Standing Up For Elizabeth
I don't watch the show. But I can't escape hearing about the escapades on "The View."
The latest "news" from the show is that Elizabeth Hasselbeck is being criticized for vocalizing her support for Barack Obama after having campaigned for McCain/Palin. They rail against her during the campaign for her stand during the election. They rail against her for taking a stand on issues she believes in. And now that Obama has been elected, they fault her for doing the very patriotic, American act of falling in line behind our new president.
Most of this crap came from the "journalists" (I used the term oh so lightly) that host Show Biz Tonight on CNN. No one on that show applauded her for setting aside her politics (which we Americans ask our own politicians to do). They accused her of being two-faced, when in fact she was doing the right and proper thing of following our new leader.
Some might say "it's just show biz." That may be true. But sometimes show biz takes itself too seriously. And it borders on irresponsibility. If "show biz" is going to delve into the real world, then they'll be held accountable on real world standards.
I'm one who applauds Barack Obama for the mountain he has climbed. I don't agree with all of his views. I didn't agree with all of John McCain's either. But you have to breathe a sigh of relief (exhaustion?) when the United States has finally elected an African-American to be its president. Finally. I can't wait for the first Asian-American president!
Barack Obama is our president-elect. He deserves the utmost respect from every American, whether you voted for him or not.
And speaking of respect and not getting any, President George W. Bush has been teed up, stepped on, disgraced and disrespected. We armchair politicians have it easy calling the shots. He should have done this, should not have done that. Some of these presidential decisions have no clear-cut choice. Negative consequences on both sides. Political heat and turmoil whichever way he turns. And the country, sometimes the world, hangs in the balance. I certainly wouldnt' want that kind of pressure. I have a hard enough time figuring out what to eat for lunch.
And speaking of respect and not getting any, President George W. Bush has been teed up, stepped on, disgraced and disrespected. We armchair politicians have it easy calling the shots. He should have done this, should not have done that. Some of these presidential decisions have no clear-cut choice. Negative consequences on both sides. Political heat and turmoil whichever way he turns. And the country, sometimes the world, hangs in the balance. I certainly wouldnt' want that kind of pressure. I have a hard enough time figuring out what to eat for lunch.
Case in point: the sub-prime debacle. This and many other issues are being blamed on President Bush. Let's look in the mirror first. Who are the people who are borrowing money at these ridiculously low rates? Bush wasn't there holding a gun to anyone's head making them sign for the loans. Take responsibility for your actions!
Granted, Bush hasn't made all the right moves as president. And his image was never that of an elder statesman like we all want. Deep down inside, I think he's just a rich cowboy. He's a smart cowboy. But he's not the diplomat-orator-professor-uncle we desire to have as president. Cut the man some slack and give the position the respect that it deserves.
So Obama is president. Elizabeth Hasselbeck (along with many other Americans, myself included) will get behind and support him because he needs and deserves it. That doesn't mean we're going to agree on everything he says or does or enacts. But it does mean that we should hold him in high regard, congratulate him when he does well, express our expectations and desires, and guide him should we feel he's falling short or going astray. But we do it as followers of the most powerful leader in the world, our president.
