To: Captain Kirk
"Ah....reminds me of all those Hitler ads (with Clinton superimposed) in the 1990s that were so popular on FR. We hardly have a leg to stand on when they do the same thing, do we?"
Generally speaking, I would agree with you. There is, no doubt, rhetorical extremes on both sides of the aisle. BUT...where I see a difference is who it is that embraces these views. When the extreme right speaks in these similar tones, they are marginalized and labeled as extremists...ala the "Clinton Haters." Many times, these Republicans are even rebuked from members of their own party as they are ostrisized(sp). Unlike the Right's extemists who are on the fringe, the Left's are no longer on the fringe.
Al Gore is a big supporter of MoveOn...as are many Hollywood celebrities. Hell, Streisand has made similar comments herself. Now, compare that with the so-called Right's celebrities (Willis, Selleck, etc) who won't even publically attend Republican conventions for fear of being associated with the extreme wings. These well known liberal names don't hide from the extremes within their Party...they embrace them. The point is, this hatred and vitriol is no longer the sole proprietorship of the extreme left-wing; it has become acceptable within the mainstream.
There's no better example of this than the comments from leading Democrats such as Ted Kennedy, Madeline Albright, Dean and Clark. We on FR are a part of the unwashed pundintry; the names above are leaders within the Democratic Party...and in the case of Hollywood, influential names in society. No one is going to care what CWB says on FR...but people like Kennedy, Asner, Streisand, etc. do have influence, as they spout their extreme hatred.
95 posted on
01/05/2004 10:42:29 AM PST by
cwb
(ç†)
To: cwboelter
I don't totally disagree with you....but I guess my comments reflect an increased cynicism about both sides in this matter. Yes....Move On was over the top but it was a more a difference of degree (to be sure an important one) rather than kind from the old FR Hitler threads. BTW, if those threads appeared now, Jim Rob would probably pull them and, in some sense, more's the pity.
I guess I am not that bothered by political invective, even of the extreme variety. Can't we all try to have thick skins on such matter? Political invective is as American as apple pie. If you don't believe me, read sometime what they said about Jefferson and Lincoln.
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