Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Obama got a short pass because he was actually nice to George W. Bush yesterday, but a story at NRO today once again shows the idiotic lack of judgment by the White House. You remember that last week Obama gave a posthumous medal of freedom to Jan Karski, the Pole who brought news of the Holocaust to the West during WWII. Great--he deserved it (it was, in this part of the program, that Obama called the camps "Polish Death Camps"). But that's not the whole story. Rory Cooper writes:
According to the Wall Street Journal, Polish officials requested that Walesa accept the Medal of Freedom on behalf of Jan Karski, a member of the Polish Underground during World War II who was being honored posthumously this week. The request makes sense. Walesa and Karski shared a burning desire to rid Poland of tyrannical subjugation. But President Obama said no.
Administration officials told the Journal that Walesa is too “political.” A man who was arrested by Soviet officials for dissenting against the government for being “political” is being shunned by the United States of America for the same reason 30 years later.
Meanwhile, one of the recipients of the Medal was Dolores Huerta, the honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. So socialist politics are acceptable, but not the politics of a man who stood up and fought socialism.
Most conservatives, quite rightly, honor Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher as the two great conservative leaders of the last part of last century. Two others, Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel (who recently died), looked communism in the eye, never flinched, and won. Both became leaders of their countries. They symbolize the human desire for freedom.
Ironically, Walesa and Obama share a distinction: each won the Nobel Peace Prize. Walesa for risking everything (including life and freedom); Obama for thinking politically correct thoughts. There is a difference.
So we have a president who bows to the King of Saudi Arabia, chums it up with Chavez, but doesn't have time for Walesa, can't bear the daily rebuke that a bust of Winston Churchill would give him, and finds Benjamin Netanyahu a pain to deal with. That pretty well sums up Mr. Obama.
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May '12
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Wow. That is really un-Presidential.
Was Dubya that obviously partisan? Was Reagan? I doubt it.
May '12
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
This, my friends, is one of the worst things, and there are many, that Obama has done to our country. Ignoring our allies and fighters who have made a dent in the War on Freedom is despicable (and to be said like Sylvester the Cat).
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Also, "too Catholic."
Aug '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
The man is so transparently crypto-Marxist; a finely-tuned political machine for the fostering of collectivist tyranny. The fact that people everywhere are largely blind to this is evidence of great evil. Look what happens to everything he touches. He's a reverse King Midas.
Lech Walesa is a natural conservative, as are millions of Eastern Europeans, because they've experienced the collectivist hell of modern socialism/'progressivism'. Moral rot, stagnation, and bankruptcy are the inevitable consequence of Demonicrat Machine policies.
Edited on June 1, 2012 at 5:00pmJun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Edward Smith: Wow. That is really un-Presidential.
Was Dubya that obviously partisan? Was Reagan? I doubt it. · 12 minutes ago
Here's a link to recipients by President. Most are completely non-political, but it should be noted that George W. Bush gave the medal to people like Bill Cosby, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, Oscar Biscet (Cuban political prisoner), Natan Sharansky, Robert Conquest (author of The Great Terror), and Vaclav Havel. I don't see the same "freedom" theme played in Obama's recipients.
Edited on June 1, 2012 at 5:03pmJan '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
You have to wonder what Obama has against the Poles. First, he completely ticked them off when he appeased Russia on the nuclear shield.
Like everyone else, I can't blame him for not knowing how sensitive the Poles are to the phrase, "Polish death camp." But as soon as the Poles became furious over it, someone should have told Obama to show the Poles the same deference (at least) that he shows to our enemies. But now, this is compounded by the information that Obama had already dissed Lech Walensa before the ceremony.
So when the Obama Gang begs for sympathy about what seems like a language misunderstanding, we have to explain to Obama that the Poles wouldn't have been so sensitive in the first place had Obama not been insulting them - consistently - before any of this took place.
The Obama Gang smugly call others insensitive, but this one is their own fault. They're mystified why the Poles are making such a big deal out of this. But they caused it themselves.
