IWA For Sunday 102107

Hey folks,

This weeks winner has a history of stupidity. Seems he is too ignorant to keep his mouth shut, or too stupid to understand civil discourse. According to

MSNBC's “First Read” blog eneumerated Stark's history of inflammatory remarks: “On another occasion he publicly questioned the provenance of J.C. Watts' offspring, comments that so enraged the former Oklahoma quarterback that he angrily marched up to Stark on the House floor and had to be restrained from beating the living daylights out of the 70-something liberal. Also, during a gun control debate some years back, Stark suggested that opponents of gun control were phallically challenged. And not too long ago, he called a GOP opponent on the Ways and Means committee a 'fruitcake' during committee proceedings.”

Yup, that’s right. This weeks winner is Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif for saying this.

"You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement. "

Now this has set off a fire storm on both sides. The sane and insane. Many are calling for him to apologize, many are PRAISING him. Remember John Boehner said this.

"Congressman Stark should retract his statement and apologize to the House, our commander in chief, and the families of our soldiers and commanders fighting terror overseas,"

Roy Blunt said this.

“Pete Stark's statements on the House floor this afternoon crossed all lines of decency and decorum. As a member of Congress, he should be ashamed. But as a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee - and the current chairman of its Health subcommittee - the Democratic leadership ought to be ashamed as well.

To claim our men and women in Iraq are serving there for the president's own personal enjoyment - and worse, to suggest he's actually 'amused' by the image of soldiers being killed - represents a crass appeal to the worst, most base elements of our population. It dishonors the continued sacrifice of our troops in the field, and disrespects their family and friends at home who pray for their safe return. The Democratic leadership should denounce these comments immediately, and Mr. Stark should apologize for making them as well.”

I called on him to resign. Not only did he just completely insult the troops, but to say that they are going there, to “get their heads blown off for the president's amusement." is not only ignorant, but completely insane.

According to CNN Poll: 88% say Rep. Stark should not apologize David Edwards and Muriel Kane

CNN is reporting that 88% of those voting in their Friday morning online poll say there is no reason Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) should apologize for remarks blasting President Bush on the floor of the House of Representatives.

In the course of debate on expanding SCHIP funding, Stark told Congressional Republicans ,“You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people, if we could get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their head's blow off for the president's amusement.”

House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner quickly issued a statement demanding a retraction and apology, in which he said, “Our troops in Iraq are fighting against al-Qaeda and other radical jihadists hellbent on killing the people we are sent here to represent. Congressman Stark’s statement dishonors not only the Commander-in-Chief, but the thousands of courageous men and women of America’s armed forces who believe in their mission and are putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security.”

There has predictably been support for Stark on the left, along with endorsements of Boehner's outrage on the right. A thread at the liberal Democratic Underground site asked members to DU this CNN poll but also expressed amusement that the sentiment in favor of Stark was already running at 87% to 13%. One commenter suggested that “the poll has been Freeped, it was 89% before, now it's 87%,” to which another replied “amazing what consitutes freeping these daze.”

“Freeping” is a reference to the practice initiated at the conservative Free Republic message board some years ago of sending members to overwhelm online polls with indications of support for right-wing policies and politicians. Liberal sites like Democratic Underground and Daily Kos then began countering this strategy with similar exhortations of their own.

STOP They just told you that this poll is pointless. It was scammed by the Looney base.

The lopsided result of the CNN poll is striking, especially since the mainstream consensus seems to be that even if Stark was just shooting his mouth off, as he has many times in the past, he may have crossed a line of bad taste in suggesting that the president actively enjoys seeing American soldiers' heads blown off.

For example, when Keith Olbermann indicated on his program that he felt there was “something refreshing about his at least refusal to back down,” guest Jonathan Alter responded that Stark's comments were “silly and counterproductive, and the best thing for him to do would be to apologize and move on.”

So? Friday night the “Speaker of the House” Traitor and LWL Leader Pelosi said this in “condemning” Stark’s comment.

“Yesterday's debate in the House to override the President's veto of bipartisan legislation to cover 10 million children was heated on both sides. While Members of Congress are passionate about their views, what Congressman Stark said during the debate was inappropriate and distracted from the seriousness of the subject at hand -- providing health care for America's children.”

OOOHhhhhhh. What a stinging rebuke. {sigh} The fact is, in the sane category, everyone knows that this was a statement that he should apologize for minimally, if not be forced out. The insane side? Well, we already know they are just nuts.

Congratulations Rep. Stark, for showing time and time again, you are too ignorant to hold a civil conversation or have an intelligent debate, you ARE the Idiot of the Week. Let’s see who you can offend tomorrow, we know that the Loons are going to keep you there, even though you are nothing more than a waste of space.
Peter

Sources;
OPNTalk-Libs Are Mad, Veto Stands, Horse Still Dead
CNN Poll: 88% say Rep. Stark should not apologize