Recent stories by
Steve Hammer
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Leave Chelsea alone
by Steve Hammer Apr 2, 2008
Whomever you support, please show respect
A Butler University student made national headlines and burned through his 15 minutes of fame last week when he provoked Chelsea Clinton into an angry response to a question about the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Besides the wrath of Chelsea, Evan Strange’s rude behavior earned him appearances on several network news programs and quotes in dozens of newspaper stories. With his fame clock at 14:58 and counting, Mr. Strange is now claiming to be a Clinton supporter who was just bringing up a valid point about Hillary Clinton’s qualifications.
Even though I enthusiastically support Barack Obama, Mr. Strange’s question seemed to go too far. Whatever one’s opinion of Hillary, nobody can deny that Chelsea Clinton is an attractive, articulate spokesperson. She grew up in the national spotlight and managed to emerge a fiercely intelligent, thoughtful person.
While it’s easy to imagine one of the Bush daughters turning up in a Girls Gone Wild video, Chelsea has avoided controversy and did not deserve to be shown disrespect at a campaign appearance.
If you don’t like Sen. Clinton, then don’t vote for her. Show up at a campaign rally with an Obama sign. But don’t embarrass a great university and an entire state by heckling her daughter.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to protest. More than 20 years ago, when I was a student at Indiana University, William Rehnquist came to campus to deliver an address at the law school.
They didn’t come much slimier than Rehnquist. A Nixon appointee to the Supreme Court, Rehnquist was the architect of dozens of decisions that stripped away freedom and helped big business extort higher profits from the public. The fact that the Constitution survived Rehnquist’s frequent attacks upon it is more of a statement of Rehnquist’s mortality than it is of the resiliency of our Democracy.
Rightly offended that Rehnquist was being invited to IU, students quickly organized a demonstration in front of the IU Auditorium. When Rehnquist came out to speak, we greeted him with loud boos and profanities. It drowned out his fascistic speech and rattled the old man.
Even pleas by the governor to stop interrupting Rehnquist didn’t quiet us down. Finally, as the nation watched live on CNN, the chief justice cut his speech short and left the stage.
It was a temporary victory, to be sure. Rehnquist retaliated by becoming even more repressive. His last laugh was to oversee the theft of the 2000 election by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and the armaments industry.
Even so, it was worth it. If I ever have children, I’ll gladly tell them about the day that Daddy screamed, “Fuck you!” to the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
And, even today, I’d wait in line for a week to yell the same thing at Bush or Cheney before the Secret Service would mow me down in a hail of gunfire.
But even I’d draw the line at harassing their children, evil spawn of desperate lawmakers or not.
In these last remaining weeks of the Democratic presidential primary campaign, it is very important that we remain as respectful and civil to one another as we can. Mrs. Clinton is not my choice for president, but I respect her, her husband and her daughter as great Americans and defenders of liberty.
I might even switch my vote if my wife and I could have coffee with Chelsea or Sen. Clinton. I certainly wouldn’t confront Chelsea about something embarrassing that her father did more than 10 years ago.
If we are going to avoid a third Bush term and the consequences that it carries — perpetual global war, the Great Depression of 2009 and even more degradation of freedoms — a sense of decorum should be preserved.
Whoever emerges from this historic nomination battle will need the undivided support from all of those who love freedom. Whether it’s Clinton or Obama, he or she will still be better than John McCain and the remnants of the Bush Administration.
John Kerry was prophetic when he warned in 2004 that a second Bush term would have a single message: “More of the same.” Bush did deliver more of the same: more war, more misery, more repression.
Whether our country is strong enough to withstand four more years of the same is a question very much in doubt. We should not remove our eyes from that sobering fact.
So feel free to express your opinions. Wear campaign buttons. Put out yard signs. Encourage your friends and family to support your candidate.
There will be plenty of time to yell, “Fuck you,” at conservative politicians once we have a Democratic nominee. Let’s not embarrass ourselves by fighting among each other now.
Comments on Leave Chelsea alone
by Really...??? | Apr 8, 2008
I love how you say we should not "Disrespect" Chelsea...but then you go on to "disrespect" the Bush twins saying "it’s easy to imagine one of the Bush daughters turning up in a Girls Gone Wild video".
What gives?
Are you that jaded? Are you that blind?
The truth is you are just as big a nutbag as Rush or Karl Rove. You are a sheep, blindly following the Democrats...and it's just laughable...
