Sir Paul should have taken a lesson in class from the Duke
Like many Americans, I’m a life-long Beatle fan who was offended by Sir Paul McCartney’s insult to former President George W. Bush last Wednesday when the singer, songwriter and former Beatle accepted the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress.
Sir Paul should have taken a lesson in class from the Duke – John Wayne.
It is one thing to express your admiration and support of President Obama, but it is quite another to accept an award and then publicly insult President Bush at such a formal event.
I recall when John Wayne was invited to President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala in 1976. The great screen legend and conservative Republican came on the stage and the audience roared. Carter, a Democrat who had expressed his admiration of Wayne, was seen sitting in the balcony beaming with delight.
“I’ve mostly been associated with the opposition,” I recall the Duke saying to Carter, “But make that the loyal opposition.”
That, Mr. McCartney, is class.
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Oddest thing about that is he starts out “I’d like to say one more time…. ” Had he said this earlier? Maybe without the cameras on? Is there any chance he was encouraged to say it again for broadcast? Well, I am fairly certain that Bush knows and has long known the definition of the word “library” while the loudly declared genius and omni-competence of Obama and his brainiac herd is in serious doubt.
Why yes, of course, I quizzed him on that word and several others before I agreed to marry. And now that I think about it, George was always my favorite Beatle too. And he can spell the band’s name (in case you were wondering).
Yours,
Laura