Usually President Trump is the one taking heat for his blunt speaking manner, but on February 6th, Chief of Staff John Kelly came under fire for the same reason.

General Kelly made what some considered a shockingly blunt comment while discussing the administration’s plans for DACA with Washington Post reporters.

Here’s the quote:

“The difference between 690 [thousand] and 1.8 million were the people that some would say were too afraid to sign up, others would say were too lazy to get off their asses, but they didn’t sign up…”

The 690 thousand and 1.8 million people Kelly refers to in the quote are, respectively, actual DACA recipients and illegal residents who are eligible but have not signed up for DACA, for whatever reason.

Liberal media platforms were tremendously offended by his characterization of the latter as “too lazy to get off their [rear ends].”

Vox tore into the four-star general:

“[Y]es, some of [the illegal immigrants who failed to enroll in DACA] were afraid. They were afraid because any mistakes on their application could result in their arrest and potential deportation. They were afraid because even if they successfully got DACA, their parents — many of whom lived at addresses the federal government now had via DACA applications — would still be vulnerable to arrest and deportation. And they were afraid because they knew that DACA was temporary, and that should a future president end the program, as Trump did, they would be vulnerable to deportation once again… Kelly mocks that fear by calling it an excuse for laziness. And by doing that, he shows he doesn’t fully understand how different it feels to have no protection, temporary protection, and permanent immigration status.”

As did Salon:

“It’s unclear who Kelly was quoting when he called immigrants lazy, but it is obvious he is expressing contempt for so-called dreamers.”

And The Daily Beast:

“Kelly was unflinchingly hostile.”

According to CNN, Dems in Washington confronted Kelly about what he said behind closed doors.

And, of course, there were flurries of rage on social media:

Trump Chief John Kelly just said: “The difference between 690,000 & 1.8 million were the people that some would say were too afraid to sign up, others would say were too lazy to get off their asses."

We are dealing with monsters, people. Absolute monsters. #KellyResign #SaveDACA

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 6, 2018

John Kelly should try:

– Working 40 hrs a week
– Taking 21 college credits IN ONE SEMESTER
– Fighting for the Dream Act
– Helping our your family financially
– Dealing with deportation fear/anxiety

AT THE SAME TIME (and succeeding) before calling Dreamers lazy. Do your job.

— Juan Escalante (@JuanSaaa) February 6, 2018

In case anyone was still under the illusion that John Kelly was somehow a "moderating influence" on Donald. This divisive rhetoric has no place in our government. Or anywhere for that matter. https://t.co/Xr7L5wYrNq

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 6, 2018

Chief of Staff John Kelly’s smear of the DREAMers who’ve resisted registering for DACA protection as just “too lazy to get off their asses” is both idiotic and cruel. Relying on HIM to rein in #Trump is the height of self-deception.

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) February 6, 2018

Dear John Kelly: undocumented immigrants are anything but lazy. They work hard every day with no promise of citizenship or a return on their taxes when they get old. If they were afraid to sign up for DACA, perhaps it’s bc many feared that one day someone like you would run DHS.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 6, 2018

To clarify: John Kelly is not only referring to DREAMers who never applied, but those who chose not to reapply, around 13% of all applicants.

That said, implying that 1.1 million eligible DREAMers are lazy shows everything you need to know about John Kelly's worldview.

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) February 6, 2018

Can we finally stop cutting John Kelly slack because we assume his military service makes him non-ideological and trustworthy?

He’s a rabid, white nationalist/ anti-immigrant ideologue who serves Trump BECAUSE his worldview is in perfect sync with Trump’s

Not IN SPITE OF IT. https://t.co/AuDJbWH6TI

— Bryan Behar (@bryanbehar) February 6, 2018

Too many Irish Americans have adopted the racist & anti-immigrant worldviews that led to signs & policies like "No Irish or Dogs Need Apply" in previous generations. John Kelly is one such Irish American. Disgraceful, really. Out of touch with humanity. Out of touch w/ Irishness.

— Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) February 6, 2018

Racist. The word is racist. John Kelly is a racist. He employed a racist trope to malign Congresswoman Wilson and he did a rinse, repeat about immigrants. He is a racist much like the bigot he works for. https://t.co/kNpGFiBy9i

— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) February 6, 2018

Was Kelly saying what he believed was the truth– that many DACA-eligible illegal immigrants didn’t enroll in the program because of either fear or lack of drive to do so? Perhaps, especially in terms of the former, which is why Kelly bent over backwards to emphasize to the press that DREAMers would not be prioritized for mass deportation.

But did he need to say the whole bit about DACA-eligible illegals getting off their a%%#%?

No, he didn’t.

The thing is, political discourse in the US is starved for honesty. Distrust in politicians and bureaucrats have made the average American feel a degree of cynicism toward the US government that would make the founding fathers shake their heads (oh wait— no, I got that wrong, the founding fathers would be shaking their heads because we’ve allowed the federal government to grow into a leviathan that gorges on taxes and spawns inefficiency). Trump’s ability to say exactly what’s on his mind— at any time— has charmed half of the US. The same can be said for many members of his cabinet (or cabinet-level officials)— Nikki Haley, Sarah Sanders, James Mattis, Kirstjen Nielsen, John Kelly, and others. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the fact that half the country is pleased with the candor of the executive branch and its close affiliates. Strong, honest language from conservative leadership has an edifying effect on conservatives, who are constantly pressured by liberals to be silent.

Thus, many people on the right are amused or even excited that General Kelly seemed to speak his mind so… bluntly. But Kelly, like Trump, is in a position where a degree of decorum should accompany one’s rhetorical style at all times. Practicing decorum as a leader suggests level-headedness, clear thinking, and a respectful, reasonable mode of engaging with others. Decorum, in conjunction with capability and wisdom (both of which Kelly seems to have in abundance), inspires people to feel confident in what their leaders say.

On the other end of the spectrum, failure to practice decorum as a leader looks immature. Plus, it makes leaders more vulnerable to criticism from political opponents.

Conservatives were quick to criticize Obama and his close affiliates whenever they were indecorous (as they often were). It’s important to hold the current executive branch to the same standards.

That is all to say, Kelly could have phrased his thoughts better.

That’s not to say liberals’ collective hissy fit over Kelly’s quote was reasonable.

Kelly’s quote utilizes a common American idiom. I’ve heard “get off your a##” hundreds of times if I’ve heard it once– both in real life and in film and television. When people use that idiom, they are eager for the person they are directing it to to get moving so a task can be done.

I don’t associate that idiom with hatred. And I’m reasonably sure Kelly, a highly decorated general and respectable man, did not intend it to communicate hatred either.