The Hypocrisy of Norm Coleman's "Kofi Must Go" Line

[mdhunter]

Consider the following, from Coleman's recent statement about the Oil-For-Food Scandal and Kofi Annan.

"While many questions concerning Oil-for-Food remain unanswered, one conclusion has become abundantly clear: Kofi Annan should resign. The decision to call for his resignation does not come easily, but I have arrived at this conclusion because the most extensive fraud in the history of the U.N. occurred on his watch. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, as long as Mr. Annan remains in charge, the world will never be able to learn the full extent of the bribes, kickbacks and under-the-table payments that took place under the U.N.’s collective nose."

Stop. Are you still alive? That is, did you not die from laughter at reading this?

The hypocrisy of it all is actually humorous. What if, pray tell, his same rationale were applied to the United States. What if there were no double standard, and the principles he outlines were universally held?

What if the Bush administration were held accountable for the most extensive intelligence failure in the country's history - it did, after all, happen on their watch. And, unlike the case with Kofi, we know concretely their involvement with that failure. Does anyone doubt that this administration is the most secretive of the modern era; that we'll never know, while they are in power, a myriad of things that happened under our collective nose? Is anyone holding the war planners responsible for their debacle that is Iraq - was anyone taking seriously the calls that Rumsfeld should go amidst Abu Gharib? Why then I should care what Norm Colemans thinks of Kofi Annan, I do not know.

Annan's real involvement with the scandal remains to be seen, and Coleman's investigation is worthwhile, and, in fact, should be asking questions and being critical of the secretary general. But, I refuse to admit as valid these principles of dismissal that, frankly, are scoffed at by the Right at home.

[skylarmae]

1. this is the creepiest - We need to keep our eyes on Coleman -

dangerous liar.

[displacedtexan]

2. Norm is my Backside Of The Bell Curve Winner this week...

on my blog.

The picture is priceless!

http://ascrivenerslament.blogspot.com/

[hansolsen]

3. Speaking as a MN Democrat, unseating Norm Coleman is job one. N/T

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Hi, Hansolsen!

Have you visited the Minnesota state forum yet? :hi:

[hansolsen]

11. Not yet. How do I get there? N/T

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Go to the Lobby and look under State and Country Forums

We're right there between Michigan and Montana, and we're a friendly bunch, so come on over.

[blm]

4. Where are the missing billions of Iraq's oil money that BushInc controls

NOW? Seems Normie has no concern that unqualified administers were chosen by BushInc to use and distribute that money and now BILLIONS are missing in just over a year, while the American taxpayer is paying BILLIONS per month to wage war on that country.

[Zuni]

5. What right does Coleman have to call for Annan's resignation?

Doesn't Annan have a right to show his side of the story? What happened to trials and hearings and review panels....

This is just blatant anti-Un bias, and it reflects the Bush-purge mentality----The CIA/The economic team---any possible enemies are underattack

[russian33]

6. Annan should go, Cheney is clean...that makes sense.

[rkc3]

7. It's my understanding that the contracts that provided kick-backs to

countries and suppliers were to be vetted by the UN Security Council - of which, the US is a big player. Over 70 contracts were brought to the attention of the Security Council because of glaring inconsistencies, yet all were allowed without a whimper.

This has been reported by FAIR over the past few days.

It's pretty surprising to me that such a stink has been raised and no one has heard any of this.

[empathy]

8. Norm IS dangerous

He has proven he will do anything to get ahead politically (see: switching parties to run against Wellstone whom he had previously supported), he is one of Bush's errand boys (see: three amigos from the 2002 senate race wherein Bush referred to Coleman often as one of the guys who was going to help take back the senate), he has proven he can survive scandal (his awkward separation with wife living in CA was all over the press yet he smiled his way into office despite that AND facing an MN Legend (Mondale), and despite really having nothing to run on except the claim that he got hockey back in St Paul. He acted sympathetic and acted like he was the nice guy after Wellstone's death - and he did a good job of acting.

I'm rambling. In short, he is young enough, good looking, and the Repubs owe him for being willing to make such stupid statements as this one about Kofi. I think he will be on the VP ticket soon enough for the Repubs. I think he is dangerous.

Incidentally, I thought I once heard that Kofi went to school somewhat in the states - in MN at McCalester college in St Paul? I may have that wrong though.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Yes, Annan is a Macalester graduate

By the way, for an interesting take on the Oil for Food program, read the article "the UN is Us" in the December issue of Harper's.