Lt. gov. crashed Marine's funeral, kin say

[Sean Reynolds]

Lt. gov. crashed Marine's funeral, kin say

SNIP

The family of a Marine who was killed in Iraq is furious with Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll for showing up uninvited at his funeral this week, handing out her business card and then saying "our government" is against the war.

"Our family deserves an apology," Rhonda Goodrich said. "Here you have a soldier who was killed -- dying for his country -- in a church full of grieving family members and she shows up uninvited. It made a mockery of Joey's death."

What really upset the family, Goodrich said, is that Knoll said, 'I want you to know our government is against this war,' " Goodrich said.

----

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05204/542520.stm

Now I don't know if this was posted, but if it's true this kind of crap makes me sick! No Republican OR Democratic official should arrive at a funeral and politicize the event. Knoll should be ashamed of herself if she in fact did what this family is saying she did.

This DOES NOT HELP in getting our message across.

[liberalpragmatist]

1. No kidding

What an asshole

[Demit]

6. That is a great cartoon! Look at all the aliens running like hell back

into their ship. LOL! Thanks for posting it.

[liberalpragmatist]

11. No problem

I actually got it off of DU in the first place, way back sometime last year. I emailed it to a bunch of my friends and when I was cleaning out my inbox and outboxes some weeks back I rediscovered it and decided to punch it into my sigline.

Glad you liked it!

[spotbird]

25. You believe that story?

I've got some land for sale, PM me.

[Bethany Rockafella]

34. It's on CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/25/funeral.apology.ap/index.html

I don't blame the family. I would be upset too.

[Changenow]

35. It is disgraceful that

a unsubstantiated rumor could be treated as fact.

Liberal media my ass.

[Ian David]

2. No it does not. What do we do about it? n/t

[Changenow]

33. First, let's contact Knoll and complement

her in doing the honorable thing when she pays her respects to those who have given all for their country. There are too few elected officials who do what is right even when it is hard.

Next, we should contact the paper that ran this story in the first place and condemn them for presenting rumor as fact.

Is that a good start?

[bluestateguy]

3. It is wrong to show up at a funeral uninvited

especially if you are someone who might draw a lot of attention to yourself.

[kevsand]

5. Nobody gets "invited" to funerals.

I've certainly never received an invitation. When they are announced publicly, they become public events, unless specified otherwise. Having said that, there is obviously a certain decorum that is expected, and one must be sensitive to any possibility of the intrusiveness of one's presence. And politicizing any funeral without the advance, explicit request or consent of the family is inexcusable.

[Demit]

8. Agree. Showing up is a sign of respect.

If she'd stayed in the background it would've looked great for her. Classy. But she couldn't resist making it about her. Stupid move.

[Bo]

30. funeral invite?

Where and when does this happen? In what country?

[spotbird]

18. I've attended many funerals

and participated in the planing of a few, but never once was invited or issued an invitation to a funeral.

One time a friend decided not to publish the time and location of the visitation for her mother because she wanted only family and close friends. Even in that example the mass was open to whomever wished to attend.

This story is the most vile, despicable, bullshit the low-down, slithering, slimy, lying Republicans have fabricated in at least the last 12 hours. The Despicable New Bottom drill reaches a new depth daily.

[Book Lover]

4. Why do I even bother being appaled any more? (nm)

[spotbird]

24. You are appalled that

a publication calling itself a newspaper would have such sorry standards that they would print this as some representation of journalism, right?

[Book Lover]

29. Well, I was speaking more broadly

But you have refined it, yes. Sorry to have been unclear in my post.

[Contrary1]

7. "I want you to know our government is against this war..." ???

Gee, to think that all this time I have misunderstood this administration. :eyes:

[Sean Reynolds]

10. I think she was talking about the local government.

[KurtNYC]

26. Yes - here they are demonstrating against the war....

"Shut it down! Shut it Down!"

...oh, well they were against something...

