Victor Davis Hanson: The Congresswoman and the Admiral

Tribune Media Services ^ | April 6, 2006 | Victor Davis Hanson

[quidnunc]

Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney's recent run-in with a security official at the nation's Capitol reminded me of an earlier dust-up.

On New Year's Eve 2002, while I was a visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the superintendent — the distinguished three-star Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton — tried to enter the academy without wearing the photo ID required of all military and civilian personnel.

Naturally expecting that the young Marine sentry on duty would recognize his all-important superintendent, Naughton boldly tried to pass. But instead, the Marine asked him to produce identification. Angry words and some sort of altercation ensued between the admiral and the enlisted man.

Later, Naughton claimed he couldn't "remember" whether he had "touched" the guard, but he did concede he "might" have done so.

After a lengthy, ultimately damming investigation, Naughton resigned — first from his post as academy superintendent and then subsequently from the Navy altogether. During the investigation, some skeptics at Annapolis had doubted whether Naughton would pay any price. But his exalted rank, along with his race and gender, won no exemption.

I mention the Naughton case to illustrate that such mix-ups at government checkpoints are not unusual — and that eventually public pressure catches up with aristocratic arrogance and even the powerful are held to account.

Cynthia McKinney recently had her own Naughton moment when she tried to enter the Capitol.

-snip-

[gman992]

Never mess with the 'Corps! Semper Fi!

[llevrok]

VDH nails it again. Especially citing McKinney's comment on Cheney's hunting accident "cover up".

[baltodog]

When my brother was a missile tech on a Navy boomer in the early 1970's, some old guy came on board his sub during some type of family tour day.

There was a big stink because my brother used physical restraint to keep the guy from going past some checkpoint without the proper credentials.

My brother got some type of recognition from the old guy because of the incident.

The old guy's name was Rickover, and he was trying to see how far he could get through the sub, simply using facial recognition. My brother was the one that finally stopped him.

[Wristpin]

These elite Congress critters are breaking any sensible security measures with this exemption anyway. These Congress pins could easily stolen out of lockers, off clothing, out of cars, etc. All Johnny Jihad has to do is get wear a nice suit with a stolen pin, get waved past the guard and metal detector and set off his bomb.

There is no way a guard could remember the faces of all 500 members of Congress with any certainty. They need to show photo ID like the "little people" they are supposed to be serving.

[ModelBreaker]

And if race and gender were not enough, McKinney evoked the standard sexual harassment code words "inappropriate touching" - as if a randy guard were trying to grope the defenseless congresswoman.

Oh, yuck.

[Savage Beast]

Of course, both Naughton and McKinney should have apologized to the guard for putting him in such a position. If they were worthy of their status, they would have.

Years ago, when I was a major in the U.S. Army, I was stopped by the M.P. while I was jogging in the snow about 11 p.m., wearing a military jacket over my running clothes. (It was very cold.) The M.P., and enlisted man, apologized for stopping me but told me that I should not be wearing only part of my uniform like that. I assured him that he owed me no apology and then said, "I apologize to you for putting you in this position; it won't happen again." He was right. I was wrong.

[Onelifetogive]

and that eventually public pressure catches up with aristocratic arrogance and even the powerful are held to account.

I doubt anything will come of the McKinney episode. In the Navy (and at the Academy) you are worthless without character, in Mrs. McKinney's circles, you are pretty much worthless if you have character.....

[PsyOp]

Slandering someone as racist and sexist is now supposed to do for Democrats what the old wealth and power purportedly did for Republicans - give them an unfair advantage and allow them to evade the rules.

Progressives once gained credence because they insisted merit should outweigh class, money and connections. These days they are losing credibility when they insist race and gender should trump merit and facts.

America has learned to apply the rules to a Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton; now it must also insist on them for Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

- Hanson.

[BwanaNdege]

After Boot Camp at Parris Island, we were sent to Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune where we spent awhile standing guard duty. One night one of the men in my company had someone passing his post. After two calls of "Halt, who is there?" without receiving a response, the guard locked & loaded and once more shouted, "Halt, who is there!"

This time the person stopped. The guard had him take out his ID card, place it on the deck, step back three paces, about face and get down in "front lean at rest" (push-up) position. The guard picked up the ID card, read it, came to present arms and said, "Officer of the Day recognized, Sir". That guard was promoted from Private to PFC because of his correct response to someone (in authority, as it turned out) ignoring a lawful command.

I hope this Capitol guard gets a promotion.

[libstripper]

Indeed, even very "big" "little people" in the Government are required to abide by the photographic identification rules, as shows by this article. Somehow a congress critter doesn't stricke me as any more vital than a vice admiral.

[quidnunc]

FYI

[eddiespaghetti]

That is a terrific story! (I hesitate to say "story" because that implies it's fiction. Anyway. . .)

Did your brother recognize the man to be Rickover?

es

[Little Bill]

A friend of mine, an MP, stopped Monk Myers, WW2 Hero type and Brigadeer General at a TCP on a blind corner, because an M88 was coming down the blind side of the intersection.

Old Monk ripped him a new ahole, just as the M88 went roaring by, never again sir my pal said, in response to getting drilled.

M88's don't stop all that well.

[xarmydog]

Had a General try that crap on me while I was on guard duty in the armory.He said,don't you know who I am?I replied,no sir,but i know what you will be if you proceed any further.Of course I expected to get my butt put in the slammer the next day,but much to my surprise,he was just a half ass brigadier general,half drunk,who following my report,was suddenly transferred shortly after.It was strange telling a general,being a private,that he would be dead meat if he came any closer.The weird part was,he was alone and had no one in my chain of command with him,which at the time was more or less protocol.

[narby]

Air Force basic training has a procedure of "Dorm Guards", which are pretty worthless except for making sure no one steals people's shoes from under beds and as training for what goes on at a military base.

I was pulling dorm guard when the TI bullied himself in behind a person I had cleared into the dorm. I would have never opened the door for him without clearance, but I didn't understand that I was permitted and expected to physically restrain someone trying to enter by bluster and force.

He chewed me out and wrote me up, and I learned how real security works.

[sgtbono2002]

Truer words were never sp[oken.

[jmaroneps37]

A friend ( Army not USMC) told me this story: He was working in a Comm shack in Panama in the height of the cold war when a man walked in and moved toward the radio. My fiend pulled his .45 and told him to stop. The guy was in civies and demanded his name saying "Don't you know who I am?" My friend in fact did NOT know who the man was. End of story after three warnings to leave, my friend shot the man in the shoulder. He turned out to be a new 1st Lt. and was stupid but otherwise harmless. One thing he was, though was honest. He told the same story and ended up with a Courts Marshall himself. My fiend was given three day pass. The Office was gone when he got back off leave. Of course having been the guy who shot an officer and got away with it, he drank free for the rest of his time at that base.

[layman]

America has learned to apply the rules to a Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton; now it must also insist on them for Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

Her so-called apology today was obviously crafted by a scumball attorney ... maybe even Bill Clinton himself ... in that, if you listen to it closely, it only apologized for the fact that the incident attracted so much attention. I hope she is indicted if for no other reason than to send a message to ALL of congress that we have had enough of their arrogance. They are elected servants of the people, not royalty.

[zeugma]

Yup. Every article on this subject ought to seriously question why they don't have to submit to the same indignities we do.