Giving Comfort To The Enemy
CNN reports that former six-term U.S. congresswoman Cynthia McKinney "slammed U.S. policy on Libyan state TV late Saturday and stressed the 'last thing we need to do is spend money on death, destruction and war.'"
You remember McKinney. She's the one who assaulted a Capitol police officer about five years ago. She ran for president on the Green Party ticket. She's won many awards from the left, including one "because she was willing to challenge the Bush administration and called for an investigation into 9-11 when few others dared to air their criticism and questions." She attempted to run a blockade in 2009 to deliver supplies to Gaza.
So she goes on a Libyan station that is fiercely loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and her interview was spliced with pro-Gadhafi propoganda. She also denounced President Obama and his economic policies.
I know that going on an enemy television show and denouncing the U.S. is probably what she does every Saturday, but I'm curious about the U.S. reaction to such stunts -- and whether it's changed over time.
I imagine there was a time when giving such help to the enemy would result in prosecution. Now, we don't really care. Is that better? Should anything be done?
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
What used to pass for treason is now referred to as "mainstream liberalism." Denouncing America is what they do.
Jun '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
Carter/McKinney 2012: Because We're Not Done Mucking Up America.
Jan '11
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
My reaction hasn't changed.
Dec '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
"Tripoli Gardenia"?
Sep '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
I lived in Atlanta for almost a year, early in the last decade. One of my few regrets on leaving was that I would no longer be able to vote against McKinney.
McKinney and her flatulent ilk escape prosecution because they aren't worth the energy. In WW II, we were in a war of national survival, and traitors like Tokyo Rose mattered more.
Aug '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
On the substance of the issue I'm inclined to think even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Our intervention is a war of no strategic interest, creates more violence than would have been the case under the "Bhengazi massacre" scenario, that in the long-run is likely to cost us political capital, and which most important of all mocks our sovereignty and constitutional government by putting the approval of UNSC and the Arab League above that of Congress (illegally failing even to get the retroactive approval of Congress within 60 days, as required by the War Powers Act).
That said, there is a time and a place for expressing such thoughts and a patriot does it among his fellow citizens, and not in a venue controlled by the country that (however imprudently) we have made our enemy.
Basically, opposing the "limited kinetic military action" that will last "days not weeks" in the NY Times or here on Ricochet or standing on a street corner is patriotism, but expressing the same thoughts on the state television of the enemy power is treason.
Edited on May 23, 2011 at 9:31amRe: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
anon_academic: On the substance of the issue I'm inclined to think even a stopped clock is right twice a day. ...
That said, there is a time and a place for expressing such thoughts and a patriot does it among his fellow citizens, and not in a venue controlled by the country that (however imprudently) we have made our enemy.
Basically, opposing the "limited kinetic military action" that will last "days not weeks" in the NY Times or here on Ricochet or standing on a street corner is patriotism, but expressing the same thoughts on the state television of the enemy power is treason. · May 23 at 9:28am
Edited on May 23 at 09:31 am
Precisely. I'm 100% opposed to intervening in Libya and I still think what she's doing is not right.
May '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
Carter should be in prison for impersonating an ambassador of the United States (attempting national diplomacy without authorization).
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.:
So she goes on a Libyan station that is fiercely loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and her interview was spliced with pro-Gadhafi propoganda. ·
That merits Congressional censure.
That merits prison.
Nov '10
Re: Giving Comfort To The Enemy
Ask Jane Fonda.