[brentspeak]

9. Please note that Rhonda Goodrich is a Republican activist

She may be telling the truth about this incident, but you might be interested in reading the following:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13224821&BRD=1078&PAG=461&dept_id=151025&rfi=6

Rhonda Goodrich, a self-described stay-at-home mom from Indiana, was outraged when she heard "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker Michael Moore was coming to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
"His movie is not a documentary," Goodrich said Monday. "It's a movie based on lies, rhetoric and propaganda."

(snip)

Former presidential candidate and political analyst Pat Buchanan was the first to speak in the series Oct. 12, to offer what he called his "conservative view of Washington."

(snip)

"It's very unbalanced," she said. "(Buchanan) is a Democrat behind Republican's clothing.

Ms.Goodrich also travelled to Philly to join up with the UPenn College Republicans in another protest against Moore.

http://www.thepenn.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/29/418298d1d20fa

[liberalpragmatist]

12. haha! Pat Buchanan a DEMOCRAT?! n/t

[spotbird]

16. Hearsay within hearsay

The 74 year old aunt, who supposedly heard the offending comment, is too shy to repeat what she heard to the press. Consequently, her angry, activist, Republican niece took it upon herself to retell the story. There isn't any limit to the extent these deranged and pathetic souls will go to to tar their opponents, but the make believe unbiased press repeating these allegations without verification from the originator screams of the real agenda of the SCLM.

At very least the public has the right to view the invitation list for the funeral. It is possible that the Lt.Governor was on it inadvertently, these charges should be verified.


Rhonda Goodrich, 38, of Indiana County, the fallen soldier's sister-in-law, said Knoll slipped into a pew next to his aunt, Linda Kubiak of Bethel Park. Through Goodrich, Kubiak declined to comment.

Rhonda Goodrich said Knoll, 74, of McKees Rocks, began chatting with Kubiak during the communion service.

"When (Knoll) found out (Kubiak) was Joe's aunt, she handed her a business card and told her she attends 90 percent of these 'functions' across the state," Rhonda Goodrich said.

"This was not a 'function,' " she continued, fairly spitting out the words. "A function is a dinner or an awards ceremony. This was my brother-in-law's funeral."

According to Rhonda Goodrich, Knoll then said what continues to leave Joe Goodrich's survivors shaking their heads: "She told Joe's aunt that the (state) government was against the war."

An odd thing to say, because the state never has taken a position on the Iraq conflict. An offensive thing to say to those who knew Joseph Goodrich loved being a Marine and fighting for his country.

"Whether you're for the war or against the war, to say something like that to a relative of someone who just died in combat was just repulsive," Rhonda Goodrich said.

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/columnists/heyl/s_356321.html

[SaveAmerica]

31. Goodrich has done more damage to his memory than the Lt.

governor ever did by bringing this to the public. She is using his death for political purposes more than Knoll (according to these rumors) did. She (Goodrich) has let hate fester in her heart to the point where she didn't stop to think that what she was doing to her brother-in-law's grieving aunt is worse. She owes her own family an apology.

[Changenow]

32. Amen. nt

[Supersedeas]

27. consider the source

[eyeontheprize]

28. The paper could have independently

confirmed a few facts to lend the story a tiny bit of credibility. Invitations to funerals are so unusual that that part should have been simple to verify.

[spotbird]

13. Was that editorial or news?

That story is an embarrassment to the paper which published it and the Republican party official who wrote it.

Since when has attending the public funeral of a fallen soldier been anything but a moment of respect for every public official?

George Bush doesn't even "do" American funerals, they upset him, or remind him of his failure. That is a shame for all of America. When Bush did attend the funeral for the Pope he must have been drugged. His behavior there was beyond a humiliation to his country, but then acting like he was raised in a barn makes the President of the United States think he looks like everyman.

There is no way in the world that the comment was made as presented, much less at all. These people don't miss a chance to lie, even a relatives funeral is an opportunity.

How dare this family use their loss to exploit their political hatred? Let's use honesty, perspective and context. But even at their lowest point distortion is what matters to these depraved idiots.

[spooky3]

14. It's not the state of IN; it's the town of Indiana, PA.

[spotbird]

17. Thank you.

I made the correction, the point is still valid.

