Arkansas Republicans: Spare Us The False Outrage

Republican Tweeters have been buzzing today about Representative Barry Hyde’s recent mail piece claiming it disparages his opponent Jane English by noting she’s the wife of a veteran.  Apparently, Republicans hate when facts are laid out in black-and-white.

Taking out all politics, read this sentence: Barry Hyde is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Jane English is not a veteran.  That previous sentence is not an attack; it’s a statement of fact.   I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and mentioning that is just a statement of fact.

Hyde’s latest mailer, which has caused false outrage among Republicans, is a comparison piece contrasting himself to English on various issues, with checkmarks and X’s on various issues.  Under the line where it says Military Service/Support, Hyde’s line says: “Vietnam era veteran, U.S. Air Force, Honorary Commander Little Rock Air Force Base.  Under English’s line it says “Wife of veteran”.

What exactly was Hyde supposed to write here?  “Supportive wife of a combat veteran who sacrificed for her family more than we’ll ever know”?  While true, it’s not Hyde’s job to write that line, that’s the job of the English campaign.

If Hyde had simply noted that English was not a veteran of the military, while he was, which is factual, Republicans would be up-in-arms because Hyde didn’t say that English is a spouse of a veteran.  No matter what, Republican were prepared to whine about this mail piece.  (See my previous post on how Republicans would start whining soon.)

Hyde could have legitimately just had the line say “Military Service” and note that he was a vet and English was not.  It’s a factual statement.

Instead, Hyde respectfully went a step further and called the line Military Service/Support because I’m sure Hyde realizes that, while military spouses don’t sign the government paperwork joining the military, they are still to be respected for supporting our servicemen and women.

No matter what Hyde wrote on this mail piece, Republicans would whine.

Spare us the false outrage, Arkansas Republicans.