscripted segment. That’s the strong impression I got here.
It doesn’t seem like much of a stretch to think an anchor with designs on sensational grandeur would reactively revert to the day’s primary headlines when speaking extemporaneously, which is what I took away from the ramblethon Shep went on here.
flip on April 26, 2007 at 2:14 AM
Flip, I agree that it was filling time and rambling and perhaps he said something he didn’t intend to say, but at the same time I think it’s likely Shep letting his liberalism show once again. I would have come down on the same side as you did in your first impression if it weren’t for his history (particularly recent history) of drifting to the left with his “the science is in” global warming crap, and his stating matter of factly that the “playboy bunny” anti-Harold Ford Jr. ad was racist (even though any adult who isn’t retarded could never have honestly taken the ad as racist), his whining in New Orleans, etc.
RightWinged on April 26, 2007 at 2:16 AM
Shep is really annoying after Katrina. I used to really like him. Yawn.
violet on April 26, 2007 at 2:18 AM
Oh look, Howard Stern is on Red Eye.
Stephen M on April 26, 2007 at 2:50 AM
I happen to agree completely with Shep on this one ..
Our fallen troops arriving home for the last time in flag-draped coffins should be greeted when they roll off the plane by their Commander-In-Chief or his representative, who should salute each & every one, state their names, & thank their families for their sacrifice of a loved one to help preserve the freedom we all take for granted.
Furthermore, it should be mandatory that this ceremony be aired on every channel so that everyone can see who is paying the cost for our freedom.
Note: Just so you all don’t say I am a disgusting liberal, I totally support George W. Bush & the action formerly known as the GWOT and classify Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, & Jack Murtha (not a complete list) as traitors.
DJ Dubya on April 26, 2007 at 3:00 AM
In an ideal world DJ, but you know how the enemies and the Democrats (funny how they’re always coming down on the same side of things, huh?) would use the images for propaganda. They’ve done well enough without them, I can only imagine how bad it would be with them. It’s sad that the state of the media and Democratic Party prevents us from properly executing a war and honoring the fallen, but it’s the case nevertheless.
RightWinged on April 26, 2007 at 3:35 AM
What RightWinged said. I just wonder, though, if the reason Shep was railing about this is the same thing that DJ Dubya got out of it. I’m on the fence as to what Shep’s motive was. Even still, this was taking someone’s death and politicizing it about something else.
- The Cat
MirCat on April 26, 2007 at 4:02 AM
I, like many of you, liked Shep pre-Katrina when he more or less was doing a pretty good job just reporting the news. He has turned into just another obviously biased left wing fruit cake.
I can’t figure out why he feels it necessary to fly into his “cute litle” left leaning rages. I think he is doing it because the crew behind the cameras seem to like it so much. Maybe he is doing it for Jane who seems to think he is so cute.
Whatever it is his bosses had better note that his ratings have dropped off the chart since Katrina. Way back then his ratings were some of the best at Fox. I stopped watching MSNBC and CNN to get away from this kind of biased reporting.
I could care less what political philosophy Shepard Smith has or who he dates but I don’t like him injecting it into his news broadcasts.
I guess my only sources for news has been narrowed to Hot Air and Lucianne.
OBX Pete on April 26, 2007 at 4:10 AM
Geraldo? This guy is no Geraldo…
While I often don’t agree with Geraldo’s commentaries and opinions, at least he’s able to make a coherent argument in stating his case.
IMO, Shep is the joke of FNN. They should really just force him to read the prompter (loaded with someone else’s words), and be a good boy until snack time.
But, I hear there’s an opening on The View.
RedCrow on April 26, 2007 at 4:10 AM
Shep is just an old Mississippi boy that came to the big City and got completely hornswoggled by the bright lights and big city ways…he was OK until he started believing his own publicity as an ‘eligible bachelor in New York’. I agree with the previous poster that he is ‘Geraldo Lite’. He is more interested in being accepted by New York society than reporting the news…the media spotlight got him!
DoctorDentons on April 26, 2007 at 6:32 AM
I used to like this guy, somewhere he turned a corner and its clear has lost his way.
