Poll: W's Photo Op with Legless Soldier: Cheap Stunt or Honorable?

[Philosoraptor]

The photos of yesterday's jog with W and the soldier who lost his legs in W's own personal war are all over the world now, I won't show them here.

Is this an honorable act showing patriotic support as many Bush supporters claim to believe, or is this the sickest display of exploitation of a lied to patriotic young man ever conceived by Karl Rove?

I personally just can not convey my disgust and revulsion by it all. It literally sickens me. Just my opinion, I'd like yours.

[DistressedAmerican]

1. Down Right Gross Explotation.

Of course he already exploited him for his legs. So, I guess this was a minor offense by comparison!

[Yollam]

2. I won't answer this one.

The answer may be somewhere in between. Even if Bush's reasons for doing it were totally cynical, I'm glad that he did it, and that he is looking at those he has maimed face-to-face. He should not be allowed to forget what he is responsible for.

[bigscott]

3. you assume too much

* does not give a shit about this man or his sacrifice

[Yollam]

6. Doesn't matter.

Even if it only reaches him on a subconscious level, I want him to do this sort of thing. So I won't rag on him for it. And believe me, I hate the son of a bitch as much as anyone.

[DistressedAmerican]

7. Does A Pupper Have A Subconscious To Be Effected?

I think it was a good reminder for America that this guy is killing and maiming our troops for NOTHING!

[oc2002]

16. ..exactly.. if he did care, he would not of sent them into the meat grinde

to have his legs blown off in a unnesacary war.

this is Rove telling the chimp to do this.

[tanyev]

4. I'm sure there is no mechanism in Bush's thought process which

allows him to consider that it is his fault the soldier lost his legs.

[jedicord]

5. Did you see the smile on *'s face?

He enjoyed himself. "Hey! Look at me! I lost that guy his legs and he worships me! Aren't I something?"

The fact that the soldier was maimed in a war he created didn't even pass through his "beautiful mind".

[MADem]

14. He was probably thrilled that he could beat the kid in a race NT

[Philosoraptor]

12. He won't be seen in public with a soldier whose face is burned off.

Or a soldier who has lost his reproductive organs, or a soldier who is blinded forever or one who will never get out of bed again.

No, they specifically selected this guy because of his gung ho attitude and he can run.

[Lerkfish]

8. they were surrounded by press. That has to be arranged

Further, the press knew IN ADVANCE with enough time to run advance stories about it.
If it was truly an honorable thing, Bush would have met with him in private, made sure he was taken care of, benefits-wise, and moved on.

Here's the larger, more twisted message: ONLY if you agree to go BACK to war, after getting your LEGS SHOT OFF, will the president spend any time with you.

What is that saying, exactly, and why should we allow it to be said?

[LaurenG]

9. I watched bush talking about the run yesterday

he acted as if he was doing the guy and favor and took NO responsiblity for being the CAUSE of the the soldiers injuries.

We live in weird times.

[Canuckistanian]

10. After the way he slashed and burned VA benefits

And lowered combat pay and dishonored the returning dead, I'm surprised that Vets have anything to do with him.

[Minnesota Libra]

11. When has the boy king done anything in front of a camera that.............

......wasn't a "Cheap Stunt" meant to belittle someone else and build his opinion of himself in front of everyone. I wish someone would permanently wipe that smirk off his face.:grr:

[Swamp Rat]

13. Fucking gross!

And it pisses me off!!! :mad:

[Philosoraptor]

15. Like those newsreels of Hitler pinning badges on 12 yr. old soldiers.

Just before he went into the bunker to die.

[MorningGlow]

17. Bushie's quote is very telling

"I looked at him, like, you know, there's an optimistic person," Bush said. "It's an amazing sight for me to be running with a guy who, last time I saw him, was in bed wondering whether or not - I was wondering whether or not he'd ever get out of bed."

I find that bolded part above fascinating and very telling about Bush's character. I know what he MEANT ("it's amazing the guy is running") but notice he subconsciously put HIMSELF as the focus--"It's an amazing sight for ME to be running" with this legless guy. (And he is quoted correctly--I heard Weenieboy on the radio this morning.)

It's all about him, all the time. Egomaniac.

[ChickMagic]

18. He just wants to show off his handiwork

He's proving to the world that he's tough by not
being squeamish about sending young people off to
be dismembered.