I have my theories about why we may be watching the GOP turn into a real-world version of Monty Python's "Very Silly Party" in front of our very eyes, but those almost pale in comparison to my concern.
Since when is it OK for people to publically threaten the life of the President of the United States? When? Since when are people allowed to show up at an event featuring any elected official - let alone our President - sporting semi-automatic weapons?
I don't agree with Republican and conservative dogma, but I am old enough to remember and respect the Howard Bakers and Bob Doles of the world, a shred of which seems to remain in the likes of John McCain (but barely).
But how does a major political party get led by the likes of Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck? Where is the intellectual honesty among the rest of the Republican leadership in terms of allowing this anarchistic, lunatic fringe to have the screechy public voice on Health Care reform? One assumes they clearly don't agree with the vitriole. Where are the GOP Grown-ups?
I'll tell you what this is: This is the most extreme version of the same tactics that got them the Congress in 1994 and got them the Whitehouse in 2000 and 2004. Here's the GOP game plan:
- They fight the legislation they need to fight to keep the cash coming in.
- They use the cash to foment an obsessive minority that is emotionally charged enough be disproportionately involved both in the field and in the voting both.
- They use both tools to create the image of the Democrats and the President as a threat to American life.
This is a pattern, folks, and we've seen it before. The only difference is that the GOP is absolutely in shambles, and the wing-nuttery has grabbed the playbook and are doing it their way. Last time it was gun-lovers, homophobes and crazy religous zealots. This time you can add racists and super-nationalists to the list.
And it is dangerous. They have crossed lines that we have not crossed before in the history of modern politics - AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTIBLE. They are utterly, politically amoral, and they are being egged on by people that think winning is far more important than how you behave to get there. And these are not people at the fringe of the Republican party either - these are elected officials, party leaders, and big microphones with big audiences.
I'm not sure what we can do about this, short of winning crushing victories at the ballot box - but I do have a thought: It was really touching and lovely that Senators John McCain and Orrin Hatch took off their partisan masks and gently, lovingly, and honestly paid homage to their friend Senator Ted Kennedy at his passing. Really.
So now what these elder statesmen need to do is stand up and tell their crazy comrades in political arms that their behavior is going to get them into trouble. Hatch isn't going to lose his seat in Utah for telling Michelle Bachmann to shut up. McCain won't lose seniority in the Senate for telling his co-horts that threats of violence to our President are unacceptible.
If they really believe in what the tone of their eulogies espoused, it's time for them to live it in real life. Because, in reality, this is way more important than the number of seats they can gain in the next midterm election. Before we are forced to live the consequences of silence.