The myth of 'standing behind your president'.

[Philosoraptor]

This idiotic phrase gets used a lot, almost as much as 'wake up America', or 'support the troops', it's just another meaningless slogan.

Of course if you didn't vote for the president, you're less inclined to stand behind him or her, and if you did vote for him or her, you are more inclined to stand behind.

Hypocritical is a poor word to describe the current crop of republiks who are wailing this phrase to the high heavens, 'we need to get behind our president', and you know these are the very same people who were screaming for President Bill Clinton's head on a pike.

On what holy slab of granite is it written that a person MUST stand behind the president? And they always add the caveat, 'cause we're at war'! Yeah you dumbasses, we're at war BECAUSE THIS MANIAC TRICKED US ALL INTO ONE. (sorry for the screaming)

I believe it was our furry little friends the lemmings who originally came up with this ridiculous phrase, that first lemming you see going over the cliff, HE'S the president.

[Berry Cool]

1. Next time anyone says it to you

tell them, "You know, that's exactly what Britney Spears said too."

That'll cure 'em.

[baldguy]

14. "You know, that's exactly what Joseph Goebbels said too."

[cassiepriam]

2. More propaganda. Using emotional appeals when there is no rational merit.

The American people in the past have fallen for this stuff.

[rock]

3. "Stand behind the head lemming"

Good advice (yeah, sarcasm).

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Historically speaking, this hasn't been the case

During the Civil War, there was a vigorous and vocal opposition to Lincoln on the part of the Democrats as well as Radical Republicans. When a general shut down the Chicago Times for anti-war sloganeering, Lincoln overrode the order and had the press back up and running. When Congressman Vallendagh of Ohio, who was inciting Union soldier to desert, was arrested and held, Lincoln had him sent to Confederate lines rather than languish in jail--and when that same fellow slipped off to Canada and ran for Ohio governor on a peace platform, Lincoln did nothing, relying on the people to do things right. The Civil War was a time of a REAL threat to our national government--and Lincoln never insisted that the country stand behind him. The country was more important than he was, and he knew it. Maybe that is one reason he is considered one of our greatest Presidents.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Sounds like the divine right of kings!

It's as though they've been asleep since the 1770s and think that the political system is all about following King George blindly and without question.

And they talk about 'spreading democracy'...

[lectrobyte]

6. "But he's our Commander in Chief and we're at War" is the usual spew

I hear whenever I say something unflattering to his smirkiness.

[donheld]

7. I have no problem at all "getting behind this 'pResident'"

You should see what I do back there. :D :spank: for a start.

[lectrobyte]

12. Turnabout is fair play. I have felt the presence of * back there

many times, myself...

[ProfessorGAC]

8. When I Hear That, My Answer Is Simple

"No. He's wrong." It's impossible for me to be any more succinct.
The Professor

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Teddy Rooseveldt said it best

I wish I could find a copy of the entire editorial, but President Theodore Roosevelt wrote an editorial to the Kansas City Star which was published on May 7, 1918 (after he left office.) It read, in part:

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."

[Strawman]

10. Subjects stand behind a king. Presidents represent citizens

Citizens are expected to be critically-minded, active and engaged.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

11. Heaven forbid the democrats should "embarrass" Bush

Bush has the market cornered on embarrassing himself.

[sutz12]

13. If he was actually capable of leading anything...

I would consider standing behind him. When I was a young'un, the President led everybody in the country, not just the whackos that maneuvered him into office. In six years, I have not seen a shred of leadership from that cretin.

He is not my president.

[Philosoraptor]

15. I could possibly even support an R candidate if they made sense.

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. I'll stand behind the Constitution

This President should too.

[Marr]

17. He's supposed to be a public servant, as he's supposed to stand behind US.

He's meant to be protecting the Constitution, period.

Only the servile "stand behind" their elected officials.