“But George Bush……”
For eight years we heard this. That or “it’s Bush’s fault. Mind you, from 2000 to 2008 no one was allowed to point out the failures of the Clinton Administration; we were only to remember the fabulous economy, but not the dot.com burst that destroyed 401k’s and fortunes; we were to remember the rise in home ownership; not the strongarm tactics that resulted in disastrous loans. Most of all, we were never to mention the foreign policy failures that contributed to 9/11. From 2008 to 2016, Bush was to blame for everything from interest-only ARM loans to the Fall of the Roman Empire.
Well, it’s back. When Donald Trump is criticized for this or that, and you direct the critic to similar or worse actions by Obama, the cry goes up “I’m tired of your Whataboutism! Why can’t you just defend Trump without criticizing Obama! You CAN’T, can you?” Well, I certainly can, but I just spent 8 years being called a racist; I’m not about to subject myself to the new and improved version regarding the White Guy with the Hair that Defies Gravity. (I swear, the next kitten I get is going to be a marmalade color, just so I can name him Trumpkin and piss off all the right neighbors).
But what I like to call “whatabout?” is expanding to new areas. With predictably similar results.
National Rifle Association v. Planned Parenthood
If there is any organization the left hates with a passion it’s the National Rifle Association. Their exalted status as bogeyman/terrorist is relatively recent – pretty much since the 1980’s. For instance, on August 1, 1966, when mental defective Charles Whitman climbed the stairs at the University of Texas to unleash hell on the populace below, no one took to the airwaves to condemn the members of the NRA. Now the 6 million members of the NRA are responsible for every madman who commits an act of evil using a firearm. They stand in the way of gun control laws! If only it weren’t for the NRA, we would have sensible gun laws. You know, like they have in Chicago. Or in California. Because those gun laws worked so well in San Bernardino. They are the only organization that I can think of where it’s members are continually held liable for acts they not only condemn, but had no part in. It’s always striking that the ignorant left vilifies politicians that accept endorsements from the NRA, whose members are the sole source of their campaign donations.
The darling organization of the left is Planned Parenthood, an organization that reeks of deception and whose very name is dripping with irony. The left and the media extol the virtue of PP, that it provides women with necessary “health care”. For this they receive governmental funding, the withdrawal of which will apparently end any hope of women receiving medical care in this country. But what Democrats bestow with their left hand – they extract with their right in the form of campaign donations. This isn’t a women’s health organization – it’s Mr. Yin Fluff and Fold. And when the insidious practices of PP are exposed in the form of undercover video, does the MSM or Democrats demand an explanation? No. They immediately accuse the video makers of lying. In fact, if you’re the California Attorney General and running for the U.S. Senate, you protect your donor by bringing criminal charges against them.
The TEA Party v. The Resistance
The TEA Party actually had its genesis in the election of 2006, in response to the profligate spending by the GOP. They didn’t actually vote FOR the Democrats; they just refused to vote for the Republicans; but the result was a same. It gave itself a name in 2009 in response to the ACA. It held rallies, cleaned up after themselves, and attended Town Hall meetings where their voices got a little loud and their anger was evident. Violence, however, was not a part of the rhetoric. When the ACA was still in its legislative phase, they politely went to the halls of Congress and requested a meeting with their various Congress Critters. For this, they were labeled racist by the mainstream media and called terrorists by the Vice President. Not to mention the use of the vulgar term “tea baggers” by the President, who snotted about them whenever possible. The media, in fact, blamed them for the death of a Federal agent because he was found dead in the woods several miles from where a rally was being held. Except, suicide. Retraction on page 6.
The Resistance arose in the election of 2016, for no other reason than they didn’t like results. Trump hadn’t even DONE anything and there they were, taking to the streets and screaming their asses off. Wanting to blow up the White House. Their paramilitary wing, Antifa, happily crashes any pro-America rally in hopes of putting that brand-new club with accessorized bicycle locks to use on a “Trumpster’s” head. Bonus points if they’re wearing a red hat. Conservative speaker in town? Well, let’s burn down nearby buildings and scare away those conservative cavepeople with FIRE! Media gives them a pass, calling them “anti-fascists” and reducing their antics to a one-minute segment, to be followed by half an hour on the President’s latest tweet. ANTI-fascist?? Maybe these people need to Google “Kristallnacht” and take a refresher course in the what the Brown Shirts really were.
I’m thinking the ancient Romans had it right…..the Latin word for “left” is “sinister”.
As always it’s your open thread. Time to discuss anything you want. Like Rush’s Open Line Friday – except you know, here that’s every day.