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
KC Mulville: You have to wonder what Obama has against the Poles. First, he completely ticked them off when he appeased Russia on the nuclear shield.
Like everyone else, I can't blame him for not knowing how sensitive the Poles are to the phrase, "Polish death camp." But as soon as the Poles became furious over it, someone should have told Obama to show the Poles the same deference (at least) that he shows to our enemies. But now, this is compounded by the information that Obama had already dissed Lech Walensa before the ceremony.
So when the Obama Gang begs for sympathy about what seems like a language misunderstanding, we have to explain to Obama that the Poles wouldn't have been so sensitive in the first place had Obama not been insulting them - consistently - before any of this took place.
The Obama Gang smugly call others insensitive, but this one is their own fault. They're mystified why the Poles are making such a big deal out of this. But they caused it themselves. · 3 minutes ago
And isn't it odd that there are lots of Polish-American voters in Chicago? Obama is truly an enigma.
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
"Too political" translation: "Helped bring down the Marxist regime, the jerk"
Feb '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
REALLY, really, good heavens, the whole thing was bad enough, and the refusal to apologize over the "death camp" comment, ugh. Like KC stated, it might be plausible to understand that was an accident, but then to NOT apologize, and then this, and Walsea would favor many of the social welfare programs and "social safegaurds" that the US left support, really, too Political...guess he should've been a different kind of community organizer, more like Jesus....when I read this stuff I could just...
welrkej@#$*&iewrowngow$^@#4iertuwoe@36@#4@!$$&*ingoiweurqpwoig...
when I think about this man as President...he has no perspective and I fear no humanity, let alone humility. Making a more passionate Romney supporter of me every blessed day!
KC Mulville: You have to wonder what Obama has against the Poles.
Like everyone else, I can't blame him for not knowing how sensitive the Poles are to the phrase, "Polish death camp." But as soon as the Poles became furious over it, someone should have told Obama to show the Poles the same deference (at least) that he shows to our enemies.
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Savor the irony. Walesa used organized labor to bring down a communist regime. Back in the good old days American labor under the leadership of George Meany (AFL-CIO) was staunchly anti-communist as well. It's not supposed to work like that. The world turned upside-down!
Nov '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Payback, plain and simple--Chicago thug clout politics shifted leftward and elevated to a national and international level.
Jul '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Just wait till he's in his second term. He'll have more leeway.
Mar '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Warsaw has more Poles in it than any city in the world. Kraków isn't #2, Chicago is. What is he slamming the Polskis for? First he pulls the missile defense, then "Polish" death camps ... what's next, a rip on John Paul II? Bobby Vinton? A proclamation outlawing Pulaski Day?
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
So is Illinois back in play?
Apr '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Eh...I don't think Lech Walesa likes Obama very much either and has made this rather clear before this event. Another plus for the man in my book frankly.
Jun '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Gee, I hadn't realized that the historical legacy of Walesa was controversial. Here are a few lines I plucked from Wikipedia:
Frightening revelations there, but maybe this was the kicker:
Mar '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
tabula rasa
So is Illinois back in play? · 6 minutes ago
I wouldn't go that far. My grandfather will probably vote for Obama.
He would never have dreamt of doing such a thing, back when he was still alive.
Apr '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
I think Walesa accepting the award on behalf of Karski would have drawn an uncomfortable link between the tyranny of the Soviets and the tyranny of the Nazia for Obama.
And some of you give Obama too much slack in the "polish death camps" incident, he knew exactly what he was doing. You don't come from Chicago and not understand Poles.
Jun '11
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
Our Dear Leader's 2nd act is ending on a Cartereque note.
So what happens in the 3rd act? Does he dig Brezhnev out of the his grave and give him a kiss? Don a cardigan? Hand Afghanistan over to the... (guess that's in progress).
May '10
Re: Obama Shuns Lech Walesa Because He's "Too Political"
tabula rasa
So is Illinois back in play? · 19 minutes ago
Don't laugh...by the time November rolls around, it wouldn't surprise me. This guy is making McGovern look electable.