Viper1 on April 26, 2007 at 6:55 AM
Like many others, I used to watch his show but after the Katrina silliness I have never taken the time to watch him again. My initial gut feeling is that this was not a simple slip. Newscasters are more trained than that. How do you say victim in the place of hero unless it is already there in your thoughts.
hoosierken on April 26, 2007 at 7:26 AM
Isn’t it scripted anyway and if so wouldn’t that make it an intentional faux pax. Sad that I so rarely believe anything in the media hasn’t been manipulated in some way to affect my view. Is there something so horribly wrong with honesty and truth.
Perhaps some new communications laws that if the journalist doesn’t say In my opinion …. before something turns out to not be true. Or laws where NYT could be sued for printing less than truthful info. Even just a law requiring them to print all corrections on the Front Page in large print or run a ticker tape for the cables.
That’s what they want to impeach Bush for anyway… manipulating information.
frreal on April 26, 2007 at 7:44 AM
Off to MSNBC with him. Give him the old IMUS slot.
Hening on April 26, 2007 at 7:50 AM
He looks drunk.
Steve LLamabutcher on April 26, 2007 at 8:08 AM
Shep = Drama Queen
EEprom on April 26, 2007 at 8:09 AM
Smith and his melodrama have become disgusting. This guy is simply unable to grow into his head. Perhaps he should team up with Olbermann.
rplat on April 26, 2007 at 8:14 AM
Chris Wallace I don’t consider to be a ‘liberal’-I consider him to be equal opportunity.
He asks hard questions of almost EVERYBODY. He seems fair.
That’s what we want in a reporter-I know I do.
I used to have a crush on Shep-as did my now 63 y.o. mother.
I’m sorry.
annoyinglittletwerp on April 26, 2007 at 8:23 AM
I really don’t know what to think of Shep. I’ve always liked him, but since reading many of your comments over the months, I’m starting to wonder if he does use his air time to push liberal agendas.
As far as this issue is concerned, I’m glad they don’t allow the media to hijack these very private moments from the families to use the images to push their anti-american agenda. If Shep, or any other person for that matter, has to see flag draped coffins in order to pay tribute to our soldiers, well, they just don’t get it.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 8:24 AM
After eleven days of reporting on VTech, the ‘victim’ gaffe may be just that– a mistake.
eforhan on April 26, 2007 at 8:24 AM
Not a Shep fan for all the obvious reasons, but the biggest reason is the way he treats Jane Skinner.
Wade on April 26, 2007 at 8:29 AM
If I ever fail to make the other poor bastard die for his country and have to do it myself instead, I don’t want ANY cameras to record my casket returning from the war zone. I don’t want ANY politician to line up and give me any more recognition for dying than they would if I were still alive.
I am not a political football, and I’m sick and tired of people turning my deceased comrades in arms as such.
James on April 26, 2007 at 8:37 AM
Well said
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 8:41 AM
I guess it just doesn’t occur to the global warming/katrina whore Smith that the reason flag draped coffins of our soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen aren’t shown frequently is because the rabid left will immediately use those pictures for political attacks … disrespecting the very men and women he says we should show respect to by showing them.
He’s become very irritating lately with his pompous air of righteousness. I wonder what Jane Skinner thinks of her boy Shep.
darwin on April 26, 2007 at 8:44 AM
And some on the right will use them as audio visual aids to support their forced tears and hushed tones all in the pursuit of ratings. James said it perfectly in his 8:37 post.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 8:48 AM
I have never cared for Shep. He has too many mis-statements. Although I did enjoy his “Blow Job” slip up. It was classis Shepard Smith.
bopbottle on April 26, 2007 at 8:49 AM
That’s true, but almost the ENTIRE left does it and it is the right that is standing between the sanctity of the families privacy and their explotation by the likes of Cindy Al-Sheenhan, Reid, pelosi, and the rest who are completely wrong on this issue.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 8:59 AM
I don’t agree. Too many people are quick to equate all Democrats are left, hence traitors, or opportunists. There are many more Democrats who are just as patriotic as you are and are appalled by some of the things being claimed by the vocal minority of the party.
