Here's an interesting tidbit from Talking Points Memo:
Avi Zenilman Greg Sargent makes a good point. While Republicans are kicking into high gear with partisan criticisms of the White House over the attempted terror attack over Detroit, Dems have been almost completely silent.
It's not that you'd expect them to be defending the TSA's practices, which may or may not makes sense. But Republicans are making a broader attack -- claiming that Obama's more general stance on the world stage is leading to more terror attacks. That should not be a hard argument to push back against. And it's really a mistake that they're not.
Once again, we have an attack on Obama and the Democrats just sit and let it happen. When have we seen this before?
The Reverend Wright - Remember him? He was the leader of Trinity Church in Chicago. He had the audacity to claim:
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."
Luckily we had ABC to remind us:
An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.
And Democrats? Did they come to Obama's defense? Did ANY Democrat remind America that the USA is building bigger prisons, did pass three strike laws (that affected blacks at higher rates than whites) and does (often) treat black folks as second class citizens? Did a single Democrat stand up to the right-wing on-slaught and scream that angry denunciations of racism - even impolitic denunciations - even stupid or angry denunciations of racism - are NEVER EQUAL TO THE RACISM THEY DENOUNCE!
Of course not.
When moveon.org ran their General BeTrayUs ad the Republicans passed a measure denouncing the LEFTIST organization. (Some of the same DEMOCRATS who hijacked healthcare, voted lockstep with Republicans to approve an attack on free speech).
When Rush Limbaugh - on DAY 2 of the Obama administration, called for FAILURE - what resolutions did Democrats pass? How, exactly, did Democrats respond?
Democrats Launch Online Petition Against Rush Limbaugh's 'Fail' Statement
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched a petition online in response to Rush Limbaugh's statement that he wanted President Obama to "fail." The petition states that America faces grave problems and needs Obama to succeed.
Try to find a quote from prominent Democrats - or better yet, don't waste your time! And forget non-binding resolutions - that's for REPUBLICANS!
When the right-wing (along with PUMAS) decided that Obama was not an American citizen - certainly not natural born - what was the Democratic response?
None...
When talk-radio declared the existence of the "Whitey Tape" featuring Michelle, did Democrats defend her?
Of course not!
When Republican congressmen (and women) smear Obama as a Muslim or a Communist (or socialist) - do the Democrats hit back?
No dice...
And yet, some wonder why Obama won't fight for the things WE think important...
I don't wonder about those things...
UPDATE: This is from a response: "You are pretty much coming out and saying that Obama isn't fighting, or won't fight, for things out of pique and bruised ego."
That's exactly what I'm NOT saying - I'm saying that Obama - a political animal, won't put his political capital anymore on the line because it gets him little to nothing. I'm saying that Republicans are framing the debate - and I'm saying that OUR Political fortunes are TIED to Obama - and when we let him flounder - we flounder as well...