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July 20, 2004
EXAMPLE OF REPUBLICAN HYPOCRISY #17,669,048,229
Remember a few months ago when someone submitted a commercial to the Web site of the liberal activist group MoveOn.org? Itwas part of a contest they had to have their members make anti-Bush commercials. Someone made a commercial that unfavorably compared Bush to Hitler. Republicans and conservatives professed outrage, complaining bitterly that no matter the depth and bitterness of one's feelings regarding the election and a candidate, any statement associating an American leader with a mass murderer was inappropriate and sick. Republicans demanded an apology, and conservatives held up the incident as a so-called example of how "out there" liberals are.
And yethere we are just a few months later, and Republicans and conservatives have been actively distributing bumper stickers comparing John Kerry with Osama bin Laden. When Democrats angrily complained, Kentucky Republican Party officials stopped distributing them, but insisted that they would continue telling people where they could buy such stickers.
Jefferson County, Kentucky GOP chairman Jack Richardson says the stickers were so popular that GOP headquarters ran out Friday. He says he won't distribute more, but is trying to locate their source for those who want them.
So let me get this straight... comparing Bush to Hitler is an outrage, but comparing Kerry to bin Laden is okay? Bush=Hitler is proof that liberals are "out there," but Kerry=bin Laden is within the bounds of fair play? Anyone else see the contemptible hypocrisy that pervades this logic?
This repeated tactic we see over and over again from conservatives, accusing liberals of "hating America" or not being patriotic is... well,I quote you Hermann Goering, infamous Nazi:
"Of course the people don't want war... That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
Goering said this while awaiting trial in Nuremberg. Sounds like a pretty familiar tactic, huh? I'm not calling conservatives Nazis - but this tactic of accusing anyone who doesn't hold conservative beliefs of "hating America" is beneath contempt.
For another perspective on defining love of country, check out this column by Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis.
