Post by Sparky on Mar 19, 2006 7:25:57 GMT -8
Theodore Roosevelt on telling the truth about the Commander-in-Chief
Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha was on CBS this morning, quoting Teddy Roosevelt. Murtha, of course, is the Democratic Congressman and former hawk who last November called for the immediate deployment of US troops in Iraq. At that time he said, "The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion."
Later, Murtha was dissed on the floor of the House by freshman Representative Jean Schmidt of Ohio (she's the one who got her seat last year by defeating Paul Hackett). Schmidt came close to calling Murtha, who is a decorated Vietnam vet, a "coward" for voicing his opinions.
Today Murtha stood up for the many Americans who are criticizing the current occupant of the White House by quoting a former President who knew something about war himself.
Here's the quote that Murtha offered:
The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.
Theodore Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star
May 7, 1918
Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha was on CBS this morning, quoting Teddy Roosevelt. Murtha, of course, is the Democratic Congressman and former hawk who last November called for the immediate deployment of US troops in Iraq. At that time he said, "The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion."
Later, Murtha was dissed on the floor of the House by freshman Representative Jean Schmidt of Ohio (she's the one who got her seat last year by defeating Paul Hackett). Schmidt came close to calling Murtha, who is a decorated Vietnam vet, a "coward" for voicing his opinions.
Today Murtha stood up for the many Americans who are criticizing the current occupant of the White House by quoting a former President who knew something about war himself.
Here's the quote that Murtha offered:
The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.
Theodore Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star
May 7, 1918