Let’s be kind and simply say that news coverage of the carnage at Fort Hood wasn’t journalism’s finest moment.
It seems that lamestream journalists had a great deal of trouble uttering the word “terror” or “terrorist” or “Muslim” – even though the gunman is a Muslim terrorist. You’d think that his many jihadist statements might have been a clue. Or the fact he repeatedly wrote to an imam in Yemen who was recruiting for al-Qaeda. But the clincher, you’d think, was when the gunman shouted the Islamic war cry, Allahu Akbar, “God is Great,” right before he opened fire.
Hey, but those are just facts and everyone knows that lots of reporters won’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. And the good story they were putting out – without any evidence to back it up – was that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan probably was suffering from PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, even though he had never been in combat in his life.
One poll of network evening newscasts found that 85 percent of their stories (in a five day period after the shooting) did not mention the word “terror.” And only 29 percent of the evening news reports mentioned that Maj. Hasan was a Muslim.
I think this allergic reaction to reality has something to do with the human tendency – in this particular case, the human liberal tendency – to try to shape facts to conform with one’s own idealistic views of the world. In other words, liberal journalists didn’t want the gunman to be a Muslim terrorist so they didn’t portray him as a Muslim terrorist. Pretty simple, huh?
But not all of the coverage and commentary, of course, was lame; some of it wasn’t that good. Which brings us to the real reason for this column: My top 5 examples of lamestream media gone off the rails.
5. Time magazine cover: Terrified … or Terrorist?
This raises another question: ARE YOU KIDDING?
4, Evan Thomas, editor at large of Newsweek: “I cringe that he’s a Muslim. I mean, because it inflames all the fears. I think he’s probably just a nut case. But with that label attached to him, it will get the right wing going….”
So the real danger, in Evan Thomas’s little pretend world, are right-wingers – not Muslim terrorists? And the shooter is “probably just a nut case”? What about that Allahu Akbar, God is Great thing, Evan? You think that might make him more than “just a nut case”?
3. Joe Klein, Time magazine: “There are today several odious attempts by Jewish extremists … to argue that the massacre perpetrated by Nidal Hasan was somehow a direct consequence of his Islamic beliefs….”
But, Joe, the massacre was perpetrated by Nidal Hasan as a direct consequence of his Islamic beliefs! Blaming the Jews, though, is a good one. It always works.
2. Bob Schieffer, CBS News: “And you know, Islam doesn’t have a majority – or the Christian religion has its full … helping of nuts too.”
Call it the moral equivalency argument. But let’s acknowledge that Bob makes a good point. We should all look out for those crazy Christian suicide bombers who are in the news every other day for blowing something or other up and slaughtering as many innocents as they can. Those Christian terrorists pose a real threat to the American people.
1. Chris “I feel a thrill running up my leg” Mathews of MSNBC:
Apparently he tried to contact al-Qaeda. … That’s not a crime to call al-Qaeda, is it?”
Maybe not, Chris, but you are.
That’s my list and I’m sticking to it. I welcome any entries you might have.
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Oh good grief. When are conservatives going to realize that “pro-choice” does not equal “pro-abortion”. Honestly, the vast majority of pro-choice woman I know, would never have an abortion themselves, birth defects or not.
For what it is worth, my son was born with a rare brain malformation and a joint deformity. The brain malformation is not detectable until after birth, but the joint deformity is easily picked up on ultrasound. I was badgered relentlessly and told that my son would die at birth. I refused to abort. That is NOT an option for me. Even if I knew, with 100% certainty, that my son would have been stillborn, I still would have stayed pregnant. Whatever time I get to have with my child is priceless and I would throw that away just to “get it over with”. Today, my son is 4.5. He knows all of colors, letters and their sounds, numbers 1-10, loves animals and drawing. He cannot speak, but signs hundreds of words. He cannot walk, but can take a few steps at a time. And he is absolutely beautiful.
Yes, I am pro-choice. That does not mean that I do not value life or that I agree with abortion. I just believe I have no right to apply my beliefs to someone else. I am not Christian, or “religious”, but again, just because I don’t carry a book that tells me right from wrong, doesn’t mean I can’t figure that out for myself (for the record, I am Pagan).
So maybe you should think things through a bit more before you start making generalized assumptions.
Love to read the comments by the liberals/leftist post. As usual their comments seem to be ad hominem vs any factual support..
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what Bernie was saying. Most liberals are pro-choice and most conservatives are pro-life. You want to talk about Bernie politicizing your kids; he isn’t you are!!!!!!
I think that anything that Bernard Goldberd says or publishes, should be disregarded/burned, because it is all completely close-minded. Pay attention people.
Pretty long debate in here, people. But anyway, just do good deeds with each other, and let’s stay out of trouble. So, be at least less hateful and spread love instead. So people who are not into it, pray for them.
Hey Bernie, Your hate books get people killed, Doesn’t that bother you, I mean just a little bit?
Hey Wil, you’re completely full of crap. Doesn’t that bother you at least a little bit?
Mr. Goldberg:
I chose not to terminate when at 20-weeks gestation we were told that the baby I was carrying had a very large arachnoid cyst taking up nearly the entire left hemisphere of his brain as well as Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. I also voted for Obama; I believe that everyone is entitled health care and that everyone should have the right to marry. And I’m still pro choice. My husband and I *chose* to keep our son. This decision was not made for us by people who do not know us.
Kindly keep my children out of your politics.
Sometimes in life, things start out as one thing and end up turning into something completely different, taking on a life of it’s own. Half of these comments have nothing to do with Bernie’s column. Your column was very good, by the way, Bernie!
Wow Bernie! You really kicked over the hornet’s nest. And you didn’t even write it here. I am impressed.
I see where you were going with your statement. I doubt most of the people reaming you here actually saw the broadcast because what you said (That a liberal is MORE LIKELY to abort a Downs Syndrome fetus) is being taken out of context and twisted into something it was not.
Guess that’s what happens when you fail to toe the politically correct line in a highly public manner.
Hang in there. I think you were right.
Oh Yeah, I also agree with the article you wrote above. The one that has nothing to do with aborting a Downs Syndorme fetus.
Thanks, Leland … I appreciate the support
Bernie
Leland, what he said was “Liberals wouldn’t let that happen.” Furthermore, there are no facts supporting the supposition that a liberal is more likely to abort a Down Syndrome fetus.
I’m still trying to figure out if Bernie meant that liberals hate Palin because they hate children with Down Syndrome, or because they hate the parents of children with Down Syndrome. He can’t really believe that liberals looked at that child and decided to hate his mother because she allowed him to be born. That is absolutely ridiculous.
