On the Sunday morning talk shows today you could see the beginnings of a major republican push to oust Sen. Harry Reid for his poorly worded, but not racist, comment about Obama. I’ve put together the following video montage, beginning with Steele and Kaine on Fox, then on MTP. Following that is Bob Schieffer going nuts on Face The Nation and Liz Cheney, spouting incredible inanities on This Week.
The key talking point that is evolving is that Reid’s comment is just like that of Sen. Trent Lott in 2002 who had said something along the lines that the nation would be better off if Strom Thurmond had won in 1948. Thurmond of course advocated segregation.
So let’s see ... a Sen. who was fervently supporting Obama (yeah! What a huge racist LOL) says some things that are certainly poor judgment, but arguably things adults can legitimately talk about and get out in the open ... and this is equivalent to a Sen. saying that a segregationist should have won in 1948??? Talk about false equivalencies.
Lies, distortions, and false equivalencies seem to be among the main tactics repubs can resort to these days. Truth works against them. Remember their trying to make all the town hall insanity during the summer into just more heated arguing that both sides are guilty of? Look at all the lies and distortions that Obama isn’t serious about terrorism.
Not only did Steele make the equivalency argument this morning, but each of the hosts did so (except Steph – maybe his show is the first one taped, so the meme hadn’t caught on). Bob Schieffer in particular took this false equivalency idiocy and went with it hook line and sinker. Then his panel started talking about how this incident bodes poorly for Democrats in elections this year. LOL – talk about way over-exaggeration.
Sen. Feinstein, on FTN, gave a weak response -- that when Sen. Lott made his comments no Democratic Sen. criticized Lott. First, I wonder if that is true. I sort of doubt it. Second, the stronger, super-obvious aspect is that there is no equivalency. Knock Bob Schieffer right out of the water with that argument. But she didn't, so you have to wonder if she just wasn't up to the interview this morning, or just doesn't like Sen. Reid.
David Gregory could arguably be said to be just putting the question out there, neutrally, but he asked the question of Steele with such a gleem in his eye and such enthusiasm, that it seemed to me anyway like he was a believer. Any question really has 2 components: (1) the question itself and (2) the tone and particular wording with which it is presented. The same is true with Chris Wallace, but that goes without saying.
The bright point of this montage is at the end. First, Liz Cheney says Reid’s statement was racist, and says this is the way liberal elites talk among themselves in private. LOL what totally idiotic drivel. She must think Americans are idiots if she thinks anyone believes that. Also, the idea that Harry Reid is an elitist liberal is absurd. But then the others in the panel, including George Will, start talking like adults and basically make Cheney look quite childish and irrational. That was refreshing to see.