Former Rep. Joe Walsh, Tea Party-Ill., is going all Westboro Baptist Church today, protesting the funeral of Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old girl who was shot to death on the South Side nine days after participating in President Obama's inaugural ceremonies as a King College Prep band majorette.
Specifically, Walsh is protesting First Lady Michelle Obama's plan to attend the girl's funeral. Tweeted Walsh this morning on his new Twitter account, @WalshFreedom:
"Heartbroken" Michelle Obama attending funeral of Hadiya Pendleton. I guess the other 553 murder victims didn't break her heart. Most of the 553 Chicago murder victims in 2012 & 2013 were young black males. Is she attending this funeral to make a political point?
There. Walsh managed to keep his name in the spotlight by making an outrageous, insensitive, racist, sexist comment about a teenage girl's murder.
From now on, though, I plan to ignore the bitter outbursts of a politician rejected by his constituents after a single term in Congress. If Walsh runs for U.S. Senate or governor, then he'll deserve coverage. But right now, he's just a private citizen trying to shock his way back into the spotlight. If we all ignore Walsh, he'll soon be reduced to addressing a dozen senior citizens at a Grundy County Tea Party rally. And Illinois politics will be better for it.
From now on, though, I plan to ignore the bitter outbursts of a politician rejected by his constituents after a single term in Congress. If Walsh runs for U.S. Senate or governor, then he'll deserve coverage. But right now, he's just a private citizen trying to shock his way back into the spotlight. If we all ignore Walsh, he'll soon be reduced to addressing a dozen senior citizens at a Grundy County Tea Party rally. And Illinois politics will be better for it.
One of the freedoms Walsh promotes is freedom of the press. And I plan to use that freedom to not write about Joe Walsh.