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Replace Hammer With A Coloring Page!
by Jack The Ripple | Apr 6, 2008
Sorry I haven't written lately, Stevie. I've been out of the country in lands where they gladly behead worthless hacks like you for penning such senseless drivel. I see the shallow waters that publish this rag still haven't found the cajones to have you put to sleep. Rev. Wright was right? Leave Chelsea alone? Don't hate me because I'm beautiful? When is someone going to put a bullet in your brain pan?
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Leave Chelsea Alone
by KParker | Apr 5, 2008
As a typical liberal, Hammer ascribes to the "Free Speech for Me, but not for Thee" credo. It is funny it took a Butler student to ask a member of the Clinton entourage what the mainstream media or anyone else failed to ask in the last decade. When it comes to one of their own speaking in public, we must have "respect" and "decorum", and by God, do not say anything that might hurt their feelings. But hey, if you are right of center, as Hammer showed at the Rehnquist speech, you are fair game. Let's act like brownshirts and deny someone their First Amendment right to free speech. (And deny others their right to hear that speech).
Hammer, you seem pretty bitter these days. Keep on writing though. I love hearing the inane ramblings of a guy who as a kid always got picked last in the playground kickball games.
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Sorry About Some The Knucklehead Comments
by Renoir Gaither | Apr 3, 2008
Steve,
I applaud you for having to put up with some of the asinine, insulting comments left by a few on your blog. Here I can read honest commentary and far less of the Bizarro right-wingers that flock to the IndyStar.
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Chelsea
by Marsha B | Apr 3, 2008
I agree with Brandi. Clinton and her team have put Chelsea out there to work the campaign. She focuses on college campuses to drum up votes among young voters. She is part of the Clinton campaign strategy is part of the machine that is promoting her mother.
There is no reason why the press or those in her audiences should have to take a "hands off" stance with her. If she's going to be out there working the stomp, she needs to be able to deal with the issues and the questions. And if she wants to address college age voters and gain their support, she should be able to deal with their questions with responses other than, "None of your business".
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chelsea
by kev | Apr 3, 2008
it was a fair question. bad taste, but still fair and chelsea, like her mom, avoided the issue. the problem is we can't afford to have a president that only addresses issues that are comfortable. we need one that can handle the tough questions and Hillary, like Chelsea, is proving they can't. oh, and there is nothing about "i was under sniper fire" that is a accident or "misspeak". It's a lie, pure and simple.
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...
by Alan Smithee | Apr 3, 2008
^^ That would be "Ivy Tech" Einstein.
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google chelsea clinton bikini
by dcroach | Apr 2, 2008
so a google images search" chelsea clinton bikini" would be unfair? boys want to see what famous girls look like at the beach. nothing inherently bad- boys will be boys, right bill?
and i guess poking fun at a washington
"celebutante" is beyond the pale?
washington dc/hollywood. no difference- you become a celebrity, and people gossip, and joke.
I may be a tabloid blogger, but even i would never ask young Ms. Clinton anything about Monica Lewinsky.
My only "STRANGE QUESTION TO ASK" would be :Ms. Clinton-are you single? and would you marry me?whats she going to do- "yes I'm dating"- and NOOOOO!, and have a laugh. "hey- thought i'd ask- you sure would be a great catch!"
thank you.
and for more chelsea clinton fun:
http://x-wire.blogspot.com/2008/02/mitch-harpers-plaigerizer-chelsea.html
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'scuse me but that's my stapler
by TruthBtold | Apr 2, 2008
So you deprived a fellow American with whom you disagree (Rhenquist) his right to speak. You are a loyal, well trained liberal. You've been a member of the "church of victimhood" for a long time now Milton. How's that going? A poorly nourished, middle-aged man living in a dingy basement apartment, roaming the city streets on public transportation while plotting a way to make Bush and Cheney pay. "If the rule that you follow has gotten you here, what good is the rule? -Anton Sugar.
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CHELSEA
by BRANDI | Apr 2, 2008
WELL WHEN SHE DECIDED TO GO OUT AND SPEAK FOR HER MOTHER, SHE SHOULD BE READY FOR THE GOOD AND BAD. IF SHE IS SO OFFENDED THEN SHE SHOULD NOT BE SPEAKING FOR HER MOTHER....
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Steve has a "Woody" for Chelsea
by El Mas Chingon | Apr 2, 2008
Steve says, "Whatever one’s opinion of Hillary, nobody can deny that Chelsea Clinton is an attractive, articulate spokesperson."
Seems you have a "Woody" for Chelsea like you did for that 15-year-old guest on your lame TV show. Why don't you go back to school and get a degree from IV Tech in refregeration repair.
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