Living in a solidly blue district, my household received a fundraising letter from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee urging us to donate money at www.dscc.org/SilenceGOPlies.
At the site it doesn't, or no longer, uses the ominous phrase "Silence GOP lies," and instead offers the somewhat less threatening "Stop GOP lies" - perhaps because a number of bloggers have called attention to the DSCC's call to "silence" the opposition. Reportedly, many of these fundraising letters also have included a "Silence GOP lies" button.
Think about that; it's not "respond to GOP lies" or "expose GOP lies." The fundraising message (at least in the letter) is "Silence GOP lies." That's a little scary, but quite tellingly captures what's so wrong with the "progressive" mindset today.
And what, exactly, are these "lies"? Some are strongly partisan criticisms of Obama, but others are policy views widely shared by much of the American public, such as the "lie" that "the badly needed stimulus bill" that cost nearly a trillion dollars (helping to create our debt tsunami) and which preserved mostly government jobs wasn't, er, "badly needed." Silence those lying liars before they lie again!
And isn't it the Democrats who like to claim that the GOP uses threatening words in its criticisms of Democrats? So, what exactly is "Silence GOP lies" supposed to convey?
The letter also attacks "Tea Party hysteria" in terms that are, well, hysterical (say, isn't the word "hysteria" supposed to be sexist and no longer permitted? Uh, oh, somebody at the DSCC is gonna be in trouble!).
More. No, my point is not just to engage in partisan sniping, but to critique it. And the "gay" angle is my consistent argument that the fight for our equality should not be tied to just one of the two governing parties (and the negative repercussions of having so much of the LGBT political movement controlled by Democratic party operatives, whose agenda often places their party's needs first.
22 Comments for “Party of Tolerance”
posted by Jimmy on
Here’s a solution: have the GOP stop lying and we wouldn’t have to take the position that lies should be silenced, but only with the disinfecting sunlight of the truth.
For example, maybe the GOP could stop the crass attempts of deceiving the public like the fundraising letter that looked like a census form. As Ben Smith of rightist Politico reported, GOP operatives are proud of their lying:
” knowledgeable Republican operative emails: “Of course duping people is the point…that’s one of the reasons why it works so well.”
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/gop-sends-out-fundraising-letter-look
posted by Jorge on
I’d respond to that, except that the deal with the Democrats is more a case of willful blindness on the part of the public than the Democrats actually lying about being far-left totalitarian cooks.
posted by David on
Every time I read a post by Miller, I find it harder to dodge the suspicion he’s a Poe.
Is there ANYTHING conservatives do that bothers you? ANYTHING that progressives do that you admire? I can’t say either question is fair…both categories are too generalized to point out consistent beliefs in either group, but you sure seem to find a way to ignore that simple fact to create the demonic “progressive” movement that every Democrat (or Obama-voter) apparently follows blindly.
posted by Bobby on
“Here’s a solution: have the GOP stop lying and we wouldn’t have to take the position that lies should be silenced, but only with the disinfecting sunlight of the truth.”
—Jawolt mein fuhrer. Today the GOP, tomorrow Fox News.
By the way, it was Van Jones who said he wanted to drop the radical pose for the radical ends. It’s clear that progressives have taken over the DNC. Progressives are totalitarians by nature.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/02/AR2010060203278.html
It’s the reason why colleges are so hostile to unpopular ideas. Don’t believe me? Try to set up an affirmative-action bake sale, “a sign said white males had to pay $1 for a cookie. The price was 75 cents for white women, 50 cents for Hispanics and 25 cents for black.”
Does this seem like hate speech to you? Well, to Southern Methodist University it is, so they shut it down.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98263,00.html
Funny, I don’t see them shutting down Israel Apartheid Week. The DNC is just as arrogant as the National Socialist Workers Party also known as NAZI. When you don’t agree with them, they try to shut you down.
posted by BobN on
Oh, my. Why “silence” instead of “stop”? That’s all it takes to get you to write a post criticizing Democrats and gay Democrats in particular?
posted by Brian Miller on
I am not a major party member, so I couldn’t care less about the Demopublican versus Republicrat bullshit, but I do have to say that this silliness about “an LGBT presence in both major parties” is amusing at best.
Presumably, Mr. Miller is a high-ranking GOP member. He can influence his own party to put out brochures criticizing the Democrats’ anti-gay activities, right?
Oh wait, he can’t, because his party is a hub of anti-gay bigotry. Which is the fault of… non-Republican gays, of course.
Yawn.
posted by Brian Miller on
Jawolt mein fuhrer.
Another reason most gay people can’t take the GOP seriously? Nonsense like the quote above.
posted by Bobby on
“Another reason most gay people can’t take the GOP seriously? Nonsense like the quote above.”
—Nonsense? If the RNC talked about silencing the DNC you don’t think your side would be up in arms?
First of all, I don’t expect most gays to take the GOP seriously because they’re too obsessed with stupid issues like same-sex marriage. Many gays also make the mistake of confusing sexual identity with political identity, taking it up the ass doesn’t make you a democrat, buddy.
Please, your side is nuts. I’ve seen the outrage about Elton John playing at the Limbaugh wedding, now poor brit liberal John is being called a traitor by the crazy gays at advocate.com just because he did what a singer is supposed to do, PERFORM!
God help the GOP if it becomes a politically-correct progressive party like the DNC. I don’t think that will ever happen, because people who vote republican do not tolerate the Bloombergs and Frumms of the world for long.
posted by Jimmy on
I hope you are wearing a bib, Bobby. The special needs folks at the supermarket today seemed more lucid than you.
posted by Jorge on
Please, Jimmy, save it for when he’s on one of those libertarian kicks.
posted by Debrah on
“Many gays also make the mistake of confusing sexual identity with political identity…….”
