Do
you like being called a whiner? I don’t.
First
of all we have to figure out if you are indeed part of
the base of the Democratic Party that Joe Biden has told
to stop whining.
It
would appear that the Obama administration has managed
to craft a test for determining if there are whiners out
there. The political intellectuals in the Democratic Party
must have some accurate way of deciding which progressives
to tell to shut up.
People
this smart would not say things like that without doing
some research. They couldn’t be reacting like somebody
with thin skin. No, they must have randomly picked a bunch
of Democrats and progressives for a focus group. This
group became the first people to ever be given the “The
All American Political Whining Test” the acronym for which
is “TAANPWT” (pronounced tan-poot).
I
must admit here that I have no sources whatsoever in any
high places anywhere who have confirmed such a test was
ever conceived or given to anyone. However, something
like what I am about to describe must have happened.
Here
are some of the questions I believe must have been asked
to members of the TAANPWT focus group.
1
- Are you not as happy as a pig in poop about Obama?
– If your answer is “Yes” you might be a whiner!
2
– Did you know Obama was not a “real deal” progressive,
but you supported him and perhaps worked as a volunteer
and voted for him and now, even though you knew you
were not going to get everything you wanted, you are
you still disappointed? – If your answer is “Yes” you
might be a whiner!
3
– Do you refuse to be satisfied with the fact that the
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has not been abolished?
– A “Yes” answer means you might be a whiner!
4
– Are you unwilling to look the other way and accept
rendition, the back-door draft and the escalation of
the war in Afghanistan? - Watch it, another “Yes” might
put a dreaded scarlet “W” on your brow.
5
– Have you been annoyed lately when officials who pontificate
about our failing education system attack teachers and
never mention poverty, hunger and racism? - As reasonable
as a “Yes” answer may seem, it will probably mean your
thinking is that of a whiner.
6
– Even though the first parts of health care reform
are kicking in, do you still think Medicare for everyone
would be much better. – Even though you’ve been told
over and over by President Obama that what was passed
is the best that could have been done and you must be
satisfied because it was better than nothing, you are
nothing but a whiner.
I
am sure, dear reader, you can quickly add a number of
additional questions for the TAANPWT. We have published
many commentaries here on BC about the importance
of critical thinking and critical support of the Obama
administration.
Joe
Biden calls critical support, whining. He does not describe
it as constructive criticism. He is saying our dissatisfaction
is what a dictionary would describe as “To
complain or protest in a childish fashion” or whining.
What
Joe Biden and Barack Obama should be hearing is the uttering
of a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as in
pain, fear, supplication, or complaint. That’s a definition
of whining that fits.
People
are in pain. When the people cry out in pain because of
suffering, severe disappointment and hopelessness, it
is best for those in power to listen.
As
usual, I end this commentary with information you should
use to communicate with our elected officials.
Signing
petitions is good, but a personal call, letter or email
is best.
For
the U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
(enter your zip code in the upper left corner of the page)
For
the U.S. Senate: http://senate.gov/
(choose your state using the drop down menu in the upper
right corner)
White
House Comment Line - 202.456.1111
White
House Switchboard - 202.456.1414
White
House Website contact form: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
BlackCommentator.com Publisher and Chief Technical Officer Peter Gamble, is the
recipient of a national Sigma Delta Chi award for public
service in journalism and numerous other honors for excellence
in reporting and investigative reporting. The “beats”
he covered as a broadcast journalist ranged from activism
in the streets to the State Department and White House.
The lure of a personal computer on his desk inspired a
career change in 1985 and an immersion into what he sees
as the future of communications. The acquisition of computer
programming skills made it possible for Peter to achieve
an important level of self-reliance in the technology
of the 21st century and to develop BlackCommentator.com.
Click here to
contact Peter.
Sep 30, 2010 - Issue 395
is
published every Thursday
