April 06, 2006

Hell Officially Frozen Over!

I agree with something said on Kos and Atrios....
From this article:

"Sitting in the oncology ward at Children's National Medical Center on Jan. 19, retired Adm. Joe Sestak and his wife, Susan, awaited the doctors' verdict about the condition of their 5-year-old daughter, Alexandra.

She had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last summer and given three to nine months to live. The Sestaks lived for four months in the ward. They watched as their daughter survived three surgeries, and as she endured chemotherapy.

But that winter day, doctors told the Sestaks that Alexandra had done remarkably well and that, although the cancer could reemerge, she could resume living like a healthy girl.

Relieved and grateful, Sestak, who retired as a three-star admiral Jan. 1, after 31 years in the Navy, began thinking about what he wanted to do next.

...

"He's running because he has a personal ax to grind with the Navy leadership," [Rep. Curt] Weldon [(R), PA] said. "When you treat people like dirt, that's an issue."

Weldon [also] attacked Sestak's decision to continue owning a home in Virginia while only renting in Pennsylvania and questioned why Sestak did not move back to Pennsylvania when he was working at the Pentagon. Weldon commutes from Pennsylvania each day.

Weldon also suggested Sestak should have sent his daughter to a hospital in Philadelphia or Delaware, rather than the Washington hospital. Sestak said that as soon as doctors give his daughter the all-clear, he'll buy in Pennsylvania."[emphasis mine - Ed.]

Jesus, you don't attack a man for where he chooses to treat his five year-old daughter's cancer!  That is BEYOND the pale.

No, I'm not going to link to Kos or Atrios, I don't need the trolls.  You can find the links here.

The thing is, both sides do this and I am F***ING tired of it.  There's no reason to deal these kind of low blows.  Toot your own horn, explain why your opponent's policy platform is wrong, and let it go at that.  That should give the voters plenty of reasons to make their decision.

Or maybe there's just nothing worthwhile to say.  In which case, my mother taught me to shut up.

Posted by caltechgirl at April 6, 2006 12:49 PM | TrackBack
Comments

And people wonder why I think that politicians are, for the most part, complete scum.

Posted by: physics geek at April 6, 2006 06:25 PM

Almost all are - the political system is carefully optimised for the ability to filter out the non-scum.

I dont trust Sestak either though - I suspect he will try for a sympathy-vote. Or the old 'I was in the military, that makes me a patriot so vote for me' line.

Posted by: Suricou Raven at April 6, 2006 11:51 PM

Our Navy is the most hide-bound, autocratic organization that exists today. My first tendency is to distrust him for being an Admiral, but knowing that the bulk of the institution rejects him speaks very well of him.
Regardless, the little girl has my heart and prayers.

Posted by: Ed at April 7, 2006 03:48 PM

That makes me sick...

Posted by: bou at April 7, 2006 06:12 PM

Reason #303 why I'd never be a politician!

Posted by: Greta (Hooah Wife) at April 9, 2006 06:42 PM