When I see a child with special needs, I never think “Those people should have aborted that child,” and I don’t know anyone else who thinks that way. I think about how hard it is to have to deal with those extra challenges. If anything, Trig’s existence made me feel supportive of his mother. I identified with her situation, even as I disagreed with her politics.
Deanna,
I saw the show. I admit being at work at the time, we were not transmitting so I caught the gist of it. While that is not an exact quote (too old to give you verbatim transcripts from memory) it is what I got out of it.
Bernie’s only sin here was to cross a politically correct line. That got on of the countless Politically Correct Goon Squads (PCGS) to declare a politically correct jihad on him. Take a look around the internet forums. You’ll find people raising the alarm, telling lies, demanding action and encouraging their followers to vent here.
As for facts, don’t need them. A study on the matter would be interesting but It is common sense that liberals are less inhibited when it comes to abortion and therefore more likely they would abort under any circumstances, let alone the pressure of a defective child. Conservatives tend to me more church going and conservative in that area.
For the record I am a pro-choice conservative. So I am uninhibited by pro-life platform.
So Deanna, where are your facts and figures to back your disagreement with my common sense observations?
Leland,
If after having read through the comments on this page, you still believe that this is a case of a PC line being crossed, then any further attempts to enlighten you would be fruitless. There are facts given in the comment by Becca. Facts are readily available from countless sources.
I must point out, however, that my child is not “defective,” as you say above. She is different from you and me, she has special needs that you and I do not have, but she is absolutely NOT defective. How very sad that you and others look at my child that way. You are missing out on knowing an incredible person.
Personally, for me, political correctness had nothing to do with it. I have no time or patience for people who think that they can alter their vocabulary to fit some sort of mythical, universal standard of acceptance and compassion and that that’s all they need to do; that their PC language masks their ignorance or their self-consciousness or their prejudice or their WHATEVER.
I would much, much rather somebody come up to me and say, “Hey, I’m sorry, but is your sister retarded?” than to have them talk down to (or, more likely, just not talk at all) to my “mentally challenged” sister. I don’t mind people who are ignorant, or people who want to ask questions, even clumsy ones. What gets me is when people say something off-base, and I call them on it, and they’re unwilling to have a discussion. Or unwilling to open their minds, or to admit that they have questions, or to admit that they were wrong. And that’s what’s going on here. Mr. Goldberg can call my sister a retard for all I care. He can call me a flaming liberal elitist who wants to destroy America, or a cracker, or a feminazi. But when I call him on his inaccuracies, and he remains unwilling to discuss the issue (with ANYBODY on the blog who is dissenting, not just me), THAT’S when I have a problem with him.
In short, it’s all about intent with me. It’s all about compassion. Mr. Goldberg didn’t show a whole lot of either in his appearance on the O’Reilly Factor, in his characterization of liberals or in his characterization of special needs parents.
RE: Bernie’s response to Jon Stewart on O’Reilly — that the religious are more likely to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term… because of some inherent compassion that the less/non-religious/liberal does not posses…
Bernie,
I am no liberal; I also abhor abortion. But I also respect the patient/client privilege and the basic rights a woman has over her body. Those are my biases. I also respect truth…
And the truth — the facts — are completely against you here.
Across the western world, the more religious a country’s population is, the higher its abortion rate. The abortion rate in the US doubles the abortion rate of less-religious European nations. The very Catholic nations to our south have even higher abortion rates than the US.
These patterns persist regardless of location nor of population size: The more-religious states have higher abortion rates than less-religious states. The more-religious countries in Europe have higher abortion rates than their less-religious neighbors.
Access to contraception and eduction are certainly contributing factors… but the one constant correlation is religious adherence.
Jon’s “critique” may have been unwarranted — yet your response was worse — as you came across as joyful in your rebuke… joyfully embracing a canard.
Interesting statements you make there, Harrison. But anyone can write anything they want. Have you got any sources for all your statistics? Perhaps some numbers published in a peer reviewed journal? Maybe numbers from government agencies?
After tonight on O’Reilly Bernie, (11/19/09) I self proclaim myself as your BIGGEST FAN.
Fire your current agent, you should have your own show.
Watching you from the Los Angeles area, you give me assurance that there is some sanity out there. I promise to buy your latest book!
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukah.
Kevin Cooper
Kevin
A million thanks, my friend.
Bernie
I am a pro-choice, Christian conservative. I have five kids. And my youngest has Down’s Syndrome. (Although, my kids have Biblical names-nothing too “out there”). I was also born and raised in Fairbanks, AK. Sarah Palin is a true Alaskan woman-and I think that is the main reason why the liberals hate her.
I lived in OK for about a year and half, and when ppl learned I came from Alaska, they somehow thought I was some kind of backwards neanderthal. And it was quite shocking to them that I was actually “normal”. Sound like someone you kno?
Who knew that some woman from some small town in Alaska could bring so much out of everyone in America? Love it!!
The thing is, and I suspect you are fully aware of this, parents of kids with disabilities aren’t offended because of your conservative positions. We’re offended, deeply offended, because you have taken our children’s plights, their very LIVES, and you have turned them into talking points. You’ve politicized the most personal and difficult decision a family can face, all in the service of a cheap shot.
Here’s a secret for you, although if you had any experience with or sensitivity toward children with disabilities , it wouldn’t be a secret at all. Most of us who are raising children with disabilities don’t hate Sarah Palin, no matter how liberal our politics might be. We may hate her politics, but she’s part of our club. It’s a club none of us ever asked to join, and it’s a club with a lifetime membership. And for Sarah Palin, as with the rest of us in that club, the politics of disability will be personal for her.
As a non-member of our club, please do us the courtesy of politicizing your own children and leave ours alone. They have enough to worry about as it is.
– Robert R-H
This from “The Rob”. A man whose income is based on how many books about his daughter’s illness he can pimp.
Hey, Johnny. Robert’s daughter has a disability, not an illness. Robert has a job. Robert also has a website that he has put as a link for full disclosure. If you think he’s posting here to sell books rather than advocate for special needs children, you don’t really know anything about him.
Jim Cathey
San Antonio, TX
And what “job” would that be?
Still waiting.
Mr. Friegas:
Perhaps you should read the book before you make such baseless remarks. Mr. Rummel-Hudson is has become the voice for many parents of special needs kids, and he has done a lot to raise awareness for children who literally have no voice. Your comment was extremely unkind and couldn’t be more wrong.
Julia… What part of what I said is not true?
