Besmirch Not Thy Betters

Writing in the Los Angeles Times, Rosa Brooks mistakenly charges Col. George E. "Bud" Day (Ret.) with being a member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group of Vietnam-era veterans who opposed Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in his 2004 presidential bid. While unleashing her venom on the the Swift Boat Vets for speaking truth to Mr. Kerry's attempt to gain power, Ms. Brooks splashes some of her poison on Col. Day, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the most decorated living veteran.

When a Medal of Honor wearer enters a room, Generals stand. Everyone who wears, or has ever worn a uniform for our country should stand and salute if appropriate. He is due the same level of respect as the flag-covered casket of one killed in action, because by his actions he showed that he would forfeit his life for ours. He is due the deference one would show the holder of an irreconcilable debt.

To carry the illustration further, Redstate's Jeff Emanuel (wreath tip) notes:

When a man wearing the Medal of Honor approaches the President, it is the President who salutes. 'Nuff said.

He is owed, in perpetuity.

It would be as difficult, and as fruitful, to attack Mother Theresa for harlotry as to attack his integrity for a quick political score. As she shunned both lucre and carnality, the implication that she used the latter to gain the former would expose the one making the charge for transparent malice. Those awarded the Medal of Honor are accorded, unlike all other citizens, a free pass similar to hers with regard to being a judge of character, at least character in military service, in no small part because they define it.

As a postscript, it should be noted that while there is nothing wrong, and very much right, with being a member of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Col. Day was not one. Ms. Brooks not only picked an unassailable target for character assassination, but she was shooting blanks at the wrong target.

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