The Pink Flamingo :: The Death of Conservative Manners, Civilized Behavior and Honor

This morning we were greeted with the headlines from CNS News (if you can call it that) heralding how badly John McCain was booed by crowds of anti-amnesty activists. First, after watching the video that Malkin so charitably provided, the boos were a few rude cat-calls. McCain did not lose his temper. And, he controlled the situation to the point where he turned jeers into thundering cheers. Maybe the MSM Conservative Blog World could get the story right once in awhile, but that's way too much to ask.

RUDE BEHAVIOR
The thing that has bothered me, and probably no one else, is the fact that at a REPUBLICAN primary stop, our candidates are being booed by people who are allegedly Republican. I think we can all safely surmise that the extremely rude people who did boo were NOT Republicans but were Lemming Conservatives. The death of manners is one of the things that is leading to the coarsening of our civilized society. If conservatives are embracing and applauding that behavior, then they are part of the problem. Years ago the actress Eartha Kitt did the very same thing to LBJ. Her behavior was considered so vile, it destroyed her entire career. The only job she could get was as Catwoman. I think it is time that we stand up and demand decent manners and proper behavior out of Republicans and conservatives. We can not expect the same thing of Democrats and liberals. The problem is the fact that conservatives have now lowered themselves to the level of liberals. I do not think this incident was funny. I would not be laughing if it were Romney, Huckabee, Clinton or Obama. Okay, I would if it were Ron Paul or Tom Tancredo.

CNS "News"

“…McCain was alternately cheered and jeered by the vocal, pro-growth, "limit-the-government" activist crowd. He was cheered for his military service and for his pledges to maintain a strong defense, to cut taxes and to veto earmarks, but he was booed for his stances on immigration and the environment.   McCain's signature lines such as, "We need to send Washington a message: 'No earmarks -- not 10,000, not one. Zero!" drew thunderous applause, McCain's attempt to bring "a little straight talk" about Michigan's flagging economy seemed to fall flat.   Globalism, he told the audience, is not going away. "Some jobs that have left Michigan aren't coming back, and the answer is not to create false hopes that we can bring back lost jobs -- but to create new ones," McCain said, to a stony silence.   McCain, who engaged the audience in a lengthy Q&A period, drew howls of protest and boos when he expressed support for allowing most illegal aliens to stay in the United States and when he opposed against any form of protectionism….”

Segue to CBS who has no love for McCain and we learn there is more to the story.

“…During the Q & A after his speech, he was asked about his position on immigration and was booed as he gave his response. “Maam, you’ve got to be polite, I’ll be polite to you. I’ll even call on you next,” McCain said. He then continued his response when someone yelled out again. “Ahh come on give it a rest,” he said before explaining how he would address 10 million people left in the country after 2 million were deported automatically. More voices shouted back from the crowd, “How many taxes do you want to spend?” McCain stopped and said “I will secure the border…I am not going to call up a soldier and tell him I am deporting his mother…I’m not going to do it. You can do it,” he said to applause before moving on to the next question. …”

My first comment is the fact that until recently NO REPUBLICAN CROWD would have the bad manners to boo a Presidential candidate. Then I went to Michigan Daily and found a completely different story.

“…While crowds in Livonia booed when McCain, a senator from Arizona, said automotive jobs have left the state won't be returning, they nodded in approval when he voiced his plans to provide displaced workers with training in new fields….”

Perhaps it wasn’t about immigration at all, but the crowds were merely reflecting the unemployment situation in Michigan. That’s a completely different story. WILX a local television station in Michigan covered the same speech and tells us that

“…Another candidate did not fare as well at a Michigan event Saturday. John McCain was booed in Livonia during a speech on illegal immigration. He did recover, however, and concluded his speech to applause….”

The problem is not one of these sources tells us how many people were rude enough to boo and how many were attending the event.

THE HOT AIR – MALKIN SLIME
(from Memorandum)
Hot Air had the much vaunted video where we are told McCain was booed and jeered. Well, he was – BUT BY A FEW RUDE HECKLERS. If you note the end of the video, there was much applause for the rest of his statement. RiehlWorld View has their own version of the story, and naturally it is not favorable to McCain. Let’s grow up guys and start telling the whole story. Naturally Malkin is pulling out all the stops to take out the enemy of the Lemming Conservative World. If Malkin and company were telling the truth, they would mention how low the cheers were when McCain turned the tables on the heckler. Funny thing, the same people think Reagan speaking up for himself and being forceful is leadership. When McCain does it, he’s just a cranky old man. The hypocrisy of Malkin and company is starting to have a very strong odor, and it smells like that of Mephitidae Mephitis.

Where does this end?

When do conservatives start telling and dealing with the verifiable facts?

Yes, I am pulling for McCain. I am absolutely dreading the way conservatives are going to act if he gets the nomination. Yet maybe it will be good. People like Malkin & Company will prove themselves to be so unreasonable and so intellectually dishonest that they will be marginalized. And that is a day worth celebrating. Then Republicans can get back to winning elections and getting decent people selected for the Supreme Court.