President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to Dolores Huerta, an 82-year-old labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union.

 

Huerta is also an honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America.

 

DSA describes itself as “the largest socialist organization in the United States, and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International.”

 

Huerta has claimed, “Republicans hate Latinos,” and has spoken fondly of Hugo Chavez’s despotic regime in Venezuela.

 

Obama Awards Medal of Freedom to Democratic Socialists of America Chair

 

Not starting nuttin' just sayin'

I think Pat Summit got one too.

Obama Awards Medal of Freedom to Democratic Socialists of America Chair

 

Not starting nuttin' just sayin'

 

Sounds like a dangerous Bolshevik to me:

 

Dolores Huerta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think Pat Summit got one too.

 

 

Holy crap! A socialist AND a VOL? What the...

Obama and DSA go way back. So no surprise.

 

Barack Obama and Democratic Socialists of America - KeyWiki

Sounds like a dangerous Bolshevik to me:

 

Dolores Huerta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Look, I realize the numerous threads started by mountain ref have caused folks to look with callous towards a lot of threads involving President Obama, but I find this thread to be in a different category; a serious category.

 

Ms. Huerta has admittedly done a lot of wonderful things in her life and has greatly helped a lot of poor people (particularly farm workers) but the fact remains that she is the honorary chair of an organization that I view as contrary to the best interests of this Country. It is a legit issue for me. If I did a lot of wonderful things in my life and helped a lot of needy people, but became the honorary chairman of some organization that you thought was dangerous for our country and was then awarded the Medal of Freedom, my guess is that you would not so nonchalantly attempt to dismiss the awarding of the Medal. And you shouldn't.

 

While I am not of the "Obama is a Socialist" camp, it does bother me that he would award the Medal of Freedom to a person whom is the honorary Chair of the DSA.

 

If a person believes in the mission of the DSA, then by all means, support the awarding of the Medal to Ms. Huerta. But as for me, I don't support or agree with the DSA, so this award is bothersome to me.

 

From the DSA website: "Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives." Democratic Socialists of America

 

Radical transformation?

 

If you believe in the political stances of the DSA (see Where We Stand) , by all means support the President's awarding of the Medal to Ms. Huerta. Me? I'll express my concern about it. While capitalism, like democracy, isn't perfect and has its drawbacks, it's still the best economic model on the face of this earth.

What were her college grades?

What were her college grades?

 

Typical. Instead of making light how about addressing the legitimate concerns brought up by leatherneck?

I am guilty of first thinking to blow this off. After visiting the website and reading the Where We Stand link I am very much opposed to where she stands on issues and wish Obama had not awarded it to her.

Look, I realize the numerous threads started by mountain ref have caused folks to look with callous towards a lot of threads involving President Obama, but I find this thread to be in a different category; a serious category.

 

Ms. Huerta has admittedly done a lot of wonderful things in her life and has greatly helped a lot of poor people (particularly farm workers) but the fact remains that she is the honorary chair of an organization that I view as contrary to the best interests of this Country. It is a legit issue for me. If I did a lot of wonderful things in my life and helped a lot of needy people, but became the honorary chairman of some organization that you thought was dangerous for our country and was then awarded the Medal of Freedom, my guess is that you would not so nonchalantly attempt to dismiss the awarding of the Medal. And you shouldn't.

 

While I am not of the "Obama is a Socialist" camp, it does bother me that he would award the Medal of Freedom to a person whom is the honorary Chair of the DSA.

 

If a person believes in the mission of the DSA, then by all means, support the awarding of the Medal to Ms. Huerta. But as for me, I don't support or agree with the DSA, so this award is bothersome to me.

 

From the DSA website: "Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives." Democratic Socialists of America

 

Radical transformation?

 

If you believe in the political stances of the DSA (see Where We Stand) , by all means support the President's awarding of the Medal to Ms. Huerta. Me? I'll express my concern about it. While capitalism, like democracy, isn't perfect and has its drawbacks, it's still the best economic model on the face of this earth.

 

Here is my question: why should her life and accomplishments be defined entirely by an honorary position some organization has given her? I could understand if she had come to prominence through her role in the organization or had dedicated her life to it and would thus be receiving this award for it. But, it would seem this organization has simply latched on to her celebrity. Of course, anyone can draw their own opinion about that and reach their own conclusion. To each their own. But, if she's being honored for her activism in farm labor why is seen as an endorsement of some ancillary issue?

Typical. Instead of making light how about addressing the legitimate concerns brought up by leatherneck?

 

Because it doesn't matter what we say. We'll still be viewed as Obama loving socialists so we may as well make light of a situation in which we know we won't be taken seriously when we discuss it.

 

Plus, does anyone have a sense of humor anymore? Why so serious?

If a soldier is a skinhead or a skinhead sympathizer but earns the Medal of Honor should he not receive it because he has ties to skinheads?

For the record, I'm also not sure of the answers to my own questions. I'm sure I would not be happy if someone was receiving this award who was also an avowed racist, for instance. But I also wonder where we should draw the line on opinions people are allowed to hold, especially if they are being honored for something else.

If a soldier is a skinhead or a skinhead sympathizer but earns the Medal of Honor should he not receive it because he has ties to skinheads?

 

I would not support giving the Medal of Honor to a skin head, regardless of the bravery he or she exhibited.

For the record, I'm also not sure of the answers to my own questions. I'm sure I would not be happy if someone was receiving this award who was also an avowed racist, for instance. But I also wonder where we should draw the line on opinions people are allowed to hold, especially if they are being honored for something else.

 

I don't have a problem with a racist being honored for something not pertaining to their racism. Just because they are racist and have an obvious personality flaw doesn't mean they can't be a productive member of society who earns awards for their productivity.