So I've noticed a trend lately. While it happens all over, it's pretty prevalent here.
1.) A conservative or Republican criticizes Obama for something Bush did as well, that they did not criticize when Bush did it.
Example: Obama plays so much golf! Does the guy ever work? (Bush spent more of his presidency on vacation than any other president in our history)
or
Example: Obama bowed to the Saudi prince! We should be up in arms over this for some reason! (Prince Bandar is one of George Bush's closest and oldest friends, was his first official guest in the aftermath of 9/11, they had lots of business dealings prior to his presidency and he is known by the Bush family as "Bandar Bush." Bush's relationship to the Saudis is far more significant and deferential than Obama's)
or
Example: Obama criticizes and won't give interviews to Fox News! He's trying to censor them! (Bush not only refused to answer questions throughout his presidency from adversarial journalists and blackballed those who gave him unfavorable coverage, he actually imprisoned foreign journalists who criticized his war and bombed Al Jazeera's UN-protected offices multiple times)
2.) A liberal or Democrat points out that Bush did the same thing, or was even more egregious in his quite similar actions.
Example: Where was all your concern for the integrity of the Constitution when George Bush ignored the first and fourth amendment, spied on Americans without warrants, and imprisoned people without trials? Where was your support for the right to protest when you were calling anti-Administration protesters anti-American traitors? Why did you only find your small government roots when it wasn't your guy borrowing us into oblivion anymore?"
3.) The conservative or Republican responds by mocking the liberal/Democrat as playing a childish "you started it" game or having "Bush Derangement Syndrome."
Example: "BOOHOO! Bush did it first! Is that seriously all you can come up with to defend Hussein here? You libtards sure are childish and simple. ROFLMAO!!!!1"
All I want to point out is that a valid criticism of Obama, or anyone else, is a valid criticism based on its merit alone. When a conservative complains about something Obama has done that they either sat idly by or more often vocally supported when Bush did the same and get called out on that fact, it's not an excuse or justification for Obama's actions if they are indeed wrong. It's not attempt to say "Well it's okay Obama did it because Bush did it." Instead, it simply asserts that regardless of the merit and substance of the actual criticism, you can't criticize him for it without revealing yourself as a disingenuous hypocrite playing an empty partisan game because you didn't complain about it until it wasn't your party doing it. It may in fact be a terrible policy or ignoble action, but if Bush and Obama both did it, it can't only be wrong for one of them. That's all. It's not "two wrongs make a right," but rather "The pot shouldn't call the kettle black."
And certainly, those who criticized Bush for things Clinton did as well without chastising Clinton for the same are equally worthless hypocrites. And back through time ad infinitum...
1.) A conservative or Republican criticizes Obama for something Bush did as well, that they did not criticize when Bush did it.
Example: Obama plays so much golf! Does the guy ever work? (Bush spent more of his presidency on vacation than any other president in our history)
or
Example: Obama bowed to the Saudi prince! We should be up in arms over this for some reason! (Prince Bandar is one of George Bush's closest and oldest friends, was his first official guest in the aftermath of 9/11, they had lots of business dealings prior to his presidency and he is known by the Bush family as "Bandar Bush." Bush's relationship to the Saudis is far more significant and deferential than Obama's)
or
Example: Obama criticizes and won't give interviews to Fox News! He's trying to censor them! (Bush not only refused to answer questions throughout his presidency from adversarial journalists and blackballed those who gave him unfavorable coverage, he actually imprisoned foreign journalists who criticized his war and bombed Al Jazeera's UN-protected offices multiple times)
2.) A liberal or Democrat points out that Bush did the same thing, or was even more egregious in his quite similar actions.
Example: Where was all your concern for the integrity of the Constitution when George Bush ignored the first and fourth amendment, spied on Americans without warrants, and imprisoned people without trials? Where was your support for the right to protest when you were calling anti-Administration protesters anti-American traitors? Why did you only find your small government roots when it wasn't your guy borrowing us into oblivion anymore?"
3.) The conservative or Republican responds by mocking the liberal/Democrat as playing a childish "you started it" game or having "Bush Derangement Syndrome."
Example: "BOOHOO! Bush did it first! Is that seriously all you can come up with to defend Hussein here? You libtards sure are childish and simple. ROFLMAO!!!!1"
All I want to point out is that a valid criticism of Obama, or anyone else, is a valid criticism based on its merit alone. When a conservative complains about something Obama has done that they either sat idly by or more often vocally supported when Bush did the same and get called out on that fact, it's not an excuse or justification for Obama's actions if they are indeed wrong. It's not attempt to say "Well it's okay Obama did it because Bush did it." Instead, it simply asserts that regardless of the merit and substance of the actual criticism, you can't criticize him for it without revealing yourself as a disingenuous hypocrite playing an empty partisan game because you didn't complain about it until it wasn't your party doing it. It may in fact be a terrible policy or ignoble action, but if Bush and Obama both did it, it can't only be wrong for one of them. That's all. It's not "two wrongs make a right," but rather "The pot shouldn't call the kettle black."
And certainly, those who criticized Bush for things Clinton did as well without chastising Clinton for the same are equally worthless hypocrites. And back through time ad infinitum...
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