Everything. See my post.
Mr. Friegas:
As Mr. Cathey explained in his response, Mr. Rummel-Hudson has a job outside of writing. So does his wife. He does not “pimp” his daughter’s “illness.” It just seems like a crass and horrible thing to say about a man who has fought (and continues to fight) so hard for his child as well as for countless other voiceless children.
I didn’t say he pimps his daughter’s disability.
He pimps a book about his daughter’s disability.
hey johnny,
why dont you just say, “you know what…..you’re right. I was wrong and i am sorry. I was rather insensitive and i’m sorry.” ?????? try it. its liberating.
Because I’m not.
Rob, could you provide an example “hateful personal attacks on you and your family” by me?
I didn’t think so.
Bernie,
No matter their motivation or your intent, any comments politicizing the plight of children with special needs and their parents are despicable.
This means that your comments were despicable and hurtful.
If you were a genuinely decent person, you wouldn’t argue your points or defend what you said – you would just come out and say you were wrong, that your shouldn’t have said it, and you would UNCONDITIONALLY apologize.
I hope that my daughter, who has down syndrome, doesn’t ever have to hear someone politicizing her condition.
Mike
I suppose that, in your perfect world, you would only politicize stuff that doesn’t matter to anyone then? Lets just ignore reality for the sake of being PC?
You see, I don’t want to live in your perfect world. I want to live in a nation where only the most important things are politicized, and nothing else.
I was heartened to hear you comments this week on Fox news regarding liberals with disabled children. I have always found my parents liberal stance a bit hypocritical considering their decision to allow their disabled child to continue to live. After all how could a couple of empathetic, government health care supporting, weak kneed democrats ever feel anything but resentment and distrust of the mentally ill? For year I have hoped in vain that they would build a time machine of some sort so the might travel back into the past and abort my brother, whose life is an obvious contradiction of parents political ethos. Everyone knows only conservatives who rail against any kind of government program which might support a disabled child are the only ones brave and strong enough to have disabled children while seeking to deny services and help for their children. I applaud this level of cognitive dissonance. I strongly support Sarah Palin’s brave decision not to abort a less than productive citizen, and to funnel all of her hard earned resources to nannies and any other care takers. It’s what every decent American of means should do! Have that child and make sure they spend their days in the company of the best childcare money can buy while you build your political career all the while using that child as a tool to promote your pro-life position!
i just want you to know i have all your books and i think all are very good. when will the next one be comeing out?
No plans Dan … but thanks for asking
Bernie
It was good to see that Chris Matthews finally won something, #1 in the Best of the Worst. If this were Milwaukee, would it be the Best of the Wurst?
Matthews is a burlesque of an actual journalist. If he wants Obama to succeed, he should volunteer to be Press Secretary. Heaven knows they could use one.
You might remember that Chris was all upset when people with a legal right to carry handguns were showing up at Obama rallies this year. What most people don’t know was that the Secret Service pulled him aside at an Obama rally because they thought he had a gun in his pocket. No gun; he was just glad to see the President.
I have found a correlation between Bush 2, and Obama.
Bush had no WMDs.
Obama has no personal documentation.
ted
I dare you to come to my house and tell me to my face that liberals don’t have kids with Down Syndrome! You disgust me. I’ve read through your hateful website, your name calling and your questionable “facts”. What kind of person would make such despicable comments? Liberals don’t have 5 children? Liberals don’t have kids with Down Syndrome? Where did you get your information?
I mean it. Come on over and I’ll introduce you to my child with Down Syndrome. Who receives Medical Assistance, by the way. That’s right – Socialized Medicine. Watch out – your tax dollars are paying for my child’s health care. And her education and therapies, too.
Respond to this, give me an email address where I can send you my address, pack up your cameras (and all the liberal media you can find) and come say that to my face.
You are a hateful little man.
Deanna
Several things. I am not hateful, nor am I little. And since I’m paying for all the things you say I am, perhaps a little civility might be in order. Read my response to another critic, much more civil than you, on this matter. I was not talking about all liberals. But who is more likely to willingly and knowingly decide to have a baby with Down Syndrome: a pro life or pro choice woman? A woman who isn’t religious or one who is? A conservative woman or a liberal woman. Odds are the religious pro choice woman would go ahead with the pregnancy. Personally, I have no say in those decisions. Peoeple do, and should decide such matters any way they want. But I was trying to explain why so many liberals, especially liberal women, hate Sarah Palin. And I think one of the reasons is that she’s so pro choice that she actually went ahead with the pregnancy.
As for your dumb comment on the web site. What about it do you find “hateful’?
Bernie
Liberals don’t hate Palin because she has a child with Down Syndrome, or because she has five kids with goofy names. Liberals in Hollywood give their kids goofy names all the time. Lots of people have more than 2.3 children. As far as the comment about the child with Down Syndrome – Women, women with a lot of money, very little money, married, unmarried, women in their thirties and teenagers, church going women and atheists, liberals and conservatives, have abortions. They all have them for their own reasons. There is quite a bit of information out there about that particular demographic. It was wrong of you to say “She has a child with Down Syndrome. Liberals wouldn’t let that happen.” Pro-choice does not equal anti-special needs.
Liberal women were told that Palin was the conservative answer to Hillary Clinton. As though a woman, any woman, is automatically going to get women’s votes.
Liberals don’t like Palin because she is not very smart. We had eight years of not very smart in the white house with Bush. We don’t dislike her because she is “just an average American.” We don’t want her in the white house for that reason. Our leaders should be intelligent. We need people, like McCain and Obama, who are well spoken, smart, informed, above average. The woman said her foreign policy experience was Russians flying over Alaska! That is not a well informed response.
You owe everyone with a special-needs child an apology for your uninformed, and frankly dumb, comment. That includes Sarah Palin.
“The woman said her foreign policy experience was Russians flying over Alaska! That is not a well informed response.”
Are you confusing Gov. Palin with Tina Fey?
Palin: Crack Down On ‘Iraq’ To Prevent Nuclear Iran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM7Xhg0WIbU
Sanction Iraq LOL!
She is trying really hard to ‘remember’ her lines, but if you don’t have a solid base of knowledge then it is easy to make stupid mistakes. It’s going to be fun watching her when she starts talking more and more about policy instead of the Oprah type of fluff.
Mr. Goldberg,
According to the New York Times, which may be a bastion of liberal elitist propaganda but still employs fact checkers, an estimated 90% of fetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome in utero are aborted (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09down.html). Down Syndrome affects approximately 1 in every 1000 babies born (wonder how those stats will change in the future?).
