I'm sorry...but Andy Rooney is pathetic

[j]

Rooney: Soldiers in Iraq 'Not All Brave Heroes'
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
April 14, 2004

SPARTANBURG, SC (Talon News) -- Outspoken liberal television commentator Andy Rooney wrote in a newspaper column on Tuesday that the American soldiers fighting in Iraq are "not all brave heroes."

As the longtime opinion guru for CBS's "60 Minutes," Rooney has offered a wide variety of viewpoints over the years.

However, in recent years, Rooney's comments have transformed from simple rants about the issues of the day into outrageous statements.

In his column which ran in The Buffalo News, Rooney opines that the troops fighting in Iraq do not deserve to be called "heroes" because they have not done anything worth that distinction.

"Treating soldiers fighting their war as brave heroes is an old civilian trick designed to keep the soldiers at it," Rooney explains. "But you can be sure our soldiers in Iraq are not all brave heroes gladly risking their lives for us sitting comfortably back here at home."

He adds, "It's disingenuous of the rest of us to encourage them to fight this war by idolizing them."

Adding further insult to the men and women bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq, Rooney exclaims that most of the soldiers serving in the armed forces do not want to be there.

"We speak of them as if they volunteered to risk their lives to save ours, but there isn't much voluntary about what most of them have done," Rooney contends. "A relatively small number are professional soldiers."

Transitioning from the war in Iraq to unemployment, Rooney explains that the only reason most of the troops in Iraq joined the military is because they could not find a job anywhere else.

"During the last few years, when millions of jobs disappeared, many young people, desperate for some income, enlisted in the Army," Rooney states. "About 40 percent of our soldiers in Iraq enlisted in the National Guard or the Army Reserve to pick up some extra money and never thought they'd be called on to fight."

He added, "They want to come home."

Pointing to the 23 suicides committed by troops serving in Iraq as proof of his contention, Rooney concludes his column by asserting that the American soldiers "are victims, not heroes."

Conservative military-supporting group Freedom Alliance reacted to the Rooney comments by calling for CBS to fire the aging veteran for his insensitive remarks.

Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, described Rooney's rant as "reckless, hateful, and unwarranted attack on the men and women who wear America's uniform."

He expressed in a press release, "Rooney is wrong."

"Each of these young men and women have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States; they have answered the call to duty; they are making sacrifices that may affect their personal, professional or family lives; they are providing hope to a population that has seen little but suffering; and they are doing all this with a positive, optimistic spirit of patriotism," Kilgannon notes.

Shocked by Rooney's theory that most of the military personnel in Iraq do not want to be there because they did not volunteer to be there, Kilgannon says Rooney does not understand the fact that military service is entirely voluntary in the United States.

"The fact that America has an all-volunteer armed forces has apparently escaped Mr. Rooney, a man who has spent his life in the profession of journalism," Kilgannon argues.

Getting to the heart of Rooney's remarks, Kilgannon explains that this is nothing more than a criticism of Bush and his policy in the war in Iraq.

"But regardless of one's opinion of the war, those who fight for and defend America's freedom deserve the support of all Americans - especially journalists - who make a living exercising their freedom of speech," Kilgannon explains. "As a former member of the U.S. Army and war correspondent during WWII, Rooney should especially know this, and how important it is to keep up the morale of our service members."

Kilgannon says that "CBS should fire Andy Rooney."

"If they don't, it will cause Americans to wonder if 'CBS' is short-hand for 'Criticize and Belittle our Soldiers,'" Kilgannon concludes.

[sunnyday]

After Rooney's rant about Mel Gibson's reason for making "The Passion of the Christ," I gave up on Andy R. This statement about the soldiers is cruel, as well. What's wrong with him?

[j]

He doesn't care about the soldiers obviously.

Andy Rooney used to be funny..now he sickens me.

[Pburgh]

You're right j, he used to be funny. Many of his comments now just make me so very sad that he has "run out of material to talk about". His heart and head are not in it anymore.

[TexasStooge]

What has he been smokin'?

[vbhoutex]

He doesn't care about the soldiers obviously.

Andy Rooney used to be funny..now he sickens me.

EXACTLY!!!!!

[rainstorm]

hes a liberal, whats the surprise. news flash, based on kerry's own comments, he feels the same way.

