Bush deserved `whooping'
Quite a few folks felt that the political sentiments expressed at the
nationally televised memorial service for Coretta Scott King were uncalled
for or in bad taste because the comments were directed at President Bush,
who took time out to travel to Atlanta to honor the widow of slain civil
rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Mrs. King was a major player in the civil rights movement herself.
Like her husband, she never hesitated to speak out loud and proud,
voicing her opposition to America's wrongs and injustices.
If ever there was an occasion when it felt absolutely right and proper
to address our society's and our government's ills, her memorial was such an
occasion.
Speaking out was the speakers' way of paying tribute to the woman
because that's exactly what she herself would have done.
Another reason for them to speak out is because, as President Truman
said, "the buck stops here," and Bush's jaw-dropping failures in Katrina and
Iraq have affected so many blacks.
The man was there in person and that man sure as hell deserves every
bit of the blame.
Bush needed to hear it so that it rang long, booming in his ears.
He needed to get his bells rung good and proper.
He needed a swift kick of reality right in the pants and for once he
got it, live and in color for all the world to see.
After all, here is a president so insulated and protected by his brain
trust and his handlers that every event is an absurdly scripted play
produced and acted out solely by the fanatically loyal.
Here is a president who proudly stated that he doesn't read newspapers
or magazines or watch the news on TV, usually only ESPN.
Here is a truly clueless man.
Here is a man who needed the truth, who needed a rude awakening.
And for a few all-too brief moments he got one.
And try as Bush might to squash freedom of speech - and too many times
he's tried mightily - we still have that freedom.
So, don't feel bad for Bush.
Don't feel embarrassed for anyone.
Getting "whooped" upside the head by the raised and united voices of
10,000 strong was exactly what a guy like that needed.
His Father needs a "whooping" too.
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