A representative from VoteVets.org has finally posted a version of what happened with the uniformed soldier who was shouted down. It starts out, of course, with calling Michelle Malkin and Drudge “chickenhawks.”
So here is how liberals avoid debate on the war for those keeping score:
* You’ve Never Served: You’re a chickenhawk so they ignore the merits of your argument.
* You Did Serve: You’re still a chickenhawk for not serving now so they ignore the merits of your argument.
* You Are Serving: It’s illegal for you to speak about the war so they ignore the merits of your argument.
That’s why you don’t even try to engage these nitwits; you have to speak over them to people who should know better.
UPDATE:
The soldier’s name is David Aguina and it is true he showed up the next day at YearlyKos in civilians clothes. That whether what he did is illegal is still doubtful (here’s a convincing argument against what Aguina did). Can it really be considered political speech to say that a war is going well? That must make communications with the front pretty difficult.
“How are things going at your position?”
“Pretty good. Resistance has died down.”
“Oh, so the surge is going great then? You’re court marshaled, neocon!”
UPDATE 2:
From the comments of the DailyKos post:
What’s preventing him from volunteering to be redeployed to Iraq?
So, if you’re ever in the States long enough to express a positive opinion of the war, you’re a chickenhawk.
Other reasons stated to dismiss his opinion: He’s obviously not mentally well or he’s obviously brainwashed like everyone else in the military who supports the war.
Once again, these people are scum, and we have to keep hitting the Democrats as long as they even give them an ear.
UPDATE 3:
And don’t forget, according to Kos himself, anyone who thinks Aguina shouldn’t be able to speak out in uniform is un American.
That soldier was very brave to voice his opinion at YearlyKos where the vast majority of folks want to leave Iraq asap. I think there are probably many soldiers that want to keep helping the poor suffering Iraqis. It is hard to turn around and leave but we have to considered the enormous costs of staying. It is a very liberal thing to want to help people living in other countries. That’s why Iraq War supporters like Frank J. are the true liberals. Conservatives, like myself, want to leave Iraq and focus solely on killing terrorists and keeping America strong not building bridges and having soldiers die to keep the peace in Iraq. Our bridges are more important than theirs and we cannot afford both. The only way we could afford to stay would be to raise taxes and who wants that? At some point we have to say enough is enough and leave. But leave carefully. Even Hillary has warned there are few exits out of Iraq and we could ambushed.
This guy was totally brave: I’d like to buy him a beer.
But there are terrorists in Iraq. How do you propose killing them if we leave?
Wait for them to come here?
uh, anyone want to point out to a few of the “why isn’t he volunteering for Iraq” faction that their boy Soltz hasn’t been to Iraq?
LOL, RTO just did it…. in case they bury it….
Frank,
I believe our blog was the first right-leaning site to point to the yKos incident. Hugh Hewitt and LGF quickly linked to it, causing the story to hit critical mass.
No offense to the brilliant sages at Kos, but I’m ex-military. This fact shouldn’t matter to any thinking American, but it pretty much destroys VoteVets’ claim that this dust-up on the right was cooked up by “chickenhawks.”
However, if only military types are allowed to have an opinion on issues of war and peace, let’s count only their votes in 2008. I’m sure we’ll be pleased with the outcome…
Frank J,
You’ve got the anti-war leftists’ number. Trying to reason with them is like trying to reason with the wind.
Exurban Jon,
I really like your suggestion about the 2008 election!
None of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams ever served in the military. Obviously we should rescind the Declaration of Independence.
FDR never served in the military. Neither did Woodrow Wilson. I guess we should have let the Germans win. (Twice!)
Excellent find on that Kos article.
I served from 1964-1970. I’ve nevewr been to Iraq so I am a chickenhawk. I did ask a recruiter but he said that the Corps doesn’t need any sixty year old Corporals.
Dunno why, I can sit in a humvee seat with the best of ’em and I’m so deaf that I wouldn’t care about the IEDs like the young kids. Plus, being a married man a tragic death wouldn’t be such a bad outcome.
This has to be one of the best blogs thats covered this story. But that being said, if (for whatever perverted reason) I was at that YearlyKos panel and had seen this SGT ignore advice to not do something he knew was inappropriate and he started with that spiel, as a NCO myself I’d have probably flipped my lid as well. Kinda makes since to mostly military types I suppose.
Disclosure: As a soldier currently in Iraq, I hate it. Have lost too many good friends to care a lick about the success of Iraq. Have yet to see one red brick that has been worth the lives of any one of what we have lost as a country. The terrorists will go wherever we go, so lets go to Korea or China, or hell, France! Anything that makes more sense.