The incidence of Down Syndrome is not a genetic defect that affects one population or demographic more than another. Unlike some conditions, like cystic fibrosis (which recurs most commonly in Caucasian families) or sickle cell anemia (mostly affects Africans/folk of African descent), Down syndrome affects black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Arab, American Indian, Indian Indian, etc etc etc populations equally. And that includes, I am assuming, liberal families and conservative families.
Here’s my point: if NINETY PERCENT of fetuses with Down syndrome are being aborted, it’s not just liberals who “aren’t allowing” children with Down’s (or a myriad other defects diagnosed in utero) to be born. It’s not just women who don’t count themselves as religious, and not just women who count themselves as pro-choice. Unless you’re going to maintain that liberals conceive babies with Down syndrome twice as often as conservatives? Maybe it’s time to entertain the notion that the way our families are born and formed is a far more complicated, difficult, and nuanced decision than you want it to be. Maybe none of us are perfect, maybe all of us–liberal and conservative–are trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Whatever decision a family makes–to keep a baby with special needs or to abort it–that decision is always, always gutwrenching. Do you know 1,000 people? Or have you met 1,000 people in your lifetime? Look around, and you will see the faces of the people who have been confronted with this–even if they don’t tell you, even if they can’t always explain what went into their decision to your satisfaction (as if it was ever your business to begin with). I have never met anyone who made a decision about a special needs child (born or unborn) lightly.
And my younger sister has Down syndrome. So I’ve known my share of families. I’ve seen both the darkness and the light that accompanies these children through life, and I’ve confronted more than my fair share of people who treat my sister as if she is not a person, or like she’s invisible, or as if she is some kind of abstract political argument to be made. As tempting as it is to simply call you out for making comments that seemed, at best, manipulative, small-minded, ill-informed and grossly over-simplified; I’d really rather you just take a couple of minutes and roll the numbers around in your head: 90%. 1 in 1000 births (for Down’s, other congenital defects obviously have different levels of incidence). And then take a look around at the faces of the people you know, and think to yourself: for every ten people I know, nine of them would not give birth to this child.
And while you do that, I’ll stick close to my crazy liberal parents and their bleeding heart Obama-supporting friends, who treat Meg with the respect she deserves because they’ve taken the time to get to know her. Let us know when you’re ready to stop pretending that you know anything about families with special needs and the people who comprise them, and we may let you get to know some of the more treasured people in our lives. You’ll have to forgive us for being fiercely over-protective and defensive at times: I’ve been fighting my sister’s battles for her all her life, in this cold world that doesn’t give a damn about her, and it’s a hard habit to break. You have to earn your right to speak for special needs kids, and you don’t earn it by making assumptions about us. Any of us.
Thanks for taking the time to read this (admittedly long) comment.
-Becca
Wow. Well said Becca. I imagine Mr. Goldberg is too ashamed to even begin to formulate a response to that.
Well done.
Becca,
Thank you for such an articulate, intelligent response. It means so much to our family and especially to our beautiful 3 year old daughter. She happens to have Down syndrome. And we happen to be liberals.
ya, bernie, i think at this point, after reading Becca’s address, that now would be a good time to step up, and admit you were wrong. Even tell everyone that you changed your mind and take it all back. Because you and me are very ignorant of this subject and have no buisness talking about it. Think befor you speak next time bud. I’m glad you made this mistake, because Becca has enhansed my life by making me a bit more sensitive and aware, so that i dont make the same mistake you did. Thanks Becca.
Becca, I was going to read the NYT article you referenced, but unless I forgot how to click a mouse that link you provided goes nowhere.
Johnny,
I don’t know what to tell you or why the link isn’t working for you because it works for me. Make sure that your computer isn’t reading the parentheses as part of the link. Barring all else, all you have to do is google “down syndrome abortions” and it’s one of the first results that comes up. The article is dated May 9, 2007, so you can also find it at your local library if you’re so inclined. The official title of the article is “Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus” and it’s by Amy Harmon. Hope that helps.
Becca
Found the NYT article. Their source is a European study. I think that casts a whole new light on your response to Bernie.
Becca: “And my younger sister has Down syndrome. So I’ve known my share of families. I’ve seen both the darkness and the light that accompanies these children through life, and I’ve confronted more than my fair share of people who treat my sister as if she is not a person, or like she’s invisible, or as if she is some kind of abstract political argument to be made.”
– so…because some people behave horribly when in the presence of a born person with Down syndrome, the answer is to eliminate the unborn people who have Down syndrome? Why don’t we instead work on changing people’s attitudes, instead of disallowing people from being born because there are those out there who would act like jerks to them?
I think it’s interesting that you think you disagree with me when, to be frank, you don’t. It’s also a little bit odd that you’re calling me out for supposedly being unwilling to try and change people’s attitudes when I’m here, on bernie goldberg’s blog (not to mention every day of my life), trying to do just that.
I know a lot of people who think that everyone should be required to work a crappy retail or food service job for at least one year of their life in order to teach them how to not act crappy towards retail workers and food service workers. Personally, I think that everybody should be exposed to retards in order to lessen their fear and their stereotypes and their WHATEVER IT IS that makes my sister’s life harder than it has to be. I think classes should be integrated as much as they can be, I think people should coach special olympics, I think pee wee sports teams should be integrated. I have never met one person who, after taking the time to get to know my sister, isn’t glad that they did. I know two people who have become special ed teachers because knowing my sister inspired them to take that direction with their lives. My sister challenges me, and my family, and our social circles, every day. She changes people’s lives and attitudes every day. And that’s one of the many reasons why I’m glad she’s in my life. I am not glad that she makes me listen to Britney Spears every day, but hey, that’s what little sisters are for, right?
