When we see people on the progressive side using tactics that we would never accept from nutball conservatives, I believe it is our responsibility to call it out and bring the level of discourse to a higher level. I would prefer to leave the lies and distortions of reality to those who are wrong on the issues. They are the ones who need to lie to make their point.
I am about to go against the grain of some here. First off, I am in support of the marine who lost his leg serving the USA as I am in support of all of those who serve. I am also in support of gay rights, including marriage equality. So a reader should know that I am not being guided by ideology when I point this out.
The marine who was booed in Texas when he spoke out against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was not booed because he was a marine. He was booed for a position he was taking on an issue. As far as any of us know, those who booed him were no less patriotic about their country or those who serve than anyone else. Were they bigots? Maybe. But that has nothing to do with the fact that the man speaking his mind was a wounded veteran.
The same is true for the veteran who spoke out against "Don't Ask Don't Tell" at the Republican primary debate. When a few people in the hall booed his question, it was portrayed in our community that Republicans were booing a veteran, instead of what the veteran was saying.
There is a difference.
I can only imagine if everything was reversed - suppose there is an event, a rally say, in favor of gay and lesbian rights and a wounded veteran spoke out against marriage equality or in favor of court-marshalling homosexuals. I imagine that at least some progressives in the crowd might boo that quite loudly. You know what? I think I would boo that.
Of course it's not because he's a veteran that I'm booing - or that he was wounded. And it would be ridiculous to say so. And OF COURSE Fox News would pick up on the story and say: "A wounded veteran was booed at a liberal rally. And they call themselves patriotic Americans. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
I'm sorry to say that this is exactly what progressives are doing with this story. When a wounded veteran speaks at a political event and is booed for having an unpopular position among some in the crowd, it is a distortion to make the headline: Political mob boos brave veteran.
Distortions are lies. Progressives are on the right side of the issues pertaining to gay rights. We are winning this. And we do not need to lie to make a point.