*********************************************
An unadulterated reality.
This contributes to so much insularity.
posted by Jimmy on
“Many white men also make the mistake of confusing white identity with political identity…..”
See how that works, kids?
Words are fun!
Nothing is more insular than a suburb. I can always tell when someone is from the suburbs of Indianapolis and they’re downtown for a Saturday night. They’re white, but it’s the suburby kind of white (buys clothes at Sears) and they’re in a line that is out the door of The Old Spaghetti Shoppe, easily the lousiest restaurant in the city.
posted by Bobby on
“”Many white men also make the mistake of confusing white identity with political identity…..”
—No they don’t, Obama could not have gotten elected without millions of white men who voted for him. I do admit that some white men have “white-guilt” and feel guilty about historical events they had nothing to do with. Even in the south is happening, the University of Mississippi no longer has “Colonel Reb” as a football mascot, and at the University of Alabama the “Old South” celebration is being frowned upon. Funny how everyone else talks about chicano pride, black pride, asian pride, but southern pride? Oh no, that’s racist.
If anything, many white people are sick and tired of hearing about diversity. Guess what? We’re part of this country to, so when I see that Cornell wants to attract more black students it make me angry. If blacks want to study there, fine, but they should have the same opportunities everyone else has. The fact that being a minority can help you get into college is outrageous.
“Nothing is more insular than a suburb. I can always tell when someone is from the suburbs of Indianapolis and they’re downtown for a Saturday night. They’re white, but it’s the suburby kind of white (buys clothes at Sears) and they’re in a line that is out the door of The Old Spaghetti Shoppe, easily the lousiest restaurant in the city.”
—Tell me, are whites racists because most of them don’t want to be black rappers like Eminem? Are blacks racists because most of them don’t want to play golf, go to the opera or the ballet? As for buying clothes at Sears, I’ve seen plenty of minorities at Sears, I don’t know what you’re talking about. By the way, some blacks buy clothes at FUBU, are they racist for not shopping at Abercrombie? Some blacks go to historically black colleges BECAUSE they want to get in touch with their own kind, does that mean they hate white people?
People are individuals, and they do what they like.
posted by Jimmy on
Bobby, I’m not really talking about racism, per se. I’m saying, with regard to Debrah’s charge of insularity with the gay community, that insularity can be found among all groups of people. But, the real insularity is within one’s own scope. Is perceived insularity real, or just perceived?
I am not a member of any secret societies, like The Masons, and I’ll certainly never get to hob nob with Skull and Bones members at the country club. That’s the real insularity of real elitism – not like the stuff of which gays get accused of on this forum, which is amateur insularity when compared to the pros.
posted by Throbert McGee on
You know, Jimmy — this being a free country, it’s your own white business if you want to establish your Non-Establishment Cred by lobbing bricks at Sears-shopping suburbanites. But when your notion of the Big City is Indianapolis, you’re kinda dwelling in a glass house, if you know what I mean.
posted by Jimmy on
Indy may be in fly-over country, but get an hour outside of it, and it may as well be Chicago.
Aunty Mame is one of my all-time favorites.
I am from the suburbs myself, so I have seen things from both sides. Indianapolis is a classic example of the sprawl that results from white flight. It’s the insular, yet somehow, at the same time, cosmopolitan gays of this humble city that instigated gentrification. The city has invested in this trend and much of the old unsavory parts of the city have been reborn, while it’s inhabitants remain diverse, not monochrome. Yes, we are small, but a jewel is not judged by size alone. We are still the city that gave the world Booth Tarkington, James Whitcomb Riley, and Kurt Vonnegut.
posted by Brian Miller on
If the RNC talked about silencing the DNC you don’t think your side would be up in arms?
Oh lordy.
“My” side doesn’t have a role in the Demopublican versus Republicrat bullshit.
One of the reasons why this country is in such severe decline is because of the ridiculous political tribalism displayed by Democrats and Republicans, for whom no dirty deed is “bad” because “the other side does it too.”
posted by Brian Miller on
with regard to Debrah’s charge of insularity with the gay community, that insularity can be found among all groups of people
Not the least of which, Debrah herself, who equated gay self-identity with “male on male fellatio” and “being excited at a naked man’s butt crack.”
You see, there’s simply no problem that a shallow statist like Debrah cannot fix with a toss of her wig. 🙂
posted by Bobby on
“One of the reasons why this country is in such severe decline is because of the ridiculous political tribalism displayed by Democrats and Republicans, for whom no dirty deed is “bad” because “the other side does it too.””
—In that case you should condemn the DNC for what they did wrong, instead of attacking me.
posted by Throbert McGee on
Brian writes:
“No, stupid, you don’t get it at all,” grumbled the peasant to the Magical Golden Fish. “I don’t want MORE
cowshair of my own — I just wish that my neighbor’scowshair would DIE!”[punchline to old Russian joke about the nature of envy]
posted by Brian Miller on
Oh no, I have plenty of hair… just not on my head!
posted by Craig2 on
In order for the Republicans to decisively change and end their captivity to fundamentalists and social conservatives, it may be neccessary for the party to spend a prolonged period in the wilderness. That’s what had to happen to the British Conservative Party.
See Tim Bales’ excellent “The Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameron” London: Polity:2010.
This is what a post-homophobic centre-right party looks like…