An act of political intimidation — from the left
There’s an effort to brand conservatives, Republicans and tea partiers as culpable for the stupid death threats that a handful of idiots are making to some members of Congress. That effort has the same intent as the death threats: intimidation.
It should go without saying that death threats are unacceptable in this situation, just as they were when George Bush was president. But if it needs to be said, well, I just said it.
It is, however, also a calculated act of intimidation to smear an entire political movement as a bunch of dangerous lunatics on the basis of a handful of actions. I do not recall the same people who are now so worried about anti-ObamaCare threats also wringing their hands about the entire political left’s culpability when, for instance, some idiot shot up a Bush-Cheney re-election headquarters in Knoxville or ransacked one in Orlando, or attacked a GOP office in Raleigh, or vandalized Bush supporters’ homes in Madison, Wis. (H/t Instapundit)
In fact, click through the link to the Knoxville story, and you get a good idea of the Democratic notion of who’s to blame when the left attacks:
Knox County Democratic chairman Jim Gray called the attack “despicable.”
“I can’t imagine what kind of thinking inspired it or maybe what amount of alcohol,” Gray said. “My second thought is, maybe it was just someone who got tired of their darn Kerry signs being stolen.” (emphasis added)
You see? When the left attacks, it’s because some guy just got a little drunk — or, even more despicably, to use Jim Gray’s word, it’s because, well, Mom! The Republicans started it by stealing my John Kerry sign!
Today, however, these threats are described as the responsibility of all Americans who spoke out against ObamaCare. And why is that?
Well, given the constant effort to brand the right as racists, fascists, and now terrorists — oh, wait, I forgot; we were already branded as terrorists by this administration — one gets the impression that it’s a concerted effort to discredit the left’s opponents and intimidate Americans from outwardly supporting the tea parties and Republicans.
Sound conspiratorial? Any more conspiratorial than the notion that the millions of tea partiers in America are motivated chiefly by racism, rather than the president’s policies?
There are a few hotheads out there who need to cool down and remember that there are still democratic avenues for opposing ObamaCare (as an overwhelming majority of Americans — including two-thirds of independents — tell pollsters they want Republicans to do). There are even more talking heads who need to stop fanning the flames by casting the blame more widely than it belongs.
***
UPDATE: Anatomy of a racial smear
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132 comments Add your comment
Kyle Wingfield
March 25th, 2010
12:06 pm
No offense, Debbie, but I think you have misconstrued what I wrote in every way imaginable.
DebbieDo Right
March 25th, 2010
12:06 pm
Beck called Obama a facist too. You can do better than that.
Kyle Wingfield
March 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
Folks, I have to break away to work on something else and won’t be able to respond quickly for the next hour or two. I’m not going to send all comments to moderation — yet — but I will not hesitate to do so if need be. Thanks.
Fix-It
March 25th, 2010
12:09 pm
All intimidation is wrong, unless it is coming from the left, then it is called something else…what do the lefties call it? People standing up for their rights? What a double standard the left has…
Hay que derecho
March 25th, 2010
12:11 pm
Wait a minute. Is this Maxine Water’s “no justice no peace” Democratic party calling someone else terroristic?
DebbieDo Right
March 25th, 2010
12:12 pm
kyle’s words: It is, however, also a calculated act of intimidation to smear an entire political movement as a bunch of dangerous lunatics on the basis of a handful of actions. I do not recall the same people who are now so worried about anti-ObamaCare threats also wringing their hands about the entire political left’s culpability when, for instance, some idiot shot up a Bush-Cheney re-election headquarters in Knoxville or ransacked one in Orlando, or attacked a GOP office in Raleigh, or vandalized Bush supporters’ homes in Madison, Wis
Still think I misconstrued what you wrote?
Hay que derecho
March 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
Ghandi,
Speaking of swiftboat and John Kerry 2 men that served with Kerry supported him while over 100 men who served with Kerry came out in the swiftboat campaign against him. Are 100 men all lying and only 2 men are telling the truth about his service? Try to use some logic here when you think about this sir.
