Disrespecting the Military: The Proud Moonbat Tradition Continues

Moonbat (also "barking moonbat" and "moonbat crazy") is a term often used currently in U.S. politics as a political epithet referring to anyone that is liberal or on the left. ~ Wikipedia

First off, let me say that I am not overly fond of the term “moonbat,” but due to its acceptance into modern political parlance, I grudgingly use it on occasion. And this occasion definitely demands it.

Milblogger Blackfive broke the story of Marine Sgt. Mike McNulty (who returned to Camp Pendleton yesterday in preparation for his second tour of duty to Iraq), whose car was keyed last month:

On December 1st, 2007, Mike went to visit a friend in Chicago before deploying to say goodbye. In order to get to his friend's residence, and keep in mind that Chicago is a myriad of diagonal and one-way streets, the front entrance (right way) to the one-way street was blocked. Mike, being a Marine, overcame and adapted by driving around the block to the other end of the street and backing up all the way to his friend's place.

While saying goodbye, at about 11 a.m., he noticed a man leaning up against his car. Mike left his friend's apartment and caught the man keying his car on multiple sides.

After caught in the process, the man told Mike, "You think you can do whatever you want with Department of Defense license plates and tags". (In Illinois you can purchase veteran, Marine, or medal plates. Mike has Illinois Marine Corps license plates.)During the exchange, he made additional anti-military comments.

Mike called the Chicago police and had the man arrested A citation against the man was issued for misdemeanor criminal damage to private property.

Now car keying is a crime one expects to be committed by juvenile delinquent types – youngsters with an attitude who don’t care whom they inconvenience or how much money their victims will have to fork out for repairs (in the case of McNulty’s car, nearly $2,500, making it a felony). And, it’s unusual for perpetrators of this kind of crime to be apprehended, as they usually do it when no one else is around.

But not only did Sgt. McNulty catch the guy in the act of keying his vehicle, it was an adult, who also happens to be a Chicago lawyer. According to Blackfive, Sgt. McNulty would have been satisfied with Illinois State Attorneys’ suggestion of putting the lawyer on probation, but the lawyer refused to accept the deal, allegedly saying within earshot of McNulty, “I’m not going to make it easy on this kid.” Apparently he planned to file for a continuance, which would mean the case would come up when McNulty was not available – and possibly the dismissal of the case.

Blackfive’s posting about this topic opened a floodgate of response from the blogosphere. Some of the comments contained helpful advice, while others did not. But all expressed outrage at yet another example of anti-military bias rearing its ugly head.

What are this man’s political leanings? I don’t know, but I have a pretty good idea. What amazes me is how many people who disagree with the current war – heck, any war – but say they “support the troops.” Then incidents like this become publicized and give lie to a sentiment as effective as the emperor’s new clothes.

Back in the ‘60s, college students and hippies (often interchangeable) despised the military and the Vietnam War because, frankly, they didn’t want to be drafted and go through the horrors of war and possibly die. Today, even though young men have to sign up for selective service upon reaching the age of 18, there is no draft. Our military is strictly voluntary, and standards are so high that not even all who volunteer are accepted. So you might think that anti-military bias would have gone the way of the dodo – but you’d be wrong.

Instead of growing up and getting over their hatred of the military, ‘60s radicals held on to the central core of the biggest event of their salad days, leftovers that would sustain them well into their retirement. And in a fit of unusual generosity, those who went on to take over our education system decided they’d share the wealth, serving a heaping helping of anti-military goulash to impressionable young Americans in the classroom. (Any concern for military members is usually couched in the liberal obsession with getting rid of the current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals serving in the Army, et al.) Combine that with a sense of entitlement for the more “enlightened” classes (versus those “dummies” who join the military), and voilà! History repeats itself.

Not convinced of the existence of such anti-military bias? I submit the following quotes from some of the “great” thinkers and leaders of our time:

* “Through every Abu Graib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform....We pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?...[T]he recent NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary – oops sorry, volunteer – force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.” ~ William Arkin, Washington Post military columnist * "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? ...Today, before Congress and the American people, General Petraeus is likely to become General Betray Us." ~ MoveOn.org * "Over time, however, the endless war in Iraq began to play a role in natural selection. Only idiots signed up; only idiots died. Back home, the average I.Q. soared." ~ Ted Rall, political cartoonist * “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” ~ John Kerry, Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate (Kerry later characterized this statement as a “botched joke.”) * "And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the, of the historical customs, religious customs." ~ John Kerry * "In Vietnam, our soldiers came back and they were reviled as baby killers, in shame and humiliation. It isn’t happening now, but I will tell you – there has never been an [American] army as violent and murderous as our army has been in Iraq." ~ Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh * “If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime – Pol Pot or others – that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners." ~ Dick Durbin, Illinois senator

There are a lot more examples where those came from, but there is only so much time in the day (and so much space available to me here). This basic lack of respect for a group of men and women who literally put their lives on the line for the rest of us – especially during a time of war – is simply galling.

