Wayne wrote this morning about last night’s victories for openly gay candidates around the country, which is fantastic. It was even more than that, though. Last night there were several crucial victories, messages sent to the whackjobs who have taken over the Republican party that “we are sorry, but the American people aren’t like you and won’t let you ruin our country.” Mississippi voted its infamous “personhood amendment” down, and in Ohio, voters told Republican governor John Kasich exactly where he could put his union-busting SB5 law. In this clip, Lawrence O’Donnell and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz [D-FL] discuss the results.

In the clip, O’Donnell mentions that Ohio voters also rejected the individual mandate in the healthcare law passed under this administration, but Schultz also points out that a very conservative Republican judge upheld the HCR law as constitutional yesterday, which is another smackdown to extremists.

Weekly Column

In 1995, House Majority leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.) referred to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) as “Barney Fag.” He quickly apologized calling his verbiage a “slip of the tongue”. Fifteen years later, the obstreperous Tea Party movement that Armey is behind showed no such restraint, with members boldly calling Frank a “faggot” during the healthcare debate, while the crowd stood by and laughed. They also used the N-word to taunt civil rights hero, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), as he entered the Capitol to vote.

Can the media please stop pretending that the Tea Party is an amalgam of small government conservatives and anxious Americans concerned about their families? What we just witnessed was not spontaneous, nor was it a genuine outpouring of anger towards Washington. It was privileged DC Republicans shilling for the insurance industry while posing as populists. To obscure their genuine goals, they mobilized racists and riff raff to throw tyrannical tantrums in an effort to intimidate lawmakers.

If you think I’m wrong, watch almost any interview with Tea Baggers on the healthcare bill. They display a shocking lack of understanding about what they were actually protesting. Many condemn “socialized” medicine while not realizing that Medicare is a government program. These “good folks” have consistently regurgitated stale and misleading GOP talking points about “death panels” that they heard on FOX News.

Sure, there are some Tea Baggers who don’t fit this unflattering description. But one would have to be intellectually dishonest to deny the role extremists are playing in this movement. It is also worth noting that those who are reportedly not fringe ideologues are nonetheless eerily comfortable protesting alongside the more fanatical goons.

The thuggish tactics — from the ugly August “town brawls” to the race-baiting rallies on Capitol Hill – were grotesque and anti-democratic. Many of these so-called “patriots” were not putting forth real arguments in the interest of America — but simply arguing loudly to bully opponents and drown out genuine debate.

It was disgusting to watch Republican members of Congress egg on this unruly behavior. Several grandstanding politicians encouraged the mob from a second story balcony on the Capitol, as the empowered crowd yelled slogans through bullhorns such as, “Nancy Pelosi, you will burn in hell for this.” These grossly irresponsible lawmakers even encouraged anarchy by cheering a protester who was ejected from the House chamber for a disruptive outburst.

In my view, Republicans have crossed a dangerous line that threatens the fabric and cohesion of this nation. They are courting and catering to crazies and now call them a core constituency. The GOP leadership is consistently communicating in illogical, apocalyptic terms to reach “Values Voters” who are excitedly awaiting Armageddon.

The very strategy of today’ conservative movement is an affront to this nation. They incite their most fervent and fanatic followers by questioning the legitimacy of America’ leaders and institutions. They engage in legislative obstruction. And, many of these zealots believe that God commands them to rule, while anyone else is a usurper of the natural political order.

Republicans are also fanning the flames of regionalism and trying to balkanize this nation for political gain. When asked if passing the bill would help democrats politically, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) replied, “Someone at Harvard or in San Francisco may think that, but not the rest of the country.” This rhetoric mirror’ that of Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) who spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month and derided liberals for supposedly hanging out at “Chablis-drinking, Brie-eating parties in San Francisco.”

At the anti-healthcare rally, cantankerous protesters yelled, “kill the bill.” But, there is a true concern that the overheated rhetoric will lead to the death of real people. Republicans and Tea Baggers can only shout “fire” in a crowded theatre for so long before an unbalanced individual moves decisively to extinguish the alleged conflagration.

The GOP and the Tea Bag crowd need to stop polarizing America and dial back the rhetoric before it is too late.

As far as the politics of healthcare, the GOP will suffer. Obama proved he can be tough and get things done in Washington – and everybody loves a winner. In the end, the public will appreciate their new benefits and the GOP is now in the position of trying to deny health insurance to people with preexisting conditions. Good luck on that.

Finally, the gloom and doom scenarios painted by overwrought phonies, such as House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), will not come to pass. This is no different than when social conservatives claimed that civil unions in Vermont and marriage equality in Massachusetts would destroy the world.

Obviously, this did not happen, the public saw legalizing LGBT relationships was no big deal and our opponents lost credibility. The same will happen with healthcare. The sooner the public sees the sky is not falling, the faster the polling numbers will plummet for Republicans who voted on wrong side of history.

Yippee!

