Just in case you were not able to digest that video on a Monday morning, here is a key passage in transcript form:
Joe the Plumber sure is a solid addition to the Conservative media pundit world, who's members have spent recent weeks trying to idiotically rewrite the history of the US depression and bash the proven effective policies of FDR because the truth does not work out for their ideologically driven, reality bankrupt "commentary news" narratives. (Be sure to read this solid column, which details the moronic logic of today's prominent GOP media pundits over FDR's contributions to American society. )
"I'll be honest with you. I don't think journalists should be anywhere allowed war. I mean, you guys report where our troops are at. You report what's happening day to day. You make a big deal out of it. I-I think it's asinine.
You know, I liked back in World War I and World War II when you'd go to the theater and you'd see your troops on, you know, the screen and everyone would be real excited and happy for'em. Now everyone's got an opinion and wants to downer--and down soldiers. You know, American soldiers or Israeli soldiers.
I think media should be abolished from, uh, you know, reporting. You know, war is hell. And if you're gonna sit there and say, 'Well look at this atrocity,' well you don't know the whole story behind it half the time, so I think the media should have no business in it."
Joe the Hack's comments probably made Seymour Hersh poke his eyes out and David Halberstam roll over in his grave. Since he wants to get all self righteous, 767 journalists have died since 1992 covering military conflicts around the world. 41 Journalists died in 2008 and 91 Journalists have been murdered in the ongoing Iraq war.
I can guarantee that the friends and families of fallen journalists do no think any of them sacrificed their lives in some shallow vain because they were trying to exploit or harm soldiers in war for personal PR gain. (Hmm, hint, hint?)
I understand it would be much easier for Joe's "cause" if international journalists just shaped all of their reports in a pro-war America press release form. The Pentagon already did a very effective job in the pro war propaganda department by selling the American public on TV all of the glorious virtues of invading Iraq with their now defunct Military Analyst Propaganda Program.
The Conglomerate Corporations, who control our news media, basically ignored the story because of their guilty involvement in it so I understand how Joe would be ignorant about these activities.
Instead of traveling to Israel, Joe should get a DC NeoCon think tank (Heritage or AEI) to fund him a trip to DC. While here in DC, he can go visit the Journalists Memorial at the Newseum to see what real reporters looks like.
Considering the fact that Israeli has barred reporters from entering Gaza to report on the deadly violence and an office housing international news agencies was recently bombed, his comments against reporters while in Israel are even more stupid.
I wish he would just go away but the partisan and comical mocker in me says keep giving Samuel Wurzelbacher a microphone.
This post was dedicated to my sane and savvy Republican boy, Jack Donaghy Jr., who I know hates that the fringe wing nuts(Rush, Kristol, Hannity, Savage,etc) have hijacked his party, stopped making persuasive arguments to the public based in facts, and became the mainstream spokes people for conservatism in 2009.
Hell, even Bush recognized that the anti immigrant behavior of Republican party pols is probably not an effective long term successful strategy.
UPDATE: Like Clockwork, Bloggers on the right defend this jackass. Sadly NO, who like myself sees the value of a strong 2 party system to keep power in check from corruption, is completely fed up with this dumbing down embrace of the political discourse.
