Gephardt the Chickenhawk

Backcountry Conservative ^ | August 10, 2003 | Jeff Quinton

[AJ Insider]

Gephardt the Chickenhawk

A regular occurrence in the blogosphere revolves around liberals calling President George W. Bush a "chickenhawk" because he served in the Air National Guard (in their opinion to avoid service in Vietnam) and has been ordering American forces into combat.

If service in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam era while supporting any war since then makes someone a "chickenhawk", why haven't these liberals stuck the same label on Dick Gephardt?

According to his bio, Gephardt served in the Air National Guard from 1965-1971 following law school. I'm not saying I agree with the label for Bush or Gephardt, but if it applies to one it should apply to both.

[68skylark]

The whole chickenhawk label is pointless. All Americans are allowed to have an opinion about war and peace -- not just those who have served in combat.

Otherwise, our Revolution would never have happened (which, come to think of it, might be just what liberals really wish for).

[bruin66]

I thought "chickenhawk" was a term applied to pedophiles...

[LenS]

It's applied to both men chasing young boys AND to hawks on defense who dodged the military in their youth.

Of course, the reason it isn't applied to Gephardt is that he's a Democrat. By liberal definition, they can never be hypocrites nor can they be accused of being for wars (even if they start them or vote for them).

[xm177e2]

If service in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam era while supporting any war since then makes someone a "chickenhawk", why haven't these liberals stuck the same label on Dick Gephardt?

Because he isn't a big hawk? Duh.

[AJ Insider]

He supported the action in Iraq, which has the libs hanging the label on Bush.