As Lazlo Hollyfeld said to Chris Knight in the movie
Real Genius :
Things are getting kinda weird around here, you know?
I wake up, I get my coffee and breakfast, fire up the 'puter and here's Kos and the rest of the gang absolutely destroying Steny Hoyer for not falling in line with gushing praise of Stephen Colbert's White House Correspondents' Dinner performance.
And all I'm left asking is "What the...?"
Let me say, first, that it is a sad day in America when the President's critics are so starved for someone to criticize the President that they absolutely love it when a comedian -- doing a comedy routine -- does it.
From reading here the past few days, you would have thought Colbert was Patrick Henry, rising in the House of Burgesses to proclaim:
"Tarquin and Caesar had each his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third [here he was interrupted by cries of "Treason"] and George the Third may profit by their example! If this be treason, make the most of it."
Uh, no. Colbert was doing the same comedy schtick he does every night on his TV show. That was brave? Revolutionary? Ooooh, but the President was right next to him. Oooh, he did it to his face.
Whatever. What Colbert did was neither brave nor stupid, neither revoluntionary or incindiary. He was just Colbert being Colbert. Why does this get so much praise?
On to the subject at hand. Steny Hoyer decides to give his opinion. He thought portions of Colbert's routine were funny, but it was a little rough. The President is still the President and deserves respect. And so forth.
Bring out the guillotine! Hoyer's gotta go.
By reading the diary and comments around here about Hoyer's honest opinion of Colbert's routine, I now understand why we're derided as "Kos Kids". Because we sure act like it a lot.
Of all the things to get angry about with Steny Hoyer, this is what you come up with? You compare him with Joe Lieberman, who basically has said time again he has no use for the Democratic Party ("I'll run as indepedent if the party doesn't nominate me")? Excuse me?
How many of you know Hoyer's record? Did you know he's greatly responsible for the Americans with Disabilities Act? Did you know that he has been a consistent fighter for military and federal civilian rights and pay raises for 20 years? Did you know he is fervantly pro-choice? Did you know he lost his wife to breast cancer in 1997 and he has continued the fight in her name to improve women's health care in this country?
I got to meet Hoyer in 1997. He was a good friend of my boss on the Hill. In two weeks, I'll get to meet him again...this time as part of a Maryland party function. Say what you will about the man, but remember this: he has served his country and district well. Period.
I was recently talking with my Democratic County Chairwoman while working the April 29th canvass. She is a bonafide liberal. She supported Dean. She's been involved in politics for most of her life. She's in her 70s and still fighting.
She asked me, "Have you seen this website called 'Kos'?"
I told I did, and that I actively posted there.
She shook her head. "You know, there's some good stuff on there. But most of it just depresses me and makes me angry. People on there just don't UNDERSTAND what it takes to get change. They want it now...but have no idea how to get it. I want to get on there and shake them up...but then I say, 'What's the point?' That and I've got more important things to do."
Well, I'm sure the smell of fire roasted flesh of Steny Hoyer here on Kos probably won't encourage her anymore. Just remember, it's not just D.C. Democrats you alienate. It's rank and file Democrats in all corners of the country.
But, by all means, if you want to be a player, keep encouranging primary battles against Democrats who don't fall in line because they don't necessairly like a comedian's schtick.
I'm sure it will result in the real change you crave.