Matt Barber looks upon the Massachusetts election of Naked McGee and finds vindication! Let’s check out his latest “right hook,” line-by-line:

So much for that whole “hopey-changey” thing; cute while it lasted, but the American people — like Bernie Madoff investors — now realize they’ve been duped. “Change” for the mere sake of change is simply chump change.

The American people wanted a solid quarter and all they got was these pennies.

The seismic political shift that occurred in Massachusetts Tuesday night can’t be overstated.

You’re doing it right now, Bam Bam.

Obama’ Marxist, secular-humanist agenda — shared by Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the elitist, Eurocentric left — just ain’t gonna fly in the good ole’ USA. Not even in liberal Massachusetts.

Yeah, that French Mormon Harry Reid and that crazy secular humanist Catholic mother of six Nancy Pelosi! Elite Europeans, both of them! Also, Obama’s approval rating among voters in the special election is 61%. Details, details…

(I’m a right-wing “redneck,” you say? Well, tough tea party!)

I really wouldn’t know how tough your teabagging is, Matt. I guess we’ll have to ask Peter.

Old Teddy’ baby, of course, was socialized medicine, and Brown’ election may well force both Teddy’ and Obama’ signature issue off the duo’ Faux-topian “bridge to nowhere.” (Let’ call it “Mary Jo’ revenge.”)

Dead people don’t need healthcare reform, you see. And where DID that “bridge to nowhere” phrase come from again? I never can remember.

Those of us who prayed for a miracle to derail this ObamaCare monstrosity — passage of which seemed a foregone conclusion just weeks ago — have witnessed, along with the rest of the world, perhaps the greatest political upset in American history. It’ just that: a miracle. (God really does have a sense of humor, doesn’t he?)

Right hook from the JC, holla!

Many social conservatives (of which I’m one) have complained that the senator-elect is woefully flawed on social issues — particularly abortion. This is true.

Ha ha, God does have a sense of humor! Here, wingnuts! It’s a Republican, but it takes its pants off all the time and supports reproductive rights!

Still, to my pro-life, pro-family compatriots, I offer this: While bleeding to death, one may be left no choice but to apply a tourniquet. A tourniquet is less than ideal. It may even cost a limb; however, it’ also likely to save one’ life. Obama has sliced open America’ wrists with his cutting political agenda. Time is of the essence. By providing Senate Republicans the crucial 41st vote needed to filibuster, Scott Brown supplies the tourniquet.

Wait, who is the tourniquet in this mangled metaphor? And why is Obama slitting our wrists? He doesn’t want to kill us, but he just wants attention? Maybe he just wants to be blood brothers, like Michele Bachmann said.

Consequently, ObamaCare may well wither on the vine. From a practical standpoint, countless innocents may be spared. How? We know that Obama’ preferred Senate plan would require taxpayer funding for abortion on demand.

No it doesn’t, you dingbat. Therefore the next few paragraphs you’re going to type are absolutely meaningless. Two words: Hyde Amendment.

Therefore, it’ no stretch, in my opinion, to conclude that Brown’ election — should ObamaCare go down as expected — may have saved untold thousands, if not millions, of lives.

It’s no stretch when you’re lying! So true, so true.

I and others will not rest until he, and all who have been so deceived by the euphemistic language of “choice” and “reproductive freedom,” likewise recognize that all persons — whether born or pre-born — share an “inalienable right to life” that in every instance trumps another’ phantom “right to choose” premeditated murder.

Heh, right. Scott Brown lives in a house full of women. I have a sneaking suspicion they’d bust his teabags if he all of a sudden decided they shouldn’t have the freedom to make their own choices.

One, two, skip a few paragraphs, because they’re boring. It’s basically a bunch of crap about how this special election against a really awful Democratic candidate somehow was a HUGE repudiation of Obamunistofascisosexualistislamopelosiism, and specifically healthcare, even though the citizens of Massachusetts already have universal healthcare, which they sort of like, and polls show that 82% of Obama voters who went for Brown supported a public option in healthcare (i.e. MORE SOSHULIST! when translated into Teabag). Also, the public option still sports a 22% advantage among American voters. More details!

Still, we mustn’t ignore the enormity of Scott Brown’ victory.

Rawr! It is hard to ignore that kind of, erm, enormity.

Massachusetts Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike — and the American majority by proxy — are, once again (remember November’ GOP sweep in NJ and VA) rejecting Obama’ radical leftist agenda generally and the government takeover of healthcare specifically.

Latte-sipping Massachusetts elites have their finger on the pulse of America. Bam Bam said it, not me. Also, two governor’s races are a sweep against what’s going on at the federal level!

They remain determined “to do that voodoo that they do.” Yes, Democratic leadership appears undaunted, evidently intending to sprinkle pixie dust on their pet healthcare zombie in hopes that it may yet claw its way back from the grave (sorry for the mixed metaphor).

That’s the only one you’re sorry for?

Democrats defiantly insist that they will instead hit the accelerator, rushing the ObamaCare freight train yet more rapidly toward the cliff’ edge.

Pixie dust-bedazzled pet zombie is now on a choo-choo in Thelma and Louise, I think.

