[governsleastgovernsbest]

Do you stand up to Barack Obama? MSNBC thinks you’re a ‘bully’! Ping to Today show list.

[Wildbill22]

Why not? If we disagree with Obama we are ‘racist’.

[andy58-in-nh]

De-legitimizing the opposition is a staple of Progressive politics. It removes the necessity of having to offer reasoned arguments in support of policies that a majority of people oppose.

Most frequently, this goal is accomplished by labeling opponents with emotionally-freighted terminology (racist/sexist/bigot) that immediately serves to put its objects on the defensive while distracting from their own contrary arguments.

Republicans have only rarely figured out how to defeat such techniques, either because they allow themselves to be intimidated, or lack understanding of the principles they are supposed to defend, or simply lack principles.