Friday, September 9, 2011

Why Is It Always So One Sided?

Once again the people on the left side of the political spectrum prove they are hypocrites; mostly talk and criticism.

In January of this year, after Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head by a mad gunman (Jared Loughner) in Arizona, people on the left; politicians, the media, elected representatives and even the President called for a ceasefire in inflammatory rhetoric. They blamed Loughner’s actions on such things as Sarah Palin “targeting” political opponents, and various words from conservative talk show hosts and politicians. Of course, all of the blame by the left was completely off base but that really didn’t matter to them. Their motto often seems to be “Don’t try to confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.”

This week the left proved their hypocrisy in so many ways it’s almost (yes, almost) unimaginable. On Sunday the President attended a “jobs” rally in Detroit. AFL/CIO leader, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., opened the event with a fiery speech about how the Tea Party is destroying jobs. He told the President that they, “the unions”, were his army and that they need to “take the SOBs out”, referring to the Tea Party. President Obama, who immediately followed Hoffa, said nothing about the rhetoric, even though he had condemned such speech only 9 months earlier. His Press Secretary, Jay Carney, justified the President’s silence on the issue by saying the President didn’t hear Hoffa’s remarks and that the President wasn’t responsible for what Mr. Hoffa said. And while I agree with the second statement, I don’t believe Mr. Obama didn’t hear the remarks and I feel if Mr. Obama was so adamant about toning down the rhetoric he should have said something to correct Mr. Hoffa when he took the stage.

Vice President, Joe Biden, went to a rally the same day and said “You are the only folks keeping the barbarians from the gates”, speaking of the Tea Party and the conservatives. “The other side has declared war on labor’s house and it’s about time we stand up!”

In January, President Obama called for “civil discourse”, not only in Washington but around the country. But it seems that only applies to one side.

A couple of weeks ago, Congresswoman Maxine Waters said “The Tea Party can go straight to Hell. And I’ll help them get there.” Amazingly civil discourse there, Ms. Waters.

Debbie Wasserman Schults, Congresswoman from Florida and leader of the Democratic National Convention, was asked specifically about Mr. Hoffa’s comments and whether it was inflammatory and/or improper. She refused to answer the question. Instead she broke into talking points about jobs.
I’m sure there will be those who say “Ah, come on… you know neither of those speeches constitute any threat.” And quite honestly, I agree, just as I agree that Sarah Palin’s political “targets” had nothing to do with the actions of Jared Loughner. Yet the left still continues to demonize the right for their “hateful and violent political rhetoric”, all the while continuing to use it themselves.

Do I think Jimmy Hoffa means his words about “taking the SOB’s out”? Not literally, really. However, his family history isn’t exactly the most non-violent around. (I remember the Teamsters strike in the early 70s when anyone who crossed the picket line was beaten and/or shot.) Do I think Mr. Biden is a threat? Nah. I doubt Joe Biden would be a threat to a wet paper bag is he was suffocating inside it . Do I think talking about “Republicans are holding Americans hostage with a gun to their heads” is appropriate for the houses of Congress? Nope. Do I think all the comments about “those violent Tea Party members” who cannot be found in any reputable search are OK? I don’t. But the rhetoric from the left is still there on a regular basis. I’m getting tired of hearing criticism from the left about words and rhetoric only to have them say whatever they want whenever they want and believe it’s OK for them. It seems “civil discourse” means different things to different people, depending on which side you’re on…

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