Two wrongs do not make a right and labeling never advances the cause of responsible civil discourse.
I operate from the premise that regardless of party affiliation all Americans are patriotic and really care about the military folks. If they prove me wrong it is at the pace of one individual at a time.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 9:10 AM
Well then perhaps the democrat silent majority needs to speak up. When all that is heard or seen comes from the “vocal minority”, just what do you expect people to think? The fringe lunatics control the democrats. If you want to see them replaced by saner, moderate voices then encourage the quiet ones to speak up.
darwin on April 26, 2007 at 9:17 AM
Its Thousands and Thousands that have died not 100’s.
The reason for NOT showing the coffins is PUBLIC OPINION. They are afraid it may change public opinion negatively. TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!! Bush’s right direction poll number 22% popularity, Cheney approval 9-18%, For get to F out of Iraq 70%. Boy but YOU and the republicans are Soooooooooooo smart you know better of course.
The Right says they CARE so much about the military? Walter Reed medical center, A SHAME. No Body or Vehicle Armor of the first years of the war, A SHAME. Tillman friendly fired death cover-up, A SHAM. Bush’s Policy………responsible for over 3,300 DEATHS! ALL UNDER Republican so called Leadership! SO SHUT UP ABOUT THE LIBERALS. We could NOT DO worse with them, compared to republicans.
gmcjetpilot on April 26, 2007 at 9:21 AM
There is a vocal minority on the right as well. Many more republicans fall toward the middle than the far right. Party politics is about the message promoted by the base of each party being tempered by the larger majority of the party.
That’s just the way it works and why it is silly for the base to accuse the other party of being traitors (right calling all Dems) or racist (left calling all republicans racist).
IMHO most of the people posting or blogging this far out from the election fall into the categories of the party base.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 9:22 AM
Shep!
What the
hellheck?Lawrence on April 26, 2007 at 9:28 AM
fa·nat·ic [fuh-nat-ik]
–noun 1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics.
–adjective 2. fanatical.
Upper caps lets me know people don’t know anything about what they are typing.
Thank god for cable TV, so everyone can have a fully informed opinion on everything.
Ringmaster on April 26, 2007 at 9:31 AM
I saw that one too – I think his mind was just wandering.
He was probably thinking how he could get the hell out of Skinnerville fast and get down to his favorite local bar.
OBX Pete on April 26, 2007 at 9:38 AM
I’m not familiar with Shep Smith so don’t have an opinion one way or the other.
I am familiar with the administration’s policy of keeping the coffins of fallen troops hidden from the public. I don’t need Shep Smith to tell me what a smarmy thing this is to do.
The administration seems to love the troops in the abstract. Specifics–like adequate equipment and time at home and post trauma care and due respect for returning remains? Not so much. I keep thinking that the A team is going to show up any minute; then I realize, oh shit, this is the A team.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 9:41 AM
I have never understood the morbid fascination some people have with flag-draped coffins – or, any coffin for that matter…As if remembering a person’s death is more important than remembering their life.
franksalterego on April 26, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Thanks, honora, for saying that fulfilling my final request would be smarmy.
James on April 26, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Maybe Shep is liberal, and maybe he’s emotional. Sounds like my sister. Still like both of them.
mikeyboss on April 26, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Everyting in this country is politicized and this will also be if we open the doors to a gaggle of media vouyers. Leave it alone Shep and let our brave soldiers rest with the dignity and honor they have earned with their lives.
rplat on April 26, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Shep, If I gotta explain it to you, you are incapable of understanding.
Sorry dude, I used to like you until your little spectacle in Nawlins.
Of course in fairness I can’t view the clip and can only read the quote above and I know Shep gets to talking faster then his brain can form the words but still I think I got a peek inside.
LakeRuins on April 26, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Fixed! ;)
eforhan on April 26, 2007 at 10:43 AM
I couldn’t agree more. I’m workin on it!
As far as this issue is concerned, it goes both ways. I can understand the privacy, certainly, as well as having an honorable return home.