I think the difference, maybe (and I’m making an assumption here, so correct me if I’m wrong), is that perhaps you are pro-life. Both of us want more retarded people in the world; both of us want there to be less abortions. That’s fine. But if you’re pro-life…then you’re kind of pro-forcing-a-special-needs-child-on-a-family-that-may-or-may-not-be-equipped-to-deal-with-her. I think that a lot of people who COULD handle a child with special needs perhaps choose to have an abortion because they’re afraid that they can’t handle it. And that breaks my heart. And part of me wishes I could introduce all of those people to my sister (while the other part of me is unwilling to make her a poster child in that way). And I think the medical profession could go a long way towards lessening an expectent mother’s fears rather than aggravating them. But you know what? The world isn’t perfect, I can’t introduce my sister to everyone, , and the fact remains that a diagnosis like Down Syndrome can be overwhelming to most expectant parents. What I would NEVER do would be to force a special needs child on a family who really doesn’t want one, doesn’t have the resources to care for one, and will treat that child cruelly, irresponsibly, or neglectfully. Frankly, there are some people out there who don’t deserve the unexpected gift that is a retarded child. More to the point, the retarded child has done nothing to deserve THEM, their unprepared parents. Having a child (or a sibling) with special needs can be hard. And frustrating. They are glorious people in many ways, but they are also more frustrating than typical kids in a lot of ways and also a lot more fragile. So I have to trust that the people who are confronted with me know themselves, and know their situations, better than I do, and make their own choices. After all, I do not have to bear the consequences of their decision. And there are consequences, regardless of what option they choose. I have to trust people. It’s one of the things my sister taught me.
hey becca,
i hear ya. really well thought out. but, and i’m probably over simplify’n it, but if you ask me, i like breathing, and i want to live. And if you asked me when i was a baby in my ma’ma’s stomach, and said “joel, you are gonna have a hard life and be mistreated at times, i can kill you now or i can let you suffer through it and live.” I would chose life. I mean i suffer through it now and i’m not entirely handycap. So please dont kill me; give me a shot….right??? I dont know, i’m not the smartest guy in the world. But as of now, thats how i see it. But you are right, there are lots of people out there who dont deserve those kids…..
I’m sure the baby would rather be born. But who’s to say that that one uterus, that one mother, that one life, is its only chance? If you believe that your soul was your soul before you were born, and that it will remain your soul after you die…you don’t think that God/whatever has worked out a way around things like abortion if he really wants to?
I think it’s a messy, screwed up world, and I think we humans (by and large) do the best we can in it. But I also think that the universe is big enough to accommodate the times when we fail. The forest is so big that you can’t ever, ever see all of it. I wasn’t raised in a dogmatic household, but generally speaking, I take a very long view when it comes to redemption and second chances. I think they’re pretty much infinite. It’s one of the things I try to comfort myself with when I fear that people with Down syndrome will someday become extinct (90% being not a terribly encouraging percentage).
I think that maybe one trend we’ll see, as in utero diagnoses become more common, is that congenital or hereditary birth defects may decrease, but disabilities that take time to manifest (like autism) will only become more common. The retards ain’t going anywhere, and they will continue to challenge us, and their families will continue to find depths within themselves that they didn’t know existed, and society will continue to have to try and find a healthy place for them. (I have not yet come down on one side or other of the fence when it comes to “God made these children the way they were supposed to be” vs “Wow, God sure was asleep at the wheel when that particular chromosome was dividing” question, so please do not ask me that!) There is balance in the universe: when one thing is destroyed, another is created, balance of energy and matter, etc.
Somewhere there’s a balance between divine will and humanity’s freedom to choose, and I think divine will may have the corner on the pre-life and the after-life, but here on this earth…humanity has free will, and we do the best we can, and I think that that gift, which comes from our creator, is not to be (pardon my french) fucked with.
Also, Joel, I just want to add that I appreciate your comments and your willingness to have a civil discussion, which is pretty scarce these days. Which is not to say that I have to pull you to my side of the fence or that you have to pull me to yours. I think there’s room for all of us and all of our opinions; and I think that when we all settle down and talk to each other we tend to discover more in common than in difference. (Which makes me a little bit more okay with Mr. Goldberg saying something as ill-informed as he did, if only because it allowed a space for this little discussion to open up. There need to be discussions like this more often. I just wish he hadn’t gone and been idiotic on national television.)
Becca, I found the NYT article. Their source is a European study. I think that casts a whole new light on your response to Bernie.
How so?
Unless they used “papers” that included statistics from all over the world it would not be accurate to say that 90% of all DS cases diagnosed in the womb ended in killing the baby. It might be accurate to say that 90% of the cases in Europe ended in abortions. I believe that uropeans are more likely to whack the baby than folks in the USA thereby skewing the US numbers.
Well, the original King’s College paper was published in the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, and I’m pretty sure they don’t pay attention to stuff in Europe that they find to be irrelevent here, but whatever.
I invite your debate, then. Go find me a reputable source arguing that the reasons women choose an abortion in Europe differ substantially from women here; go find me a source that argues that an American woman is more likely to keep a child with special needs than a European woman (and don’t tell me that “it’s common sense” rebuttal that’s been all over the blog the past few days; clearly it’s NOT common sense or more of the statistics would bear you out). You’re starting to become one of those people with whom it’s useless to get into a debate because you don’t know how much you don’t know, but very quickly:
1. You could argue that it would be common sense that a parent in Western Europe would find it easier to decide to keep her child (handicapped or not) because Western European countries often have substantial resources for parents to draw on: paid maternity and paternity leave for longer periods than families in the US typically get (Sweden offers a parent FIFTEEN MONTHS of paid parental leave!), publicly funded childcare, shorter work weeks, higher standards of living generally, and universal health care. Let’s not get into a debate on universal health care: let’s just say that if you have ACCESS to health care and child care support, regardless of who’s providing it, you’re more likely to keep your child.
(Source for the above paragraph: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Europe/European_Model_Families.html, which unfortunately doesn’t cite its own sources, but seem consistent with what I’ve read in other places about child care options in Europe.)
2. Western Europe actually has LOWER abortion rates than the United States.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pro_choice/30487 (only addresses adolescent pregnancy/abortion rates)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301370,00.html (Hey look! Even Fox News agrees with me on this one!)
The thing you have to remember when looking at European abortion statistics: for most of the 1990s and early 200s, abortion rates in Eastern Europe were amongst the highest in the world because of economic and social conditions. Since the fall of communism and as economies improve, abortion rates in Eastern Europe have dropped by more than half, but the time it takes to gather statistics means that many of the statistics you find are skewed because of this. (Thanks, Fox, for clarifying that little piece of info for me!) Basically, for every 1000 women, 12 in Western Europe will have an abortion, while 21 in North America will.
2. Many European countries actually have stricter abortion policies than the US. Britain actually has one of the more liberal policies with abortion being legal through the 24th week. (You forget that Europe was way more Catholic than we were and for way longer):
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/abortion_policies_europe.html
But, you know, go ahead. Try and make an argument that what’s true for NINETY PERCENT of fetuses with Down Syndrome in Europe will be significantly, statistically different for 90% of fetuses with Down Syndrome here in the States. Go ahead. Even if you find a source that says that only 8 out of 10 fetuses with Down’s get aborted in the US, or 7/10…I’m pretty certain my argument still holds up, and yours (and Bernie’s) falls flat.
