Is it o.k. to criticize the President? Do we still have the right to free speech?
Posted by Catherine Morgan on September 13, 2007
picture by © p2b12
IS IT O.K. TO CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT? — by Catherine Morgan
It seems to me that we have taken political correctness to an extreme that Roosevelt himself may have considered “wrong” and “morally treasonable”. To understand what I mean by this you need to read this quote by President Roosevelt, a Republican President.
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”
“Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star”, 149 May 7, 1918
This was what President Roosevelt thought during a time that he himself was being harshly criticized. So, when I hear people saying that if we criticize President Bush, or question his policies we are “emboldening the terrorists”, it makes me a little angry. It seems to me that freedom of speech is the cornerstone of our country, and we can not allow anyone to take away our voice.
Keith Olbermann…a criticizer of Bush — Is it o.k.?
On freedom of speech and the Internet…
(originally uploaded by .beauty.obscured.)
JB said
Criticizing the President is fine. The problem is that too many don’t criticize but accuse. Most of these people accuse or insinuate without facts to back up the accusations. Talking points are read and memorized without determining if the talking points are true or not. Name calling is not criticizing either. This is what people like Keith Olbermann are great at. Disagreeing with a position is fine also.
We may not all have the same approach to a problem. But if we are to have a civil nation one must go along with the outcome of our elections and laws. One should at least give the opposition a chance to fail. Not oppose all actions prior to even hearing what those actions may be.
In the United State we do not have a loyal opposition but an anti –bush / anti-American opposition.
No law needs to be made but one should be called to task if accusations fly without merit. Conspiracy theories aren’t facts.
Andy said
Anti-Bush isn’t always the same as anti-American. I agree that a lot of Bush criticism is over the top, but there are plenty of people who are don’t agree with Bush that can articulate themselves just fine.
fitnessfortheoccasion said
It makes me furious when wingers claim criticism is unAmerican. Its a bitter irony to swallow.
And I love that last photo!
Eric Jaffa said
Theodore Roosevelt wrote that as a right-wing columnist who was criticizing a Democratic president, Woodrow Wilson.
TR didn’t write that because “he himself was being harshly criticized.”
Cheri Roberts-Piper said
I certainly wont stop questioning them…
Lisa said
Why is is that people seem afraid to disagree with Obama publicly? What has he done except increase the deficit,hob nob with dictators and apologize all over the world for America? The media is obviously on his side right or wrong.