One aspect of the American politic that I find consistently perplexing is our ability to accept hypocrisy when "we" commit it, but at the same time, rebuke those people with whom we disagree, when "they" commit it.
Case in point: federal spending. When George Bush was elected president, we, for the first time in decades, had a surplus. The GOP promptly introduced budgets that not only spent that surplus, but ushered a new level of debt and spending that history had never seen. Republicans, who historically won elections by decrying excess spending were suddenly silent. Les Bon Temps Roulez! Almost become their mantle. Democrats screamed bloody murder at this spending - and rightfully so.
But then after Democrats took over, did they reduce the spending back to the Clintonian levels that allowed us to regain surpluses? Hell NO! Democrats increased spending, and now the Republicans are screaming bloody murder. The Democrat’s response: "Well, you never said anything when the GOP was spending all that money", so you have no right to say anything now. Effectively the logical equivalent of "But officer there were lots of speeding cars - you can’t give me a ticket"
For YEARS people on the left screamed until they were blue that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan must end NOW! In fact, that was effectively the battle cry of the Dems during the 2006 election. "Elect us, and we’ll end these wars." they said. Well, we did. Nancy Pelosi took over the house, and Harry Reid took over the senate..... The wars? Well, they continued... Of course the Dems blamed George Bush’s obstinance. If you elect a Democrat to the White House, THEN we’ll end this war - and we’ll even close GITMO.... Well, we did that. Hell, we even gave Pelosi and Reid the largest majority in modern history. So what’d that get us? Well, the Iraq war is still ongoing with about the same troop level as before the election. The war in Afghanistan has not only not ended, but we’ve added an additional 35,000 troops. GITMO? It’s still open.
Where is the outrage? Where are the condemnation of these wars? Granted there are a few people standing up for peace, but not that many, and certainly not at the same level that we saw during Bush’s presidency. Torture investigations? Same thing. As soon as it became apparent that many in the Democratic leadership were also complicit, the whole subject was dropped.
What’s the word? Hypocrisy! We are guilty of it, they are guilty of it. Now I know that some people will be chomping at the bit to flame me because I dare to point these things out. "We’re not hypocrites, they are" will be their battle cry.... And that will be proof of exactly what I’m saying.