Shooting the messenger . . .

George Bush and his gang are sharpshooters, Dick Cheney's hunting mishap notwithstanding. A few of them are trained assassins.



Another messenger was shot at this week. But, perhaps the riflemen's arms are weary from holding position for too long, for it seems this week's rounds missed the mark necessary for a fatal shot.



For those who have been on planet Mars, or maybe now even farther out than that, George McClellan, former press secretary to W, wrote a book which was distributed this week. It explained, in some detail, how the Bush gang used propaganda and media manipulation to create public sentiment for the Iraq tragedy and repress public sentiment opposed to it. He also added detail to Valerie Plane story and less weighty stories. He told us that we have been lied to and manipulated consistently and intentionally.



Within hours the sharpshooters were ready, loaded and locked. Going for the heart, the sharpshooters ammunition assaulted the character of McClellan for his lack of loyalty to his boss, who had given him such a great opportunity. They appeared at their usual posts, in great numbers, never truly addressing or denying what McClellan said. These assassins have learned that the truth cannot be killed. But sometimes all that is necessary is to kill the one who carries the truth.



Harken back to Dan Rather prior to the 2004 election. Dan told us about George Bush's military record . . . of unexcused absences. Dan did not check his source and it turned out to be questionable. Dan was mortally wounded. Some would say at least in part self-inflicted. But what happened to the truth? It lay trapped under Dan's professional corpse. Was there ever a definitive explanation of the gap in W's military service? Nope. Not necessary. The evil Dan Rather, dark prince of the 4th estate, had been slain before he could do any further damage to the Republic.



I didn't really care about W's military service problems from 30 years ago, except that John Kerry's legitimate service was under attack. Even so, it was just political campaigning at its acceptable worst. I think this McClellan message is important. But what I deem important or what W deems important is not critical here.



It is critical that we the people can't handle the truth.



As a criminal defense attorney I have learned that witnesses necessary for the prosecution or the defense are never perfect. A witness that carries the critical evidence in the case will inevitably have a prior felony or two, or will have just left a drug deal or an illicit affair, or may even be a codefendant in the case. It makes hearing the truth difficult. I suppose I have been the assassin on many of those occasions. But the difference is, I have rules that I must follow, or I could very well end up having to defend myself to the same court. The juries and judges I have argued to understood that the discovery of the truth is the critical thing. The task cannot be conveniently avoided for comfort. That may require accepting the fact that the truth may have caught a ride with a questionable character. But finding the truth is worth the trouble.



But sometimes we don't want to hear the truth which reminds us of our own shortcomings. For instance, we don't want to know that we were wrong about the Iraq War. We want to continue to believe in the noble myth that was created for us and which we accepted without question. We don't want to accept the responsibility for the unspeakable damage that has been done by this war. It is our responsibility, after all. The military is only doing what we ask it to do. So it is tempting to pick up our own rifles and continue the attack on the messenger.

But before we fire on this messenger, or the next one that comes along, maybe we should hear and consider their final words. Many times great truths can be heard in final words, right before the sound of gunshots.