The party of NO! is the victim according to disgraced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He says the Democrats brought the threats on themselves because of their strong arm tactics and bullying that got the HCR bill passed. Wait you say? The same Newt that coined the attack phrases used by his party against President Clinton and the Democrats back in the 90s? Yes indeed...
Here is the lead in and link to audio from WABE Atlanta Public radio
ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Speaking in Atlanta on Thursday, March 25th, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich condemned the threats and vandalism reported by at least 10 Democratic members of Congress, following the recent vote on the new health care law. But Gingrich also said Democratic leaders bear some of the responsibility. WABE presents the full statement Gingrich made to reporters at a news conference in Buckhead. © Copyright 2010, WABE
Just when you think they can't go lower, they do. I first heard this on NPR's news at 8PM, so I had to dig up the link.
I am not sure what else to say about this comment and the entirety of these threats. We supposedly live in a country that is based on the rule of law, not some third world country where politicians are threatened or killed because of voting the way they do on a piece of legislation. And the fact that the Republicans to a person cannot condemn this behavior and call on people to stop, just stop! indicates the complete lack of moral or ethical values any ANY of these republicans have. Gingrich does the usual Republican trick: act like you are reasonable and moral, but then follow up with the gotcha! that shows he doesn't really disagree with the terrorists. That somehow, in some twisted parallel universe where it is OK to divorce one of your multiple wives on their deathbed and still tout morality, you can justify threats of violence against Democrats because Democratic party leaders, acting as leaders, convinced members of their own party to vote to support a major piece of legislation that was asked for by the President, who is also in their own party, is simply unbelievable.
"They were asking for it!" cried the seven year old Gingrich on the playground.
Just awful. An awful indication of the level we have sunk to where the right wing blowhards whip up fear and hate like a latte machine in Starbucks, and then run off and say not me! Just a game to them. Just money, just ratings. Money and ratings are fine, but at some point, and I think that point has long since been crossed, these idiots become accomplices in the hate crimes and terrorist threats being made.
And Newt, the "Republican voice of reason". Newt, the Republican Matlock rerun from the 90s brought back on DVD with never before seen footage. He says Democrats are to blame also. Like the girl who wore the short skirt was asking to be raped. Insane. The Democrats need to take some of the blame for the violence! Are you serious? I mean, the Democrats, who were duly elected just as the Republicans were (or weren't, you can't have it both ways) passed a bill that was signed into law, which is what lawmakers are supposed to do, what they get paid to do, and this means that in the United States of America, it is open season on Democrats? Not only for passing a bill, but passing a bill that expands healthcare for US citizens, and makes it harder for companies to not provide healthcare for US citizens, and makes sure that children in the US have healthcare?! These crazy, disturbed people think that this is a reason for "taking up arms?"
The gummint is now saying that all kids in the US are supposed to get healthcare! I says NO WAY to that! Lock and load!
Is this their platform now? Are these people now so scared of everything in the world that the vision of expanded healthcare for children is frightening? If so, then what else are they scared of? Marshmallows? Fluffy pink bunnies? The brief chilliness you feel when the sun goes behind a cloud for a moment?
Is this the last gasp of the movement that began in the 1960s when the change started? Are these the shuddering, convulsions of a conservative ideology that was grown to counter change where ever it appeared, from the Great Society to civil rights to civil justice to equal rights to equal marriage to whatever comes next that I am afraid of? Is it the cracking of the movement that started with the conservative "values" of Goldwater as an interesting idea in the abstract, but one that is in no way practical in the real world nor in a real country as diverse and ever changing as the US? Is it the culmination of years of rhetoric that has had to keep getting louder and shriller as the pace of change increased? Is it the final oscillations of the glass after just so long at the resonance frequency? A resonance frequency amplified by the rightwing blowhards that just keep on blasting the rhetoric with their dials set at 11?
Maybe the volume needs to be turned down. Maybe someone on the right has intelligence and clarity to say enough. Enough with the hate talk, enough of the red meat, enough of the useless empty blather that helps solve no problems. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone will. And certainly this someone is not Gingrich. He helped turn politics and the political system into the winner take all/kill the enemy game that it has become.
If anyone needs to take responsibility for the inhumane threats and rhetoric, it is Newt himself.
So unless you really have something useful to contribute, Newt, shut the F^&! up.