THE STUPID DEFENSE
The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (October 25, 2006)

On September 4, 1967, presidential contender George Romney said that he had been “brainwashed” by American generals into supporting the Vietnam War. George McGovern commented at the time that all Romney really needed was “a light rinse.” Politicians often declare their stupidity or density as a defense when they are being attacked for their malfeasance.

Recently, J. Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, lumbered up to various podia and announced that he was “duped” by former Representative Mark Foley and couldn’t remember hearing about the Foley’s predatory behavior even after several other politicians said they told him. Then he blamed his staff. That Hastert is a real “stand-up guy.”

Not to be outdone, several prominent Democratic Senators have claimed they were either “duped” or “misled” by President Bush and the Republican administration about the Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. They say that if they knew then what they know now, they wouldn’t have voted for the resolution for go to war. One of them even ran for president and some still even hope to run for president. Talk about lame.

Of course, worse than this “weenie” talk is the “cowboy up” talk of John McCain, Rick Renzi, and Jon Kyl who want to send in more troops to really obliterate Iraq to save it. Win their hearts and minds by beating the living-daylights out of them. Vietnam all over again.

George McGovern was right. “Brainwashed” is too strong a word. A “light rinse” will do for these saps.

Copyright © Dana Prom Smith 2006