Well, I'll be damned...

[rateyes]

First time I've read this quote of Teddy Roosevelt's, and just wanted to share it with you.

"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."

Here's the full quote from the Kansas City Star. It was made during WWI (1918) which makes it even more appropos to today!

http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Quotes.htm

"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."

"Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918

[hippywife]

1. An oldie but goodie! To be sure! n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. This has been my response to the "un american, treasonous bitch"

screamers since right around 9-11. :hi:

[rateyes]

4. Good. Glad I found it.

I'm going to use it a few times myself on some real unAmerican treasonous bitches I know. :evilgrin:

[stop the bleeding]

3. what context was this said in? just curious

please don't flame me about what people can and can not question the president on.
:toast:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. I bet it was General Zinni on WJ repeat...

it's on of my favorites too. :)

[rateyes]

6. Not going to flame you...

to be honest in answering your question: "HellifIknow."

Teddy Roosevelt said some asanine things, too. Like all immigrants have to learn the English language, and that there can be no loyalty for Americans other than to America, and that a knowledge of the Bible is more valuable than a college education, etc.

But, I liked that quote. If I find out, I'll let you know.

[stop the bleeding]

8. cool, let me know if you do

[rateyes]

13. OK....

here's the full quote. It was in a letter to the Kansas City Star in 1918 during World War I. (Criticism of a President during war time. BTW, Teddy finished his term in office nine years earlier.) Very appropos to today's environment:

http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Quotes.htm

Presidential Criticism

Recently several people have written to ask us about a viewpoint TR had on criticism of the presidency. This quote was part of an editorial he wrote for the "Kansas City Star" durning World War I.

"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."

"Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918

[MissWaverly]

10. Woodrow Wilson entry into WW I

Roosevelt did not think it was a great idea and people said that criticizing the president
during war time was disloyal.

[stop the bleeding]

11. thank you

:yourock:

[mcscajun]

12. The context was during World War I, in an editorial column T.R.

wrote for the "Kansas City Star" well after the end of his second Presidential term. It's part of a larger statement:

"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."

[bluem]

7. thank you!

Thanks for sharing! Sadly enough, I am a college student majoring in political science and have never heard it...

[rateyes]

14. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[bluem]

15. you guys...

are so amazing here, thanks for the welcome!

[proud patriot]

9. I used to have that bumper sticker

it's a great quote

[yellowdogmi]

16. Very powerful.

Thanks for posting. K&R.