A daughter of Jersey and a fallen Marine

I have to agree with this woman. Whitney Houston tragically died but it was by her own actions and in actions. This mother lost her son in the line of battle. Flags should be lowered for Phillip McGeath, a Marine who died serving his country. Not for a multimillionaire who squandered her fortune and who's actions directly led to her death.

Mother Of Fallen Marine Offended By Half-Mast Flag For Houston « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – Flags will be lowered in New Jersey Saturday, the day of Whitney Houston’s funeral. But a Marine mom in Arlington says it’s an honor Houston doesn’t deserve.

When Phyllis McGeath heard Gov. Chris Christie had ordered flags lowered to half-staff for Houston, she said she felt a pain deep inside her.

“I was hurt and offended. Disappointed. Saddened,” she said. “I felt like the honor that was given to my son was tarnished.”

McGeath had three sons who were active duty Marines.

Her oldest, Philip, was killed by a suicide bomber just four weeks ago in Afghanistan. He was 25.

“They killed my son.They took his body away from me,” she said, overcome by emotion.

Arizona, the McGeath’s former home state, lowered their flags in his honor.

“That honor meant a lot to me,” McGeath said.

McGeath says Houston is not deserving of that same honor.

“Nothing against Ms. Houston because she was a beautiful singer and I was a fan for years,” McGeath said.

But, “It was like putting them on the same level. And I know how my son lived. And I know through the media how Ms. Houston lived,” she said.

New Jersey’s Governor, Chris Christie, defended his decision to lower the flags in his state saying he wasn’t honoring Houston as a role model but as “a daughter of New Jersey.”...

Again she died not in the line of duty for other but by a tragic accident. A formal symbol of morning is not requried.

...Christie is a conservative Republican. He’s also a former U.S. Attorney who recently called for mandatory drug treatment for non-violent offenders. But he said Houston’s substance abuse issues shouldn’t negate her achievements.

“There but for the grace of God go I,” he said...

One, to whomever wrote this crap Christie may be a Republican but he's no conservative. Also I don't question Houston's achievements in music/arts or that anyone can fall victim of drug abuse. But that is not giving you life for something greater than yourself. A Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine fall in the line of duty he was serving something more than himself. Ms Houston was serving what when she died?

That Marine gave a lot...much more than Ms Houston ever did.

...Christie approved a similar order when Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band member Clarence Clemons died last June....

And you had no business doing that with all due respect.

Governor, with all due respect there are other ways you can honor a "daughter of New Jersey" such as a proclamation, resolutions, etc. Lowering of the flag to half staff is reserved for more deserving people and yes, that Marine deserved it. Ms Houston did not.