Now before anyone accuses me of trying to shut down anyone else’s free speech rights, you can stop right now. I wholeheartedly support the right of anyone to say whatever is on his mind, as long as it isn’t leaking security secrets to the world at large or outright libelous lies. But just as driving privileges come with a responsibility to drive with caution and a care for other drivers, so too does free speech come with a responsibility to wield one’s words wisely. Unfortunately, not everyone is inclined to keep this in mind before spouting off.

Even so, if Blackfive’s post is to be believed, the lawyer in question went well beyond free speech rights. By vandalizing Sgt. McNulty’s car, he crossed a line and should not be allowed to use his legal expertise to wriggle out of it. And according to the following, it looks as though the wind may be shifting in McNulty’s favor:

Sgt. McNulty was called forward by the State's Attorney in order to discuss the case. I am not sure what transpired behind the closed doors, however, I overheard the State's Attorney expressing her intent to prosecute this guy to the fullest extent. It seems as if BlackFive is the sole catalyst to this story getting out and I am sure Sgt. McNulty has probably heard the effect of yours and other blogs from the results of today's proceedings to include several Marines and civilians who showed up in his support.

[The lawyer] was called before court and in his absence, the Judge issued a warrant for his arrest effective immediately. Sgt. McNulty was departing the court when [the lawyer] rolled in to the courtroom more pathetic than anyone I had ever seen The Judge had questioned him on his tardiness and he explained that traffic had been busy and he “made a wrong turn.” The Judge chastised him for his tardiness, pathetic excuses, and that he was lucky the warrant had not been executed prior to his arrival.

Please remember: The lawyer in question has not been found guilty of any crime, and both he and Sgt. McNulty deserve their day in court. But as McNulty heads off to put his life in peril in service to his country, should he have to deal with the petty machinations of someone who instead of debating the issues in a civilized manner, chose to vandalize McNulty’s property in order to make a statement?

Unfortunately for our lawyer friend, the statement he wanted to make was drowned out by a much larger one about his character – or lack thereof.

BLACK FIVE

ANTI MILITARY LAWYER CONVICTED IN CRIMINAL COURT

The update:

“At 1400 hours the defendant showed up, and was told that he was half an hour late. The Judge stated on the record that the defendant had done the same thing during the previous court date, and he said that the defendant called and said that wanted to wait for the media to leave. The Judge said “That is not the way I run my courtroom.” He increased the bail and took him into custody and told him to try and work out a deal with the State. About 25-35 marines and assorted military were there.

The case was recalled at 14:22, and the State said that the defendant had asked for permission to put his belt and such back on. The Judge said, “Treat him like all the other prisoners.” The defendant was brought out and the plea deal that they had worked out was entered into the record.

The Judge asked him if he had committed the specific acts he was accused of. The defendant hemmed and hawed, and the Judge raised his voice to make him say yes or no. The defendant agreed, and the Judge read the facts into the record. Several times, the Judge said if there were no deal, he would be given a court date just like any other defendant, and he could try and make bail soon.

The deal: 1 year Social Service Supervision, restitution of 600 dollars to be paid to Social Services and which would go to the Injured Marine Semper Fi fund, to be paid by February 25th, 2008, and $50/month in supervision fees.

The Judge then, in as angry a voice as I have ever heard him use, scolded the defendant, saying that the Marine license plates the complaining witness had were not vanity plates or about ego, but the proceeds go toward the Marine and Navy scholarship fund for the children of fallen soldiers, sailors and marines. These Marines protect his very existence “so people like you can enjoy their freedom.” He further said that the reason there were so many in the courtroom and so much public interest is that the Marines have a tradition since 1775 that “No Marine gets left behind.” Several Hoorahs in the courtroom.

And then the deal was done, and he was taken away by the sheriffs to be released later.

If there are any questions, I can try and answer them...

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/01/anti-military-l.html#comment-97677346

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