Teddy Roosevelt on supporting the president even when he does wrong . . .

[Damansarajaya]

The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.

Kansas City Star (7 May 1918).

[Hekate]

1. Okay, newbie, The President just got the ACA implemented and 9.5 million people covered...

That figure counts the children in families, and so on.

So is this really the day you want to post that thing?

Enjoy your stay.

[NYC_SKP]

2. A LOT of posts of concern on this momentous day, don't you think?

And it's not like we haven't seen that quote a zillion times before.

Besides, I'm of the mind that if Teddy was around today to see the historic level of obstruction and hate toward this president, he'd be pretty pissed.

[Hekate]

3. Amazing, isn't it?

Also, 4 people have recc'ed this post and soon it will be on the Greatest page, once again showing the world that DUers really have their priorities right because -- you know -- Obamabots.

[Larry the Cable Dude]

9. Wow. You attacked a lot of people in that comment

If the post is so awful, why do you predict it to be on the Greatest Thread?

[Hekate]

11. LOL--because it now has 13 Recs, and it takes 5 Recs to get on the Greatest page...

... so the whole world can see it.

[Mnpaul]

27. So the whole world can see it

Is there something about it that you don't like?

Craigslist has it on the front page of the world politics forum every day.

and thanks for reminding me to rec it.

[lonestarnot]

34. Without a fucking doubt.

[Damansarajaya]

4. Enjoy your stay?

Because you imply that my posting privileges will be revoked soon . . . ahh, I get it.

Censoring speech you disagree with, banning people who post things that make you uncomfortable.

Odd . . . that's not in my definition of "liberal," and I think I know what a liberal is, since I am one.

[bvar22]

7. Well Done!

Don't let them bother you.
There are only a handful,
but the scream REAL Loud.

[mindwalker_i]

12. They do, don't they?!

Thing is, the quote by Roosevelt is one that has been posted a lot here, and people have never disagreed with it until lately. So I guess not question the president is servile only if the president is a Republican. That's pretty sad.

There are things that I believe are true and not subject to specific circumstances: gravity exists, and one should always question political leaders in a democracy. Whether these are true doesn't depend on whether one is a christian for the former, or who is in office for the latter.

[Old Codger]

14. You Bet

You got it.. There is nothing at all wrong with that attitude, the President the senate, the house, the supreme court, the attorney general and anyone else should be well criticized if it is called for... They should all be held to a higher standard just because of their high offices...and should be called on any fails... Also should be as ardently praised for the good things they accomlpish.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. ...

[840high]

30. Welcome to DU.

[Larry the Cable Dude]

8. I agree. OP writer should schedule an appointment with you

He should delete this thread and re-write it at a time of your convenience. Does next Friday sound good to you?

[delrem]

16. Today is like any other day. No different.

The ACA is a modest step forward, and altho' nothing even close to the change that's needed God knows that Dems have very few even of the most modest steps forward to count so a classification of today as something akin to Christmas is understandable. But "enjoy your stay" for quoting Teddy Roosevelt saying something so uncontroversial? Are you out of your mind??

[ProSense]

17. Here:

A Brief History: Universal Health Care Efforts in the US
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024755799

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - The Obamacare Photos the MSM Doesn't Want You to See
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024761330


Enjoy

[Scootaloo]

28. Delrem's right. It's a modest step forward.

That's a good thing.

Now let's work to make it better.

[JoePhilly]

20. Some are very unhappy about today's events.

[bigwillq]

5. K and R

I agree.

[bvar22]

6. That is one of my favorites from Teddy.

We could use another Trust Buster today.
Welcome to DU.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. K&R Welcome to DU.

[baldguy]

13. It's not about supporting the President. It never has been.

It's about the President's critics supporting people that want to destroy the country.

[Old Codger]

15. Another good one

That is it in a nutshell, nothing in the world wrong with criticizing wrongs but doing so in order to abet the obstructionists goes beyond the pale. Honest criticism is necessary..

[delrem]

18. Yes, well, of course the President's critics are out to destroy the country. You betcha!

[Skittles]

36. OMG their delusions are getting wilder by the day

[JoePhilly]

19. No one says "stand by the President right or wrong".

No one says their can be no criticism of the President.

Apparently today's ACA news is upsetting some folks so much, they decided to roll out a straw-man.

[MirrorAshes]

21. bingo. n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

31. A tired, old straw man at that.

This thread is in serious need of a lock step reference.

[Hekate]

32. Straw man off to see the Wizard...

...in search of a brain.

And yes, that is snark.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

24. And the purpose of this post is what again? Are you implying we should

criticize the president for working to get all Americans health coverage?

If so, the door is that way ----------------------------->

And take the other disrupting new fish on this thread with you.

[Old Codger]

29. Maybe

If you would read the OP again you may notice that there isn't a word in it about ACA nor does it have the name of any particular president in it, so where do you fine this as a criticism of Obama or any other president ?

[Hekate]

33. Terrific timing, though!

[Trust Buster]

25. My namesake TR couldn't break the Trusts in a Citizen's United world.....

......that's what you fail to realize. How do you criticize a President for failing to bring about single payor when special interest made that option politically untenable ? TR would also say that it is only just to criticize a President over issues he actually has some control over.

[Fumesucker]

26. Not a problem with Obama

85% of liberal Democrats know Obama never does wrong.



And even 60% of conservative Democrats.

[lonestarnot]

35. So what is this "truth" that you are saying is wrong that Mr. President committed?

[treestar]

37. TR wasn't President any more when he said that

But he didn't say you are required to criticize the President.

And no one on DU said not to. In fact there is plenty on DU, even of a Democratic President.

So spare us your lecture.

[Damansarajaya]

45. My intention in posting this

was simply to support Will Pitt.

I've admired his work at TruthOut for a long time, and I think he has the bona fides to be able to make his points without a lot of ad hominem attack.

As for the ACA, I basically support it and believe it is a damn sight better than what we had.

I still believe that a gov't option (not "single payer"--the two concepts are often conflated) to private insurance was possible, and the President's abandonment of that promise is a great disappointment.

[840high]

46. Keep posting - I'll read.

[Babel_17]

47. Considering what it takes to get elected

Considering what it takes to get elected to Congress or the White House; It's to the benefit of all honorable elected officials for the voters to be unrelenting in demanding that their interests be served.

This is why President Obama said to hold his feet to the fire. He can't wink at the camera, or we at him.

Our elected officials have to endure the demands of the money class and those demands are backed by very real threats. They will run ads, they will have lies printed and spread, they will back anyone who will be a stumbling block to progressive ideas. They will threaten to collapse our economy or otherwise do it damage.

When dealing with these spoiled lunatics, and they can't be entirely ignored, it is enormously in the interest of the POTUS and our rep's to have as an indisputable fact that there are millions of enraged voters out there who aren't letting anything get by them unnoticed.

It is in the interest of our POTUS to have his every compromise parsed and hashed out by his base. It strengthens his negotiating ability.

And yes, it is also true that when President Obama reaches out to us, in a sincere effort to get our understanding and support, we should meet him half way and listen attentively and with respect.

[Damansarajaya]

48. Agreed. nt