Kyle Wingfield
March 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
If you think that passage equates to my saying “the DEMOCRATS are the ones advocating wanton violence,” then yes, Debbie, I do.
DebbieDo Right
March 25th, 2010
12:18 pm
Kyle when you get a chance why don’t you check your headline again? Perhaps one gets the message that the Dems are really the evil ones. Just saying……….
DebbieDo Right
March 25th, 2010
12:19 pm
Have a good day everybody. I’m off to another long boring meeting.
DebbieDo Right
March 25th, 2010
12:21 pm
Hay Sus – how many of the men were paid, how many were affiliated with the Republican Party and how many of them did it as a personal vendetta? Not to say that they weren’t telling the truth……but if Kyle can correlate Dems saying the Repubs are wrong for not criticizing their base, then hey………… just saying………
Jefferson
March 25th, 2010
12:22 pm
You are judged by who you run with. So why does Islam have such a bad rep? The grumpy old people need a new approach as their bedside manner sux.
Chris Broe
March 25th, 2010
12:25 pm
Kudos to Kyle for his measured reply to Cynthia Tucker’s cyberbullying blog today which unfairly painted the entire Right as ruffians. Kyle’s caution serves as the voice of reason today. Cynthia has been inciting cyber-riots for some time now by highlighting and exaggerating over-publicized incidences of impolitesse by a few mutants who may or may not be from the Right.
Kyle rightly brings up the question: Can we hold a whole party responsible for the reprehensible retorts from a few representatives? For if we do, doesn’t that jeapordize our right to assemblage and free speech? And if our polling protocol is suspect, then isn’t that an indictment of our bill of rights?
Well, say what you want about Kyle, but he’s not going to sit there and listen to Cynthia Tucker badmouth the United States of America!!!!
THE BEAR
March 25th, 2010
12:26 pm
Why were the most vile comments at the rally directed at minority groups. I did not hear the terms white trash, cracker, or redneck directed at anyone. Because the n and f word were used makes me conclude that bigots were the main players in the mob. The GOP leadership censor any member of their party that did not denounce such comments asap.
@@
March 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
It should go without saying that death threats are unacceptable in this situation, just as they were when George Bush was president. But if it needs to be said, well, I just said it.
And good for you, Kyle. It’s also a good thing that Cynthia Tucker submits her commentary from D.C. and you, from here in Atlanta. Her contribution today neglects to acknowledge that any and all is wrong. As is too often the case, liberal columnists neglect to apply forethought to previous malice before taking up their “pen”. For them, history begins today.
I’m of the opinion that politicians deserve public ridicule…they invite it, in fact or lack thereof. Our military, whose only commitment is to our safekeeping? Not so much, yet liberal anti-war leftists have no compunctions of conscience for inciting murderers to kill young recruits.
Yup! guilty as charged on more than one occasion and conveniently forgotten by the left.
I’m so mad I could spit nails. I’ll make sure no one is close buy when I do tho.
THE BEAR
March 25th, 2010
12:33 pm
Sorry, the word should was left out of the last sentence. Insert it after leadership.
Chris Salzmann
March 25th, 2010
12:35 pm
Kyle,
All the incidents you pointed out were from the 2004 election. These incidents happen during nearly every election, from the left and the right. That point I think needs to be clarified. HOWEVER, that said, when you look at intimidation and threats of violence and actual violence taking place after an election, then the Right Wing extremists have that corner locked up. Just look at some of the worst domestic terrorist incidents in our country i.e the Olympic Bomber and Oklahoma, both were carried out by Right Wing extremists. One just needs to preview the sound bites coming from Right Wing Talk Radio and Television, and anyone can see where the fuel is coming from to feed these flames.
hatin' on the stupid
March 25th, 2010
12:36 pm
Kudos to Kyle? You got it wrong today, CB. Kyle leads his article(sic) with “Intimidation from the left”. Sounds more like “war is peace” and other such nonsense to me. The Republican party has bullied themselves into a corner on this one and only they can change that. But yet Kyle makes them the poor victim here. Disgusting.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 25th, 2010
12:38 pm
So strange, just a few days ago the editor of this newspaper was telling us that we would all grow to love Obamacare. Now that it is actuality the leftists affirm that widespread violence (in reaction to their wonderful legislation) is the primary political force in America today. Think I will get a bumper sticker that says only “REPEAL.”
