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Published on Thursday, March 25, 2010 by the Rachel Maddow Show
Democrats Face Threats from Incited Right
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© 2010 The Rachel Maddow Show/MSNBC
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10 Comments so far
Show AllThe democrats brought it on themselves. They have never stood up to the republicans, never strongly countered their lies and innuendos. In fact, the democrats are in this bind because they serve the same masters as the republicans, so they have had to tread lightly so as not to disturb the corporate money train. The right got strong during the Bush administration--and the democrats gave Bush everything he wanted. Why weren't they the party of NO during those eight years? They voted for war, tax breaks for the rich, no regulation for banks--they shifted to the right and now they have to appease their right-wing followers. The blue dogs are republicans in disguise; Obama has lost his base; and the right wingers have turned on him and the Congress. Better to have been true to democratic ideals--at least they could have counted on support from progressives. Now, they can all burn in h_ll.
"The democrats brought it on themselves".
Do rape victims bring it on themselves, or do domestic violence victims bring in on themselves? The behavior of the right wing, the tea baggers, and the inciting of violence by conservative right wing talk shows and road shows like Ann Coulter is reprehensible. No matter whether both parties have ties to the same place(if there were 6 parties, the same money interests would try to donate to them)the elected officials that we sent to Washington deserve security in the workplace, and a civil atmosphere in which to work.
"...at least they could have counted on support from progressives."
Yeah, right. If there is one thing that progressives have demonstrated time and time again, it is that you can never count on their support. Even a lifelong champion for peace and justice like Kucinich gets thrown under the bus when he votes the "wrong" way.
For 8 years the Republican party has spread fear among the American people. Why should we be surprised at these tactics that have resulted from this base of power built on that fear?
During 6 of those 8 years, the Democratic party was asleep and let this fear foundation be built. They are slowly waking up, but still have a long way to go.
That being said, there is no excuse for this hatred that is now pentrating our political system. Boehner and McConnell need to take charge and denounce this hatred, racism, and beginning of violence that has resulted from their foundation of fear pentrated on the American people.
Boehner and McConnell are loving this. They are doing only what is necessary to appear to be doing something. Their lack of intention only helps to fuel the fire. It would be better if they did nothing. Now Fox "News" can spin it into that the Republicans are shocked by the behavior by some "bad apples".
this is an example of the conservative mind set
they think there views are so correct that anything
they do in support of these views is also correct
you can see this in other forums where ideas in
disagreement of there views are met with personal
attacks rather than counter facts or ideas
The protests at the Democratic Convention in 1968 incited violence over the Vietnam War. That same year, students were gunned down by the National Guard at Kent State and at a black University in MS. Members of the Black Panthers were systematically targeted for assassination by the FBI (plenty of documentary evidence on the subject). I was at the 68 convention in Chicago and got clubed: it was my first arrest for civil disobeidence.
Maddow is a Dem apologist with little in common with the authentic Left. But one thing for sure, she is ignorant of the history of civil disobeidence, or simply chooses to ignore it.
People are now trying to remind each other what our heroes - Gandhi, King and Mandela - have taught. It isn't hatred or reacting fearfully to hatred. Perhaps this movie will help.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3677437859600027297#
As you say, a great deal of ugliness historically has been fomented by people infiltrating groups - peace groups, civil rights groups, and others. So, we can't even be sure what the ugliness we are seeing is reflective of.
This is a great country with good people - as the many truckers and working class white people who showed up, at their own cost, to help black people in New Orleans after Katrina showed.
When they came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
-- Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)
This is a coordinated 'psy-op' whose real target is freedom of speech. Because of this, more of the Democratic Congress members will feel they can get support from constituents when the next round of Hate Speech/Crimes legislation is once again pushed by various (infamous) lobby groups. Those who think this has anything to do with Democrats versus Republicans are being fooled.