The next time you hear someone from the radical left lamenting the threat of violence percolating at a Tea Party rally, or condemning the “hate-speech” engendered by Conservative talk radio, or suggesting that criticism of Barack Hussein Obama is little more than pent up racism coming to the surface, remember what happened when the Washington Post’s web site alerted readers to the hospitalization of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
The item on Cheney’s treatment for chest pains appeared Monday as a post at a Post blog, 44: Politics and Policy in Obama’s Washington. There is no doubt that it was posted in this location because the blog’s editors knew it would evoke lively, sarcastic comments from the Post’s liberal, anti-war, anti-Bush/Cheney, progressive readers. (At least we assume most of them know how to read).
But I do doubt that the site’s moderators anticipated the dozens upon dozens of venomous, ruthless responses by Americans who can’t decide if they want Cheney dead immediately or prefer that he suffer indefinitely. To me, what is more alarming than the sampling of comments you are about to read is that the Post approved them for public consumption.
In most cases, the commenters hid behind anonymity using obscure screen names. This, despite a firm warning from the Post that reads, in part: “User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site.” Apparently, there is a Cheney exception.
These are some of the most egregious attacks on Cheney, who, according to Tuesday news reports, suffered a mild heart attack while he was experiencing the chest pain that prompted his hospitalization:
“I can only pray that Jesus relieve him of his burdens soon because of all he has done for America.”
“O.R. Doctor: Somebody water board that fat pig - STAT! That’ll get his heart pumping again.”
“It’s a shame he probably has something that can be fixed.”
“Would I wish Goehring or Himler (sic) a speedy recovery as well? I don’t believe I would. Cheney is just evil.”
“While I have never liked or trusted Dick Cheney, long before he became VP and was turned loose to wreak hellfire and brimestone (sic) during his costly and tragic tenure…the ONE THING I do PRAY for is that he not die, but lives to finally be held accountable by mankind BEFORE he is turned over to the Wrath of Almighty God!”
“If ever there was a God, I hope there’s one to zap this guy, once and for all. … I hope there’s some patriot out there who would trip over the plug and accidentally forget to plug him back in or something.”
“Dick Cheney is like a cockroach, you can’t kill him. Hopefully he’ll spend his eternity on earth with his bionic parts feeling a measure of pain equal to the pain and suffering he has heaped onto others … With any luck, his pacemaker was made by Toyota. Maybe if we all used our cell phones at the same time…..”
“Stay in pain until you go to HELL! Hopefully soon. Like today!”
“He’s a mean, egotistical piece of crap and he’s had more than enough time on this planet to find redemption. If he can’t do it in this world, then perhaps God can convince him in another…”
“RIP Cheney. The sooner the better.”
Like Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney is receiving days of unnecessary tests. You would think the two of them would be rejecting unnecessary tests, but they like them. … I wonder how many people with real health problems were ignored for a guy with gas.”
“This man, who murdered 250,000 innocent Iraqis, should die in as much pain as is possible. He’s the American equivalent of Adolph Hitler or Joseph Stalin. I like starting my day with such good news.”
Jonathan Quick has come to a patriotic crossroads. He is a National Hockey League goalkeeper and a member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team. He loves America and the people who defend her.
Lost in the parade of bad news from Toyota was the poignant irony found in its recall of 400,000+ Prius hybrid vehicles. I walked past one today in a parking garage. Like seemingly thousands of these cars symbolizing environmental correctness it had an “Obama 08″ sticker affixed in the rear.