Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Michael Gerson's Weak Attack On "Fellow" Conservatives

Former George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson has had a gig as a house conservative/Republican over at The Washington Post.
It appears from this latest column, the lobotomy that The Post does to conservatives seems to be taking hold nicely.
In the latest tome from Mr. Gerson, he goes out of his way to gratuitously attack, well "fellow" conservatives.
See, Mr. Gerson seems to think that the yucky conservatives, you the Sharron Angle, Rand Paul types are going to hurt the conservative cause and the Republican party.
Take Mr. Gerson's attack on Mrs. Angle for this comment that she made:

"They put that Second Amendment in there for a good reason, and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact, Thomas Jefferson said it's good for a country to have a revolution every 20 years. I hope that's not where we're going, but you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies."

And Mr. Gerson, not realizing that Mrs. Angle is indeed playing over the top compares her to those that wear Che Guevara t-shirts:

It is the conservative equivalent of the Che Guevara T-shirt - a fashion, a gesture, a toying with ideas the wearer only dimly comprehends.

Somehow, I am rather offended that a so-called conservative would compare another conservative in any way, shape or form to a mass-murdering thug like Guevara. And I am certain most conservatives and yes Republicans feel the same way.
Now, FTR, Mrs. Angle was on a radio talk show, Lars Larson, when she made the comment. And she did take a look and realized that she was over the top and backed off the hardness of the comment. John McCormick over at The Weekly Standard puts context into the comment and the aftermath.
Then Mr. Gerson slams Kentucky Republican senate candidate Rand Paul and his libertarian leanings.
Here is a palate cleanser:

The fear is not that Paul will make gaffes or mistakes, but rather that he will further reveal his own political views. In America, the ideology of libertarianism is itself a scandal. It involves not only a retreat from Obamaism but a retreat from the most basic social commitments to the weak, elderly and disadvantaged, along with a withdrawal from American global commitments. Libertarianism has a rigorous ideological coldness at its core. Voters are alienated when that core is exposed.

And voters are not turned off by the excess of the Dear Leader, President Obama and his minions? In that one paragraph, it is why so-called "compassionate conservatism" turned out to be a failure. And yes, I do not consider myself a libertarian. But I agree with Mr. Paul that the government at all levels is too big and too unyielding. And back to socialism. It is much colder than libertarianism. It takes away any sense of individualism and allows a large government to be excessive.
But what really drives Mr. Gerson mad is the "anti-immigrant" rhetoric. That means that people that do not support so-called comprehensive immigration "reform"-amnesty-are hurting the Republican party.
Here is what Mr. Gerson has to say about the Arizona law recently passed and signed into law:

In addition, the Republican wave carries along a group more interested in stigmatizing immigrants than winning their support. Some conservatives have found Arizona's anti-immigration law a cause worth fighting for - a law that is poorly written, ineffective, symbolically toxic and likely to be overturned.

Just because one is not for so-called comprehensive immigration "reform", one automatically "stigmatizes" all immigrants.
Please, what childish tripe!
The overwhleming majority of those opposed to what the Bush 43 administration and the Obama administration want to do about illegal immigration want two things done before there is any talk about major "reform".
First, secure the border. Do what ever it takes, reasonably, to stop the tide of those entering the United States, illegally, from primarily the Southern border.
Second, enforce the laws already on the books from the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli act that should have done border enforcement in the first place.
And most want laws reformed that place a priority high value immigrants. Not just the cheap labor favored by some businesses. And future Democrat voters.
I have a three-tier plan that I will summarize.
If anyone is in the United States illegally for five years or less, deport without any questions asked. And ban them from ever being considered for a work visa, guest worker or American citizenship.
If anyone is here five to 10 years, give them an opportunity to get a Green Card and or apply for citizenship. But at the back of the line. No if, ands or buts.
If anyone is here 10 years or more, give them amnesty. So long as they have no criminal record or do not pose a long term threat to the security of the United States.
But, back to Mr. Gerson.
See, the compassionate conservative that he is does not realize that the American people have had it with big government. A big government that is only going to increase if there is not a change in direction come November.
Some of those elected will be a different kind of conservative. But, we should all keep our eye on the big picture. That is winning both houses of congress and the majority of governors offices and statehouses.
Some primaries are over and now is not the time to replay them as Mr. Gerson wants to do. The voters have spoken. And the voters will speak in November.
I wonder if people like Mr. Gerson will be listening?

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