Tammy Bruce: Lanny Davis Wakes Up and Smells the Hate

Lanny Davis Wakes Up and Smells the Hate

Yes, the Democrat operative and Friend of Bill, wakes up, opens his eyes and is shocked, just shocked to see today's American left for what it is--hateful, hypocritical, self-obsessed MalNar Jew-hating bigots. The problem is he casts this as something new, as a remarkable event coming to light only just now, because he finally sees it.

Liberal McCarthyism

My brief and unhappy experience with the hate and vitriol of bloggers on the liberal side of the aisle comes from the last several months I spent campaigning for a longtime friend, Joe Lieberman.

This kind of scary hatred, my dad used to tell me, comes only from the right wing--in his day from people such as the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy, with his tirades against "communists and their fellow travelers." The word "McCarthyism" became a red flag for liberals, signifying the far right's fascistic tactics of labeling anyone a "communist" or "socialist" who favored an active federal government to help the middle class and the poor, and to level the playing field. [Actually, Lanny, that's not just a label,it is "socialism" and "communism."--ed.]

I came to believe that we liberals couldn't possibly be so intolerant and hateful, because our ideology was famous for ACLU-type commitments to free speech, dissent and, especially, tolerance for those who differed with us. And in recent years--with the deadly combination of sanctimony and vitriol displayed by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Michael Savage--I held on to the view that the left was inherently more tolerant and less hateful than the right.

I left organizing for the left 10 years ago because it was apparent then that venomous MalNars were taking over the Democratic party after having their paws on liberal organizations for years. Davis's supposed trauma with his realization of the hate that fills the left is a bit unbelievable. After all, he is a Friend of Bill and facilitator of that administration, the man who delivered the final blow, so to speak, to the remaining decent elements of the party.

The Clinton years attracted and embraced the nihilistic and self-obsessed, while repulsing the decent and principled. The fight Joe Lieberman now faces is a reflection of that.

How dare Davis be so surprised when he personally opened the door to this collapse of the Democratic liberal ideal into a pit of Moveon.org-style (a group, remember, formed by Clinton supporters during the impeachment) hatemogering.

My first book, published way back in October 2001, happens to be about this issue that Davis has suddenly noticed. "The New Thought Police," describes the scourge of leftwing McCarthyism. Perhaps I should send him a copy.

Posted by Tammy · August 8, 2006 08:04 AM · Permalink
Leftists | Politics

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://tammybruce.com/mt/pings.cgi/819

Comments

WOW ... You could not be more right. The left requires 100% conformity or you are a traitor or a DINO. The Repub side allows dissent more freely. Note the difference in how independent voices are treated. Lieberman becomes Public Enemy #1 of the hard left, partly for religious reasons. But also for his support of the war. Do Republican "dissidents" like Voinovich or Chaffee (independent voices similar to Lieberman) get smeared by Mehlman, et al?

And there you have the problem boiled down to its essence. One side (The Left) is self immolating and taking down a once great party.

Save yourselves, Dems ... before it is too late.

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at August 8, 2006 11:46 AM

Yes, it seems a bit silly that Davis has just recently discovered this left-wing maniacal groupthink and hate, which has been very active for decades. I wonder who he's trying to cozy up to now--Roger Ailes? (I'm not being cynical am I?)

Posted by: aegil at August 8, 2006 12:51 PM

One thing I can say about my little circle of current-and-once-removed Brooklynite Republicans is that our opinions all differ a little bit - yet we don't look at each others like pariahs the way some of my DemLib friends treat thier own when they refuse to walk in lockstep with the rest of the Soros lemmings.

I've always found more tolerance among my group, even back in the college days when we were outnumbered 10-2 (roughly guessing). Being a Reagan supporter back in the halls of higher learning put a bullseye on your back - believe me.

I'm hella excited about hearing Tammy fill in for Laura tomorrow - it's like twice the Tammy in half the time (or something like that)!

Posted by: PeteRFNY at August 8, 2006 12:55 PM

when i voted for lieberman today, i told ned flanders' ... i mean ned lemont's poll worker that i'd NEVER vote for her guy because he brought haters like al sharpton and maxine waters into my state. at least in part, i judge men and women by the company they keep. and ned failed a big test.

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at August 8, 2006 12:56 PM

Absolutely, the far right does not have a monopoly on hatred, racism, prejudice and intolerance. It is alive and well within most extremist circles. By very definition extremists are fanatics, radical. Thank goodness most people are moderate, i.e., reasonable in their thinking.

Certainly there has been vitriol directed toward Lieberman, as with almost any political candidate in a contested race. I still think it possible, however, to hold legitimate objections to Lieberman's service. Many Democrats honestly have serious misgiving over Iraq and think we need to get out, pronto. Might some of Lieberman's constituents also honestly be unhappy with his votes for Roberts and Alito?

Surely, most of the constituents who oppose Lieberman are not anti-semites. A few might be but I also know that Lieberman's votes with regard to Iraq, the Supreme Court and Bush's energy bill are genuine concerns for many Democrats.

