This is just wrong...

[Taxman]

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There are two things about this that I have a problem with.

First, I don't mind that the opposition takes issue with what the administration is doing. I find that healthy. What I do have a problem with is the term "hate". They could have called it "Against Bush" or "No more Bush" or "Celebrities opposed to Bush" or something along those lines. By saying that they hate Bush, they've crossed a line.

Second, the prominence of members of former administrations should send up warning flags for everyone. That's reminiscent of what happens in backwater banana republics, not in First World democracies. Bad, bad juju...

[angusmcgee]

disgraceful? Of course.. Over the line? Absolutely. Surprising? Not in the least.

[luvmetender]

Originally Posted by angusmcgee

disgraceful? Of course.. Over the line? Absolutely. Surprising? Not in the least.

Last time I checked, freedom of speech was allowed in the US. Maybe it crosses your own personal line of what you find offensive, but for many others it does not.

[angusmcgee]

I agree.

sad, isn't it?

Imagine the press coverage if a bunch of famous people got together and had a "WE HATE CLINTON" meeting back in the '90s.

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

Last time I checked, freedom of speech was allowed in the US. Maybe it crosses your own personal line of what you find offensive, but for many others it does not.

Sure, they have the right to say whatever they want to. That wasn't the point though. To hate someone is to feel about that person the same way that the KKK feels about African-Americans, the same way that the Nazis felt about Jews, the same way that bin Laden feels about Westerners. I find that profoundly disturbing.

[luvmetender]

Originally Posted by Taxman

Sure, they have the right to say whatever they want to. That wasn't the point though. To hate someone is to feel about that person the same way that the KKK feels about African-Americans, the same way that the Nazis felt about Jews, the same way that bin Laden feels about Westerners. I find that profoundly disturbing.

Isn't that just your own perception of what hate means for you? Isn't everyone entitled to have their own feelings of hatred and to express them in an acceptable manner? (Yes, i know, sounds ludicrous, but this is the USA)

[luvmetender]

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Here is a very good debate on this very topic!

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

Isn't that just your own perception of what hate means for you? Isn't everyone entitled to have their own feelings of hatred and to express them in an acceptable manner? (Yes, i know, sounds ludicrous, but this is the USA)

No, because (like it or not) words have meanings. I can't call a dog a fish, for example.

This is the definition of "hate" from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:

Hate \Hate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hated; p. pr. & pr. & vb. n.
Hating.] [OE. haten, hatien, AS. hatian; akin to OS. hatan,
hat?n to be hostile to, D. haten to hate, OHG. hazz?n,
hazz?n, G. hassen, Icel. & Sw. hata, Dan. hade, Goth. hatan,
hatian. ???. Cf. Hate, n., Heinous.]
1. To have a great aversion to, with a strong desire that
evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is
directed; to dislike intensely; to detest; as, to hate
one's enemies

Do you think that this group really wants evil to befall GWB? And if they do, isn't something wrong with that?

[patti1]

I agree with you, taxman. I do not always agree with the President, but I certainly don't hate him, or any politican.

[CagedTroll]

Not that the Drudge Report isn't a legitimate source... But isn't it a little premature to have this discussion without any corroberation? The thread seems focused on the one word from Drudge's headline ("hate") and not the event itself. Since Angus has brought this up elsewhere, headlines can be be misleading depending on the source. Especially for those that don't read beyond headline.

More details of the event Drudge was talking about are [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] Seems the event is anti-Bush, but not all about the word "hate". Drudge focuses on Laurie David, but according to CNS it's a George Soros-sponsored group that put the event together.

Both articles seems to be trying to put anti-Bush celebs and personalities on an informal "blacklist". Ann Coulter must be proud. BUT based on Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Sly" Stallone, Elia Kazan, and Walt Disney there's always been lots of Hollywood types who are "government-friendly" who love this kind of attention brought to their industry "far left".

[Nightowl69]

Yes there is freedom of speech but to speak hate about our own President is WRONG! weather you support him or not,it's just not right

[angusmcgee]

To come out and spew hatred says more about the spewer than the spewee.

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by CagedTroll

Not that the Drudge Report isn't a legitimate source... But isn't it a little premature to have this discussion without any corroberation? The thread seems focused on the one word from Drudge's headline ("hate") and not the event itself. Since Angus has brought this up elsewhere, headlines can be be misleading depending on the source. Especially for those that don't read beyond headline.

More details of the event Drudge was talking about are [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] Seems the event is anti-Bush, but not all about the word "hate". Drudge focuses on Laurie David, but according to CNS it's a George Soros-sponsored group that put the event together.

Both articles seems to be trying to put anti-Bush celebs and personalities on an informal "blacklist". Ann Coulter must be proud. BUT based on Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Sly" Stallone, Elia Kazan, and Walt Disney there's always been lots of Hollywood types who are "government-friendly" who love this kind of attention brought to their industry "far left".

I was actually more disturbed by my second point than my first, but that seems to be the one that has gained a following...

Sure, the headline may be inflammatory. However, the title of the invite reads: 'Hate Bush 12/2 - Event' and the body of the invitation reads:

"This is the most important meeting you can attend to prevent the advancement of the current extremist right wing agenda. Do not miss this meeting. This will be a high-level briefing to discuss the strategies... to affect what happens next November."

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the story has been picked up by all the major networks now...

[CagedTroll]

I've been running multiple news.google searches for this, and as far as I can tell, Drudge is the only source for those that see something wrong with the event. Not that there's much on it (the gathering itself), since it's old news, because Soros pledged MILLIONS of dollars months ago to getting Dubbya voted out of office. There's lots of articles about George Soros and the organization "America Coming Together." Just not the "Hate Bush" event featuring tons of actors.

It seems the only new thing is that "Hollywood Liberals" are getting involved, and Drudge is dregging up names. What's the point, if not to bash Hollywood in a semi-McCarthy-ian manner? I wouldn't be surprised if the invites were sent out as worded (according to Drudge) but with a question mark at the end (as in: "Hate Bush?"), which would sort of change the whole context of this discussion..., y'think? We'd be talking more about Hollywood's lack of originality rather than the feelings a few actors share with millions more American's toward our President.

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by CagedTroll

I've been running multiple news.google searches for this, and as far as I can tell, Drudge is the only source for those that see something wrong with the event. Not that there's much on it (the gathering itself), since it's old news, because Soros pledged MILLIONS of dollars months ago to getting Dubbya voted out of office. There's lots of articles about George Soros and the organization "America Coming Together." Just not the "Hate Bush" event featuring tons of actors.

It seems the only new thing is that "Hollywood Liberals" are getting involved, and Drudge is dregging up names. What's the point, if not to bash Hollywood in a semi-McCarthy-ian manner? I wouldn't be surprised if the invites were sent out as worded (according to Drudge) but with a question mark at the end (as in: "Hate Bush?"), which would sort of change the whole context of this discussion..., y'think? We'd be talking more about Hollywood's lack of originality rather than the feelings a few actors share with millions more American's toward our President.

Maybe, but chew on this: 1) even if they were asking if the participants hated Bush, that still amounts to the same thing doesn't it? If I say that since we like ice cream were going to Cold Stone, isn't that (basically) the same as my asking you to come along if you like ice cream? 2) The word "hate" is actually the less important of my qualms. Don't you find it disturbing that so many of the active participants are members of the former regime... err administration ?