WE ARE HELPING TO FINANCE THIS MADNESS – AT 8:34 A.M. ET:  There are plenty of arguments for the federal government to stop funding National Public Radio.  I would humbly suggest that one of the strongest is the quality, even the sanity, of some of NPR's political analysis.  From the Weekly Standard:

The elusive distinction of most ludicrous analysis of Obama's Afghanistan speech should be awarded to NPR for its story, "Obama's Afghan Speech Echoed Lincoln's Talk." The segment was less than a minute-and-a-half, but it was a doozy. Here's the excerpt on NPR's website:

President Obama has studied the life of President Lincoln. In his second inaugural address in 1865, Lincoln spoke of the Civil War, then nearing its end: "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in." A section of Obama's speech had a similar rhythm.

The comparable text in Obama's remarks?

With confidence in our cause; with faith in our fellow citizens; and with hope in our hearts, let us go about the work of extending the promise of America...

From here, NPR tries to draw a parallel between Obama's Afghanistan decision and the Civil War. "President Obama's speech brought Lincoln to mind and also highlights an advantage that Lincoln had in 1865," the female radio host says. "Lincoln was speaking near the end of a four-year war. Victory for the Union side was not quite won, but was in sight."

The male host continues: "President Obama spoke last night of a war that has lasted almost a decade. He faces a far more ambiguous task: starting to disengage American troops, while acknowledging that fighting in Afghanistan will continue for years."

So one leader (Lincoln) urged the nation to "strive on to finish the work we are in," shortly before winning the war the nation was fighting. And the other leader (Obama) says, "let us go about the work of extending the promise of America," immediately after calling for America to cut and run from the war the nation is currently fighting. See the parallel? Apparently it's visible only to NPR hosts.

Why of course there's a parallel.  Both Lincoln and Obama lived in Illinois.  Why can't Weekly Standard comprehend that?  That makes them equally great, doesn't it?  Oh, also, the names of the spouses of both men begin with "M," Mary for Lincoln, Michelle for Obama.  Another proof of equal greatness.  Oh yes, and both men had connections with other heartland states – Lincoln was born in Kentucky, and Obama's mother was born in Kansas.

I guess we see things the Weekly Standard doesn't.

June 24, 2011