Dumping Grounds

OK, so the liberal Democrats have Michael Moore, who is a certifiable lunatic with a personal vendetta against the Bush family. (I have to give him credit though, he got people to pay $7 each to watch his 90 minute long section 527 political ad disguised as a movie… The Swift Boat Vets had to buy air time for their hatchet job.)

Not to be outdone, the conservatives have their own freaking nutjob, in the person of one Michelle Malkin. Her most recent book, In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror, is a defense of the Japanese internment in California during World War II, and possible applications of a similar technique that could be used today against Muslims. NOTE: I have not read the book, and maybe it’s not as Stalinist as it sounds, but I have heard it characterized as an argument for the internment of (at least some) American citizens of the Islamic faith, without charges, given the current war on terrorism. If I’m wrong, Michelle can contact me, and I’ll edit this paragraph.

While on Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC (where she was supposed to be discussing her book), she said the following in reference to John Kerry during a discussion about the Swift Boat ads:

“Well yeah. Why don’t people ask him more specific questions about the shrapnel in his leg? There are legitimate questions about whether or not it was a self-inflicted wound.”

Ahem. OK, Let’s get our facts straight. 1) Chris Matthews is an asshole. On this point we agree. The way he handled her outlandish statement was deplorable. Ms. Malkin was busy hanging herself without Matthews gleefully throwing more rope around her neck. 2) She was misquoted by Keith Olbermann on his blog recounting the incident (and congratulating his friend and co-worker at MSNBC) [the offending blog entry has mysteriously disappeared from the MSNBC site] 3) Olbermann claims, among other things that Ms. Malkin is lobbed softballs by FOX, and is not used to real journalists questioning her, uh, unusual views. (To be fair, Ms. Malkin was coddled on Dennis Miller Live [on CNBC, MSNBC's sister channel] less that two weeks ago when presenting views defending her somewhat questionable book)

Now, all that aside, she’s a nut. Her blog entry on the subject cites numerous quotes about Kerry’s wounds (from Unfit for Command) and claims that the accusation of self inflicted wounds occurs on pg. 36 (which strangely, among a large number of other book quotes in the very same paragraph… goes completely unquoted). I don’t see ANY quote, even on her own website that seems to indicate that ANYONE said the wounds were self-inflicted. Even if the wound was caused by the incorrect deployment of a grenade launcher… how is it relevant? Who cares? All it proves is that President Bush is (likely) better with firearms than John Kerry. Not exactly one of my prime concerns when selecting a President.

Her comments were exceptionally poorly placed, and reflected poorly on her, and conservatives in general.

I think that any service of your country in wartime (or otherwise, as a matter of fact) is honorable, and worthy of respect. A Purple Heart as recognition that you were wounded while serving is a nice gesture, but it is not the type of medal that makes you qualified to be President.

(Please folks, I am not trying to disparage ANY veteran… but a Purple Heart does not indicate any particular competence or valor, it proves you can stop a bullet.)

Ms. Malkin is just as bad as Mr. Moore, she’s just not as well known, or as good of a self-promoter. Neither of them documents their sources, because that would really cramp their style of making the most outlandish statements possible. Both candidates have plenty of flaws that can be exploited by the other camp. Personally, if I don’t hear the word “Vietnam” for the next 20 years, it will still be too damn soon.

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