Can't Please the Pundits

...if you're a Republican, that is.

Tonight, discussion on the local pundit show turned to our Senator, Jim Talent. One of the pundits mentions that a bill he co-sponsored increasing funding for Sickle Cell anemia treatment passed. Then another pundit giggles"Wasn't he out front with a resolution to honor Rosa Parks?" The first pundit smirks "Transparent. Trying for the black vote." Then they all laugh at him. Ha. Silly Republican. Thinking black people would vote for him.

But, of course, back in June these same pundits were horrified by Gov. Matt Blunt's decision to allow the Confederate flag to fly over the cemetery at the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site in Higginsville for one day (Confederate Memorial Day). The flag had been flown there until Gov. Bob Holden banned it in 2003. Arghhh! Think of the black people, said the pundits. I doubt many black families celebrate Confederate Memorial Day with a trip to the Confederate cemetery, but OK...let's think about them.

Are the pundits are suggesting we should take down the flag (on the one day that it's not already down) because that would be an act of authentic caring about black people, but let them die of Sickle Cell anemia, because, hey, that's just silly Republican pandering?

I'm no fan of the Confederate flag. It's just annoying that Talent gets knocked for pandering while Blunt (who probably can count the blacks who voted for him on his fingers and toes) gets knocked for not pandering.