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Liberals really are nicer than conservatives

Which side is worse about engaging in political hate speech, conservatives or liberals? Did you ever have that debate with anyone? It's fun, isn't it? It's also pointless, since such things are inherently subjective and impossible to quantify.

I've found that debates such as this one tend to follow a certain pattern:


Liberal: Progressives don't engage in vile hateful rhetoric like conservatives do.
Conservative: Of course they do.
Liberal: Oh really? Give me one example of left-wing hate speech that's as bad as what Ann Coulter said!

The remainder of the debate is a tedious, repetitive exercise in which the liberal conjures up excuses for disqualifying every single example the conservative provides.

  • Ted Rall doesn't count because he's not as famous as Ann Coulter.
  • Ward Churhill doesn't count because he's an academic (or because he's got a ponytail, or because he pretends to be an Indian, or whatever. Anyway, he doesn't count.)
  • Randi Rhodes fantasizing about assassinating the president doesn't count because she doesn't shill for a political party the way Sean Hannity does.
  • Kos doesn't count because he made that remark two years ago. Really, are you so desperate that you have to dig back that far?
  • Michael Moore doesn't count because he's a filmmaker, and not enmeshed in the political process (skybox seating at the DNC notwithstanding.)
  • Democratic Underground posters don't count because they're anonymous nobodies.
  • Alan Hevesi doesn't count because he was joking.
  • Kanye West doesn't count because he's a musician.
  • George Galloway doesn't count because he's not American.

On and on it goes, and eventually you learn that the liberals are right. There's not a single example of left-wing hate speech to be found anywhere!

Of course they should really reframe the terms of the argument. It's not that "liberals are nicer." Rather, it's that famous liberals who aren't academics or filmmakers or faux Indians or entertainers and who do shill for the Democratic party and aren't anonymous or Scottish are nicer than Ann Coulter... lately.

Well, why didn't you just say so in the first place?

Comments

Barry,
I understand your tendency to want to find "middle ground" and be fair, but you are wrong and Shakespeare's Sister is correct. How could you even think of comparing Kos with the lunatic Ann?
Ann Coulter's statements are filled with deep hate and I believe they are very anti-American and antidemocratic as well. Her rhetoric is reminiscent of neofascist gangs in Europe (i.e. LePen in France). Nothing said by any left-winger can come close to it.

The only potential exception is Ward Churhill. He has said things that were completely unacceptable and extreme. However, he certainly does not enjoy any support and respect among liberals the way Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin
get from Fox News and many republicans and "conservatives". The democrats and liberals have denounced Churchill, but many republicans still support and respect Ann Coulter. Thats a huge problem for the republicans and reflects the quality of the republican party of today.

> The democrats and liberals have denounced completely Churchill...

Links, please?

Barry,
Whats wrong recently with posting in your site? I have been having problems recently and frequently ends up in "double posting". Maybe you should go back to Haloscan.

Never used haloscan, but you're right, I've been having problems. This morning no one could post at all. I guess double-posting's better than that. ;-) I'll delete your duplicate.

"Links, please?

Let me reverse the request. Cite me one (1) example in which a democratic senator, congressman or liberal TV host has endorsed the opinions of Ward Chrurchill. There is none. On the other hand I can give you numerous examples of "mainstream"(?) republicans defending and supporting the bizzare Ann Coulter.

> On the other hand I can give you numerous examples of "mainstream"(?) republicans defending and supporting the bizzare Ann Coulter.

Go ahead.

Then maybe you can stop avoiding my question, and provide links for the "democrats and liberals" who have denounced Ward Churchill.

Ok,
How about Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly for starters? What do you have to say about them?

I have zero respect for either one, as you would have known had you been a regular reader.

Now when are you going to get around to answering my questions? Show me those links of Democrats who denounced Ted Rall and Ward Churchill. Or did you must make that up?

Barry, I hesitate to get into this thread as it may allow BW to pull a 'Hack'.

The 'defense' of Coulter by Hannity and others is strictly this:

She was referring not to all 9/11 widows but rather that particularly obnoxious foursome known as 'the Jersey Girls'.

Two things, neither or which is surprising to those of us on the right, have happened:

a) Coulter's comments have been extrapolated into a condemnation of ALL 9/11 widows by the MSM, a base canard.

b) These women, who have been caustic in their criticism of Bush, blaming him for their husbands' deaths (which almost nobody has done), campaigning for Kerry and others are yet another example of what Dems feel are sacred cows - ala John Murtha and, lest we forget, John Kerry.