The people of Connecticut will speak. IF (and I said IF) Lieberman loses, I do not think it will be because the voters of Connecticut, who have supported him for many years, have some newly acquired Jewish aversion.

Posted by: Vicki at August 8, 2006 02:04 PM

Vicki ... I truly expect the Dems in CT to vote in favor of Lieberman today. I believe that some of the extremists hold Lieberman's religion against him. We've heard their "dual loyalty" and "Israel first" charges charges from both the left (kos, et al) and right (Pat Buchanan).

But I think most of us Connecticut natives understand why Lieberman is a valuable leader. These days it seems Red and Blue are the only political colors a state can be, but I consider Connecticut "Purple," and that is why IMHO a man like Lieberman truly does represent this state.

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at August 8, 2006 02:23 PM

ConnecticutBruce, I think Lieberman is a good man. An intelligent, thoughtful man who took and has maintained a position on the war that he surely knew might cause him problems. His position has been unwavering after WMD were not discovered and even as the situation seems to be spiraling more and more toward Civil War. Actually, I tend to think Iraq is already there.

While I'm not very familiar with Lieberman's record at the state level (I'm in Texas) it sounds like he has accomplished many good things over the years. I'm sure that's why he has enjoyed such long term support from his constituency.

I don't agree with Lieberman on a few things but I respect the man. Also, it must be really interesting being from a purple state. I think I'd like it. It will be what gives Lieberman a chance as an Independent should that eventuality occur. Unlikely to happen, I know, but still...

Best of luck to you and the great state of Connecticut. The whole nation is watching!

Posted by: Vicki at August 8, 2006 03:11 PM

Thanks Vicki ... I love visiting Texas. The people of Texas have always been great to me.

I think the whole red state/blue state thing is mostly the result of "dumbed down" coverage from the media. I believe there are more purple states than people realize. I'd love to see someone go "state by state" using this formula to measure the purple factor:

Senator #1 ... 25%
Senator #2 ... 25%
Governor ..... 25%
State Govt ... 25%

In the first 3 categories, you are either red or blue and get the full 25%

In category #4, the "color" goes to the party with the majority in each state.

So if senator #1 is a dem, blue gets 25% of the total ... etc.

I think many states will be either dark purple ( 3 of 4 categories Dem) or light purple (3 of 4 categories Repub).

Maybe not in Texas :) But in many other states!

And as long as we segregate ourselves into blue and red, with no shades of purple allowed, this is a recipe for more "disunity" and "Balkanization" in this country. And that is bad.

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at August 8, 2006 03:50 PM

He reminds me of Benny Hill dressed up as one of Charlie's Angels bragging about a $20.00 tip and upon being informed that the bill is counterfit exclaiming "I've been raped".

How long can you wade through a sewer before you realise there is no way to stay clean?

Posted by: ahwatukeejohn at August 8, 2006 05:56 PM

How could any reasonable person respect Leiberman if he was not an "Israel first" leaning person. I have said it before, if the Dems do not change their obvious anti-Israel bias, they deserve to loose that constituancy (still waiting for the gift of spelling). If American Jews continue voting for Dems, they should have their heads examined.

Posted by: ahwatukeejohn at August 8, 2006 06:34 PM

Lieberman just conceaded. Those of you over there with any sence, come on over.

Posted by: ahwatukeejohn at August 8, 2006 08:17 PM

Interesting formula, CTBruce. You're right about Texas. We get the full 100 points in the RED!! The only purple here is the native shrub: the Texas Purple Sage. :))

btw: I'm sorry the election results were not what you hoped for or expected. Still, no worries. You and Joe will live to fight another day. Never give up and best to you always.

Posted by: Vicki at August 9, 2006 12:16 AM

Thanks Vicki ... when I opened the front door and brought in my Hartford Courant newspaper this morning, I was greeted by a front page photo of Ned Flanders (I mean Lamont) with a smiling al sharpton standing right behind him.

It's an image that made me sick. I just hope Lieberman uses the fact that Lamont brought in people like sharpton and the repugnant maxine waters in HIS campaign ads for the Nov election. Because while Lieberman is truly a gentleman, he must point out how many of the people behind Lamont really are bad actors.

Posted by: ConnecticutBruce at August 9, 2006 05:30 AM

Tammy, you left several descriptions of the Left out in your opening statement, the most glaring is that they are Christian hating bigots.

I once considered myself to be a Democrat. No longer because this once great party is going down the broad road that leads to destruction as taught in the Bible. A party that labels Republicans intolerant throws out a member simply because he refuses to jump onboard the "Destroy George Bush" train that leaves daily via the mainstream media, and supports a war against fascists responsible for 9/11. I wonder how the MSM will report that.

Posted by: Gettysburg at August 9, 2006 07:55 AM

By Category

By Month

Lanny Davis Wakes Up and Smells the Hate

Trackback Pings

Comments

Post a comment