Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, trying to find common ground with troubled Yemen, said that even the United States has a problem with terrorism. It was a reference to the Tucson shooring.
Immediately, conservatives attacked her for implying that Jared Loughnere could have been inspired by conservative rhetoric and ideas.
The truth is, we are not sure where he was coming from. He opposed big government and ranted about a secret plan to impose a universal currency on the United States. A former classmate said he flirted with left-wing ideas, but this is right wing stuff. The same can be said about his rambling about mind control.
If this was not political, he might have gone with a gun to one of his five former work places. He went to a political venue. The super heated political climate there goes back to the 1980s, when Arizona releaped Martin Luther King, Jr. day.
The political climate in Arizona has been super-heated by right-wing rhetoric. There is an intense eliminationist movement out there directed against Hispanics. Who is to say that this troubled young man was not nudged to action by all the hyper-ventelating.
It is interesting that 57% of the American public denies that the super-charged atmosphere had anything to do with this young man's terrible actions. That suggests that all too many Americans have been swayed by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and a small army of other agitators and demagogues.
The press handles this obvious question as though there is an equal amount of wild rhetoric on both sides. Have we heard anyone on the left talking about secession, traitors, or using the second amendment option. The right had its birthers, but I don't recall anyone raising questions about John McCain having been born in an unincorporated territory.
James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson about interest-based political questions and "artificial" questions, like hyper-partisanship and matters of religion.
We have had artificxial issues before, but the difference now is that they have been so efficiently milked.
For thirty years or more, we had right-wing populist issues--what we call "hot button" cultural matters. Scholars thought these things lasted only a fefw years. They lasted far longer, and few ask why they are still so effectively exploited.
Since Palin started using the rhetoric of the fringe right, we have seen a massive increase in even more dangerous rhetoric. That is what the Tea Baggers are about---political fundamentalism. It is a sociological phenomonon that all mmost always invites authoritarianism and attacks on those considered "Others." This time it is Hispanics, Muslims, African Americans, and blacks. In time, the Jews will be added to the list. But for the moment, these people keep their disdain for Jerws to themselves because Israel plays an important part in their warped worldview.
Tonight, Obama dares not address the question of political extremism or how it endangers our system and our physical safety. But sometimes, it is more important to do what is right than to position ones self for the next election.
Political fundamentalism is not something that goes away quickly--particularly when it does not appear that our economy will come roaring back anytime soon. Two hotbeds oif political fundamentalism are Florida and Ohio. Obama needs one of them to have a chance to win in 2012. Not likely.
Why not take on the evil ennui that threatens to wreck our political system.
The fate of the Democrats is far less important. Maybe they need a little time to learn how to communicate with ordinary voters and to answer the absurdities the Repugs offer up with impunity. And yes, they need to figure out how to deal with a thoroughly cowered and intimidated media.