South Dakota Senator Lashes Out at 'Taliban Wing of Republican Party'

[JI7]

<The special election to fill South Dakota's lone Congressional seat turned negative Sunday with fewer than 10 days to go before the June 1 polling date. At a Sioux Falls rally for Democrat Stephanie Herseth, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) appeared alongside the candidate and Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and touched off a firestorm with his remarks.

Johnson said, "When Stephanie Herseth fills this seat, we are going to have a rising star in the House of Representatives. And how sweet it's going to be on June 2 when the Taliban wing of the Republican Party finds out what's happened in South Dakota."

His characterization delighted the partisan crowd, but South Dakota Republicans are demanding an apology from Johnson.>

http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/newswire/news2004/...

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Let the Tali-bornagains demand all they want.

I could care less if their feelings got hurt.

[freetobegay]

3. I couldn't agree more with you!

Let them eat shit for a change.

[aquart]

9. Truth hurts?

Tough noogies.

No more Mr. Nice Democrat.

[DarkPhenyx]

21. Oh...I'm a nice Democrat.

I'm just not a doormat Democrat.

[TahitiNut]

56. The ones who object are implicitly admitting extremism.

Just yell "Hey, neofascist moron!" and see who answers. Simple.

[Syrinx]

2. what? tough words from Dashcle

It's about time.

[JI7]

4. no, it was Tim Johnson, the other Democratic Senator from SD

[Syrinx]

23. oops

I need to read more carefully.

[silverweb]

5. *yawn*

The whining reThuglicans are so very predictable. They dish it out by the ton, but get their panties in a wad the minute anyone comes back at them.

[aquart]

13. Excellent. Let us remember to call them whiners.

Crybabies is nice, too.

[LiberalFighter]

44. Send them cheese

[TahitiNut]

55. French cheese

Brie d'Moulin would be appropriate.

[Justice]

6. Remember Frist On The Senate Floor Accusing Richard Clarke of

Perjury? When it was revealed days later that Frist was completely off base, did Frist apologize?

Why should Johnson apologize for saying something that rings true, when Frist cannot apologize when he is dead wrong! (and Frist spoke not at a fundraiser, but in the official capacity in the senate!)

[JI7]

7. and Johnson was nice to point out it isn't all republicans

but a certain "wing" of them. and of course he is correct.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. Good for him and he BETTER STICK TO HIS WORDS!!!!

[daligirrl]

10. Boo-fucking-hoo. . .

I am so tired of these dish-it-out-but-can't-take-it crybabies. I am more convinced every day that these people are suffering from a collective personality disorder.

[BeFree]

11. Saw it here first

Been at least a year, it has, since the phrase "Taliban Wing of the Republican Party" was first coined, I believe, right here on DU!

Now the phrase hits the mainstream media, finally!

DU is so far ahead of the rest of the world it almost makes yer head spin! But what did you expect? DU is the Voice of the People.

DU Brings Power To The People!

[MajorFlaw]

12. It's a funny line. Kerry should borrow it in October. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

14. Pretty sure Johnson is the only member of congress with a son...

...who is either currently or was formerly serving in Iraq. Screw the Chickenhawk Rethugs.

Don

[alittlelark]

19. You are correct. My co-worker's nephew

is the only senatorial child in service in Iraq

-edited to add Where he is serving.

[JI7]

20. his son is currently in Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

50. Thanks for the information, Didn't know. I really respect Johnson. n/t

[FleshCartoon]

15. No apologies.

Never again.

[alittlelark]

16. Johnson is the brother-in-law of a co-worker.

We talked about this comment today (he's an ex 60's radical). He will be vacationing with the Senator and his sister starting Thursday. I think he will be at work tommorrow (but I have his cell # too) .

Any comments a DUer would like me to give him for his Brother-in-Law?

I'll make all efforts.....

[murielm99]

32. He better NOT

fucking apologize!

[alittlelark]

36. Is that really what you want to say to him?

How about, instead, something showing respect for the huevos it takes to stand up for your beliefs in a hostile climate.

I may start a thread in GD for people to say what they think about what he did.

The cool thing is....he's GONNA SEE IT!!!!

[murielm99]

53. Excuse me?

I come to DU to be informed, but also to have a little fun, to blow off some steam about the current situation.

When I noticed that others had responded in a light manner, I did the same.

Given that so many of our guys have shown some spine and later backed down, I have good reason to worry that will happen again.

Would I actually say that to a public official? Of course not. Grow up. You have no reason to jump all over me.

[havocmom]

37. Tell him he is an inspiration

and gives us hope. He called it absolutely right about the far right.

[umtalal]

57. Tell him we like him, appreciate him and respect him

I am a follower of his. I watched him on the floor on C-Span and he is a fine respresentative of South Dakota. And if they give him a hard time, tell him needs a replacement for Fienstein.

[Dhalgren]

61. Tell him we need more Democratic office holders

like Sen. Johnson! He speaks the truth and has a backbone! Why is it that so many Democrats fear crossing the Thugs? I say thanks to Sen. Johnson - leading by example! And, oh yeah - "Bring 'em on!"

