It should be as no surprise that anyone running for any given office would bring up the name of Harry S. Truman. He’s Missouri’s only President and an a President asked to fill the shoes of FDR. A President that made probably the to
ughest decision in history in dropping atom bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima to ultimately end World War II. Truman is an incredible story in American history regardless of what political persuasion you are.
A few days ago the St Louis Post Dispatch posted a story ” Akin andMcCaskill both seek the mantle of Harry Truman” There is so much in this story that stood out to me. Hypocrisy and spin of all sorts wrapped up into one tiny post. Let’s start with Newt Gingrich and his endorsement of Akin. While at the time when most GOP establishment types were nervous to back Akin largely in fear of affect on their own careers, Newt Gingrich stepped up and readily backed Todd Akin and freely did so. Gingrich backed him on television shows, radio, and at an Akin fundraiser. In most of these events Gingrich compared Akin’s underdog fight to Harry Truman’s underdog fight from 1940.
Here is what Gingrich said as written in St Louis Post Dispatch article. (which I will post in closing)
Gingrich said
Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker of the House, spoke in St. Louis last month and said Akin’s uphill battle “really reminds me of Harry Truman in 1940 running for the Senate.”
The comical yet predictable thing about how the Post Dispatch disregarded a simple fact and quote in what Gingrich said is even made more ridiculous in Claire McCaskill’s response.
Claire said…
“Today in St Louis Newt said Todd reminded him of Harry Truman!?! I believe Harry would have a few choice words for Newt Gingrich.”
What Claire and the Post Dispatch so conveniently leave out is that Newt Gingrich NEVER said that “Todd Akin reminded him of Harry Truman” as McCaskill claims. He said ” Akin’s uphill battle really reminds me of Harry Truman in 1940 running for Senate” See what they did there? I guess it’s all in where a quotation mark is placed and how the Post Dispatch wants one to read a quote and Claire as one that cares not about the spoken word as it is of course, twists Gingrich’s quote into something it was not. Twists it in something to suit her. Newt Gingrich did not compare Akin to Truman, he compared the race at hand to Truman’s Senate run.
Claire McCaskill didn’t end there with her political tap dance. Claire somehow managed to channel the thoughts of Harry Truman. Claire in her vast knowledge of Truman channeled Truman’s thoughts on the Tea Party.
Claire said
“He wasn’t afraid to make decisions that weren’t popular,” McCaskill said in Jefferson County. “And he said things very plainly and simply. And he was courageous. And you know what he would say about the Tea Party? Well I would not say it out loud, but it would involve some curse words. He would call them out for not being the kind of person we need in the country to help people. They want to shut off the lights and go home.”
I guess when one who is a learned scholar on Truman like Claire one can channel thoughts. I mean she has claimed to have read every published book about Truman. Who am I to judge? I find it comical and actually disturbing that Claire who calls Truman her idol would use her idol to attack grassroots conservatives. A group that obviously has gotten under her skin so badly that she would use an historic President, a Missourian, and her “idol” to advance her disdain for a group of American voters. Not much humility displayed there. I think Claire is concerned and she’s not even the underdog in this race. Good job grassroots.
When one speaks of humility Harry Truman most certainly is a great example of it. Truman’s mother in law didn’t think he would amount to anything. Truman had several failed businesses before rising into the political realm and he never expected to enter it successfully. With the help of the establishment he eventually found himself as President of The United States. When Truman left the office as President in 1952. He drove himself and his wife Bess home in their own car back to Independence Missouri. There was no motorcade, secret service, just he and his wife Bess. Upon retirement the only salary he had was $13,700.00 an Army pension. Congress later granted him a $25,000 pension. Truman was offered corporate jobs but felt they only wanted “the office of President” and declined them all. Even as our President, Truman paid for his own food and travel. Humble in his living and humbling to me just to think about it in regards today’s standards. Today’s politicians. Politicians who over the course of decades have figured out a way to cash in on holding high office.
Which brings me back to Truman’s most rabid fan..Claire McCaskill. Claire has done pretty well for herself. I don’t knock anyone who can make every honest buck they can. It’s the American dream. Claire’s achieved that endeavor and kudos to her for it. Last year she was listed as number 18 out of Top 50 Richest Members Of Congress by Roll Call. http://www.rollcall.com/50richest/the-50-richest-members-of-congress-112th.html
No harm no foul with honest money made and honest money reported to the American people. I do however have an issue with what is happening to the American taxpayer and the fact that she and her husband took in 40 million dollars in stimulus money for their properties. Properties which are said to be for “low income housing” I do have an issue with that. Claire has offered little clarity in this matter and the media has offered little into what should be a huge story but is being slowly brushed under the rug. We shouldn’t be surprised. Claire has voted against an overwhelming number of Missouri voters with her deciding vote on ObamaCare. She’s threatening Missouri coal jobs with following Obama’s failed Green Energy policy. Claire McCaskill needs to know that these sort of actions are not “unpopular” decisions like Truman made. Her decisions are the wrong decisions for Missouri and the country as a whole and do not represent the will of the people she swore to represent. The decisions she is making seem to only represent she and Obama’s will. Not the people of Missouri’s best interests.
When Claire channeled Harry S. Truman I think she got the wrong number. Senator McCaskill didn’t claim she was like Harry Truman by channeling his thoughts I suppose but I don’t think Truman told her that he would have some curse words for Tea Party. I think Claire told Claire that she has some curse words for the Tea Party. Claire McCaskill should know that grassroots in Missouri have a few choice words for her as well. Forty Million of them. Harry Truman gave us a famous quote ” The buck stops here” I just wonder where the buck stops with Claire McCaskill.
Here is complete St. Louis Post Dispatch article
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/akin-and-mccaskill-both-seek-the-mantle-of-harry-truman/article_69802c2a-84e4-51dd-bbad-3ac90f865cfc.html
To be continued…..
Jimi
