"you can't have him!" (unless.....)

Analyzing bigotry can be more fun than satire.

This antiwar ad from Moveon.org is one of the most stunningly illogical pieces of propaganda I've seen in a long time.

Holding a rented baby she calls "Alex," the actress in the video denounces McCain based on the bogus "hundred years war" meme, and then makes an additional claim:

"When you say you would stay in Iraq for a hundred years were you counting on Alex? Because, if you were you can't have him!"
Even if the baby were her own, she would have absolutely no right to decide whether he can enlist in the military, which is of course a purely voluntary decision made by adults, not by their parents. (And of course, certainly not by McCain, who cannot force anyone into military service, even if elected president.)

The actress's reaction reminds me of the Code Pink activists in Berkeley, who consider adult soldiers who want to serve their country to be children in need of reeducation.

It's not just illogical. I think it evinces clear anti-military bigotry.

Anyone who enlists in the military is inherently in a suspect category, whose morally wrong decisions are said not to have been his own.

Hmmm...

Maybe I should look on the bright side. It just so happens that most of the anti-war ideologues who think that way are also very much in favor of forcing the military to allow -- and most importantly, recruit -- gay soldiers. Which means that the anti-war leftists who shout at the recruiters and claim they're stealing their children are at least supportive of some people serving in the military.

Right?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't that mean that if "Alex" turned out to be gay, then McCain could have him?

MORE: The inanity is worse than I thought. There's now a blog called "You Can't have Him (Or Her)," which encourages people to send in the pictures of their babies that McCain can't "have."

I really hope they keep this up.

MORE: Commenter Steve Skubinna points out that "the military does not enlist children, so even if McCain does want Alex the kid is not eligible."

This must mean that according to MoveOn.org, McCain plans not only to reinstate the draft, but also one of the following:

-- extend the draft to include children; or

-- (probably by a military coup) suspend the Constitution and stay in office for four terms.

At least they waited until Bush was in office before making similar claims about him.

posted by Eric on 06.20.08 at 12:38 PM





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If "Alex" actually were her child, I'm sure he'll be such a pussified adult that not even the Peace Corps will want him!

Bob   ·  June 20, 2008 12:49 PM

As has been noted, there is no draft so "Alex" won't go into the military except voluntarily. Further, the military does not enlist children, so even if McCain does want Alex the kid is not eligible. And finally, if McCain serves two terms "Alex" will be - what? Nine years old, and seventeen years old at the end of McCain's successor's two terms. He could enlist then, if he wants, around the time of Chelsea Clinton's first inauguration. Or Jenna Bush's.

So yes, it's a stupid ad. And if this ad is your smoking gun evidence of leftist bigotry towards the US military then you have not been paying attention (no, I don't think you just noticed it).

Steve Skubinna   ·  June 20, 2008 01:15 PM

I wonder how many men are turned off by this ad. I know I was. Does any adult man want his mommy to determine what he does with his life? If, when he grows up, that kid wants to serve his country in the armed forces, that's what he's going to do.

Going after the folks who idolize Cindy Sheehan is not a winning strategy. They are going to vote for Obama anyway.

SteveBrooklineMA   ·  June 20, 2008 01:58 PM

I will hazard a guess that she thinks fourteen-year-old girls are old enough to secure an abortion without their parents' permission.

For the record, I will note that all societies have inconsistencies in how a child comes to be considered "of age." However, it pays not to dismiss these as mere hypocrisies, but to hold them up beside each other for examination. The areas of disagreement are extremely revealing of unstated values. As they are here.

Assistant Village Idiot   ·  June 20, 2008 03:35 PM

Additional thought. A take-off ad of a solid looking 30 year old six-foot Alex looking indulgently and condescendingly at an hysterical mother saying the same thing might be amusing. Maybe his own daughter could giggle at Gram's antics.

Assistant Village Idiot   ·  June 20, 2008 03:40 PM

... and if there ever is a draft again, it will have to be initiated by Congress, not the President. So she should actually support McCain, to get him out of Congress and prevent him from getting any tasty babies.

roy   ·  June 20, 2008 03:40 PM

You gotta understand, if 18 year olds are conidered kids, then they never have to grow up, or take responsibility for themselves, that way the Libs enure a never ending supply of Libs.

SFC SKI   ·  June 20, 2008 07:03 PM

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