We’ve noted the corporate media’s double standard on Nazi analogies: When conservatives are compared to the Third Reich, however obscurely, it’s an outrageous slur, but when leaders of the right charge progressives with Hitler-like tendencies, it’s unremarkable political rhetoric.
Political Animal‘s Steve Benen (12/8/09) rounds up some similar examples of criticisms that are outrageous when applied by the left to the right, but no big deal when they go the other way–starting with the manufactured controversy over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s likening Republican foot-dragging over healthcare reform to conservatives’ lack of urgency over women’s suffrage and ending slavery:
If we’re to believe the faux-outrage, the reference to slavery was the rhetorical element that went too far. But this, apparently, is a new concern–the right has been far more direct in making the same comparison. Harry Reid was talking about key moments in history in which the right was wrong, but Michele Bachmann recently called the Democrats’ legislative agenda “nothing more than slavery,” and no one said a word. Indeed, conservatives routinely insist that the left is trying “enslave” America, and the political mainstream just shrugs its shoulders in response.
This is not uncommon. In 2005, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) described the Bush administration’s torture policies and system of secret prisons as being reminiscent of “Soviets in their gulags.” At the time, the media and Republicans were apoplectic about Durbin’s remarks, sparking a week-long frenzy. Several conservatives called on the Senate to censure Durbin, and Karl Rove, at the time a high-ranking White House official, argued that Durbin’s quote was evidence that liberals are traitors. Durbin eventually offered a tearful apology.
But notice that just a few days ago, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Republican leadership, called Medicaid a “health care gulag.” Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) recently called Dems’ health care reform efforts “Soviet-style gulag health care.” Neither reporters nor other members of Congress batted an eye.
Also note, when Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) said Republicans are promoting lethal healthcare policies, it was a huge national controversy. When Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said the same thing, no one seemed to care.
Journalists really ought to try putting the next GOP press release on this topic in the circular bin. “He called me a name back” is a complaint that you should have learned not to take seriously by the second grade.
The irony of all this is that these “slanders” by many Democrats are among the few times they’re actually being honest, and calling a spade a spade, if self-servingly so, isn’t it?
Of course, they backpedal faster than Charles Woodson when they catch any corpress shit for it, don’t they?
Please stop calling Democrats “the left.”
i’ve read that the torture policy was somewhat based off of the KGB. why apologize for telling the truth? this man should be given a medal for prescience.
The lack of rhetorical accountability symmetry between liberal and neo-con could be explained by human neurophysiology. The latter appeal to the human limbic system (reptilian and mammalian lobes on the upper spinal cord below the cerebral structure) which is the predominately functioning brain in infants and children.
The U.S. society is an infantile one compared to the older and more civilized ones that respect intellect above raw emotion and tend not to rebuke such childish outbursts from our childlike politicians. “Boys will be boys!”, they say and let their puerile rants pass.
But, when the adults screw up, however slightly, those same children scream bloody murder!
The Democrats that have the power, have no courage, and the Democrats that have the courage, have no power.
re: Durbin’s comments about gulag: I believe he was actually quoting from an FBI report on Gitmo.
I really hate to agree with the late George Wallace, but he was “right on” when he said: “If you put the Democratic and Republican candidates in a bag, and shake it, you’ll pull out TweedleDum and TweedleDee.”
War is a bipartisan affair – always has been – always will be!
good point above…calling democrats “the left” leaves the impression that they,in fact, represent people who want change.Obummer has blown a hole in that theory.whatever happened to PROGRESSIVES? with a sell-out media, do Americans even know and understand their issues?
Please OFFER some suggestions to people as to what to DO about these outrages.
We must ACT.
Outrage is debilitating unless there is some ACTION!!! Please always offer some suggestions about what ordinary people can do to change the status quo. Please!!!