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Compassionate Conservatism Laid Bare
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The Truth About Teabaggers
We all know how ugly politics can get. We've even seen it here in recent days. But the rancor of the political right runs deep. Deeper even than what we see on the front page here at dKos. We all know about the Pat Robertsons and the Rush Limbaughs and the Glenn Becks, but that's just the surface. The talking suits might set the tone, but the teabaggers carry the water. And a foul water it is.
There is a Neighborhood Link discussion board in my home town that I visit occasionally. I moved away from there many years ago and I find that it's a way for me to keep abreast of some of the local goings on. The Republicanism is rampant on the board, but my home town was always pretty red when I was growing up and I can usually get past the conservative bias to get a sense of the public's pulse. Besides, it's usually more revealing than the local paper. I stomached their bullshit leading up to the Bush/Kerry election and I can look beyond their ridiculous parroting of the anti-Obama rhetoric because in the end these are people and people can disagree without being disagreeable.
Or so I thought.
When I checked in today one of the discussion threads was titled "Help Save Haiti??? Why?" It is ugly beyond belief. The original post went like this:
Before you donate anything for Haiti relief, do some internet research on the place.
Especially the culture and what it's like there.
After I did, I don't know why anyone would want to save or give monehy to this s..t hole or the criminal population that lives there.
I think Pat Robertson may have something. I do believe in karma.
It gets worse:
Heres a way out there thought...could this tragedy maybe be mother natures way of population control? just a thought...........
....and worse:
Hiroad, I daresay that you might be onto something as well. You, my friend, had the cajones to say it out loud.
I think that many of us will draw the line at pouring more money down this hell hole of a third world dictatorship where millions of our dollars have already been wasted, despite the wailing and pleas of Matt and Meredith to text our ten dollars or send cash. Time to let China and Japan save the world on this one.
....and worse:
Not only Matt and Meredith, but bill clinton making pleas and saying that they have a 'good government' - WTF?
Bill O'Reilly said the other night that the U.S. will send billions - and we should - but in a year things will remain the same in Haiti. Sad but true story!
....and worse:
This isn't me talking here, I solemnly swear. My hubby says "We should give them as much money as we can possibly offer. Every one of us should send five dollars from every citizen in any country considered a modern industrialized nation." I just had to know why? He says, and like I said, not my sentiments here, but......."Because if they don't get enough help to rebuild and sustain all those thousands and thousands of poor, under medicated, sick, under fed, homeless, ^&%$#() "souls" they will be heading over here like usual to this the land of milk and honey. Then we'll wish we sent all that we could when we had the chance." Grabbed his coffee and out the door he went.
....and worse:
I don't remember seeing print, tv commercial, or magazine or online ads delcaring Haiti a worldly vacation spot over the years. Have not seen it advertised as a cruise destination either.
I do, however, remember news stories and news shows like 60 minutes speaking to the rampant AIDS disease spreading all throughout Haiti. Have they controlled that? Have they started using building codes for earthquake prone areas?
Its been a sad country for a long time. I'm sorry for their losses after a natural disaster, but Nigel is right. The terrorist-initiated disaster against our country is still not fully dealt with. Some victims here need help yet. Everyone should prioritize as they see fit. I won't be sending any money there.
As for United Way, Red Cross, etc, etc.; have you ever seen the revelations of what the CEOs of those organizations make from your donations to them?
....and worse:
Haitians do try to come to the US by the boatload, often losing their lives in the attempt and if they are discovered before they make it to shore (lots of nighttime boat travel) they are sent back. Obviously, many have made it to the shores of south florida and most citizens of south florida aren't thrilled with their presence. That will continue no matter how much money/medicine/water/help we and others send. The worst conditions that they live in in florida are thousands better than haiti so they will always risk their lives to come to the USofA!
....and worse:
THAT"S exactly what I said. Just like Cubans, Mexicans, Koreans, Russians, even Martians I think.
Finally, someone called these conservatives on their hatred:
You people are disgusting.
Tens of thousands of people dead and missing, many of them children, others American citizens there doing humanitrian work at the time of the quake. Tens of thousands buried in the rubble who may still be alive but are going to die a slow, painful, lonely death because rescuers can't get to them fast enough. And you guys are advocating that we not help them? How heartless. How un-Christian. You all need to go check your Bibles. Matthew 25:31-46:
The Sheep and the Goats
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Enjoy your eternity in Hell.
And the response? More conservative filth:
Tell you what....I'll meet you halfway. I'll agree to send a few hundred condoms, but will only send money when I know somebody there is figuring out how to use them.
....and mockery:
So haysus is a bible thumper! Too funny. Speaks volumes. But the only thing he hasn't posted yet is proof that he has helped or donated to the Haitians. When will we see that Mr. Self-righteous? How you gonna prove that here? Are we simply to believe you have?
There's your modern conservative voter. There's your middle-America teabagger. Blatantly coded racism and greed. These are the same people who sang the praises of Bush/Cheney. These are the same people whose only goal is to obstruct progress in our country. These are the people we are up against.
If you're thinking of sitting back and doing nothing in 2010 then I think you need to go back and re-read this diary. This is what you're willing to leave your country to? You're willing to take that risk? I'm not. My party may not always get it right but at least we're not racist, heartless bastards. At least we're human.
It starts with Scott Brown and Martha Coakley. Now get off your asses and do something. There's too much at stake.