Jefferson
March 25th, 2010
12:41 pm
Tea puppets !!!
hatin' on the stupid
March 25th, 2010
12:42 pm
“Think I will get a bumper sticker that says only “REPEAL.”
You get the votes to repeal, knock yourself out Ragnar. It’s called democracy. What were discussing here is the tactics of the right.
A CONSERVATIVE--
March 25th, 2010
12:42 pm
ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF ANY Conservative…or member of the TEA PARTY movement is involved in any threats….NO PROOF WHATSOEVER…
JF McNamara
March 25th, 2010
12:43 pm
Why didn’t you write a post criticizing Sonny for wasting our money on the health care suit? If the other states win, the law will be repealed for Georgia too. Its just a dumb waste of money at a time that state in having budget problems.
Am I misunderstanding how this works? Does Georgia have to sue to reap the benefits?
Chris Salzmann
March 25th, 2010
12:45 pm
On the funny side, here’s a headline about Health Care Reforms that might give some insight into the roots of Republican issues concerning President Obama.
http://www.visualeditors.com/apple/2010/03/headline-fail/
Read and enjoy…………………………..
Linda
March 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
The 9/11ers are similar to the Tea Parties. At the last meeting we attended Dr. Deborah Honeycutt spoke. She is running for US Congress against David Scott in our 13th District. She’s a Christian, an independent Republican, a physician, married to a physician, a small business owner, a lady, gorgeous, gracious & just happens to be black.
Please visit her web site & support her whether you live in her district or not.
Whether they’re Tea Parties, Keg Parties or 9/11ers against big government, the participants are from all parties & all races.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 25th, 2010
12:51 pm
Dear well-named Hatin’ @ 12:42, actually I think the tactic we are discussing here is the old socialist “big lie.”
Kyle Wingfield
March 25th, 2010
12:52 pm
JF McNamara: My understanding is that the legal work is being done pro bono by private attorneys. That wouldn’t have been the case if the AG’s office were involved, of course, but it isn’t, so it’s a moot point now.
CJ
March 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
“ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF ANY Conservative…or member of the TEA PARTY movement is involved in any threats….NO PROOF WHATSOEVER…”
Proof: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/20/code-red-gun/
Notice the sign: “Warning: If Brown Can’t Stop It, A Browning Can.”
Left Wing
March 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
Is Kyle trying to equivocate an act of vandalism (which is illegal, of course and also reprehensible) with death threats? Or with death threats against their children? I find the scale of social justice somewhat out of balance on this.
You’ll have to try a little harder, Kyle.
Anyone (AKA Sarah Palin or Rush Limbaugh) who promotes the violence and then actual violence occurs (and we all hope it won’t) should be held criminally liable. These Tea Party people who post addresses and pictures of the families children and advocate for violence should be charged just as if they committed the crime themselves.
These are the lowest of the low.
Real American
March 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
Get real Kyle, the tea party protestors are motivated by nothing more than the skin of the President. That’s it, that’s all.
@@
March 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
Posted this at Bookman’s….thought I’d drop it off here too.
Rep. Cantor’s Richmond Campaign Office Shot at Overnight
Damn leftists! Tell me, was it because Cantor is Jewish or was it because he’s Republican?
hatin' on the stupid
March 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
What big lie might that be, Ragnar?
hatin' on the stupid
March 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
“…actually I think the tactic we are discussing here is the old socialist “big lie.””
Maybe you’re referring to the big lie that Obama is anything more than a centrist president who has his detractors left and right.
