Using the Fort Hood Tragedy to Push Healthcare Legislation

You’re right, Joe , President Obama’s speech at the Fort Hood memorial service was moving and well written. But not everything Obama has said about the recent tragedy merits our approval. On the contrary, one thing Obama suggested about the shooting deserves outright condemnation:

President Obama invoked the Fort Hood shootings in an emotional appeal to Democrats to pass health care reform today, contrasting the sacrifices of soldiers with political positioning.

The impassioned pitch to the entire Democratic caucus came hours before the House vote tonight on the signature issue of Obama’s presidency, with Democratic leaders struggling to keep members from conservative districts on board.

“He was absolutely inspiring. In a very moving way, he reminded us what sacrifice really is,” said New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews, estimating the persuader-in-chief turned several votes.

“Sacrifice is not casting a vote that might lose an election for you; it is the sacrifice that someone makes when they wear the uniform of this country and that unfortunately a number of people made this week,” said Andrews.

“It made a lot of people feel a little less sorry for themselves about their political problems,” he added. “This is an emotional time for a lot of our folks politically, but this is politics and I think he correctly pointed out what’s a heck of a lot more important.”

Using a national tragedy in which 13 of our bravest men and women lost their lives to pressure Democrats in congress into passing a completely unrelated piece of legislation is, in a word, revolting. What really surprises me though, is that such politicians as Rob Andrews were completely uncritical—and even supportive—of the president’s tactlessness. As Ann Althouse pointed out earlier this week:

I’m trying to imagine the political environment that Washington Democrats occupy. A President glibly lays out that analogy, and it is received—without any wincing or taint of disgust—as awesome inspiration. These are the minds that will be making decisions for us for quite a while.