That There Must be No Criticism of the President is "Unpatriotic, Servile, and Morally Treasonable"

[Sunstone]

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- President Theodore Roosevelt.

Here's the context in which the above quote is to be found:

The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.

The full quote makes the crucial point that criticisms of the president should be truthful.

Comments?

 

[Quetzal]

I agree with the quote. Is this in response to a particular action or just a general share?

 

[Sunstone]

I agree with the quote. Is this in response to a particular action or just a general share?

Roosevelt was responding to those who tried to silence his criticism of Woodrow Wilson's conduct of the First World War.

 

[Quetzal]

Roosevelt was responding to those who tried to silence his criticism of Woodrow Wilson's conduct of the First World War.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I mean, is this topic in response to something in particular? Or is this just a fyi quote sharing? Either way, it is a good quote that I agree with.

 

[Sunstone]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I mean, is this topic in response to something in particular? Or is this just a fyi quote sharing? Either way, it is a good quote that I agree with.

Someone on another website quoted it to me yesterday. I checked it with Snopes to make sure it was a legitimate quote, and then re-quoted it here.

 

[Kemosloby]

People should speak the truth. Lying is immoral and wrong. Freedom is for those who do right all on their own.

 

[psychoslice]

People should speak the truth. Lying is immoral and wrong. Freedom is for those who do right all on their own.

This is what most presidents are good at, lying.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I completely agree with this. Although it does not always pan out the way either side may want but I mostly blame this with a conflict of values. For example saying that Obama is a child killer for supporting abortion. This is a value conflict because people who support abortion know what a fetus is opposed to a child and on top of this are valuing the wishes of the mother more than the child.

Issues like this must be distinguished before proper criticism of the president or any political figure

 

[metis]

The full quote makes the crucial point that criticisms of the president should be truthful.

When commenting on Trump's dishonesty and brazen depravity, that's not at all hard to do as his record is there for all to see.

And remember that Trump refused to recognize Obama's legitimacy by claiming that there was no evidence that Obama was born in the U.S., and he didn't get around to recanting that pathetic lie until only a few months ago.

BTW, I have watched every inauguration since Kennedy's in 1961, but this next Friday I think I'm likely to break that tradition. I haven't made a final decision yet.

 

[Mindmaster]

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- President Theodore Roosevelt.

Here's the context in which the above quote is to be found:



The full quote makes the crucial point that criticisms of the president should be truthful.

Comments?

It's not truthful to make anecdotal criticisms of the President, or emotional pleas. So far, that's all the left has, and it's pretty disgusting. Don't like it that Trump won? Save your lunch money and move, otherwise it's just useless talk. If you don't hate Trump enough to leave, you aren't really hating him enough and are just posing. It's not "your" country, and just because you don't like that the other team won doesn't mean you have the right to gripe constantly. That's my take, I mean if I disliked Obama enough I'd have left. There is no point to any of these "arguments", if that is what you can call them. If you're an American then you support our ways and our processes, and moreover support the current fairly elected President or just get the hell out. I mean, what's the point of these fantasies anyway? That's what I don't get at all, I mean the constant whining will get the left nothing but resentment and that's already happening.

The left needs to get off the identity politics (which lost them the election, imho) and focus on the things they bring to the table. (Environment, social infrastructure, etc)

 

[metis]

It's not truthful to make anecdotal criticisms of the President, or emotional pleas. So far, that's all the left has, and it's pretty disgusting.

Do you actually ever listen to what Trump has said or tweeted. Are you aware of what he has done that's been well established? Talk about "disgusting".

 

[Mindmaster]

Do you actually ever listen to what Trump has said or tweeted. Are you aware of what he has done that's been well established? Talk about "disgusting".

It's irrelevant, and morally relativistic as far as I am concerned. I don't accept other people telling me how to live my life or do my business, so I support that for anyone else as well. Anyway, nothing he's done is on the scale of Clinton or Obama, but hey, it's gonna be his chance to screw up in six days -- we'll see.

 

[Quetzal]

Save your lunch money and move, otherwise it's just useless talk. If you don't hate Trump enough to leave, you aren't really hating him enough and are just posing.

Ehhhh this is unrealistic. In my opinion, there are several factors that I think have a small ounce of legitimacy when it comes to the left being a bit cranky.

 

[Mindmaster]

Ehhhh this is unrealistic. In my opinion, there are several factors that I think have a small ounce of legitimacy when it comes to the left being a bit cranky.

The left is always cranky, they even will cannibalize themselves if it doesn't seem that someone is sticking to the program. I don't think you can be lefty and be happy, most that I know are pretty miserable people.

 

[Terese]

It's not truthful to make anecdotal criticisms of the President, or emotional pleas. So far, that's all the left has, and it's pretty disgusting. Don't like it that Trump won? Save your lunch money and move, otherwise it's just useless talk. If you don't hate Trump enough to leave, you aren't really hating him enough and are just posing. It's not "your" country, and just because you don't like that the other team won doesn't mean you have the right to gripe constantly. That's my take, I mean if I disliked Obama enough I'd have left. There is no point to any of these "arguments", if that is what you can call them. If you're an American then you support our ways and our processes, and moreover support the current fairly elected President or just get the hell out. I mean, what's the point of these fantasies anyway? That's what I don't get at all, I mean the constant whining will get the left nothing but resentment and that's already happening.

The left needs to get off the identity politics (which lost them the election, imho) and focus on the things they bring to the table. (Environment, social infrastructure, etc)

I have a feeling that if Hillary won you would be creating a lot of 'useless talk'.

 

[Reggie Miller]

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- President Theodore Roosevelt.

Here's the context in which the above quote is to be found:



The full quote makes the crucial point that criticisms of the president should be truthful.

Comments?

I like it. We could use another Teddy Roosevelt today.

 

[Quetzal]

The left is always cranky

Well, yeah, cinnamon toast crunch isn't on sale very often. Who could blame us?

I don't think you can be lefty and be happy, most that I know are pretty miserable people.

I am quite happy, thanks!

 

[Mindmaster]

I have a feeling that if Hillary won you would be creating a lot of 'useless talk'.

Nope, I wouldn't even make a single post in that regard. No point crying over spilt milk. Whoever wins, as far as I am concerned, wins. As long as it is fair, and there is no fraud regarding the election. I don't require everyone to agree with me, and I certainly don't think it's overly healthy for the government to be dominated by one party. I'm even sort of unsettled in the fact that the Republican's are going to own it all, I like enough balance in the government that the other party can protect us from extremes. Not gonna happen now, but I guess that's mostly because the rejection of the left is so extreme.

 

[McBell]

just because you don't like that the other team won doesn't mean you have the right to gripe constantly.

I call bull ****.
And before you start whining about it, please keep in mind all the whining about Obama being elected.
EIGHT YEARS worth.
Where was the stop whining advice for the last EIGHT YEARS?
Hells bells, Trump is STILL constantly whining over piddly ****.

So yes, they do have the right to whine constantly.

 

[Father Heathen]

If you're an American then you support our ways and our processes, and moreover support the current fairly elected President or just get the hell out.

Nah, we need to hold our leaders to high standards. If you truly love your country, you should insist that the person behind the wheel not be corrupt and/or incompetent. Does it mean that you hate high-end sports cars if you think letting a chimp drive one is a bad idea?

It's funny how conservatives claimed that it was "treasonous" to criticize the president when Bush was in office, but quickly and quietly dropped such sentiments when Obama was elected.