But propaganda is propaganda. Surely some on the left would use these types of images, casket after casket coming home, to promote their agendas.
And the right doesn’t want America to see any more evidence of the greatest sacrifice.
Either way, our troops, especially the ones making the ultimate sacrifice, shouldn’t be used to make a point.
SouthernDem on April 26, 2007 at 10:48 AM
1st, I didn’t say all and second, if there are so many of these dem patriots, why did this sham of a funding bill get 216 dems voting for it? And why don’t we hear these patriots voices over the vocal minority? It wouldn’t take much for them to put party affiliation aside and do what is best for the country.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 10:49 AM
You know what, I’m about as right wing conservative as you can get, and guess what liberal or not I like Shep. If Shep is a liberal then he is one of the most reasonable logical and self controlled of all liberals. Being liberal doesn’t automatically make you evil, it just usually means you are far too emotional to be rational logical or correct about anything. Shep has not attempted to undermine the war on his broadcast and he has not pushed a heavy handed liberal agenda, if and I say if he is a liberal then he is a reasonable liberal and the kind of liberal I can live with.
Rock on………..
doriangrey on April 26, 2007 at 11:06 AM
For sure. He used to be OK, if a bit simple-minded.
It seems like somewhere along the way, perhaps just before Nawlins, he got some career advice telling him to just go with his feelings. The key to acceptance in the MSM club. Screw the facts. It’s about feelings.
bofh on April 26, 2007 at 11:11 AM
Hidden isn’t the right word. Let me ask you this. I was around for Korea and Vietnam. Did I just block out that we didn’t see a parade of flag draped coffins during those wars? I surely don’t remember it and, of course, there were a lot more of them then and the administrations were not Republican. So I am wondering, politely, if all the concern about the flag draped coffins is being used as an excuse by leftists to yet again attack President Bush. And, if so, that’s pretty shameful. The newspapers remind us daily, hourly even, how many are dead in the war. Do we really need to see the coffins? What is it that divides us in this matter, those of us who feel a family has a right to privacy and those of you who feel the need to see flag draped coffins?
Glynn on April 26, 2007 at 11:22 AM
You and GMCjetpilot sound much the same — only your political views seem different. Thanks to both for illustrating my points.
216 Democrats doesn’t extrapolate to include all 73 million registered Democratic voters.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Hidden? Where do you get that idea? You have some proof other than your imaginations, or rather your hopes? Please, educate the group with some facts. Spoken words, written statements, etc. will be sufficient to prove Bush is hiding this.
Abstract? You, like all liberals are projecting. Just because you see them in the abstract does not mean we all do. You see, because Bush is responsible for sending them to war, he is very aware of the sacrifices. You, like all liberals use the troops as your talking points. You don’t get more abstract than that. Hence the reason Bush doesn’t drag them out for moonbats to politicize. #ell, look at your attempts in this thread to politicize their sacrifice, Lord knows what vile excrement would spew forth from that sewer you call a mouth if flag draped coffins were a fixture on the nightly news. You see it now? YOU are the one who doesn’t care about the well being of the troops or the privacy of the families. You WANT lots and lots of coffins to strengthen your reasons to hate Bush and you have convinced yourself into believing that all the american public has to do is see coffins and they’ll get behind your sick politicization of a very private time in a families life. The rest of us realize the sanctity of this and refuse to get into the gutter with liberals who love to use the deaths of others for their pet causes.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Hidden is exactly the right word apparently.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 11:35 AM
You’re not getting it. I’ll get back to you later.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM
See above.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM
That’s it in a nutshell. By the way … Shep Smith = Girlie Man.
darwin on April 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM
7.7
honora on April 26, 2007 at 11:39 AM
honora,
Nice work on the quick citations.
What does 7.7 mean?
mikeyboss on April 26, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Kinda looks like pointy boobs and a belly button.
mikeyboss on April 26, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Don’t bother I get it just fine and am put off by rhetoric such as yours and GMCJetpilot. It is like watching two people look in a mirror and not realize they are the same.
