Let's Leave The Gutter To The Left

DC Examiner ^ | 7/1/09 | Mark Tapscott

[steve-b]

Take a conservative stand in the blogosphere, cable television and the mainstream media and you can count on being attacked in the rudest, crudest, and foulest possible language, much of it unprintable in a daily newspaper, by zealots on the Left.

I ignore such stuff, knowing that Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" encourages the use of abusive, garbage language as a tool to isolate and discredit people and institutions. Perhaps that makes it easier to send those the commissars deem utterly evil or hopelessly ignorant to re-education camps, or worse.

But I never expected to hear such language from people on the Right.

Then, in a Beltway Confidential post Tuesday, I asked what is the difference between folks on the Right calling the eight Republican House members who voted for Obama-Waxman-Markey the "cap-and-traitors," and the infamous "General Betrayus" ad bought by the Left's Moveon.org in The New York Times....

My main point in raising the issue was not that the word choice itself was grammatically incorrect, however, but that it is evidence of a growing number of people on the Right succumbing to the temptation to use the same vile rhetorical weapon so often deployed by the Left....

Reagan steadfastly avoided using personal opprobrium as a substitute for facts and reason because he refused to demean himself or his cause by diving into the gutter with others who were all too eager to hurl themselves and others there.

It's not uncommon these days to hear suggestions that Reagan is no longer relevant. But his example of extending courtesy and respect to opponents -- including those who don't deserve it -- is relevant for all time because it's the right thing to do.

[freekitty]

Oh Geez, a moral yo yo on the loose.

[abishai]

Yes. Let play nice like Dick and Jane. Because its working out so well for us. (/s)

[clintonh8r]

The difference, Mark, is that the GOP House members who voted for the bill are traitors (if not to the country, then certainly to honesty and common sense), whereas General Petraeus is not. Get it now?

[Star Traveler]

The article said — My main point in raising the issue was not that the word choice itself was grammatically incorrect, however, but that it is evidence of a growing number of people on the Right succumbing to the temptation to use the same vile rhetorical weapon so often deployed by the Left....

—

Ummmm..., I can attest to that, right here on Free Republic, with some posters responding to my posts... LOL...

You ask what I was saying? Well, glad to oblige...

While trying to talk some “sensibility” into some posters here, about the craziness of the idea of tanks surrounding the White House and evicting Obama, or about the other idea of some judge in the U.S. sending over a U.S. Marshall to the Oval Office to arrest Obama — you should hear what the responses are... :-)

I mean, “talking sense” and pointing out the method for getting rid of a President is Impeachment and Conviction — is enough to get you “tarred and feathered” right here on Free Republic... LOL...

So..., yes, I’ve sorta noticed the “slide to the left”... indeed...

[McBuff]

Hey Mark could you at least close the bathroom door when you are in there pleasing yourself!!

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Yes. Let play nice like Dick and Jane. Because its working out so well for us. (/s)

Playing nice worked for Reagan. Playing nice does not mean abandoning principle nor does it demand a failure to strongly argue for and against policies.

[ClearCase_guy]

The GOP needs to learn how to fight. How to spit. How to gouge eyes. How to kick the enemy below the belt. Until the GOP starts fighting like a wildcat, we have no hope.

[Pessimist]

I believe Alinksy also said the enemy should be held to the highest of his own standards, else he's a hypocrite.

And clown's like this play right into his hand

[Clock King]

Sorry Mark, but if you get out of your little DC cocoon and deal with the public (ie, the vulgar mob), that is exactly how they communicate and think. In some of the lowest basest terms. Appealing to their “intellectual” won’t work because it just isn’t there.

[dblshot]

Q. What is the difference between folks on the Right calling the eight Republican House members who voted for Obama-Waxman-Markey the "cap-and-traitors," and the infamous "General Betrayus" ad bought by the Left's Moveon.org in The New York Times.
A. One is true the other isn't.

[DBrow]

Alinsky’s methods work for those on the right as well as on the left. Maybe better, Obama does not handle ridicule very well and to be laughed at would seriously unhinge him.

I’m not advocating foul language, but I do think that an activist on the right should bone up on Saul’s work.

[Lazamataz]

I think we should ADOPT the Saul Alinsky playbook, not RESIST it.

[squarebarb]

What you said!!

[Star Traveler]

You said — The GOP needs to learn how to fight. How to spit. How to gouge eyes. How to kick the enemy below the belt. Until the GOP starts fighting like a wildcat, we have no hope.

—

Oh..., have no fear... they’re already learning how to do that to each other here, first... LOL...

[Doogle]

Mark, you stay in camp and watch the food stores. Let others deal with a problem..... your way of thinking will surely cause all of us to pay dearly for generations.
If anyone or anything comes into camp, blow this whistle while running so we know it's you.

[GeronL]

different rules for different people. If its an R, its a scandal, if its a D its ignored.

I am sick and tired of the double standards

[GeronL]

If the choice is tanks on the streets of American cities oppressing the people and tanks around the WH. Guess which I will choose in a heartbeat?

[Star Traveler]

Ummm... let me guess... you choose the “banana republic”.... :-)

[andy58-in-nh]

I agree that we ought not use silly and foolish terms of opprobrium simply for the purpose of mocking our adversaries on the Left. I would far prefer we use accurate and honest descriptions as opposed to ad hominem attacks on one hand, or euphemisms on the other.

For that reason and as an instructive example, I would never refer to the New York Times as either "idiotic" or "misguided", when the truest appellation would be "traitorous".