REAGAN: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: It‘s a question as to how much P.R. went into that thing.
REAGAN: Yes.
Both things are true. There is spontaneous emotion there. And I certainly would honor it.
And, Joe, you can call it cynicism if you want. All I‘m saying is, it makes me uncomfortable when people are being used for a reason that is political. Now, if they got something good out of it, then that‘s more important. But that is simply an observation on my part...
MATTHEWS: You know what I think?
I am asking the question because I live in Washington and have watched these. And I will bet you, within the next couple of days, what we are speculating about now, we will know more about, which White House staffer takes credit for putting them so close to each other, who might have indicated to the Iraqi woman it would be appropriate at that moment, when the president addressed Ms. Norwood, that she could go up and embrace her.
You never know how much goes on behind the scenes when everything it seems isn‘t true.
That sounds almost like Matthews wants to launch a full congressional investigation. "What did these people know and when did they know it?!" Please!
As always, I have a theory. :-)
Perhaps some on the left are so outraged by this hug because it was, in one spontaneous act, a complete vindication of our belief in the mission that our troops have been fulfilling these past two years. It was a beautiful moment when an Iraqi citizen, fresh from the monumentally successful vote this past week, embraced the parents of a fallen soldier in a heartfelt thank you for all that our troops have done for that nation.
Ironic, don't you think, that Ron Reagan Jr. should accuse the President of using the Norwoods as a political prop when he and other members of the left have been using our troops for that purpose since the war on terror began. And that goes to the heart of my argument... People like Ron Reagan, Jr., Chris Matthews, etc., would rather invent a conspiracy than believe that our troops are doing the right thing.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
perhaps they are offended by miscegenation
2 - Eric Olsen
and thanks David, very nice job
3 - Steve S
Perhaps some on the left are so outraged by this hug because it was
You posted a segment here of Chris Matthews wondering aloud if there was some PR in the hug, and you follow that up with ' perhaps some on the left are so outraged'?
That's not outrage.
4 - David Flanagan
perhaps they are offended by miscegenation
Lol! Good one. I was thinking about trying to include that idea in a humorous way, but I just couldn't do it. Thanks for saying that so perfectly. :-)
Thanks,
David
5 - David Flanagan
Steve,
If you had heard people like Garafalo (sp?) and others really going off about the hug, you would have heard the outrage in their voices. It was funny!
Thanks,
David
6 - Aaman
All politicians are self-serving, publicity-oriented. What's the big deal here - even if it was a publicity stunt, every flavor of politico does this and more. A consistently selfless political act is about as common as a $3 bill.
That being said, it was most probably a natural, woman-to-woman,mother-to-mother, human reaction. The only political act was to have them there in the first place. Again, nothing wrong with that.
7 - Jim Carruthers
Around the world?
Really?
How do you breathe with your head so far up your ass?
In the rest of the world, we paid no attention at all to the Punch and Judy show you seem so fixated on. To put it in perspective, it didn't make the front page of the national papers such as the Globe and Mail, and only a brief mention on the teevee newscasts here, which was that el Presidente made a speech with much clapping by his junta.
8 - Scott
David, is you on crack?
9 - David Flanagan
In the rest of the world, we paid no attention at all to the Punch and Judy show you seem so fixated on.
Jim,
What are you talking about? You live in a suburb of the United States; you are certainly not "the rest of the word." But thanks for commenting.
David
10 - Jim Carruthers
So, you mean to say you can't even get Canadians interested in what your idiot el Presidente has to say. Quel dommage.
11 - DrPat
I am always amazed, Jim, at your willingness to opine on topics to which you claim to have paid no attention.
12 - RJ
Honestly, it would not surprise me to find out that this was semi-planned. And I type this as a Bush supporter who was quite moved by it all...
13 - bhw
I think Oprah was a consultant for the big show, er, I mean speech.
14 - Natalie Davis
Heh. It would be funny if it had been preplanned. I'd expect the wingers to be getting ready to pass a constitutional amendment against same-sex hugging.
15 - Steve S
Steve, If you had heard people like Garafalo (sp?) and others really going off about the hug, you would have heard the outrage in their voices. It was funny! Thanks, David
Garafalo? Where does she come into play in your post? She's not mentioned at all.
I asked why, when Chris Matthews simply wondered aloud if there was PR involved, you went to over-the-top descriptions like 'outraged' and you say because of Garafalo? Um, okay.
That's some crafty editing. Take the vitrol from one person on the Left, apply the condemnation of it to a simple question on Hardball, and conveniently edit out the transition inbetween.
16 - Mike Kole
100% agreement with comment 6. I think the Norwoods were a prop. So what? Every President has done this at the SOTU since Reagan.
What you couldn't script was the real emotion and the tangling of the dog tag chain in Mrs. Norwood's hand with the Iraqi woman's dress. Karl Rove himself made similar comments.
17 - David Flanagan
Steve,
A simple question? LOL! Read my next post on this issue and you'll understand why I think that the whole Hardball conversation was, at the very least, petty.
Thanks,
David
18 - David Flanagan
The Norwoods were not a prop, but they were their to be honored. Are you saying that we shouldn't publicly honor our soldiers and their families?
David
19 - Scott
Maybe it wasn't planned but it's easy to see how one could think that. They put 'em right next to each other for God's sake. Even if it wasn't "planned," I'm sure Bush and Co. were hoping they would hug.
20 - DrPat
Scott, maybe the two women planned it by themselves - after all, they were sitting "right next to each other for God's sake".
Would that still be considered "scripted"?
21 - Mike Kole
David- I'm saying that the Norwoods were there to be honered AND to be a prop.
Moreover, I don't have a problem with this situation.
22 - Dave Nalle
I have to point out that after the fact the Norwoods both said that they were not pushed into the hug nor did they even expect it. I guess you can not believe them, that's your choice, but they seem like honest folks.
But regardless of whether it was somewhat arranged, does that really make the situation or the emotions any less genuine?
Dave
23 - David Flanagan
Obviously, President Bush wanted to honor the Norwoods in a special way because the letter he received from them really touched him. The President realizes that these soldiers are dying at his command. How could he not, he's the Commander-in-Chief.
I think the President wanted Congress and America to be moved as he was moved, and of course it was very logical to have people there from both Iraq and Afghanistan as symbols of their new democracies. The hug itself I think came from the heart from the Iraqi citizen.
No one seemed to comment on or care that another marine in the audience walked over while everyone was clapping to shake Mr. Norwood's hand as well, and that others around them were shaking hands and thanking them. So why do we have to invent a conspiracy theory here?
Thanks,
David