Where’s The “Special Comment” About Obama’s Auschwitz Remark?

Last week, in the land of gaffes, Keith Olbermann delivered another of his much-lauded (by some) “Special Comments” about Hillary Clinton’s use of the word “assassination” in this political campaign.  While thought-provoking to a point, Olbermann’s Special Comments are obviously more of an Editorial than actual Journalism:

Senator, we cannot forgive you this.

“You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.”

We cannot forgive you this — not because it is crass and low and unfeeling and brutal.

This is unforgivable, because this nation’s deepest shame, its most enduring horror, its most terrifying legacy, is political assassination.

Lincoln.

Garfield.

McKinley.

Kennedy.

Martin Luther King.

Robert Kennedy.

And, but for the grace of the universe or the luck of the draw, Reagan, Ford, Truman, Nixon, Andrew Jackson, both Roosevelts, even George Wallace.

The politics of this nation is steeped enough in blood, Senator Clinton, you cannot and must not invoke that imagery! Anywhere! At any time!

Our “deepest shame?”  Our “most enduring horror?”  Really?  Someone lend Mr. Olbermann a history book.  While political assassinations are an abominable instance that have recurred in our history, I can certainly think of at least two historical references that are much more shameful, horrible, enduring, and a “terrifying legacy.” 

One of those is, obviously, slavery. 

One other enduring, horrible legacy of the United States is that we idly stood by while Jews were slaughtered by the millions in WWII Germany.  Not until our own physical security was breached at Pearl Harbor did we deign to go to the aid of the Poles, Jews, and Homosexuals that were systematically butchered by the Nazis.  The fact that we waited so damned long contributed to the popularization of the phrase, “Never Again,”  originally coined by Meir Kahane.

While I hate to offend Mr. Olbermann’s sensibilities, Meir Kahane was also assassinated.  In New York. 

And yet Barack Obama’s false assertion that his own uncle was part of the “American forces” that liberated not just any concentration camp, but Auschwitz itself, escapes Mr. Olbermann’s scathing comment. 

Why? 

It was the Russian army that liberated Auschwitz, not the Americans.  And it has always been, to me, an unwritten rule that you do not refer to Auschwitz unless you know what the hell you’re talking about.  While Bobby Kennedy’s assassination is indeed an enduring and horrible image, for many, many Americans, the gas chambers and ovens of Auschwitz are far more horrifying. 

 

A Quote and A Question

How can you equate 2500votes in Iowa’s caucas, to 1.2 million in Florida?

In the comments of the above-linked thread, “Vik” keeps asserting (and I’ve heard this in other places before) that it doesn’t matter what Floridian voters did, because “they knew” their votes wouldn’t count. 

I really doubt that.  Most Americans aren’t political junkies who pay attention to the news.  In these days of sound-bytes and text messaging, the headline is all that matters.  And I’m of the opinion that voters in Florida, for the most part, didn’t know that their votes wouldn’t be counted. 

Again. 

So if there are any Floridians out there who voted in the Democratic Primary, (and there are a record number of you, so don’t be shy) what’s the real deal?  Did you know your vote wouldn’t count, or didn’t you?  Or was it something in-between? 

We’re all dying to know.

Foreshadowing?

Hillary better hope not:

Tragedy struck the first filly in the Kentucky Derby since 1999, as Eight Belles went down on the track after her second-place finish today, broke two ankles, and was euthanized.

Showing a sisterhood with the female horse, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., during a trip to Louisville this week had said she was going to bet on Eight Belles to win, place, and show. . .

The horse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., picked to show — Big Brown — won the Derby.

Levels upon levels. . . And really: Big Brown? 

Popcorn Politics

You know, for three candidates who have so very much in common, the media has done one hell of a job making them seem diametrically opposed.  With today’s headline in the Huffington Post, “Clinton Camp Considering Nuclear Option,” John McCain must be getting the popcorn ready.  If it doesn’t stick in his dentures, that is. 

With at least 50 percent of the Democratic Party’s 30-member Rules and Bylaws Committee committed to Clinton, her backers could — when the committee meets at the end of this month — try to ram through a decision to seat the disputed 210-member Florida and 156-member Michigan delegations. Such a decision would give Clinton an estimated 55 or more delegates than Obama, according to Clinton campaign operatives.

As an aside, I do want to mention here: say what you will about that idiot Carville, he does give us some memorable lines:

If she gave him one of her cojones, they’d both have two.

Face it, that’s funny.  And if she pulls off that “Nuclear Option,” it just may be true. 
 

Quote of the Day

“Why does this surprise anyone? All along, Obama’s campaign has been about getting elected, Chicago style – that’s it. Causes come and go, but the pursuit of political power goes on. “