We shall see.
Let me get through this whole over the hill and through the dale Thanksgiving thing first. Unless I find some free time between here and Saturday.
Toodles.
Although, I must say that this will be fun since the first link you have provided as a source is “The American Prospect” …apparentley a faaaaar left rag who actually has the phrase “Liberal Intelligence” an absolute oxymoron, four words from the top of the page.
… and another thing.
I took a few minutes to look over some of the sources you are citing. They are as far left as I believe I have ever seen. Mostly they are funnels of sources that basically want you to be able to dismember a baby at every opportunnity and to have sex with anyone at anytime for any reason. Which is OK if that is your thing. My question to you is this… if we go through this exercise what is the end game? At what point do we stop? At what point do we declare a winner or loser or whatever. Because this can go on forever and I would rather be out shoot’n at stuff.
We appear to be running out of reply options–apparently after awhile you get cut off.
I will admit that my own reply was done rather quickly, before I left for work, so I was a bit at the mercy of Google’s Top 20 results. Though if you’re going to say that Fox News is “as far left as you’ve ever seen,” then I don’t see how a discussion between us can possibly go anywhere. But still…as I’ve provided multiple sources and cited multiple facts, and you’ve provided precisely zero, I’m not feeling in a huge hurry to assert that I am not a kettle. If you have a problem with The American Prospect, or you think it tells lies, go find me a source that will belie its claim that many countries in Western Europe offer paid parental leave and publicly funded child care (the Encyclopedia Britannica agrees with me, incidentally, but you can’t access their articles online for free). Or one that argues that Western Europe’s standard of living might have anything to do with its lower abortion rates. Or that Western Europe has lower rates of abortion at all. Or, getting back to the basic point, find me a SOURCE for your assertion that conservatives don’t get abortions.
And for the record, I’m anti-abortion myself. But not at the expense of facts. So you can get your assumption that you’re arguing with a rabid bloody baby-killer out of your head. kthnx.
Wil Burns says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 19, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I wonder why?
Hi Bernie,
I have always been a huge fan of the work you did on Real Sports. The Lenny Dykstra pieces were some of my favorite interviews I’ve ever seen–growing up as a Mets fan who was 9 years old when they won the 86 Series he was always an idol of mine. Just wondering–how the hell could you make a comment like “Liberals don’t have babies with Down Syndrome”? What the f#$% does that mean and how DARE you make a comment like that? I don’t know how FOX got their hooks into you and what kind of brainwashing/brainstorming/talking point sessions you guys have over there but I have lost all respect for you and now strongly believe that you are a complete piece of garbage.
Bryan
Please see my two responses to criticism like yours. I hope you’re less angry after you read them. Thanks.
Bernie
Bernie–
13 innocent folks won’t show up at Thanksgiving dinner this year because even though clearly, the emperor had no clothes, it was not pc to say so. Sadly, in this era of collective dissociation–driven in large part by the political agenda of the far left and suckled by the fawning media, I fear they won’t be the last to pay the price. Next in line? How about our daughters, wives and mothers who really, after all, don’t need those costly breast exams and mammograms? Pitiful.
We need you Bernie….thanks.
Thank you Nancy.
Mr. Goldberg:
This evening, after putting my 2 children to bed and plopping my liberal behind in front of the television, I was greeted by one of your commentaries regarding the opinion of Sarah Palin by people of my pinko persuasion. You mentioned that liberals didn’t like Ms. Palin because she has 5 children and we don’t. You further said that we have a problem with her child with downs syndrome, because we certainly do not.
Interesting comments that made me think about my liberal life and my two children, one who has autism and another who lives with both heart disease and mental retardation.
My opinion has always been that everyone has problems. Those problems are not conservative or liberal, and to label them as such shows a lack of insight. Next time I would appreciate it if you cease defining liberals in such broad terms and look at them for who they are. For the most part, we are hard working Americans who love our country but disagree with the narrow-mindedness which stems from so many social conservatives, who say that they stand for freedom – so long as it is their brand of freedom.
So many people are judged in this society by what they are, without regard to who they are. Look at the person behind the label, Mr. Goldberg. And please do not jump to conclusions. I will conclude by telling you that I really enjoy your reports on “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
Patrick P. McNally
Philadelphia, PA
Mr. P. McNally,
Impertinent it may be, but I’m going to respond to your otherwise eloquent response to the esteemed Mr. Goldberg.
You said this:
“You further said that we have a problem with her child with downs syndrome, because we certainly do not.”
I would be happy to link you to just a few of the many blogs, websites, and online articles by so-called established journalists that I’ve come across who most certainly DO have ‘a problem’ with Trig Palin.
My favorite one is a real classy number which shows Sarah Palin holding Trig in her arms with a coathanger drawn next to them…and the words “Better Luck Next Time! – Planned Parenthood”
http://easelpiper.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/being-right-and-being-correct/
Then you said this:
“…I would appreciate it if you cease defining liberals in such broad terms and look at them for who they are. For the most part, we are hard working Americans who love our country but disagree with the narrow-mindedness which stems from so many social conservatives…”
First, you scold Mr. Goldberg for ‘defining liberals’ in ‘broad terms’ then in the very same sentence you condemned so many ’social conservatives’ in the very same “broad terms’. Very shrewd! Nice job!
And this is my favorite:
“…social conservatives, who say that they stand for freedom – so long as it is their brand of freedom. ”
On this we agree.
For eight years we listened to the visceral hate and the egregious lies spewing from the ANgry Left during the Bush years…yet neither we, nor GW Bush…the target of such hate, never made any effort to stifle dissent or the hateful rhetoric in America.
That is our brand of freedom.
However, within one year, the Obama Administration has…
…pushed for “regulation” of the internet, claiming “National Security” reasons…
…openly ridiculed and marginalized any dissenting Americans (’Tea-Baggers’, ‘AstroTurf’, etc.)…
…set up hot-lines encouraging supporters to “Flag” any columns, blogs, or emails containing “questionable content”, i.e.- critical of Obama or his policies…
…worked behind the scenes with organized groups like ACORN and SEIU, whose members have on several occasions beaten and assaulted dissenters who still believed that they had the right to free expression in The Age Of Obama….
And that’s just the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
So, if that’s what somebody like you regards as “your brand of freedom”… Well , I’ll take my brand of freedom over yours any day, thank you very much!
Liberals are the narrow-minded ones. Diversity in everything but thought.
Mr. McNally,
First, a sincere thank you for your civil note. I appreciate the tone very much.
