Hatespeech or Dignity - Republicans at the Crossroads

I want to make something perfectly clear. I have supported many Republicans in recent years including my current senators John Kyl and John McCain. I have held fundraisers in my home for Tommy Thompson when he was the Republican governor of Wisconsin. I have supported Democrats as well. I am a true independent.

Many of my good Republican friends have come away with a much different impression based on recent articles I have written that are critical of the thinly-veiled racism and vicious attacks that seem to be emanating more and more from the very top circles of the GOP.

Several of those friends complain that I am applying a double standard here citing the numerous criticisms of President Bush and, more recently Sarah Palin that have filled the blogosphere and the mainstream media for some time.

In fact we are talking about an apples to oranges comparison on a number of levels. Many people, myself included, were outraged by the arrogance, incompetence, and deception that became the hallmark of the Bush administration over a number of years. I am truly sad that he turned out to be such a terrible president but that is not hate speech.

Sarah Palin is much more of a victim than a villain. I was strongly critical of John McCain for selecting her to be his running mate because she was completely unqualified for the job. That lapse in judgment more than anything caused an election that would have been a narrow victory for Obama to become a landslide.

She is Eliza Doolittle saying yes to Henry Higgins. For whatever reason, he made her an offer she couldn't refuse. She is what she is. Just as Palin was unable to resist the opportunity to run for national office, the media has been unable to resist the temptation of ridiculing her. It is a sad for everyone involved.

She has been called greedy, ignorant, overly ambitious, unethical, self-centered and a lot of other nasty things. She is now in a death spiral of self-destruction where she goes out of her way to put herself and her family in the public eye and then gets whiny when the coverage doesn't go her way. She is the subject of predictable ridicule from a media that can't seem to help itself either. But none of that is hate speech.

Hate speech is different. It's when you accuse the President of the United States of being a socialist, a terrorist, a Muslim, an anti-Semite, or a traitor based on lies and distortions. And it becomes particularly meaningful when the venom comes not from the radical fringe -- as it often does from the Left -- but from the heart of the party leadership -- as it often does from the Right.

This weekend, the Young Republicans will meet to elect their national chair. Audra Shay, a 38 year old military veteran and mother from Louisiana is considered one of the front-runners for the job. A few days ago, she moderated a session on her Facebook page where a participant called Obama "a commie and a mad coon." Shay's response to the young man was to urge him on. "You tell em Eric," she said.

When a number of participants criticized her for not condemning the racist statement, Shay responded by "defriending" all of those who were critical which blocked them from further participation in the conversation. That is hate speech being endorsed from the highest levels of the party.

It is eerily reminiscent of Huckabee campaign manager Chip Saltsman sending a CD including the cute song "Barack the Magic Negro" as a Christmas gift to the members of the Republican National Committee last year. That clever song had been played repeatedly by Rush Limbaugh for much of the prior year. Limbaugh was picked in a recent Gallup Poll of Republicans as the person who best represents the party -- a title he also claims for himself.

At the time, Saltsman was a front-runner in the race for Chairman of the Republican National Committee -- grownup version. He was edged out by Michael Steele at the end but this is another example of stupidity, racism and hate speech coming from the top.

Just today, I heard my Senator John Kyl tell Bill Bennett that Obama is more interested in cutting an arms reduction deal with the Russians that he is in protecting the country. That is accusing the President of the United States of being a traitor with no facts at all to back it up. That is hate speech.

Some of my favorite people are Republicans. I got to spend some time with New York Times columnist David Brooks here in Aspen last week. He is a great writer and a solid Republican who is critical of several of the decisions that the president has made and is supportive of others. But, at the end of the day, he seems to be more worried about what is happening to the dignity of his party. Be sure to check this column written by a solid dignified Republican.

There is nothing wrong with criticizing people in power. It is essential in a democracy and our ability to do so has helped make our country great. But there are ways to do it hatefully and ways to do it with dignity. It is the hatred and anger that seem to ooze so effortlessly from the leaders of the Republican Party that are so disconcerting.

It is up to all of us who believe that our country needs a dignified and credible Conservative voice to seize control back from the slimers. If we can't, then the Libertarians should be viewed as the credible alternative to Liberal Democrats. They actually believe in small government and fiscal responsibility.

Republican leaders used to carry that banner before they got so caught up in issues surrounding gender, reproductive choice, and race that they lost their way. Hopefully they can regain the high ground and again become a productive part of the political dialogue.

Comments

[qthedancer]

Thank you for a clear statement on this. I sincerely hope more Americans will begin to take this seriously and address the issue with courage and reason. I shudder to think that we may become inured to the dreadful stream of hate speech issuing from the mouths of people in positions of responsibility, out of fear of facing what this really says about the mentality of our nation. Just observe how the word "freedom" - a rallying cry for Americans throughout history - has been hijacked.

Freedom of speech does not mean and has never meant that "anybody can say anything they want".

[lkgellpell]

I find it interesting that when I forward an article such as this , to people who are either Republicans, or to people who simply do not agree with the "message" of this blog.......that they usually respond by not responding at all..........I tend to take this personally and have become concerned that I have offending someone...­.........I would like to put it out there to the HP readers and ask if they can shed some light as to if there is something that would offend you in this article if you were not in agreement with Larry's comments..­.........I personally agree with almost everything he has to say about this particular situation and have been able to relate his "hate speech" message to may situations that have been foremost in the news over that last 6 months and to expand the message to many situations which have preceded it..........are memories that short? or are they that limited? Any feedback as to my concerns would be appreciated, I am trying to figure out if it is only safe to send like minded messages to like minded people or should I continue to try and open the dialogue

[Larry Gellman]

I really believe that the situation you describe has become exacerbated in recent years. People--even those with strong beliefs--used to use blast emails and the news as a way of sharing opinions and even learning. Now, most of the emails I get from my Right wing friends encourage me to forward them to a million people if I agree but to delete them if I don't. They have no interest in what anyone else thinks.