DannyX
March 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Wow, Kyle! It will cost this state to sue no matter what. The court costs, research, and expenses for this suit will be huge. Maybe the resident Constitutional lawyer can fill you in.
CJ
March 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
“…At the last meeting we attended Dr. Deborah Honeycutt spoke. She is running for US Congress against David Scott in our 13th District. She’s a Christian, an independent Republican,…
Impossible. “Independent Republican” is a contradiction in terms.
Amy in the ATL
March 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
Regardless of what the issue is, using violence, or the threat of it, to advance your agenda is wrong. The fringe element of the Tea Party movement (and I’m hoping it’s just the fringe element) is out of line in shouting derogatory comments to elected officials and threatening to burn Nancy Pelosi at the stake (which is pretty much what those posters are trying to say).
When the left has acted similarly, like during the Vietnam protests, they likewise were completely out of line.
But recently, as a Democrat, I will say I have personally encountered several instances where I have felt physically threatened where I have disagreed with a hot-headed conservative. The Iraq war was particulary bad, and many of us Democrats in Georgia have wisely chosen to keep our political commentary to ourselves, which can be difficult when the blowhards in the office or at parties love to cross the line and say all sorts of outrageous and morally reprehensible things about folks we support, which yes, frequently include threatening or generally inappropriate language.
I think Fox News bears a lot of the blame here. They fan the flames of the slightly off-kilter in ways which really have no comparison in any of the left-leaning media outlets.
And don’t even try and say that there isn’t a little bit of racism going on here. I am a native Southerner, and have ALWAYS stuck up for the South when folks talk about how backwards we are. But it’s becoming a lot harder for me to defend my native state when there seems to be a resurgence of blatantly racist and misogynistic talk directed at Obama, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders. I’m not saying people have to agree with them, but why use the “N” word when saying “I disagree with his policies” or “I don’t support his healthcare plans and will vote against him next election” would be a much better way to go.
I have hope, yes hope, that we can return to some sort of rational debate, where people actually listen to each other and argue the merits of different issues rather than calling each other names. But given recent events, I’m afraid that may not be on the immediate horizon.
Chris Salzmann
March 25th, 2010
1:21 pm
Frankly Kyle, how much are you willing to bet that the next big act of domestic terrorism/violence will come from the Right versus the Left?
JF McNamara
March 25th, 2010
1:24 pm
Ok, Thanks for the information. As long as not one dime of my money gets wasted on it, Sonny can grandstand all he wants.
Glenn
March 25th, 2010
1:43 pm
This is why we need gun control .
Cutty
March 25th, 2010
1:45 pm
I was with you until Plain had the crosshairs on her PACs website. Also, citizens are of course upset. After being told for the last year that this whole program was ’socialist, would destroy America, etc.’ when they knew that wasn’t the case. You can shift blame as Newt is trying to do, but Republicans own the backlash.
As far as when Bush was President, I recall protests of the Iraq war (which the ‘majority’ of the public was against when the surge occurred), but I don’t believe Congressman’s addresses were given out, or the minority leader saying someone was a ‘dead man’ for voting in favor of going to war. Even though there was never a Declaration of War issued by Congress. Something that IS in the constitution but was violated, yet no one from the right was up in arms then.
Glenn
March 25th, 2010
1:46 pm
Talking about someone shooting at Eric Cantors office as far as gun control . Maybe because his middle name is Ivan one of these fringer fruitloops thought he was communist . Anyhow quite troubling. I’ve never heard someone say that crazy gun toting lib . Very timely blog .
Ragnar Danneskjöld
March 25th, 2010
1:53 pm
Dear Glenn, notorious cases in my lifetime alone; Lee Harvey Oswald, Sara Jane Moore, Lynette Squeeky Fromme. Suggest you try a 2010 Google search for Amy Bishop.
JSD
March 25th, 2010
1:54 pm
I’m moving to Costa Rica. “The 2nd America” will be popular permanent destination by many within the next 20 yrs, NO DOUBT. Egos will take this country down, as if you haven’t noticed.