So, it would seem that, despite Tuesday’ crushing blow in Massachusetts, both the Obama administration and congressional leadership — in dogged defiance of America’ expressed will — have, nonetheless, made a political suicide pact. It’ Socialism or bust.

Okay, so time for some facts. Public support for healthcare reform tanked when the public option (TEH SOSHULIZMS) was taken out. It tanked when they started buying off Conservadems like Holy Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson. Before that, despite the fapping and moaning of the teabaggers, public support for comprehensive healthcare reform was consistently over 50%, and support for a public option was even higher, as long as it was explained correctly. (Screaming like crazed crack addicts about “gubmint takeovers!” doesn’t count as “informing the public.” Sorry.) Polling did not change after the sweatiest, teabaggiest August on record, when grunting hordes of fail descended on town hall meetings and stunk up the place for everybody. In fact, much of the change in polling results on the Senate bill came from progressives who were pissed off that the public option and more progressive reforms had been bargained away. If Matt had been paying attention to the healthcare debate on the internet (I mean, don’t work too hard, Matt…just check in with Memeorandum every now and then), he might have noticed that progressives have been fighting like cats and dogs (and fires and lakes) ever since President Lieberman started hovering over the proceedings like a…well, like a teabagger.

Again, details!

Anyway, ’til next time, Bam Bam…and I’m sure there will be a next time.

Man, where the hell is Lisa Miller anyway?

When we last visited the new Freedom Federation, Exodus International was joining this federation of Christian Right organizations in order to proclaim “real freedom” from the dangerous personal and religious liberties of any Americans who might seek equality under the law.

Now, through its sponsorship of the Freedom Federation, Exodus has joined the religious right’s war against “real change” of America’s broken health-care system.

Last week, according to Talk To Action:

Speaking for the organization, Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State and now a senior fellow for family empowerment at the Family Research Council said that the Freedom Federation “will be a stop sign and say, `Let’s apply reason and thought and broaden participation.’” Organization spokespersons say that some of their major concerns about health care reform revolves around “taxpayer-supported abortion, rationed health care for the elderly and government control of personal health decisions,” USA Today recently reported.

Blackwell’s unflattering characterizations of reform were civil compared to those of Federation members. Talk To Action pointed out that Gary Bauer’s Campaign for Working Families is working on a campaign to “stop Obama’s socialism,” while Andrea Lafferty’s Traditional Values Coalition — according to the Washington Post — is “trying to stop `Obamunists’ from destroying private health care.”

Why does Exodus support the Freedom Federation, if in fact Exodus does not support the religious right’s war against “real change” in health care?

And just how does Exodus — which claims to offer counseling and support to persons who are conflicted about their same-sex attraction — foresee a defamatory culture war against health care offering “real hope” to ex-gays who need legitimate mental-health care?

This post can also be read at:

The Huffington Post

The Falls Church News Press

WayneBesen.com

Sometimes, words can kill.

A vocabulary carefully crafted into lethal lies almost always foreshadows fatalities.

In the case of Nazi Germany, the evidence of Hitler’s wicked intentions — from Mein Kampf to the Brown Shirts – was vividly clear. People may have ignored the alarm bells, but no one can say that there were not warnings of the brutality to come.

In 1994, Hutu radio broadcasts that called Tutsis cockroaches helped lead to genocide in Rwanda. Prior to the infamous broadcasts, a newspaper published the Hutu Ten Commandments, which smeared the rival ethnic tribe and included the eerily prescient eighth commandment: “Hutus must stop having mercy on the Tutsis.”

Earlier this month, in Gojra, Pakistan, more than 20,000 rioters torched 100 houses that belonged to Christian families and murdered seven people after a false rumor spread that the town’s Christians had defiled the Koran. Local mullahs enthusiastically furthered this big lie and used it to spark violence.

“We were afraid because the clerics had been railing against us in the mosques,” Riaz Masih, a Christian and retired math teacher whose house was gutted told the New York Times. “They said, ‘Let’s teach them a lesson.’”

The circumstances of these tragedies are vastly disparate in terms of geography, time period and circumstances. However, they illustrate three points:

1) Inflammatory and defamatory words, especially if spoken by religious or political authority figures, can and do lead to violence.

2) There is no shortage of mentally unbalanced people who will sometimes carry out shocking acts, and we should be very careful not to incite them with rhetoric that stokes their paranoia. Like stacks of firewood, these angry individuals go unnoticed until the gasoline is poured and the match is lit.

3) Americans are human beings, just like everyone else. So, the notion that what we say does not matter “because it could never happen here” is jingoistic foolishness.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Dr. Michael Brown, an anti-gay ideologue in Charlotte who brought hundreds of red shirted fundamentalists to that town’s gay pride event. Brown’s mission is to “raise up a holy army of uncompromising spirit-filled radicals who will shake an entire generation with the gospel of Jesus by life or death.”

If you haven’t noticed, the extreme right is getting dangerously delirious. A black president, a Latina on the Supreme Court and gay people gearing up to marry in Iowa has exacerbated this crowd’s feelings of marginalization. (Read More)