Perhaps a sign of what's to come as the GOP fires up its machine to respond to the uproar in Madison? The state GOP has put out a video sampling of 'violent rhetoric' from the liberal protesters. Dubious considering the source. The NYT, at times laughable. But still worth watching out for.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin has produced a striking web video highlighting the angry rhetoric coming from the pro-union protesters in Madison.
Among the signs that the video highlights are ones comparing Scott Walker, the state’s Republican governor, to Adolf Hitler and Hosni Mubarak, the recently deposed Egyptian president.
Considering what happened to Mubarak -- deposed through non-violent protest -- I do not find such comparisons inappropriate! In fact, it was amusing when Paul Ryan compared Madison to Cairo, unwittingly casting the American protest in what I think is a good light.
Invoking Godwin's law, OTOH, is not something I find laudable. I realize, this is the GOP; the clips could be staged, the signs produced by Republicans, operatives snuck in to be filmed. Or, they could be exceptions to the reasoned, non-violent rule. Put in context, the 'violent' content could be miniscule. Of course, they don't have the prime-time sponsorship of the likes of Beck and O'Reilly either, nor do they have examples of liberals carrying out violence in the wake of such rhetoric.
Still I would object, because I attempt to keep my views consistent. Such rhetoric is either OK, or it's bad. And I think it's bad. Bad from a conservative, bad from a liberal. It makes no difference that the GOP position is as consistent as fruitcake batter. They defend their rhetoric while denouncing the left. They're hypocrites. This is normal. But it would be hypocritical of me to simply dismiss this; so I won't.
At the same time, I will poke fun at the Times when called for.
Bill Maher, the liberal comedian, is shown telling host Jay Leno that “the right wing loves, the go-to rhetoric for them is ‘wouldn’t it be fun to kill the people we disagree with.’ Left wingers don’t talk that way.”
That is followed by signs that say “Death to Tyrants” and “One Down, One to Go. Dictators” — with the pictures of Mr. Walker and Mr. Mubarak next to each other.
About that 'Death to Tyrants' sign...well, I apologize for the poor quality of the image. I had to format it in MS Paint. :)
I guess it doesn't make for good political theater to read the fine print.