Tend your garden GOP
So with political discussion ramping up on the site (see the comments on the previous post) I thought it was about time to touch on the issue once more. This time I am pleased to offer up a guest post from Amy in OHio. It originally appeared on her blog and I think it needs a wider audience. Check it out and chime in with your thoughts. All of you, regardless of political affiliation. Progress grows from dialogue so lets keep the conversation going! -Loki
“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, and that in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all the scintillating beauty.” – Martin Lurther King, Jr.
Some of my best friends in the world are Republicans. I work for a few Republicans. I married into a Republican family. I know my fair share of Republicans. They in turn know all too well my stance on most issues and I doubt you’d fine anyone in my circle that doesn’t know I’m a Democrat. Political issues are usually kept at arms length in our interactions…keeping the peace. Plus with most of them, they are as solid in their leanings as I am in mine, so it isn’t like I’m going to convert anyone. Believe me, I’ve tried.
I respect these people. I don’t agree with them, but I know the foundation of their opinion on issues like health care, taxes, the military, abortion, etc…all come from an educated and thought out position based on facts. I can only assume that these folks are the rule in the GOP, not the exception.
But man, the GOP really needs to look at their “exceptions” because those asshats really seem to be getting a lot of airtime these days.
I can see the other side’s points on the health care debate. I might even go so far as to say I agree with one or two of them. But every legitimate point the GOP might make is redacted when I see footage on CNN of their self-proclaimed “soldiers” using homosexual and racial epithets while spitting on members of Congress. Throwing money in the face of man suffering from Parkinson’s. I always knew I would have to explain bigotry and ignorance to my daughter someday, I just didn’t think I’d have audio and video aids from Capital Hill to use when describing the n-word.
When the hell did this become acceptable debate practice? Did we learn nothing in the years since Martin Lurther King, Jr.? Peaceful, respectful protest ring a bell? Learned people using passionate, yet civil, debate as their sword? More to the point, what in the world does the color of man’s skin or who he sleeps with have to do with HEALTH CARE REFORM? What does it say about people willing to beat up on a dying man to make their point?
So I say this to all my friends and family in the GOP – you need to shut those people up – or at minimum keep them away from the recording devices. Because far more than losing this health care vote: you are losing credibility. You are losing members. You are losing your party’s integrity. Someone in the Republican party needs to stand up and stand up today and shout from the roof tops: WE ARE NOT A PARTY OF BIGOTS! AND IF YOU ARE ONE, WE DON’T WANT YOU! Till then, all I can hear is static.
Maybe when you are finished with this Kill the Bill business, you should get a hoe and clear out the garden a bit. These weeds are choking whatever life your party has left.
Yes this country needs healthy debate – I would no sooner want to see a Democratic monopoly than a Republican one. The foundation of America is that we come together from all walks of life. We discuss the issues we face. We rally in support of one side or another or another. We vote. And that majority speaks for all of us. The vote doesn’t always go your way. But in a representative democracy, this is how it works.
We can disagree, we need to disagree. But we must do so in a fashion that doesn’t bring shame to our country, our parties, ourselves. In a fashion we aren’t afraid to let our children see…now and decades from now.
“It demands a great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate.” – James Arthur Baldwin
Amen.
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Thanks Amy! Nice to see such passionate writing!
classicgrrl
I don’t like politics & generally shy away, but really.. I must agree with Amy.
GOP.. shut up, at least until you are able to engage in a civilized debate and use your words. Violence over changes to health care ? It is just wrong, no matter on which side of the fence you stand .
You are such a wonderful writer Amy. It would be nice if we could all return to having educated discussions.
Well said . Hatred can never be a successful agenda .
Excellent points Amy.
I think the biggest mistake the GOP has made has been aligning itself with evangelical christians. So asshats like Pat Robertson somehow become representatives of conservative thought. Other asshats in the media include (in order of severity, IMO) Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh. And as you point out, the lunatic fringe you find protesting at some these events don’t help either.
Reasonable debate becomes nonsense in the hands of these folks. The left isn’t innocent either. Maddow, Olbermann and Matthews (all from the same network, interestingly) have gone over the top in their messages at times.
I really enjoy Jon Stewart’s satire of all these folks. Extremely funny and on point.
I agree with you whole heartedly, Amy. I hear so many GOPers tell me, “Wait until November!” Decrying recent political events and calculating ways to exact revenge on us liberals. The problem is, these people (at least the most polarizing, vocal ones) are not Middle America, and by that I mean, middle-of-the-road political believers. The vast Right Wing Conspiracy fails to acknowledge they cannot win a presidency/senate/house seat without at least partially appealing to the swing vote – and the moderates I know don’t tolerate racism, bigotry and other predjudice.
They claim they’re going to turn the Democratic world upside down. The question is, who’s gonna help ‘em do it?
It’s hard to claim to be the party of small government when republican party members are on %95+ (generous estimate, have you ever seen a ballot without a Republican candidate?) of every ballot that has ever been cast in my lifetime and then some. How can anyone justify this level of desire for government involvement with this little actual governance.
The obvious answer is that Republicans desire power and influence, but they are not willing to accept the responsibility to govern. I hope this is not the case, and that the lionshare of the party is grounded in reality and realizes that every won election comes with the responsibility to lead and watch over the people that elected you.
The Republicans claim that their time is coming and that their flag in on the rise, but an objective observer will note that they have squandered every opportunity while in the minority, and that political parties should be judged not by their deeds while in the majority, when their ideas often go unopposed, but by their deeds while in the minority, when their skills of governance and legislation are most tested. Football coaches must run practice in the snow, firemen still have to put out fires at night, and Republicans still are obligated to govern even as a minority party.
For me, they have shown me their ability to encourage hatred, to misinform a vulnerable population (not only the entire country, but most targeted to a impressionable political base), and to hinder the will of a nation. I’m still waiting to see how they accomplish the task that they were chosen to do.
Rob,
I agree with your 2nd and 3rd paragraph, but your opening paragraph I don’t get. A desire to be in office doesn’t contradict wanting smaller gov’t. Smaller gov’t does not equal NO Govt. Not everyone on the right are anarchists, no more than everyone on the left are communists…
Did I misunderstand?
Actually it can & has.
If you have 2 entities talking calmly but disagreeing, the 100s of onlookers might take an interest but most likely will simply go about their lives.
The moment one of those 2 makes a huge gesture, insult, or scene, the 100s of onlookers will “pick sides”. Sure, before then, they didn’t care, but now, all-of-a-sudden, they pick who is the victim, who’s wrong, & such.
So all this ridiculous behavior has a point:
To polarize the situation.
Once it’s polarized then the consequences become steeper & even those who didn’t turn up the heat have to consider how they’ll be perceived.
I do believe you’d have to define “smaller government” beyond the rhetorical catchphrase it’s leveraged as today.
However, that’s part of the power of doublespeak-ish catchphrases like the “Patriot” Act, Patriot Day, Homeland Security, Taxed “enough”, & “smaller” government.
It’s easy to get people to sign their names below those phrases but near impossible to find 2 people who agree on what they mean.
They make great picketsigns because everyone uses the same words.
Right on, sista. Preach it!
Amen.
Brilliant, Amy.