The point I was trying to make was simply that the anger aimed at Sarah Palin is disproprtionate to anything she had ever done … why? It couldn’t simply be her conservative politcs, which are pretty much mainstream. Then what might it be? And I concluded it was that she was not like the people who detested her. It wasn’t just that she was pro gun and pro life … it was that she had all those kids with those “odd” names … liberals who live in the Upper West Side of Manhattan ghetto snicker at stuff like that. And yes, she decided to have the baby with Down Syndrome. Perhaps you’re right, generalizations aren’t worth much … but who would make a decision to give birth to that baby? Someone who is pro choice … or someone is is pro life? I’m guessing, pro life. So are you, I assume. They tend to be more conservative and less liberal. I’ll bet you agree with that too. So, that was my sole intent. If it didn’t come across that way, my bad.
And thanks for your compliment about my work on Real Sports.
For my friends Xian Do and Eddie D … thanks for the comments.
Bernie
Major Hasan has never served in Iraq or Afghanistan, yet he acted out because of combat stress? As Ann Coulter says, the is the first recorded case of Pre Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Based upon that which was presented to us during the campaign, Obama has pulled the worst bait and switch caper in U.S. history. However, the criminally moronic so called journelists you have cited together with the rest of their disgusting ilk and the equally criminal news organizations they lie for successfully masked Obama’s true thoughts,actions and intentions thereby enabling him to become the disgraceful president that he very much is. So, there actually no bait and switch per se.What was always there was what we got only we really were kept from seeing what was really there. It will be a veritable miricle if we survive it.
Here is something I had to share with everyone about Hasan, since I know most of the lame stream media won’t report it:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-shooter_17pro.ART.State.Edition2.4b75a10.html
Bernie,
I would like to know why the birth certificate issue is not being further explored.
WHY DOES SOMEONE REFUSE TO SHOW “AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS” IF THEY ARE TRULY AUTHENTIC? WHAT IS OBAMA HIDING THAT HE REFUSES TO SHOW ALL OF HIS RECORDS AND why is he getting away with this?
When the issue of McCain’s birth certificate came up, it was discussed in congress. McCain had to show his birth certificate. Obama still has not shown his authentic and vault certificate or his other records. WHY? What is he hiding? The state of Hawaii NEVER SAID THAT THEY HAD HIS ORIGINAL H A W A I I A N BIRTH CERTIFICATE. All they said was that they had his ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN THEIR VAULTS.
Why is Obama spending, already, over one million dollars to prevent these documents from being exposed?
IF THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND HIS OTHER DOCUMENTS WERE EXPOSED, WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS POLICIES.
Many of us who have followed Mr. Berg, Mr. Keyes, et all have taken a lot of abuse and ridicule for continuing to press on about the birth certificate. Most of us don’t mention it anymore although it’s puzzling. Every judge in every court has quashed it. Flat. Bernie can’t do a thing.
Rather, it seems still legitimate to ask about his hidden school records, hidden school loan papers and even his hidden passport. Why one is subject to ridicule and the others are not is part of the overall mystery.
Marianne,
I believe Marianne the reason he won’t release his birth certificate is because it is driving many people like yourself nuts on the issue. We have many challenges in this country. With issues like out of control spending, major social programs in congress that will dramatically change our lives, and questionable decisions by this presidency in national and international policy, I am at a loss why you and others are falling into this “Birthing Trap”.
Many credible journalist accept the evidence provided. And the certificate has been shown on several media outlets along with news clippings announcing the birth from Haiwaii at the time. But let’s not discuss the facts as this never works with conspiracy theorists.
Ronald Reagan once said that one of the great perks of being president was getting his high school transcripts classified as top secret. But if the birth certificate was made public I can guarantee one thing. The conspiracy would live on because for a few it has to.
Of course it’s not a crime to contact Al Qaeda. When someone contacts Al Qaeda, however, and then kills 13 of his supposed compatriots in cold blood, even a bad journalist would see that the connection warrants further investigation.
Yeah, those extremist Christian terrorists are out there, doncha know? They simply want to impose their radical beliefs on everyone else and kill anyone who gets in their way, or anyone who is not a Christian. Wait! Did I mean Christians? Well, since I can’t say the same about Muslim terrorists in the view of Newsweek or Time and inflame the “right wing” (which, of course, is populated by those crazy Christian terrorists who hate gays, women, men and minorities).
The best we can do is describe the Ft. Hood events as an “unexpected tragic human-caused event by a person whose motivations are completely unknown and whose mental stability may be in question due to the unpopular Bush wars on poor brown people who have apparently angered the right-wing of the U.S. population made up of mostly white men who are of radical conservative bent and are angry at the Obama administration’s divine efforts to assist the poor and minorities after 400 years of oppression.”
Bernie,
Your nickname for Chris gets me every time. I usually don’t literally laugh out loud when reading, but when I was reading your latest book I had to put it down and wipe my eyes after I read the Chris Matthews Chapter.
You are one of the good ones Bernie!
Any chance you’ll be in the Springfield Area for any appearances any time soon?
Christine Mathews is really off her hinges. Nah, contacting the enemy isn’t a crime. In his little world it’s those cold-hearted conservative who are the enemy and fanatical Muslims kill children because of Bush. Betcha if you could get into his little pea brain that’s what you’d find.
Mr. Goldberg,
Thank you! I had a light bulb moment while listening to you last night on Fox. You stated what is probably obvious to the average American. The reason Sarah Palin gets under the skin of the snooty left wing (we have many here in Chicago as well) is because she is an ordinary American. I felt as if someone dropped a brick on my head. I used to work for a public access station in Chicago, and could never quite put my finger on why so many hated conservative media. It nagged at me. You hit the nail on the head, Mr. Goldberg!! It is so simple yet brilliant!! I will now continue to go about my life as an ordinary American tax paying citizen, yet without a chip on my shoulder. Again, thank you! You are my favorite guest on the Factor!
If the perpetrator at Fort Hood had been a Christian instead of a Muslim, the media would have aired an endless parade of stories about the “dangerous” Christian terrorist movement. President Obama and the liberal media ARE racists. Negative stories about whites or Christians who are accused of crimes against non-whites or non-Christians are widely and repeatedly broadcast with gusto, but stories about non-whites or Muslims who are accused of crimes are buried, or, where that isn’t possible – explained away so that the perpetrator is excused and the victims are blamed. We should strive to be objective. I don’t believe that all Muslims are terrorists. However, Maj. Hasan was clearly a Muslim terrorist. He had that title printed on business cards. Must we refuse to believe our eyes in order to be politically correct? The saddest thing is that if the people who had been around Maj. Hasan had simply treated him the same way that they would have treated a white male Christian who had exhibited such alarming behavior – Hasan’s innocent victims would have been alive today. These Fort Hood victims were the first victims of a terrorist attack on American soil since September 11, 2001. This didn’t have to happen. It is very sad.
