Washington Post Whines About Vice-President’s Coat

Jeez, how petty can you get (via Oliver Willis)?

The Washington Post – At yesterday’s gathering of world leaders in southern Poland to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the United States was represented by Vice President Cheney. The ceremony at the Nazi death camp was outdoors, so those in attendance, such as French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin, were wearing dark, formal overcoats and dress shoes or boots. Because it was cold and snowing, they were also wearing gentlemen’s hats. In short, they were dressed for the inclement weather as well as the sobriety and dignity of the event.
The vice president, however, was dressed in the kind of attire one typically wears to operate a snow blower.

This part is especially bad:

Cheney stood out in a sea of black-coated world leaders because he was wearing an olive drab parka with a fur-trimmed hood. It is embroidered with his name. It reminded one of the way in which children’s clothes are inscribed with their names before they are sent away to camp. And indeed, the vice president looked like an awkward boy amid the well-dressed adults.

“Sent away to camp.” What a great metaphor to use when describing a situation that occurred at a remembrance of a Nazi concentration camp.
And if the elitist condescension wasn’t getting through to you, here’s what they had to say about his hat:

Like other attendees, the vice president was wearing a hat. But it was not a fedora or a Stetson or a fur hat or any kind of hat that one might wear to a memorial service as the representative of one’s country. Instead, it was a knit ski cap, embroidered with the words “Staff 2001.” It was the kind of hat a conventioneer might find in a goodie bag.

Right. We all know how endearing Stetsons are to the liberals. Had he worn one of those she would probably be accusing him of showing up looking like some country rube.
The reporter doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the Vice-President’s sensible foot attire either.

It is also worth mentioning that Cheney was wearing hiking boots — thick, brown, lace-up ones. Did he think he was going to have to hike the 44 miles from Krakow — where he had made remarks earlier in the day — to Auschwitz?

The article is summed-up with some biting words about “symbolism.”

There is little doubt that intellectually Cheney approached the Auschwitz ceremony with thoughtfulness and respect. But symbolism is powerful. That’s why the piercing cry of a train whistle marked the beginning of the ceremony and the glare of searchlights signaled its end. The vice president might have been warm in his parka, ski cap and hiking boots. But they had the unfortunate effect of suggesting that he was more concerned with his own comfort than the reason for braving the cold at all.

What an arrogant twit this reporter, Robin Givhan, is.
The fact that the Vice-President was present and taking part in the remembrance should be enough. Criticism over his lack of a stylish “fedora” comes off as petty and silly.
Its not like he was wearing a beer-hat and a football jersey.
Update:
Another thing to keep in mind here is that the Vice-President has a history of heart problems. Its fairly common knowledge that cold weather puts additional strain on one’s heart. Perhaps Cheney opted for the warmer, if less stylish, cold-weather gear out of concern for his own health.