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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Actually, I think that the merits (or lack thereof) of his reportage ought to be the sole factor in judging him a jackass. There are plenty of reasons to bash him about this issue without bringing his sexual orientation into question.
James on April 26, 2007 at 3:05 PM
My feelings exactly. There’s a future for him at CNN.
But WTF does his sexual preference have to do with it Hiraghm? That’s just bad form. Go away.
infidel4life on April 26, 2007 at 3:17 PM
You have your mind made up before an issue even occurs. Conservative = (each word prefaced with always) good, thoughtful, patriotic, sensitive
Liberal = (each word prefaced with always)traitor, whacked out, moonbat, insensitive
I’m a little old for the jargon of youth today but I think the description above would make you a “tool”, incapable of critical thinking in regard to political issues and a ready parrot of the party line — yes, i think that is accurate.
Bradky on April 26, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I heard his statement while driving home and I thought it was way over the top. Does he expect American soldier coffins be available for anti-war goons to be spit upon.
Think Vietnam. Why allow our brave soldiers coffins to become politcal photo ops for the left and people like him?? if he wants to see coffins draped with the Flag, he can go to a funeral and keep his trap shut while there.
gary on April 26, 2007 at 5:05 PM
The difference is that there is not a crowd of war protestors who want to use the Navy Blue Angel pilot’s casket as a bloody prop in their protest horror show.
Tantor on April 26, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Well, aparently you’re not old enough to parse others comments accurately and entirely too parinoid for your own good. Just because you fit the definitions I use, doesn’t mean I am talking about you specifically. My ol’ grandad told me that when you throw a rock at a pack of dogs, the one that yelps is the one that got hit. Well, yer yelping awful loudly dude.
Lets see if you can be edumacated a bit….
Moonbat lib is a phrase that distinguishes between a lib and a moonbat lib. Yet, you take it to mean all libs are moonbats. THAT is your problem, not mine.
But rather than continue to try to smooth over your ruffled feathers, lets get back to the issue at hand…..the bottom line is that having pictures of coffins out there so they can use them as political statements against the war, is a lefties issue. The right want the families left in peace. If you cannot accept that is what you are, then I suggest you sit down and have a real good talk with yourself, instead of projecting your issues onto others.
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 9:03 PM
csdeven,
Pretty damn well said………..
Rock on…………
doriangrey on April 26, 2007 at 9:28 PM
Your old granddad said… LOL now you are trying to sound like Fred Thompson’s character! What a hoot. Are you really over the age of 14?
You have your head firmly buried where the sun don’t shine and are a shill for the party line. That makes you absolutely no different than the “left” you abhor so much.
Moonbats, moonbat lib, etc. Use of labels is your only recourse — intelligent analysis is certainly not your strong suit.
Bradky on April 27, 2007 at 12:05 AM
I used to like the guy A LOt but he got too big for his britches. Why am I not surprised? When he insulted people for not believing in global warming I just sat there with my mouth open and after that, never watched him again. It’s sad…but it’s ok, there are a few people on fox worth watching still.
Highrise on April 27, 2007 at 2:33 AM
honora, you are an idiot..but that goes without saying.
Highrise on April 27, 2007 at 2:34 AM
I’ll give you one last chance to engage this like an adult. Otherwise I will deny you the credibility you get when I give you the honor of my conversation. And believe me, you need the credibility.
The point is that, the issue of flag drapped coffins all over the nightly news is an issue the left wants. The right takes the position that the families should have some privacy. NOTHING you have said from the beginning of this has supported anything to the contrary. You have continued to get your panties in a bunch over me.
There is an issue in this thread and it isn’t your tender feelings. Do you think you can control yourself long enough to actually address the real issue or do you still want to make this about how others should kowtow to you because you can’t deal with your personal demons?
csdeven on April 27, 2007 at 8:52 AM
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