They seem to think that because someone has sacrificed in some manner, that no criticism, no rebuttal of their words is allowed. It's patently false and yet they pursue this with a singular, mindless dedication.

In truth, Hannity, as did I, felt Coulter was OOB with her sentence about enjoying their husbands demise. BW fails to point that out.

Their defense of Coulter, BW, is in getting the facts straight as they pertain to her actual comments, not the exaggerated pablum that your liberal media falsely represented.

Personally, I have little use for her as she aspires to create headlines in order to sell her one-sided books.

But don't fall for the crap be passed off as fact, BW.

She has every right to go after the Jersey Girls who, as political personas, have lost the mantle of untouchability in my, and many others eyes.

Mal said:
"In truth, Hannity,.......,felt Coulter was OOB with her sentence"

I did not know you can read Hannity's mind. Thats amazing :) I am glad you have this ability and you told us, because he came out as a strong defender of Ann Coulter, as always. In fact Hannity interviews Ann Coulter all the time in his show and has been a strong supporter of hers.

"not the exaggerated pablum that your liberal media falsely represented."

So, now the behavior of Ann Coulter is the media's fault? So did the media exaggerate when they reported that she wrote in her book:
"I have never seen people enjoying their husband’s death so much" and "How do we know their husbands weren't planning to divorce these harpies?"

There is no excuse or any way to justify defending defend someone like Ann Coulter. Beyond being bizzare, she is clearly anti-American. The fact that many republicans still defend someone like that, reflects the quality of the republican party of today and shows how far to the extreme the "conservative" movement is.

Mal - I think Coulter definitely has the right to go after anyone she wants. And she even has the right to call the Jersey Girls whatever she wants. That doesn't mean she should. Attack what they say? Fine. But what possible purpose is there in calling them McWidows or decrying them for "enjoying their husbands' deaths"? She has the right, but how in the world can anyone with any claim to decency say such a thing?

Personal loss is often an impetus to political involvement. It doesn't mean we all have to agree, but to attack the loss and the person rather than the politics seems incredibly craven. And for her to push this as somehow being proof that liberals are godless while she is, what? Christian?

While there are conservatives and liberals who constantly get away with saying heinous things because they are "joking", Coulter never seems to take herself anything but seriously. Maybe the problem is that we keep giving her forums on which to expound her schtick and then treat it and her as seriously as if she were William F. Buckley.

Fair points, K.

I personally was repelled by some of her language regarding the JGs.

My point is this: the MSM has intentionally misrepresented this to appear as if she attacked ALL rhw 9/11 widows, which they know to be patently false.

Another point, the media will always seek out these 4 rather than the (sadly) 1,000s of widows and widowers because they know they will get juicy anti-Bush soundbytes. THat is truly disgusting.

Oh, and BW, I don't read minds. I heard Hannity say what I commented on.

Sorry to disappoint you.

Fair points, K.

I personally was repelled by some of her language regarding the JGs.

My point is this: the MSM has intentionally misrepresented this to appear as if she attacked ALL rhw 9/11 widows, which they know to be patently false.

Another point, the media will always seek out these 4 rather than the (sadly) 1,000s of widows and widowers because they know they will get juicy anti-Bush soundbytes. THat is truly disgusting.

Oh, and BW, I don't read minds. I heard Hannity say what I commented on.

Sorry to disappoint you.

"Oh, and BW, I don't read minds. I heard Hannity say what I commented on.


Ok, you may not have the ability to read minds, but apparently you can hear things others dont. I watched Sean Hannity twice interviewing Ann Coulter in Fox News, 2 days in a row, and I did not hear him saying what you wrote. On the contrary, he was supportive of her. If you have any link to prove your point, please provide it. Sean Hannity loves Ann Coulter, and you know it.

He said it on his radio show, midweek. If you are a "Hannity Insider", you should be able to access the comments. I don't watch his show with the mortician on FOX,

Cgalling America "the world's worst terrorist," calling the Bush administration "the Fourth Reich" and blaming American foreign policies for terrorism are all anti-American comments.

Sliming the "Jersey Girls," while not in "good taste," is nothing close to that.

When O'Reilly thrw Jeremy Glick off his show for saying that American policies brought about 9/11 and that the Bush administration both knew about and wanted the attacks to happen as an excuse for a prelude to war with Iraq, I said, "In a better America, Jeremy would've been arrested before leaving that show and charged with treason and eventually hung right next to John "Taliban Johnny" Walker-Lindt."

I still stand by that and I know that Jeremy Glick lost his father in the WTC attacks...it DOES NOT excuse his treason!

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