Lieberman: ‘Bloggers Have Added Another Dimension of Vituperation Toxicity’ To Politics
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) led a panel discussion today at the American Enterprise Institute discussing “options for restoring civility in American politics.”…. Lieberman and Boehner both decried the harsh incivility in politics today while portraying themselves as paragons of independence and cordiality.
Surely, I’m not the only one who finds the idea of Joe Lieberman and John Boehner discussing civility in politics to be ironic in the extreme? Or perhaps these two ideological midgets just don’t understand that they’re two big reason why the current political climate is so uncivil?
Is there anything more hypocritical than two Republican ideologues (and yes, Lieberman IS for all intents and purposes a Republican) pondering the vagaries of political incivility? Gee, d’ya think they might have stumbled across the reality that the very incivility they’re decrying can be laid at their feet and and the feet of others within the Republican Party?
Would you like a few reasons why the political landscape is such a nasty mean-spirited place these days? How about this laundry list for starters?:
- Ann Coulter
- Michelle Malkin
- Michael Savage
- Rush Limbaugh
- Glenn Beck
- Newt Gingrich
- Bob Dornan
- Tom Tancredo
- John McCain
I could go on, but you no doubt get the point by now. IF Republicans are going to have any credibility at all in this discussion, they need to heal the pox in their own house before they look outside. If Republicans want civility in the political arena, they must first become civil themselves.
If Lieberman and Boehner want to return to an era that never really existed to begin with, that’s a laudable desire. Civility is a good thing, and more of it is certain better than less of it…because Lord knows there’s precious little of it in evidence these days. Having said that, however, while blame can and probably should be accepted on both sides of the political divide, Republicans and their attack dogs are then ones primarily responsible for the mean-spirited tone of discussion in the political arena today. And if you think I’m just a biased Liberal Democrat, take a look at the anti-Hillary smear machine. Take a look at Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. These are groups that care nothing for truth or decency. It’s about winning, and doing whatever it takes to maintain power.
If you want change, gentleman, then look within. If you want respect, act respectfully. If you want to be treated with honor and dignity, try acting honorable and dignified. If you want civility, you must first act civilly. Change yourselves, and maybe, just maybe, others might follow. If you refuse to do the hard work of looking within and acting as you want others to act, all you’re doing is engaging in so much verbal masturbation.
