It’s So Nice To See How A Politician Respects Our Troops (UPDATED)

Listen to the entire clip carefully and you'll see that McHenry is telling a little story that is intentionally self-deprecating. He notes that the gymnasium was hit by a rocket only minutes later, so that "two-bit security guard" saved his life. I don't think he was still ticked off at the guy after that happened, do you? Also note that when the "duck and cover" order was issued, McHenry admits that he stood there like a dope. Again, self-deprecating. Yes, maybe he engaged in a little DYKWIA with the guard at first, but the "two-bit" comment is clearly not something he thinks now.

Given the number of troops we have stationed in North Carolina, one would think that ~he~ would have thought before relaying that story as he had. Senator or not, he isn't an active member of the military; the "two-bit guard" should be commended for following orders.

Ever since the Wright clips, I' reserve judgmemnt on all clips.without context.

Maybe the "Baby of the House" could serve a couple of tours in Iraq to gain a better perspective. Seems the chickenhawk can't fly...

Runasim: "Ever since the Wright clips, I' reserve judgmemnt on all clips without context."

True. I am tired of "Gothca" politics. Man, that is all we are seeing these days. However, contrary to runasim, I thought Wright legltimate game.

With me it was the "Obama Daughters Scandal" actually. The puffed up righteous indignation and all. I noticed an "Obama Beefsteak Scandal" today.

Actual rational discussion about policy proposals -- look at the deficit and the economy, for god's sake -- seem to have gone out the window.

The blogosphere seems to have become 2 mobs of howling villagers with torches and pitchforks...occasionally running past each other...to fling themselves in their righteous wrath upon some unfortunate who is less than legalistically clear on a Youtube video.

Even when legalistically clear...as McCain with his 100 year war comment...it is easy to delete the section of his quote qualifying a presence in Iraq as long as US troops aren't getting hurt.

Cut the video there...cue the mob...and bring on the empty horses....

I don't think that the problem here is his lame attempt at self-deprecating humor and insulting an armed service member in the process, the problem is that despite rockets being fired into the green zone blowing up buildings and allegedly killing someone, this idiot sticks to his delusion that "things are getting a lot better of there."

Ed Mo says in an update that this was apparently a contractor...not a soldier.

Goldfarb at Weekly Standard called McHenry's office. They confirmed he was not speaking of a US soldier, but a foreign contractor.

"It was a poor choice of words to describe the foreign contractor, but anyone who was there knows that I delivered a speech praising the heroism and sacrifice of those who are serving our country in harm's way. "

Goldfarb points out that last week the same ThinkProgress blogger Amanda accused McCain of plagiarizing a general...again without checking with her GOP target.

The Left bloggers howled in righteous fury. Turned out the general had himself lifted the lines from an earlier McCain speech. Much crow eaten.

Seems like the same deal here. A rude comment about a contractor...but not insulting a US soldier.

Lovely when the "Gotcha" gambit explodes in the attackers face. Maybe she will think twice about doing this again.

"Ever since the Wright clips, I' reserve judgmemnt on all clips.without context."

Ditto.

I wonder if the security guy who was guarding the gym was injured when the rocket hit it.

Marlowecan,
Oh, come one, this isn't a liberal vs conservative issue. Why try to make it one?

What we have here is an overheated blogosphere and cable channel commentary, but at the heart lies the arrogance of some elected officials and other elites. There is an arrogance afoot, a sense that rules, like taxes, are only for the little people.