On another note:
I have a place in my heart for the founding fathers & their efforts. I blame easily persuaded representatives & BIG government for insulting these great men & making them roll in their graves.
On ObamaCare:
My kids will not be paying for it. I don’t mind my soon to be raised tax dollars helping out the “less fortunate” due to the economic situation. I do have a problem helping out the “less fortunate” that already collect a federal check, sit on the porch, drinking beer, and complaining. Buy some Kleenex.
Getem Kyle…………DHS Alum ‘97
JDW
March 25th, 2010
1:54 pm
Kyle, we rightfully chastise those in the Muslim world for not speaking out on the subject of terrorism. Now we have the same type of acts occurring here in response to a legal piece of legislation. Don’t you think we should as the same of Republicans and others in our political system that we ask of others around the world?
They should speak loudly, forcefully and QUICKLY!
Instead we have Newt…
” Democrats bear some responsibility for threats, anger over health care”
Sounds like aiding and abetting to me.
Guy Incognito
March 25th, 2010
1:57 pm
Still waiting for the video proof that the alledged slurs actually took place. Video cameras everywhere, cell phone cameras everywhere….still waiting……..still waiting……….still waiting………………….
Oh, and how’s David Scott’s investigation going into that aledged nazi symbol on his sign?
Remember folks, libtards believe that they can speak things into existance so they don’t need any proof
retiredds
March 25th, 2010
1:58 pm
Kyle, the answer is yes. Both parties. One other item. If you have a conversation with the governor or his lieutenant tell him for me that I don’t want any, not one cent, of my tax dollars spent on the suit over health care. And, that would include into perpetuity. No gimmicks, no pulling from this state fund or that state fund. It’s his and the Republicans fight. Let them pay for all of it, now and forever.
Linda
March 25th, 2010
2:02 pm
According to the polls, the numbers of Americans who strongly oppose the hc bill are much greater than the number of Reps. Many Dems who voted for Obama regret doing so & were against the bill. There’s Reps, Independents AND Democrats who were against the bill & who are members of the Tea Parties, which are also attended by all races.
Stupak received threats while he was against the bill & also after he switched & voted for the bill. There is no way that the threats before & after the vote could have come from the same group.
Whoever makes threats or becomes violent should be prosecuted.
retiredds
March 25th, 2010
2:06 pm
To my blogging friends, there is a cardinal rule which in conflict resolution. It is # 3, what do I do (or not do) or say (or not say) that contributes to this conflict. The premise here is that I take responsibility for my part of the conflict. If both parties start from here and DISCARD the blame stuff, i.e. “if only he/she would do, or stop X the problem will be solved. Blame never, I repeat NEVER, resolves conflict. If both parties admit their complicity in creating the conflict they are both invested in getting to resolution. That works. If the mouthpieces of each party did this much of the conflict would be resolved. If they blame it not only doesn’t get resolved, it festers, and (get this) grows into a monster.
CJ
March 25th, 2010
2:07 pm
I just watched the video of Eric Cantor’s press conference. He directly blames Democratic Party leaders for “dangerously fanning the flames” while insisting that Republicans are the victims of intimidation for political gain. The irony is rich.
I notice that this “turn the tables” approach (e.g., Kyle’s post today, RedState’s post, Cantor’s press conference, Fox News) is all over the right-wing media today. They can’t govern, but I have to hand it to them—nobody has message discipline like the GOP and their media supporters.
artatlarge
March 25th, 2010
2:13 pm
This is just another attempt by a conservative to turn night into day, up into down, and black into white.
This shameful and revolting attempt to distance the right from the hatred, violence and bigotry by blaming democrats is one of the most disgusting things I have EVER read.
You should be ashamed of yourself, wingfield, and this is exactly the type of B.S. that stokes the teabaggers and the wingnuts to further their campaign of violence, ignorance, and criminality.
You, wingfield, will share the culpability for any further and future acts of vandalism, violence, and plain terrorism.
You and your ilk encourage this kind of behavior from the fringe, but then disavow it when it gets out of hand.