In addition, most people use the "news" and talk radio as a way of reaffirming what they already believe as opposed to being exposed to anything new. People on the Right can listen to Rush and Sean all day and watch Fox all night. On the left, they can listen to Air America and watch MSNBC.

[pharmmajor]

There's been plenty of hate speech from left-wing loons as well as right wing loons. (And please, this is the fourth time I've tried to post this. Why won't it get approved?)

http://zombietime.com/gaza_war_protest/

[Larry Gellman]

As I point out in the article, what you say is true. The biggest difference is that on the Right the most hateful and outrageous attacks are coming from people who hold position or are looked to as the leaders of the party. People like Limbaugh, Audra Shay, Chip Saltsman, John Kyl, Cheney, John Kyl, and others. I'm not talking about criticism--I'm talking about hatespeech and horrible accusions with no supporting facts.

[pharmmajor]

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification, Larry.

[pharmmajor]

"...the Libertarians should be viewed as the credible alternative to Liberal Democrats. They actually believe in small government and fiscal responsibility."

Finally, someone is speaking the truth.

[hackerblaster]

You folks want to see some examples of this hate speech that comes from the right? Go join Team Sarah and believe me, you will have plenty to look at. It is amazing the amount of hate and disrespect that goes on there.

[fpie]

For as long as I can remember the GOP has stood on a solid platform of hate. They hate the war protesters, the Communists, the welefare queens (read blacks), the imagrants, the college professors, the media, the liberals, the europeans (mostly the French), the atheists, the agnostics, the muslims, the jews (except in NY where they are a big voting block), the tree huggers... Now I must stop or I will use up my alloted word count.
The difference now is that it finally blew up in their faces and in their panic they think that they need to be more blatant. The good news is that everybody the GOP hates are now a majority of the voters and are now a voting block that hates the GOP. And boy the GOP really HATES THAT!

[Larry Gellman]

Very well put

[pharmmajor]

Will you acknowledge that the dems can be as hateful as the GOP?

[hackerblaster]

Nicely put!

[cgr]

Very nice, relevent and significant words, thank you. I've read with fascination over the last few weeks a growing appreciation of "dignity" and "decency", often tied to Obama's example, his respectful attitude to others of all cultures, religions and ideology. This is a lovely return to the standard of behavior and attitude I was taught growing up and have watched decline over these many years. To see it re-emerge, noticed, admired and appreciated warms my heart and gives hope for a turn toward a betterment of society and the world.

The Republicans who simply get uglier and more bitter in their invective seem in a convulsive resistance that is the hallmark of rigid ideologues, but I find really surprising in accomplished, intelligent leaders. it's as if the battle of Good and Evil is being fought in the public arena, and Palin who thinks herself God's select has been the catalyst for the emergence from the shadows of bigotry in all its forms. Maybe it's best to get it out there where we can all have a good look at it...and choose which we want for our country.

[dynwitch]

Poor, poor Republicans. Their hatred is actually a self-hatred. At some deep, dark level, they realize that they were betrayed by their own leaders. But rather than abandon those leaders and return to their true ideals, they project all the blame outwards. It's a sickness, really. Some doctors might call it PTSD. They have been utterly traumatized by the Bush/Cheney betrayal and every little thing just re-triggers that anger. I guess when things get rough, you really find out who's got what it takes and who doesn't, who are the real heroes and who are the cowardly low-lifes with absolutely no scruples who care only for their own power and fame.

Some day we will emerge from this horror. But we won't ever be the same again, not a single one of us, Democrat or Republican.

[Glenn1441]

A truly fantastic post, and I too wish (and have for some time), that the Republican party would lift itself out of the abyss of racism and blind hatred. We need a two-party system, two at the least, and it seems we may not have one for some time to come.

[LeftRight]

You're partly right Larry. While it isn't hate speech to decry Bush's incompetence, or for the media to point out Palin's many shortcomings, it IS for people to call Obama what they have.

On the other hand, your statements about how Palin was destroyed by the media show that you don't understand. Palin said many of the same things that you decry as hate speech. She also wouldn't have been destroyed by the media had she not DONE everything that they are saying she's done!

[Larry Gellman]

Palin was not destroyed by the media. She was destroyed by her own actions and words. But, in fairness, she never had a chance. As I said, she was Eliza Doolittle who was snatched from obscurity by McCain handlers desperate for a Hail Mary pass. Now that all this is clear and she has self-destructed, I DO blame the media for continuing its infatuation. It is overkill based on their desire to entertain. There is no news value there anymore.

Great post on this subject today

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/07/10/palin/?source=newsletter

[LeftRight]

You're right, the wording that I used was somewhat off. On the other hand, there could be no cries of "Destroyed by the media!!" had she not self destructed, which is the point that I was trying to make.

[PDinCA]

Great column. It's good to see someone addressing this issue calmly and rationally.

[ConfuciusSay-]

Maybe it isn't so much that the Republican party has somehow degenerated, but that the general society has moved on.

The fear of communism, incipient racism, and McCarthyesque attacks all seem mired in an America of the 50's. The politicians themselves fail to grasp technology, exhibit a deep suspicion of science, and declare an allegiance to "family values" as they march to church on Sunday. They are throwbacks, and deserve to be thrown back.