Kos's Midday open thread points a finger and laughs at the new RNC Web site, GOP.com. I second the motion. Come on, Jackie Robinson a Republican Hero?
Oh, right, he campaigned for Nixon: "Robinson viewed Nixon's civil rights record as more promising than Kennedy's, especially after meeting with both candidates." But at the 1964 Republican Convention, after Johnson started pushing Civil Rights legislation through Congress, and the Republicans responded with the Southern Strategy, Robinson said that he "had a better understanding of how it must have felt to be a Jew in Hitler’s Germany." Hitler! 1964! End of conversation!
Wait, that's one of ours comparing them to Nazis, 45 years ago. Wow. And they weren't even talking about killing all the Blacks. Maybe just a few of the uppity ones. You know, like those three Civil Rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi, in June, 1964.
Yeah, well, they don't do that any more. They just lie, cheat, and steal, and pretend it's for your benefit. How about this, from the GOP.com Webmaster?
Despite the stereotype that we are the party of the rich, the vast majority of our donations are from small donations; as opposed to the Democratic National Committee that gets its donations from big labor and the Hollywood elites.
Notice he didn't say "Democrat National Committee". Is he slipping?
My favorite section is Why are you a Republican?.
Many just recited the standard policies: Family Values, small government, lower taxes, strong defense, and so on. The more interesting ones flatly contradict actual Republican practice or even themselves, as marked in italics.
- I believe in a strong military and less government. (Both!)
- I don't want my future children to suffer because of a fiscally irresponsible government. (Fine. You're a Progressive.)
- I believe that all Americans deserve integrity and responsibility from their government. (Good. You're a Progressive, too.)
- It is the only party that represents TRUE conservative values and stands up for the helpless! (LOL. Just LOL.)
- I believe in giving everyone a chance at the American Dream. (But no help?)
- I am Republican because they truly represent equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all! (Except for those who don't deserve them?)
- I believe that our principles are the best way to extend freedom, liberty, and prosperity to all Americans. (All except...?)
- I believe the government should follow the Constitution and not tell people what they should do or how they should do it. (Except Terry Schiavo's husband? Gays? Atheist Secular Humanist Darwinists?)
- I support the Constitution, small government, less taxes and civil liberties. (OK, he didn't mean that, he just can't construct a sentence.)
- I want to bring back the values that our founding fathers wanted us to have. One Nation Under God! (Little do they know how little they know.)
- I appreciate my educational opportunities and I don't think the government should make any decisions about my future. (OK, kid, you're on your own. Don't call when anything goes wrong.)
- I am rational and know that self-preservation is a natural right. (What does that even mean? Guns? War in Iraq? Dirty political tricks?)
In the words of Barney Frank, On what planet do these people spend most of their time?
What can explain all this? Are Republicans stupid? Do they not know what Republican governments actually do? Are they hypocrites who know and don't care? Is this all Yellow Dog Whistle code?
No, I remember now. This is standard Authoritarian Cognitive Dissonance. These people are True Believers because of the contradictions. That way they don't have to think about more than one of their conflicting opinions at a time.
Well, I know why I am not a Republican. I think I'll go start that page now. Why I am Not a Republican (and why the rest of those Republican Heroes aren't, either. You're invited.