[Mark E. Smith]

15. Knoll has shown up to more Iraq related military funerals than Bush

But since Bush has attended none, it isn't all that big a contest.

[ISUGRADIA]

19. Three Points

1) Unless the obit or notice said it was a private service funerals are public by their nature, not invitation events
2) We are getting one side of the event from a family that obviously has a noted GOP activist in it.
3) We do not know what the LT. Gov said other than hearsay. I've been at funerals where business cards were given out in a "call me if I can do anything or I can help with X" manner. That she did this should not be an issue.

Too many times we jump on people without getting both sides of what happen.

[wisteria]

20. This whole article sounds like a repub set up!

This woman is a 70ish grandmotherly type woman. I saw her in tears during a John Kerry rally when someone spoke about the state of our country and how important change was. This kin is also asking that our Democratic Governor provide an explanation too. By the way, he is popular and is up for reelection in 2006. I wouldn't be surprised if the leading repub rag paper-not the Pittsburgh Post Gazette- had something to do with this or put this soldier's kin up to this. Oh, and this area where the soldier came from is still drinking the Bush koolaid.

[Leafy Geneva]

21. Looks like she may be way, way past her prime.

Knoll fights talk of Rendell dumping her in '06

But privately, critics point to factors such as:

Her age.

In light of Rendell's voracious eating habits, one Harrisburg political gadfly, Gene Stilp, has quipped that Knoll may be "just a cheesesteak away" from the governor's office.

A rapid turnover in her seven-member Harrisburg office staff, with 12 employees leaving in just over two years in office. She's had special trouble keeping press secretaries.

"She's difficult to work for," Hafer said. It is a claim Knoll denied. One of her longtime aides, George Toma, said 11 of the 12 aides who have departed did so voluntarily, usually for other political jobs or to return to school, and one was fired for insubordination.

A couple of instances when, according to some officials, she misspoke and referred to Rendell as "Edward G. Robinson," the tough-guy actor in old movies.

Her apparent confusion or befuddlement on parliamentary procedural moves during heated, late-night Senate debate, causing her to rely heavily on Senate parliamentarian Mark Corrigan for help. She insists she understands the procedure well.

An episode late one night in October when Knoll ruled in favor of Republicans who wanted to shut off debate. She failed to recognize Democratic senators who were trying to insert some amendments to change the state's new slot machine law.

[spooky3]

22. this article sounds like a sexist, age-ist ad hominem attack

full of anonymous sources and hearsay and short on data that are directly pertinent to her job performance.

[spotbird]

23. Since the P-G printed

that tragic, obvious, propaganda about the funeral this may be just another smear story. Even if she is hard to work for,and again we have no more information about that then before the article you mention ran, the funeral story is such a pathetic substitute for journalism that thinking people should rally to Knoll's side.

Ohio politicians are examples of politicians not fit to serve. If this is the best they can do to assault her, Knoll must be a fantastic Lt. Governor!

[SF Bay Area Dem]

36. But according to this Bush* loving GOP activist...

... would be just fine if chim chim the monkey puppet would have shown up? Let me guess? Goodrich is now polishing up her resume for a stint as Faux News contributor? Or maybe a AM radio hate-monger? Were these statements really said? Even if the 74 year old said Knoll never uttered the comments would be to late. The story is out in right wing la la land and will give the same credence as the gold star mothers and the urban legend that Hillary Clinton refused to see them (even though she was out of town at the time)...

[spinbaby]

37. Lynn Cullen is giving this coverage

On now. WPTT in Pittsburgh.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[me b zola]

40. 80% of the military vote repuke? I gotta call you on that.

Link please.

rw propaganda would like everyone to believe that the military is overwhelmingly repuke, but it is not. Just like they put the image out there that overwhelmingly repukes are anti-choice, in reality about half of all repukes are in favor of choice.

If you are going to site rw talking points, please include a link.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

39. As I understand, the governor of Oregon has attended the funeral

of every Oregonian killed in Iraq, not in a politicizing manner, but simply as a matter of respect and showing support for the family.