Posted on 11/30/2009 12:15:22 PM PST by steve-b
The most surprising and disappointing aspect of our politics is how little pushback there has been against the vile, extremist rhetoric that has characterized such a large part of the anti-Obama movement.
President Obama's White House has largely ignored those accusing him of "fascism" and "communism," presumably believing that restraint in defense of dignity is no vice.
Republican politicians, worried about future primary fights, have been reluctant to pick a fight with a radical right that seems to be the most energized section of their party. Their "moderation" has consisted of a non-benign neglect of the extremists and of accusing the president merely of "socialism." And so it is that the first genuinely ringing call for moderation has come from a man who is effectively without a party and whose own demeanor and career define temperance.
Jim Leach spent 30 years as a Republican member of Congress who went his own way. If this meant standing almost alone against his caucus, he was content to do so....
...Leach offered his critique of extremism in a speech at the National Press Club titled "Bridging Cultures" a few days before Thanksgiving. It deserves far more attention than it has received.
"Little is more important for the world's leading democracy in this change-intensive century," Leach argued, "than establishing an ethos of thoughtfulness and decency of expression in the public square."..
Leach's speech is the kickoff for a 50-state "civility tour," and my hunch is that this very civil man may have to put up with a lot of incivility along the way. It's strange that a call to consider respecting each other more might become a controversial endeavor. This is precisely why Leach's witness to moderation requires an immoderate dose of courage.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
What is he talking about? Obama and the Democrats are in the process of destroying the economy and bankrupting the country. Now anyone who questions these disastrous policies is automatically "vile and extremist". I guess these are the new code words for simple common sense.
The Dems are lying through their teeth and trying to bankrupt this country, and your concern is public proprienty? The Beltway crowd needs to hear more noise from us, not less. A lot more. It apparently is all they understand.
"Civility" is when GOP "leaders" smilingly surrender their principles and let the Left's lies pass unchallenged.
"Civility" is when Democrats get to frame every debate and define every term without fear of contradiction by Republicans, who are expected to meekly accept the crumbs they are tossed in exchange for not being treated as harshly by the news media as they otherwise would have been.
"Civility" is the Democrats' hidden brass knuckle, the chain mail wrapped in velvet, the poisoned cocktail offered as a gesture of good will.
"Civility", as understood by Democrats, is not a gentleman's agreement of calm and reasoned debate among equals, but the false peace of servile boot-licking imposed by a worthy elite upon a groveling mass of proles.
So: screw "civility". I say we kick their asses instead.
You mean she is not doing all 57?
What he is really saying is that we are winning the battle for independents and he wants us to shut up so Obama and the Dems can go about implementing trillions in spending without fearing for massive losses in 2010.
Damn! You still here?
What a liar...Obama called us an "angry mob", "extremists" and "anti-Government", he hired Anita Dunn to attack us and he sent out his thugs (Organizing for America, SEIU) to do the real dirty work.
Must see video:
'nuff said!
I’m at work without access to my fine collection of quotes, among which are several gems by Thomas Jefferson about the responsibility of the citizens to present a less than civil face to an overbearing government.
Can anyone help me out here? there are several juicy ones if I recall.
Well E.J. where is the rest of it?
Republican restraint in defense of dignity is certainly
no virtue when incivility is not considered
a vice by democrats.
After having to listen to the vile vituperation of the left
for the last 8 years of the Bush administration and the
continued blame casting during the first year of the
Obama regime I find EJ’s premise laughable.
Almost all of the hatred I see and hear is coming from the liberal fascists. Go on any comments section, liberal fascists immediately resort to ad-hominem name calling and vile insults . They almost never address the point or provide a rationale for their totalitarian marxism. Liberal fascism is founded on hate for society, hatred of european-americans, males, western civilization, even for humanity itself in the case if the enviro-nazis. Dionne is one of the worst at back-handed compliments and subtle insults, as this article proves. By libeling every person who disagrees with liberal fascism, Dionne proves himself to be the bigot. It’s no great trick to find a traitor who will sell out Free Americans for some publicity, the GOP is full of them. What’s interesting is that you never see a liberal fascist who finally says enough of the hatred.
” vile, extremist rhetoric”
Oh, but “ Bush=Hitler” , and “Chimpy McBushhitler” were not vile? BARF!!!
“those accusing him of “fascism” and “communism,”
Considering that virtually all his friends are either documented Commies or comsymps, I’d say those accusations are very well substantiated!
“A Courageous Call For Civility”
You Democrats are in charge. You lead the way and show us how it’s done.
Calling a communist a communist is a problem? That says a lot about where you stand.
They don't repond because they know Obama really is at best, socialist, at worst, an outright communist.
Yup, telling the tuth is improper if EJ Dionne doesn't like it.
What a maroon !
Maybe he should address the issues instead of whining about "propriety". But then again, seeing as he'd get his a$$ kicked, perhaps he better stick to the whining.
EJ, please take your $hit with you to Rahm Emanuel.
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