Last night I dreamed I was nominated to the Supreme Court. I was pretty excited about the job. It wasn’t important to me that I don’t have a law degree. What I was concerned about was the Senate confirmation hearings. I wasn’t looking forward to that.
What do Miss California, Rush Limbaugh and Ted Haggard have in common? “Well, they’re all bigoted neo-cons,” some of my left-leaning friends might chortle. But looking beyond the purely political brings us to something more basic: They’ve all taken a moral stand only to have that stand seemingly undermined by their contradictory behavior.
Let me explain:
Exhibit A: Miss California
As we’re now well aware of, Carrie Prejean, aka Miss California, when questioned by Miss USA judge and celebrity gossip Perez Hilton about whether states should allow same-sex marriage she replied,
“Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman.”
This clumsy yet sincere response elicited the predictable strike of the Main Stream Media. To criticise and impugn her were the obvious lines of attack.
“In a video blog that he posted to his own website, Hilton referred to Prejean as a ‘dumb bitch,’ and called her answer ‘the worst in pageant history.’ He also told ABC News that she lost the crown because of how she answered the question, adding that ‘There are various other ways she could have answered that question and still stayed true to herself without alienating millions of people.’” [Wikipedia]
It didn’t help that several weeks later it was discovered that she’d posed, partially nude, with her back turned to the camera, in a previous photo shoot. [Wikipedia]
Exhibit B: Rush Limbaugh
In 2006, after admitting to entering a drug rehabilitation clinic, Rush Limbaugh was arrested for allegedly doctor shopping for prescription drugs. Although charges were later dropped on condition he continue to seek help for his addiction, the conservative icon had been caught involved in something he’d previously railed against.
“Before his own problems became public, Limbaugh had decried drug use and abuse and mocked President Clinton for saying he had not inhaled when he tried marijuana. He often made the case that drug crimes deserve punishment.”
“‘Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. … And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up,’ Limbaugh said on his short-lived television show on Oct. 5, 1995.” [CBS News]
Exhibit C: Ted Haggard
“Haggard, 50, resigned last week as NEA president, where he held sway in Washington and condemned homosexuality, after a man claimed to have had drug-fueled homosexual trysts with him. Haggard also placed himself on administrative leave from the 14,000-member New Life Church, which he founded in the 1980s. Its independent Overseer Board fired him Saturday.” [MSNBC]
The Common Thread
The common thread in these stories is an attempt on the part of an individual to take a stand on principle only for it to later be revealed they’ve behaved in a way that undermines their position. The Main Stream Media usually revels in these seedy revelations. It is fun to watch those that take what they consider to be a morally superior position “fall from grace”. But does hypocrisy necessarily invalidate someones’ position?
A verbal attack on a person, not an attack on their position, is referred to as an Ad hominem (latin for “At the man”) attack. More specifically, there is a form of the ad hominem called Tu quoque (latin for “You also”).
Tu quoque means you’ve attacked your opponent for their hypocritical behavior in light of a position they’ve defended. However, the problem with any sort of ad hominen attack is that, effective as it may be at humiliating an opponent, it never really addresses the validity of an issue. But it’s a common theme today. It is easier to discredit a person than their argument.
When you start listening, you’ll hear the tu quoque everywhere. And generally speaking, the more frequently it’s employed the more the opposition fears addressing their opponents argument.
The next time you hear someone criticised for a position they take, stop to see if the attack is at their position or at the them.
This is the first part in a series dedicated to chronicling the means of paying for a trillion dollar stimulus package without raising Federal Income Tax.
Part I: DECLARE GREENHOUSE GASES TO BE A PUBLIC THREAT. Once you’ve declared Greenhouse gases a public threat establish carbon taxes and a cap and trade program.
From the Los Angeles Times,
“The Obama administration will declare greenhouse gases a threat to public health today, sources said, marking a major step — both practically and symbolically — toward federal limits on the carbon dioxide emissions scientists blame for global warming.
The move by the Environmental Protection Agency is prompted by a two-year-old Supreme Court decision. It paves the way for the White House to regulate emissions from vehicles and effectively force the U.S. auto fleet to be cleaner and more efficient – a plan the administration is expected to put in place soon.”
Although not stated in this latest announcement, I cannot help but believe this move is simply laying the groundwork for greater energy taxes which will ultimately be passed on to the consumer.
Jesus Christ, you are my life,
alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ, you are my life.
You are my life, alleluia.
Be our Way, our Truth, and our Life.
Form us anew in how you died.
We embrace the cross that you bore,
and will arise in glory.
2. Holy fire, come dwell in each heart.
Grant us the gifts your love imparts.
Free our tongues to boldly proclaim
“Jesus is Lord forever!”
Break the yoke of violence and war.
Open the hearts of rich to poor.
Nations bound by terror and fear
long to embrace your freedom.
Senseless walls of hatred divide,
vengeance destroys and fear misguides.
Teach us mercy: hope for new life;
for you alone are holy!
Yeah, that didn’t work.
