Richard Tafoya
May 12th, 2007, 02:39 PM
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/08/poe-kkk/
Yesterday on the House floor, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) argued that the United States needs to immediately authorize funds for the war in Iraq. “Congress needs to quit talking about supporting the troops and put money where our mouths seem to be,” said Poe.
To make his case, he quoted “successful Confederate general” Nathan Bedford Forrest, but left out the fact that Forrest was also one of the original Grand Wizards of the Ku Klux Klan.
Poe’s spokeswoman tried to justify the reference to Forrest, stating, that it “was used in an historical context (http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_121/hoh/18371-1.html) comparing the request to Congress for support of the Confederate troops to the request that is being made today by our Generals in Iraq.” (Roll Call adds that it’s actually a misquote of Forrest as well.)
So remember, it’s perfectly fine to quote KKK Grand Wizards to make your argument, as long as it’s in a “historical context.”
Carpetbagger Report (http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/10731.html) and Jane Hamsher (http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/08/heroes-and-villains-2/) have more.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/08/poe-kkk/
Yesterday on the House floor, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) argued that the United States needs to immediately authorize funds for the war in Iraq. “Congress needs to quit talking about supporting the troops and put money where our mouths seem to be,” said Poe.
To make his case, he quoted “successful Confederate general” Nathan Bedford Forrest, but left out the fact that Forrest was also one of the original Grand Wizards of the Ku Klux Klan.
Poe’s spokeswoman tried to justify the reference to Forrest, stating, that it “was used in an historical context (http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_121/hoh/18371-1.html) comparing the request to Congress for support of the Confederate troops to the request that is being made today by our Generals in Iraq.” (Roll Call adds that it’s actually a misquote of Forrest as well.)
So remember, it’s perfectly fine to quote KKK Grand Wizards to make your argument, as long as it’s in a “historical context.”
Carpetbagger Report (http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/10731.html) and Jane Hamsher (http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/08/heroes-and-villains-2/) have more.