The Immorality of Intolerance and Inconsistency

North Korea becomes a nuclear nation, and we do nothing. Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, and we do nothing. Government spending is out of control, creating the largest debts and deficits in our nation's history, and we do nothing except cut taxes and start a $1 trillion war.

All of the above happened under the administration of George Bush, with a Congress controlled by the Republican Party for six of his eight years in office. During that time our nation suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history.

Yet today Newt Gingrich goes on TV and lambasts the Obama administration because we did nothing after North Korea launched a missile in spite of global protests. He accuses Obama of weakness, of endangering our national security because he did not prevent the launch of a missile -- a North Korean capability that exists as a consequence of a program developed while Bush was President. Korea went nuclear under Bush and he did nothing. Gingrich then goes on to disparage the President for excessive government spending, blissfully ignoring the inconvenient fact that the largest federal debts and deficits have all accumulated under Republican presidents, mostly with a majority of Republicans on the Hill. The national debt grew under Presidents Reagan and Bush more than the total accumulated under all other presidents combined.

With raised eyebrows Gingrich notes that Obama shook the hand of arch-enemy Hugo Chavez, smirking that he, Gingrich, doesn't believe that smiles and handshakes will make the world safer. Surely Gingrich is aware of the disastrous results of wanton aggression during the last eight years in which we arrogantly isolated ourselves from the rest of the world. But he learned no lesson from America's decline under Bush. He is instead frightened by two men shaking hands, as is Dick Cheney who chimed in that countries will soon take advantage of a weakened president. Both Gingrich and Cheney forget that Nixon shook hands with Chairman Mao and Reagan met with Gorbachev at a time when China and Russia were considered bitter enemies of the United States. Mao certainly had more blood on his hands then than Chavez does now. We heard no howls of protest then. The premise of the objection from Gingrich and Cheney is absurd, particularly after eight years of touting the opposing example of failed international relationships.

Cheney went on to say in his interview that Obama's decision to release secret memos on torture undermines future intelligence efforts. This from the man whose staff, with his knowledge, exposed an active CIA agent to protect his political interests, including support for starting the war in Iraq based on falsified evidence. In the case of the memos, the "secret" that we tortured people under Bush was well known in advance to our enemies, not the case when Cheney exposed an active agent, which really was a secret. Revealing the name of an active undercover agent is an act of treason.

The inconsistent standards by which Gingrich, Cheney and Republicans, more broadly, are judging Obama are troubling on multiple levels. They profess outrage over actions they initiated or condoned when in power. They express concern for our national security after undermining our military with substandard and inadequate equipment, wasteful spending and an illegal war. They bemoan tax increases, and support "tea party" protests when Obama has cut taxes for 95% of all American families, and seeks to re-set capital gains taxes to levels established during President Clinton's term. Eight years of prosperity and growth under Clinton undermine any predictions of apocalyptic collapse due to high taxes. GOP leaders profess to be outraged by government spending after years of burdening our grandchildren with unprecedented debt.

Holding contradictory views intentionally twisted to support previously held ideas is not simply hypocritical, although it is certainly that. Such demagoguery in the absence of core convictions is immoral. Outraged indignation suddenly caused by actions that were fully supported when done by the previous Administration demonstrates a gross level of intellectual dishonesty in those who should know better in the leadership of the Republican Party. And such dishonesty is indeed immoral if we believe that honesty is a core component of any ethical framework.

The contradictions embedded in Republican views are astounding in depth and breadth. Never forget that the attacks on the World Trade Center, an ascendant Iran, Korea crossing the nuclear threshold and a collapsing economy all happened on Bush's watch. With that record to run from, the GOP has adopted a strategy that fully embraces disinformation as a core theme. Nothing else can explain the bizarre idea pushed by the GOP that Obama is endangering the country because he "did nothing" when Korea launched a missile, or because he shook the hand of an enemy, or came clean about crimes committed under Bush.

Embracing dishonesty as a platform reveals a moral compass spinning with no north pole. In answer to that bumper sticker so fondly displayed in red states, building a house on a foundation of lies is not what Jesus would do.

