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Why Just Question Someone's Patriotism...

By Shawn Macomber on 10.15.09 @ 10:03AM

This seems to be the question Garrison Keillor could not quite find an answer to while writing his latest Salon column. But don't worry, all the usual re-tread unfunny jokes and faux modesty you've come to expect from A Prairie Home Companion is on display as well.

If any conservative commentator had written this same column about a liberal during the Bush years, Garrison would have keeled over in ostentatious outrage. Ah, yes, remember when criticizing the president wasn't tantamount to a treasonous, racist bet against America? Yeah, like roundabout nine months ago. Good times.

Comments

S.L. Toddard| 10.15.09 @ 12:02PM

"Ah, yes, remember when criticizing the president wasn't tantamount to a treasonous, racist bet against America?"

I remember when it *was* considered tantamount to treason on much of the Right, actually. You know - "criticizing the President during War Time (which, in America, is technically any time - SLT)" and all that. Give neoconservative David Frum's "Unpatriotic Conservative" piece another run through for a refresher - he attempted to run a number of traditional conservatives out of the "movement" for the sin of being correct on Iraq, and on Bush.

If the Left's standards for what constitutes "treason" have flip-flopped, they have done it no more than the Fox News Right's. When an American honestly believes his president is not acting in the best interests of the country (based on his actions and not the letter next to his name), it is the patriotic duty of that American to criticize that president - vocally and forcefully, and to convince as many of his fellow citizens as possible of the same.

This was true back when the corporate-owned jingos and keyboard-commandos of the GOP smeared conservatives for opposing Bush from the right, and it is just as true today.

gus| 10.15.09 @ 2:21PM

S.L.LIBTARD said...This was true back when the corporate-owned jingos and keyboard-commandos of the GOP smeared conservatives for opposing Bush from the right, and it is just as true today.

S.L. your skirt is showing. That nonsense is pathetic.

Becky| 10.15.09 @ 12:21PM

Why do people who made their fame feel everything about them is of interest to the rest of us?

Sometimes (a lot of times) I long for the celebrities I grew up with: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, (even Bill Cosby of decades past), Johnny Carson, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball. I know we have some. Somewhere out there.

I cannot understand why the celebrity activism has become more defensive of an individual (Hillary, Obama) while their politics have become more collectivist. Shouldn't freedom loving patriots defend the institution that protects and promote the individual instead?