The POTUS & R-E-S-P-E-C-T
There is a fine old tradition in American politics of heckling politicians, of making fun of them.
But not while they are carrying out the duties of their office. Especially not the President of the United States.
I am perfectly willing to admit to heckling every Republican president back to Ronald Reagan--and possible even Ford and Nixon--while they were speaking on TV. While watching them at home, that is.
There are plenty of posts on this blog referring to George H.W.Bush as "The Shrubb", "King George" and other such names.
But if I had met the man in person, I would have addressed him as "Mr President". If needed, I would have shaken his hand.
Not out of respect for the man--I had none-- but for the OFFICE HE REPRESENTED.
Sadly, with President Barack Obama, all bets are off.
Representative Joe Wilson and his fellow travelers have spent the last few months carefully turning ignorant, frightened people into Brownshirt-like agitators, heckling their federal representatives rather than actually listening to what they have to say and responding with rational, factual comments.
And it has so emboldened Joe Wilson that he found it acceptable to scream out at the President on live television before the entire nation. To call him a liar.
The sad fact is that Joe Wilson and a whole lot of other people have never accepted that Barack Obama is the President of the United States.
They can't accept that an African American man is entitled by virtue of his office to the same respect they showed George H.W. Bush, George W Bush and Ronald Reagan. The same respect that they generally managed to show even Democrats like Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
But Barack Hussein Obama IS the President of the United States. He is entitled to that same respect.
And in their behavior, Wilson and his gang are not just disrespecting the man they hate in such an ugly fashion.
They disrespect ALL the men who have held that office, and all the men--and women--who will hold that office in the future.