This did finally work – History Lesson – First Barbary War excerpt (aka The U. S. becomes the police of the world):
On Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration as president in 1801, Yusuf Karamanli, the Pasha (or Bashaw) of Tripoli, demanded $225,000 from the new administration. (In 1800, Federal revenues totaled a little over $10 million.) Putting his long-held beliefs into practice, Jefferson refused the demand. Consequently, in May 1801, the Pasha declared war on the United States, not through any formal written documents but by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. Consulate. Algiers and Tunis soon followed their ally in Tripoli.
In response, Jefferson sent a group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean, and informed Congress. Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli “and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify.”
Enterprise capturing Tripoli
The schooner USS Enterprise defeated the 14-gun Tripolitan corsair Tripoli after a fierce but one-sided battle on August 1, 1801. ~ First Barbary War – Wikipedia.
There is no nuance regarding the situation we find ourselves in with the Maersk Alabama or what should be done about it. If direct action is not taken these occurences will simply grow in frequency.
“Love is not consolation, it is light.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
I’d watch her restocking books at the students’ arrival, then checking new ones out as they left. Her joyful demeanor was the first thing I noticed. She had an infectious cheer and a beautiful smile. I could hear her laugh from the other side of the library. To hear that laugh still makes me smile. She was boisterous, often cheesy and, once you spent some time with her, thoughtful and introspective.
We met in the computer lab of the library on campus and eventually began spending time with the same group of people. As evenings out with friends drew to a close we’d find ourselves pairing off, spending a little extra time together. We became great friends.
We shared an inquisitiveness and creativity about everything: that was characteristic of all our conversations. In one moment we’d be talking about God and Kierkegaard and the merits of West Side Story or Casablanca the next. We spontaneously painted a picture together one afternoon and then played chess. I miss those times we had just to ourselves, randomly choosing to do what we’d like: going to a museum, walking next to the river in Norfolk, talking in the library parking lot until 4:00 a. m.
Having kids and jobs and all the trappings of adult life makes those times seem so foreign. But those memories get sweeter the more I grow to love her. We never knew then how precious those days were.
One late night as we were walking we crossed a bridge. We paused, as Leya was talking, to gaze out at the pond below. For emphasis, recounting some event of the day, she threw up her hand and it caught the side of her head, sending her glasses into the water.
“Ah, my glasses!”
“Oh, man,” I replied.
“Are you going to jump in and get them?”
“No!” How chivalrous.
“Oh! Oh, those were brand new!”
We both laughed.
Later that night we laid down on the bridge, side by side, gazing up at the stars, talking about who knows what. At some point our conversation paused and for a moment we just laid there silently.
“I like you,” I confessed.
“I like you too,” Leya replied with a smile.
“No, I like you.”
“Ohhh.”
And so a friendship led to dating that led to an engagement that led to marriage. And eight years later I get to celebrate the vows I made to my best friend; the person who gives more to me than I could ever give back; who’s loved me through my best and worst.
She is my bride and the person I hold dearest to my heart.
—
Happy anniversary, Leya. I love you.
President Obama is ready to rescind the Conscience Clause, which allows doctors who morally object to performing abortions to opt out of those procedures.
Many like Dr. Suzanne T. Poppema, board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, will try to frame the argument with a false dicotomy:
Good Health Care vs. Ideological Demands.
Everything we do is rooted in something religious, moral, or philisophical, whether we know it or not. Everything we do is motivated by a deeper belief in something.
This a battle over moral absolutes and not simply “good healthcare”. This is a battle over whether the state should be allowed to override what a doctors conscience dictates.
Please take action by
Glenn Beck interviewed Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal about why he was demanding AIG execs return their bonuses (Remember, these executives don’t get paid a salary, just a once a year bonus).
Jeff Poor from NewsBusters summarized,
“Blumenthal claimed the AIG executives were “undeserving” of the bonuses. Blumenthal also pointed out the bonuses paid out were to increase next year. However, Beck pressed Blumenthal on the legality of that and Blumenthal came up blank in this exchange:”
BECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: Well, it is against public policy. And it is unsanctioned by law.
BECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It should be against the law.
BECK: Is it against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It’s against the public policy and against the taxpayer…In my view it is unrequired by law.
BECK: It is a yes or no question. Counselor, it is a yes or no question. Is it against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It is not against the law and I have never said that it is against the law, and I have never said that we would bring an action.
BECK: Then you know what you should do? You should enforce the law. You shouldn’t use your bully pulpit to gain popularity.
My apologies for amplifying the echo chamber. But you must watch Minister of The European Parliament, the gutsy Daniel Hannan (the youngest MEP ever) scold British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
[Read his posts on the Telegraph.]
Where is the United States of Americas Daniel Hannan? Stand up!
HIGHLIGHTS:
On my way back to work I briefly heard Mark Steyn, standing in for Limbaugh, comment,”If they’d have been taxing the flatulence of cows during the time of Henry III they would’ve been holding a Boston Baked Bean party in America…” I went from nose laugh to guffaw in 3 seconds flat.
For more on the Flatulence Tax nonsense coming to an EU nation near you see this Times Online article.