Every time I see the “Yeah, that group does it, but that other group does it, also” argument, I think about my (soon-to-be) three-year-old son. I think about him because three years old is about the oldest any person should be the very last time they use that statement or one like it. Grow up, Schieffer.
And, Chris Matthews? … I haven’t the words. Wow.
The comments by Schieffer shocked me. When I see the mocking of Christians and Christian Gods I often wonder why they don’t portray the same about Muslims. Perhaps the reason the cartoons of Mohammed from the Danish newspaper were not published here was out of fear? It must be the reason as certainly credibility and respect never stopped other questionable publications.
I think about all of these people waking up in the morning, making coffee or driving to the office and all the while thinking that Republicans are demons – evil people that want to see innocents starve or want to kill people in wars that have no good purpose.
I was a lefty once too. I understand. It’s a form of blindness. We/them.
They’re blind.
I’ve said before and I’ll say it again. If we suffer another 9/11 type of attack and I know it’s coming, the liberal media will bear a lion’s share of the responsibility for it. They are responsible for lulling the country back to sleep. I don’t know how these media people can sleep at night, I know I couldn’t.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the liberal media fall into 4 catergories:
1- HIGHLY paid network whores who are only in it for the money
2- Those who are only interested in kissing the asses of the journalistic establishment for career advancement
3- Aging 60’s hippies who can’t believe it’s not 1968 anymore
4-Young journalists who have gotten a liberal brainwashing from their far left college professors
I have identified the writers, journalists and publications that I like and trust, but there aren’t too many. That would be OK except there are still so many people out there who don’t pay attention to the news who can so easily be sucked in by propaganda and misinformation. And when we are at war with terrorists that is horribly dangerous.
Kathie Ampela, your comment says it perfectly, I would add: 5- Those who can not think for themselves and have to follow what they perceive as current popular opinion.
Correction to your column, Bernie.
You wrote: “…even though the gunman was a Muslim terrorist.” That’s incorrect. The gunman is still alive. Therefore, he “is” a Muslim terrorist.
Dear Bernie,
“Lamestream media” amuses me very much. Too bad it’s so true. Here’s another one that you might find useful someday: “Mainscreed Media.” I never thought I’d live to see the press sink so low, but these are the times we live in.
Keep up the great work. I don’t know how you deal with these seriously corrosive attacks on our society, day in and day out, without going off the deep end. You are an excellent counterpoint to the nonstop barrage from the left. We as a nation have lost our way and I’m thankful for folks like you with the intelligence and temperament to fight back.
Ken Lechner
Ken
Many thanks. Much appreciated.
Bernie
It’s the Medal of Honor.
That’s what the standing president has the privelage of giving to someone who matters, from someone who doesn’t.
I think you’ve covered the most egregious media statements following the terrorist act at Ft. Hood Mr. Goldberg. As someone who lives in “fly over” country, I’d like to send a message to the “lame stream media” but I know they could care less what any of us think. I used to subscribe to dozens of magazines and our local newspaper. I no longer do owing to their constant and unrelenting mockery of the honest tax paying citizen. I hope they all go down in flames, thereby losing their spiffy homes in NYC and the Hamptons. Apparently they are the last to know that they have become one note imbeciles following a failed ideology right off a cliff. Thank you Mr. Goldberg as you were one of the very first to sound the alarm about the horrific state of the media in America.
Noooooo, it’s not a crime for a Major in the United States Army to contact a member of a known terrorist organization which is, oh by the way, responsible for the worst attack on our country’s soil ever. Perish the thought!!!
There has been much debate regarding Obama’s continued lack of reverence to the office of the president. One that I feel has been missed is the use of terminology like “shout out”. The Oval Office has long been one of respect and reverence around the world, yet by liberal shouting the “most educated president in history” continues to use terminology and references that speak more of someone with a GED than a Harvard Law degree. What does China or Iran or Great Britain think when they hear our president “give a shout out”?
Is a “shout out” the newest trending terminology of the liberal elite? If so, I wish someone would release a memo so the true tax payers in this country will be able to follow.
You’re a great patriot, Bernie – but the people you speak of above display nothing more than their own desperation in the face of a dying message and ideology. Keep up the good work and know that you’re a hell of a lot more enjoyable on ESPN than the liberal forced Olbermann on NBC Football.
Cheers,
Becker
Becker
Thanks for the kind works … (but just between us, I’m on HBO not ESPN … no big deal.)
Bernie
“Shout out” is a popular term. Popular, meaning “of the people”. It’s an informal phrase, used in casual conversation.
Seems like anymore you have to read the UK press to get any facts reported on what’s going on in America…pretty sad!
Now compare all of this factual knowledge and transfer it to Iran. The World looks on and yet we let Iran continue practicing what they preach. Iran just has a bigger gun than the Ft Hood Terrorist.
Dear President Obama,
I would like to know why you found it neccesary to thank countless people and agencies and give a “SHOUT OUT” before speaking about the tragic shootings at Fort Hood. By the way, it’s called “THE MEDAL OF HONOR” NOT the “Congressional Medal of Honor” you pinhead.
My my funny there is an organization known as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society which has a lot of historical information about the Congressional Medal of Honor. Talk about pinheads.
David,
There may be societies and orginizations that say that. The FACT REMAINS: It is called The Medal of Honor NOT the Congressional Medal of Honor. If you look at ANY military website as well as a copy of ANY certificate that is presented with the Medal you will see that is it called The Medal of Honor & it is printed that way on the certificate that accompanies the Medal.
And by the way PINHEAD, if you read the page of the society you cited you will see that it was created by Member of Congress in REMEMBRANCE of those who have received the Medal. EVEN THEY refer to it as The Medal of Honor. The ystate it is “somtimes referred to as The Congressional Medal of Honor” . If you do some research you will even see that in 1862 when it was created in the bill that became law it is ALSO referred to as “The Medal of Honor”. As a veteran, I find it important that my commander in refer to the Armed Forces highest award for valor with the proper name.
David,
I sit here anxiously waiting for a reply from you. I am hoping you can admit when you are wrong and not try to defend the indefensible. If not, your silence will speak loudly. Be a man and admit you’re wrong.