Wednesday, June 21, 2006
More Shameless Questioning Of Patriotism
Rep. Gohmert: Let me close by saying some have not had nice things to say about our colleague Mr. Murtha, and others wanting to pull out of Iraq quickly. I understand the faithful visitation that he does routinely. So i say thank god for his big heart. I say thank god for his compassion. Thank god for his visits to the wounded. Thank god for his ministering to grieving families. But thank god he was not here and prevailed after the bloodbaths at Normandy and in the Pacific or we would be here speaking Japanese or German. Thank you.
Rep. Murtha: Was the gentleman at any of those locations? Either at normandy or any of those locations?
Rep. Gohmert: You want to know which locations?
Rep. Murtha: Yeah. Normandy?
Rep. Murtha: I say were you there?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir. I wasn't.
Rep. Murtha: Were you in Vietnam?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir.
Rep. Murtha: Iraq?
Rep. Gohmert: No. I have been over there. I haven't been fighting.
Rep. Murtha: Boots on the ground?
Rep. Gohmert: I do admire the gentleman's compassion and all he has done for our wounded. He has done a great service that would be you, Mr. Murtha.
Rep. Gohmert was born on December 18th, 1953.
He was not yet born when the Battle of Normandy took place.
He was stilll in utero when a cease fire was declared in Korea on July 27th, 1953.
He was 12 years old when US troops became involved in Vietnam in 1965.
He was just shy of 50 years old when US troops invaded Iraq - too old to volunteer for service.
The remarks of cowards who refuse to serve deserve no response:
Louie Gohmert received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, where he was Class President and served as a Brigade Commander of the Corps of Cadets. He was also Class President while attending Baylor School of Law. He is a veteran having served his country as Captain in the U.S. Army as a result of an Army scholarship at Texas A&M.
CWCID: Frodo, Men's News Daily
12 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed Jun 21, 11:00:00 AM:
What's your point? That Gohmert has no standing to comment because he didn't fight in a war like Murtha did? Gohmert appears to be taking the side that this blog has strongly taken over the war; Murtha, in contrast, is on the opposite side.
It's as unfair to call Gohmert a coward as it is to question Murtha's patriotism. Both show patriotism by entering into an increasingly hostile political environment and standing up for what they believe in. Murtha's patriotism shouldn't be in question, but he shouldn't be given free reign to question the patriotism of others precisely because they haven't served. That's not playing fair, either, and Murtha doesn't deserve immunity from debate because he did serve.
The Centrist
By 
Cassandra, at
Wed Jun 21, 11:06:00 AM:
I was being sarcastic.
My husband is a career Marine and I've been pounding on Murtha's comments for months, so it's unlikely I'd take that tack.
By , at
Wed Jun 21, 02:35:00 PM:
So, now Murtha as well feels that not only should only vets be allowed to support a the war, but only combat vets.
Sounds like the roots of military dictatorship. Odd that lefties don't have to serve to dislike a war.
By , at
Wed Jun 21, 02:58:00 PM:
Gawda mitt!
I am fed up with the "how dare you question my patriotism" line.
A man's patriotism, by definition, should be questioned.
Question mine. I have an answer.
Murtha questions Gohmert's patriotism. He answers that.
What's Murtha's excuse? I question his patriotism, and his only answer is that he was in the military?
Granted, most military men I know are patriots, too. But patriotism isn't a medal you pick up through a career choice: it is a tangible, lifelong status. Patriotism, like any virtue, must be cultivated and honed.
Murtha's patriotism has grown saggy in the back end, obsessed with air conditioners and Okinawa.
I don't just question his patriotism...I doubt it. He could be charged with sedition for the smears he's pasted on our soldiers.
It has often been said in jest by the men who earn them that "Purple Heart" is a euphemism for "Enemy Sharpshooting Medal..." well, I think in the case of Mr. Murtha, "Senator" is quickly becoming a euphemism for "Too stupid to know better."
Whether he served or not, Murtha is no patriot. He's a madman. I think he needs to be checked over for pre-traumatic stress disorder, because he ain't fit to serve.
--Dan
By , at
Wed Jun 21, 03:10:00 PM:
Sorry to double-post, but I just had to throw in this image of WWII patriotism art.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2006/Apr/11/FPI604110305V1_b.jpg
In WWII it was commonplace for us to openly question...AND PROVE (by not riding solo, by watching what we said, by joining together to get the job done) our patriotism.
Now it's a damnable taboo?
Pffft. Question my patriotism, your patriotism, Kerry's patriotism, Murtha's patriotism, W's patriotism, and any soldier's patriotism. Then let everyone be aware.
Patriotism is not a private matter, but a public act.
By Cassandra, at
Wed Jun 21, 03:11:00 PM:
So, now Murtha as well feels that not only should only vets be allowed to support a the war, but only combat vets
Kind of makes one wonder what happened to the idea of civilian control of the military.
If civilians can't *discuss* the war (because they've never been in combat) and civilians can't *decide to go to war* (because they're incapable of understanding the horrors of warfare) then I guess we're left with the military deciding for itself when America will, or will not, go to war.
I feel freer already.
By Dawnfire82, at
Wed Jun 21, 07:13:00 PM:
They're just too nuanced and sophisticated in their thoughts for commoners like us to understand.
By , at
Thu Jun 22, 12:09:00 AM:
Yes we should question the so called patiotism of these liberals and also do they realy want peace or do that want us all to be run by the UN tyrants?
By Catchy Pseudonym, at
Thu Jun 22, 02:55:00 PM:
"But thank god he was not here and prevailed after the bloodbaths at Normandy and in the Pacific or we would be here speaking Japanese or German. Thank you."...
What an ass&%#! statement. I wished Murtha would have walked over and ripped his head off his beanpole body. The guy was being a cock, and after saying a lame comment like that, I think highlighting his un-service to the US is justified.
Debate the war, but when your a pencil-neck poliical blowhard and you make comments like that, you deserve what you get. How can you guys defend that guy?
By Cassandra, at
Thu Jun 22, 03:19:00 PM:
What, precisely, so offends you about that remark Catchy?
That one military guy might imply that another military guy who wanted us out of Somalia when we lost just a few men, and then again out of Iraq when we lost a few thousand, might have wanted us out of WWII when our losses ran to the tens of thousands?
You may disagree with his reasoning, but it's hardly beyond the pale.
By Dawnfire82, at
Thu Jun 22, 08:09:00 PM:
Point of Rep. Gohmert's statement: If we had people like Murtha thinking in 1944 the way he does now World War II would have been settled with an armistice. I concur.
And Murtha comes back with "well I was in Vietnam" again. For a year. I know people 1/3 his age who have 3 times the combat experience. You know, today's soldiers. Who, as I've mentioned before, by and large despise Mr. Murtha and don't want to leave Iraq except as victors.
I guess he'll just ignore them. Way to be a leader. Ist.
By Catchy Pseudonym, at
Fri Jun 23, 09:07:00 AM:
I'm not talking about the "military vs non-military" arguement. I'm talking about the guy sounding like a little snot. I wasn't offended. I am just can't believe these people talk to each other like that. You can't argue about this war with out coming off like a dillhole? I don't have a problem with your point. You just picked an example that doesn't make me very sympathetic to the person your defending. He just sounds like an ass to me.