Personally I don’t think there should be a ban on the pictures of caskets coming back. No one’s name is displayed and certainly the bodies are not shown.
But I also feel that in our polarized political climate, too many partisans from both parties use the pictures to make obscene points to buttress their views.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Scoring, like the Olympics. As a “you’re a crazy liberal and everything bad is your fault and the war isn’t lost but if it is lost it’s your fault and we wouldn’t have kids shooting up campuses if we only had prayer in school God hates fags and Muslims are scum” rant, this one hit some of the high points, got in some nice personal shots, but not very original.
Oh honey, don’t I wish!!!
honora on April 26, 2007 at 12:28 PM
I say, give Shepard Smith a break.
These days our soldiers dying in Iraq are victims of terrorists. Yes, victims.
The War against Iraq is over and has been for years. We won that. It is the occupation that has been challenging us for so long. The current war in Iraq is a war against terrorists, not the lawful government. When our boys are killed by terrorists, they are indeed victims of the terrorists in my view.
The word “victim” used by Mr. Smith or by me does not impugn George Bush or the military efforts. At least I certainly do not intend that, and I heard no such intent by Mr. Smith. I believe this topic head is an overreaction.
Conservatarian on April 26, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Do ya’ think?!?! Love your screen name BTW.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 12:34 PM
The soldiers in Iraq (and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan) are not paying the cost of our freedom. They’re currently paying the cost of Iraqi freedom (so those wonderful Iragis won’t have to…)
If they were paying the cost of our freedom, Iraq would be largely depopulated, our troops would be Iran, and Syria would be “negotiating” a way to keep our troops from f*ing their women (not that they’d want to….)
OUR freedom is about putting down our enemies and acquiring the resources OUR people need. Not handing democracy on a silver salver to desert trash who deserve neither liberty nor security.
I think Shep likes boys rather than girls. I’ve suspected it a long time. The only question in my mind was whether he was a log-cabin Republican, or a typical Democrat.
Good gawd, if the colonials gave the rebels as much support for their liberty as the Iraqis have given us, we’d have a governor-general running America for the Queen right now.
Hiraghm on April 26, 2007 at 12:38 PM
…and the point of this would be:
honora on April 26, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Honora, I was really hoping for some debate and not a cut and paste article. But thanks anyway.
Glynn on April 26, 2007 at 1:05 PM
I am sick of people making statements, having those statements exposed as false, and then making coy little retreats. You wondered if this policy of not showing the returning coffins was not a Bush policy per se, but had always been thus. You piously commented:
You know what else is pretty shameful? Not admitting your mistake. You’ll note I did not assume I knew your politics, just addressed the inquiry. My mistake.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 1:20 PM
I will address this philosophically: I get the same feeling when I hear that Bush has made Dover off limits to the press that I get when I consider the fact that this is the first major war we have fought with no attendent taxation; in fact we are enjoying a tax cut. Our taxes (my husband and I) are considerably lower than they have ever been.
So what is this costing me as an individual? Absolutely nothing, and that is dead wrong. I have a friend whose son is a Marine who will be going to Iraq. That’s it. So yeah, I think I should be required to look at those coffins. Saw some conservative talking head pontificating: “Freedom isn’t free.” You couldn’t prove it by me.
honora on April 26, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Yeah, that’s what I figured. You’vge got your mind made up. Thing is, the conservatives aren’t making an issue of it. The moonbat libs are.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 1:59 PM
You have to take responsibility for the words you use. Previously you used the word “hidden” along with accusing Bush of doing so to keep the troops in abstract. This is a lie. The stated position of the administration is to respect the families privacy, and not as a political statement.
You BDS is in full flair up today isn’t it?
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 2:07 PM
That he’s in the closet in more ways than one, that comparing him to Silky Pony is probably an insult to Silky Pony (if possible), and that the closet he’s in politically is a bigger deal than the one he’s in sexually.
Oh, I’m sorry, did I make a connection between sexual deviance and political deviance (aka liberalism)? Gosh…
Hiraghm on April 26, 2007 at 2:48 PM
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