In a recent Raleigh News & Observer op-ed, William Marshall, who is a UNC law school professor, tried to compare the current criticism of Obama to the criticism of Bush by the Dixie Chicks.
His bigger point is that some of the individuals that are criticizing Obama are the same people that called the Dixie Chicks unpatriotic for criticizing Bush:
Now many of the same people who used to claim that attacking the
presidency was un-American believe that it is un-American not to. So
now these former defenders of the presidency find great sport in
calling the president things like “racist” or “socialist.”…..
…..But this all brings me back to the Dixie Chicks. It would be great and
fitting, of course, if these newfound presidency attackers would
apologize to all of those anti-Bush speakers whom they so harshly
condemned. It would be even better if these folks would not hide behind
the flag the next time somebody criticizes a president they support.
Yet somehow I am not optimistic.
The problem with the professor’s argument is he has set up a straw man. The Dixie Chicks weren’t criticized for being anti-Bush. They were criticized for going overseas during the height of a war and telling a foreign audience that President Bush embarrassed them. The comments also were made in connection to the war (i.e. they were embarrassed because of his decisions related to war).
Where, when, and in what context comments are made isn’t something that can just be ignored.