Speaking of which, the ability of the Right Wing to embrace inconsistent views unchained from reality with such conviction is entirely predictable given their predilection to comingle religion and politics. No document, after all, is more laden with inconsistencies than the collection of 66 books known as the Bible. That would explain, perhaps, the following glaring contradictions we hear from the right every day:

• Hateful proclamations against homosexuality, while simultaneously touting a loving Jesus who turned the other cheek (not that one). Christians are supposed to hate the sin but love the sinner, but hateful proclamations against homosexuals are common.

• Opposition to stem cell research on the basis of life's sanctity, while at the same time supporting the death penalty. Only some life is sacred, and they get to decide.

• Support for teaching Intelligent Design in schools on the notion that evolution is "only a theory," while never questioning the "theory" of Relativity or insisting that we teach an alternative to Einstein in physics class.

• Refuting the reality of climate change, citing lack of evidence, while promoting a Star Wars missile shield in the face of overwhelming evidence that such a system can never work effectively against much less expensive countermeasures. Evidence is cited or ignored at will, as if objective truth is one choice among many dishes in a lunch buffet.

The real crime here is that Gingrich, Cheney and friends are inviting attack on the United States in their efforts to convince the world that Obama is weak. That is the most egregious of all the contradictions from the right -- professing to love this country while actively undermining our security for short-term political gain.

Fortunately, the GOP badly underestimates the American people, leaders of the world, and Obama himself. Meeting with enemies takes strength and will, and a clear vision of purpose. Few people outside the extreme Right Wing believe that a handshake or respect for other cultures is a sign of weakness.

Comments

[Zanti]

And let's not forget Mr. Right Wing himself, Karl Rove. He's another hypocrite of the first order who presumes to judge Obama.

Oh, wait--Rove's not a believer. O.K., never mind.

[realpolitic]

One could never say that guys like Newt or Cheney were intellectually honest. These are men who support preemptive war, but avoided the draft when it was their time to serve. Newt was persecuting Clinton for having an affair, while at the same time he was himself having an affair. Rush Limbaugh, who championed tough sentences for drug addicts, was a drug addict himself and is almost a caricature of self-indulgence. Conservative Bill Bennett is a gambling addict. These men seemingly hold careers trumpeting virtue, but are defined by their own hypocrisy. What is so telling of these men on the far right is they never seem to realize the extent of the hypocrisy they live with.

[Zanti]

All of which, of course, completely explains why moderate and liberal Christians agree with every criticism you've leveled at the right. Maybe our Bible is a different edition? How do you explain it, Jeff?

Actually, there are simpler explanations for the grossly dishonest and self-serving behavior of the Republicans you mention: dishonesty and greed. See? We're not forced to blame the Bible, after all.

Let's suppose, for a moment, and no matter how far-fetched it may seem, that the folks in question are interested solely in gaining power and that they've come to realize, from experience, that lying to people is the most effective to accomplish this, especially since the act of seizing power and wealth nearly always requires that one break the law.

Ah, but, no.... It must be the influence of all the contradictions contained in the Bible. Nothing else can explain the odd phenomenon of liars lying. Or of power-hungry people doing whatever is necessary to gain power. Good call.

[gwyw]

A very thought-provoking post -- thank you!

Is there a word that defines discrediting all Bible-believers & Christians by automatically lumping them together with the extreme right & hypocrites Mr. Schweitzer mentioned above?

[Zanti]

Stereotyping, I guess. Thinking in shorthand. It's something that we on the left have traditionally taken pride in NOT doing.

[retest]

Hi Jeff,

Good job.

A couple of things to note:

1.) When Clinton was in office, he had the North Koreans under control by helping them build a couple of power plants, and providing them with supplies of wheat and rice. When Bush/Cheney took control, they cut off all of that, which set NK on this path. Remember?

2.) When Bush/Cheney took over, remember they stated that no more of these college kids in t-shirts and jeans? Instead everyone is going to wear a suit and tie, and that we are going to run this place like a business. Nothing like driving a business into effective bankruptcy!