[Guest]

hes a liberal, whats the surprise. news flash, based on kerry's own comments, he feels the same way.

Why would anyone vote for Kerry?

http://www.boortz.com

[rainstorm]

lets not forget the liberals in the media today are the same ones who grew up spitting on viet nam vets, who hate the cia, fbi, and our military. is it any wonder they are cheerleading for us to lose?

[southerngale]

Why would anyone vote for Kerry?

http://www.boortz.com

There's the million dollar question. lol
I've asked Kerry supporters several times on here, but I have yet to get an answer exactly whey they're voting FOR Kerry.

Andy Rooney just showed how heartless and pitiful he is...again.

[sunnyday]

I have a feeling that some people are not voting FOR Kerry as much as AGAINST Bush. Do you know what I'm saying?

[Pburgh]

Hey, I thought you were supposed to be sick!!!!!!lol
Sunny, go back to bed!!!

[Guest]

lets not forget the liberals in the media today are the same ones who grew up spitting on viet nam vets, who hate the cia, fbi, and our military. is it any wonder they are cheerleading for us to lose?

Good Point Rainstorm. I agree with your assertion that liberals are no better than terrorists.

[stormraiser]

You are right Sunny, but these people need to consider what they are doing. They may dislike the President, but do they think Kerry will do better?

[OtherHD]

It's not so much voting FOR Kerry as it is voting AGAINST Bush. I can't think of any good reason to vote for Kerry, but I do know that I don't want Bush in office for another 4 years.

As for Andy's comments, pretty disgusting. Of course, everyone knows that what he says represents the viewpoints of every liberal out there. You know, kind of like how Pat Robertson speaks for all Christians?

EDIT: LOL! I just noticed I typed the exact same thing as sunnyday. Great minds really do think alike!

[rainstorm]

I have a feeling that some people are not voting FOR Kerry as much as AGAINST Bush. Do you know what I'm saying?

there is no reason to vote for kerry. lets see,
he called our soldiers, war criminals, rapists, and murderers in viet nam
his votes in the senate would have made us defenseless.
he was at a meeting where the assassination of us senators was discussed
and the economy is going great.
if the media were objective, kerry would be looked at as a dangerous buffoon.

[Guest]

I have a feeling that some people are not voting FOR Kerry as much as AGAINST Bush. Do you know what I'm saying?

there is no reason to vote for kerry. lets see,
he called our soldiers, war criminals, rapists, and murderers in viet nam
his votes in the senate would have made us defenseless.
he was at a meeting where the assassination of us senators was discussed
and the economy is going great.
if the media were objective, kerry would be looked at as a dangerous buffoon.

Excellent observations about Kerry. If it weren't for the media then Kerry would lose in a landslide.

[southerngale]

Why wouldn't you want Bush for another 4 years? Think we should cower down to the terrorists and make us more vulnerable for further attacks? Just look at Kerry's voting record where our security is concerned. It's scary. My vote will be FOR Bush as well as AGAINST Kerry.

[rainstorm]

lets not forget the liberals in the media today are the same ones who grew up spitting on viet nam vets, who hate the cia, fbi, and our military. is it any wonder they are cheerleading for us to lose?

Good Point Rainstorm. I agree with your assertion that liberals are no better than terrorists.

it is indeed a sad situation where terrorists across the world are hoping and praying liberals come to power in washington. its not that liberals like terror, its that they see the real enemy as bush. it is a real shame that the florida dems advocated killing bush officails, instead of terrorists. thats the reason terrorists want kerry elected. simple as that.

[OtherHD]

Why wouldn't you want Bush for another 4 years? Think we should cower down to the terrorists and make us more vulnerable for further attacks? Just look at Kerry's voting record where our security is concerned. It's scary. My vote will be FOR Bush as well as AGAINST Kerry.

Because I'm a terrorist. All non-Bush supporters are terrorists.

No, seriously, you have proven my point. Kerry's voting record alone makes me not want to vote for the guy. But Bush's foreign policy WRT the War on Terror (which I support, if done the RIGHT way), his homophobic and dualistic attitude, his immigration policies, and his excessive spending, all make me shudder at the thought of casting my vote for him. My vote this year will be against Bush no matter what. I don't know yet if it means voting for Kerry, voting for an independent candidate (should a good one come up), or not voting at all.