Unthinking extremists are political pawns

Much of my writing over the past several years has focused on the paralysis of the federal government and the extent to which it contributes significantly to the nation's mounting problems. I've argued that both political parties are guilty as sin for the mess we're in because Democratic and Republican officeholders have figured out how to game the system so that it keeps them in office as they avoid grappling with the nation's problems.

But make no mistake about it, you and I are responsible for re-electing these self-possessed bozos. And the grip that the right- and left-wing nuts have on the Republican and Democratic parties contributes mightily to that sorry state of affairs.

This is why last fall I joined with Times-News columnist Mike Tower to form Citizens Against Politics As Usual, CAPAU. At that time, I changed my party registration from Republican to unaffiliated. I had been a registered Republican for many years. And before that I had been a registered Democrat for many years.

CAPAU (capau.org) is working hard to convince voters that it's vital for them to defeat all incumbents in order to begin to break the logjam in Washington that imperils our economy, our way of life and our freedom as Americans.

In early March, I was invited to be one of a panel of three questioners at a debate at Brevard College on March 26 that brought together all but one of the Republicans seeking the nomination for the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina. Well into the debate, I asked the following question: Are you willing to denounce Rush Limbaugh's statements about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, wherein he called her a slut, a prostitute, a femi-nazi, and called upon her to record her sexual encounters and post them on the internet?

The relevance of the question goes to the steep decline in the support of women voters for Republicans since Limbaugh's comments, which also was the subject of my column of March 18.

The GOP candidates who responded to that question did so with thoughtful and measured comments. But several members of the audience in the Porter Center for the Performing Arts, where the debate was held, went ballistic at my having asked that question. There were catcalls of "pathetic" and "pitiful question" from the audience.

A week after the debate, I received the following email, which is quoted here in its entirety except for the author's name.

Mr Goldman:

A week ago tonight you participated in the debate at Brevard College. I wanted to think things over before commenting on your first question (as well as the first question of the debate) concerning Rush Limbaugh asking the candidates about the need to apologize for his comments reference the agenda-driven Ms Fluke. These are just my thoughts on this portion of the debate.

First of all, your question was as unctuous as any I've heard from David Gregory or Bob Schieffer. If your intent was to emulate them then you succeeded. I am ashamed that, other than Jeff Hunt, who gave a halfway decent response, none of them took your obnoxious question and put it back on you.

Limbaugh had already apologized so the civil discourse Obama claimed to desire last year after the Arizona shooting was honored, at least by Limbaugh. What goes unchallenged is the unending attack by the likes of Bill Maher, David Letterman, Ed Schultz et al on any and all republican/conservative candidates. Our women especially, are the targets of comments far exceeding the bounds of decency or anything Limbaugh said.

The hypocritical, faux-indignation as demonstrated by you and other leftists does not go unnoticed and the righteousness you are trying to convey only succeeds in coming across as the SELF-righteous propaganda you are really aiming for.

May my beloved country and culture I was born to, continue in spite of the efforts of you and your fifth column compatriots in attempting to extinguish it.

signed

Brevard, NC

This venomous email isn't worthy of reprinting here except for the fact that it so disgustingly shines a bright light on the unthinking extremism that has taken root in and paralyzed both political parties.

Now the individual who sent me this email has a right to whatever political views he wishes. But that said, the views expressed are factually in error, incoherently expressed, extremist in nature and imbedded in concrete. It reminded me of Ben Franklin's comment that whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.

If CAPAU stands for anything, it stands for replacing incumbents of both parties who too frequently manipulate to their own advantage those who bay at the moon and are utterly clueless to the fact that they are but pawns in the hands of self-serving elected officials.

Please Visit:  Citizens Against Politics As Usual

Please Visit:  Mike Tower Political Opinions