3.) Have you ever heard of the RWA scale (Right Wing Authoritarians)? This was a test developed by Robert Altemeyer, a world leading social psychologist on authoritarian leaders and followers. His findings, supported by numerous other social psychologists, show that high-scoring RWAs are the most racist, sexist, bigoted, and hypocritical group found in society today. I never understood how these people could act this way, until I read some of his work.

[Jeff Schweitzer - Huffpost Blogger]

I remember well the stark contrast between Clinton's approach to North Korea and Bush's, and the disparaging, degrading comments Bush made about Clinton's policy during the campaign against Gore. Yet history shows that Clinton had more success than Bush, who wound up changing his mind twice. First, he said he would have no dialogue with Korea, then only through multi-party talks, then finally right back to where Clinton was with bilateral talks!

I'm not familiar with RWA -- I'll check it out.

[retest]

A lot of what you've written is consistent with many other commentators across all media and the many people that write the comments seen throughout this site. The consistent inconsistencies and contradictions, the constant application of fear and paranoia used by the GOP on its core rank-and-file, all of which is used to motivate this core group. They do not see the hypocrisy at all, owing to compartmentalized thinking. Altemeyer's The Authoritarians is the "lite" version of his The Authoritarian Specter, which John Dean heavily referenced in his critically acclaimed Conservatives without Conscience. I will guarantee that The Authoritarians will scare the Hades out of anyone that reads it. On a side note, I have no relationship with Altemeyer. You could write one heck of an article (or even a series) after reading it.

[larstein]

What greases the wheels of this mindset is racism pure and simple. Everything else is code. In almost every statement right wingers make is a basic assumption - "they" (blacks, liberals, whatever the "other" happens to be) have taken over. "We" are victims of "their" oppression. Everything is their fault. "We" are good, "they" are bad. Hannity and Cheney have a conversation where assumptions are made that are rooted in one idea - Obama is black, therefore he's bad, and anyone who likes him is bad. Nothing else matters. Words are sedatives to make it seem like rational ideas are being exchanged. There is nothing rational about it at all. It's pure racist paranoia.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Well, the GOP is an unholy alliance of snake-handlers, Wall Streeters, and the war machine. Nothing good could come of that.

[amamomofsons]

I am such a fan of your commentary, Jeff. You are a voice of reason in a confusing world. How can we ever think about not holding accountable the members of the previous administration for war crimes and misuse of the laws and of the constitution? We are America...damn it! The world is watching and we are accountable as citizens to do the right thing.What a mess they left behind. Do you think Bush has a clue?

[Jeff Schweitzer - Huffpost Blogger]

Bush believes he will be exonerated by history; nothing else needs be said about whether he is clueless. You are right, the world is watching, and fortunately they are now watching a president who is competent, further enhancing the contrast between the current and former administration.

[oafishcad]

The last 8 years have proven to me that when it comes to Conservatives, the nation comes last. Politics comes first. Why would anyone be surprised now/

[fairwitness]

"...such dishonesty is indeed immoral if we believe that honesty is a core component of any ethical framework."

That fact is the most damnable development in this culture: the sheer disrespect for the Truth, for even the concept that there can BE a Truth. It has been creeping into our public consciousness for many years, but became epidemic under Bush and the Republicans when they seem to have realized that they could make bald-faced, blatant, outrageous demonstrably ridiculous lies and large percentages of the public couldn't see or wouldn't care.

And we've seen that large majorities belive that "might makes right" and "the ends justify the means", and so either actively dissemble and deliberately confuse every and all issues in public life or become so fearful and aggressiive that they create a perverse havoc in our society. Willful ignorance, tribal greed and sadistic aggression characterized the Bushians. Now we reap the whirlwind...



We are a very sick culture.

[Rogan]

You've written exactly the comment I wanted to write.

It frightens me. I'm scared of Americans. I try to minimize my contact with them (us!) - I try not to go out. I hope this all passes soon. I miss having friends - going to parties. (Though my wife is excellent company.)

[jhNY]

The more you listen to these immoralists, the more they will talk.

[mommadona]

I would state that the utterances of the so-called "leaders" of this party are sedition, pure and simple.

Political differences are understandable and vigorous debate is proper.

Outright challenging of the sitting adminstration in order to overthrow it for THEIR personal gain?

SEDITION