I saw a letter in today’s Springfield News-Leader where someone had to take President Bush’s daughter’s wedding and tie it into an anti-war tirade.
A message to that letter’s author and those who think there’s no problem with it: give it a rest already.
I’m sick and tired of the people who are so blinded by their hatred for Bush or the Republicans or the war that they will take any situation and use to try and call attention to their political views. Jenna Bush’s wedding, from all reports, wasn’t anywhere as lavish and extravagant as many Hollywood weddings and a far cry from the ones you see on the pages of bridal magazines. It looks like it was tasteful, simple and most of all what the bride and groom wanted it to be.
It’s the same as thousands of American men, women and families this summer. Probably hundreds of Americans on that day alone. It’s a time for celebration that many families have and it’s something that should not be a subject for scorn or derision or used to slam the father of the bride. To do so is classless, tacky and disgusting.
If you want to make your anti-war statements with shots at President Bush there are ample things that he has done as President where you can make your cases. That was certainly done with President Clinton in Bosnia without someone having to write letters saying that Chelsea Clinton going to a junior prom reminded them of a girl in Bosnia who had her legs blown off by a US missile and couldn’t dance at her prom. Most people you’re trying to convince to your side of the issue are going to consider using Jenna’s wedding the same as they would have done with my hypothetical example about Chelsea…it’s classless.
And before the inevitable “you’re bashing liberals” comments start, I’m not painting with sweeping strokes here. I know many liberals who post here and write local Springfield blogs who would readily say Bush has made enough mistakes that you can criticize him without using his daughter’s wedding. When I’m writing I’m referring to the people who think anything with President Bush’s family is fair game.
There are times where common sense and decency would say that you leave something that is non-political and within their family (like a wedding) is off-limits for use to promote a political agenda that has nothing to do with that event. If she was speaking at a rally for the war in her wedding dress, then I could see the criticism. As is, it looks like you’re gasping for airtime. (Well, print space in this case.)
And, before the anti-war folks start their usual “you just love Bush” or “you love the war” responses that are standard operating procedure, I’m not a supporter of either one. I just think enough is enough on the attacks on his family when they’re doing nothing that has to do with politics or the war. While I feel for the soldier mentioned they also signed up for service and knew they might have to go into harm’s way. Jenna Bush has no obligation to join a volunteer military; there is no draft she is avoiding; there is nothing wrong with her getting married on her family’s ranch…so there is no reason to use her wedding as an anti-war debate point.
Very well put, Jason. The current president has indeed given his detractors (of which I am one) more than enough to bash him for without dragging his daughter’s wedding into it. Yeesh.
This reminds me of how to debate a problem with a girlfriend/spouse, “Keep it relevant.” The wedding has nothing to do with what’s really going on right now besides, it was in Crawford of all places, sheesh. My reaction to the wedding was me rolling my eyes then moving on, which is what she should have done.
Say, isn’t Jenna a closet supporter of Obama? I heard that in passing somewhere. Wouldn’t that be amusing?
Just laugh it off. Here’s how I finally got over it:
I respect our President. However, for the sake of argument, I’ll pretend I think Bush is an idiot. What does that say about the Democratic party, that they haven’t had a candidate in either election that could beat an idiot? Eeek.
When I look at it in that light, I just laugh.
JMo, it really says that the Republicans had the Democrats outnumbered on the Supreme Court in 2000.
Oh, geez…here we go again…
I’m not going anywhere, Jason… just couldn’t resist turning the old cheek just once.
If the Democrats had a candidate of any quality, wouldn’t they have beat an idiot by a landslide? Then the Republicans wouldn’t have had to activate their brain control machines.
Just a thought…
“There are times where common sense and decency would say that you leave something that is non-political and within their family (like a wedding) is off-limits for use to promote a political agenda that has nothing to do with that event.”
Do you mean an event like, oh, let’s say a funeral for a member of someone’s non-pollitical private family who got killed in Iraq to promote a political agenda that has nothing to do with the inane excuses the president has thus far given? That kind of event?