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

65. How about...

"Hey, do they know what 'wing' means, besides something you can find at KFC? It means 'faction'. As in, 'not all, but some'. Learn English, crybabies."

Edit: just to clarify, this is something he can say in future appearances.

[bluestateguy]

17. An apology?

When their side stops with all the Godcountrypatriotismoldtimereligion stuff and insinuating, or outright saying, that we are terrorist sympathizers, then I'm prepared to call for Johnson to apologize.

[meow2u3]

63. Rethugs ALWAYS demand an apology...

from Democrats who tell the truth about them. What're Dems supposed to do?! Lie to cover up for the Rethugs?!

[bluestateguy]

18. An apology?

When their side stops with all the Godcountrypatriotismoldtimereligion stuff and insinuating, or outright saying, that we are terrorist sympathizers, then I'm prepared to call for Johnson to apologize.

[baby_bear]

22. That's a quote from Julian Bond, pre - 9/11

"(Bush) has selected nominees from the Taliban wing of American politics, appeased the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing, and chosen Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection."

http://www.nationalreview.com/daily/nr022601.shtml


bark bark!!

s_m

[Disturbed]

24. Democrats with spine!

Kudos! More Democrats should have been railing against the Neo Fascists. I put the partial blame on Dems for the illegal invasion of Iraq. They were, with few exceptions, doormats to the Neo Fascists. I guess I must type "better late than never". Nancy Pelosi was 100% correct and I am real pleased that she did not back down.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. KMA, TWOTGOP...

Kiss My Ass, Taliban Wing of the GOP.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

26. It's true. They are religious fundamentalists

and as wrong for this nation's democracy as the Taliban.
Might as well call them out and face the music of the backlash this comment is certain to spur.
Bring it on.

[Nancy Waterman]

27. The Republicans always squawk

when someone speaks the truth! The Taliban Wing of the Republican Party is the perfect description. They are just as fundamentalist, just as sure they are the only true believers, and just as ready to ascribe satanic motives to everyone else.

[0rganism]

28. Did the GOP ever apologize for the Cleland-binLaden morph?

Did Frist ever apologize for accusing Clarke of perjury?

Did the wingnut broadcasters ever apologize for calling Bill Clinton a "sexual predator"?

No?

Then I guess they can go straight to hell.

[CTLawGuy]

29. I knew instantly this wasn't Daschle talking...

NT

[umtalal]

58. I agree

Daschle thinks he is slick. I think he is a light weight. Is it any wonder the Senate has become the way it has?

[iam]

30. Nothing is more disgusting

than rich white republican males whining about having only 90% of the power in the world. They want an apology, I got their apology right here.

[dusty64]

31. WOW! I LOVE it!

They truly are the American Taliban and I couldn't be happier to actually hear someone say it. What a surprise when the New York "liberal" Hillary is busy sucking up to the VRWC conspiracy on fux and a moderate from a red state says what I've been thinking.

[jobycom]

33. Did South Dakota Republicans first apologize to Tom Daschle?

I seem to recall Daschle's patriotism being questioned by rather high ranking Republicans, despite the fact that Daschle actually wore the uniform when another administration asked him to.

Support the troops doesn't mean honoring them after they've returned, apparently, at least for Republicans.

[Philostopher]

43. They care about the troops once they are no longer in uniform

precisely as much as they care about fetuses once they're out of the womb.

You do the math.

[BiggJawn]

34. I'm demanding an apology for EIGHT years of trashing Bill Clinton...

Think I'll get one from the ReTHUGlican Party?

Sure, probably happen about the same time I sleep with Madonna....

[truthisfreedom]

35. I demand an apology from ALL republicans simply for BEING REPUBLICANS.

so there. phbbbbbbt!

[Hand]

38. I got your apology...

Right here, suckas...

[Triana]

39. oh my - hit a nerve, did they?

just a tad too much truth in those statements! HA!

[Kenneth ken]

40. Apology

"Any time the Taliban wing of the Republican party wants to meet with me face to face, I will be happy to apologize to them. I have no intention of apologizing to some faceless entity." said Senator Johnson.

(he didn't really say that, but he should. The the cons either have to face him, and thereby admit they are the Taliban wing, or STFU.)

[dArKeR]

41. Not to forget the Repukes have attempted to assassinate Daschle. Anthrax

[Judi Lynn]

51. I'll never forget. NEVER. Monsters. n/t

[The Zanti Regent]

42. Please what is the latest poll numbers on this race???

Anybody know?????

[Josh]

45. Last I heard it was tightening - Herseth up by about 6-10 points

but she had a thirty point lead about two months ago when no one knew who her opponent was. I still think she'll pull it out.

(Edityed for speling mistayek.)

[othermeans]

46. The usual from the whine and sleaze crowd nt

[othermeans]

47. Johnson's son is the only Senator's son in combat in Iraq

[sofa king]

48. I've had the pleasure of meeting Senator Johnson

He's everything one would wish a Senator to be: personable, well spoken, in command of the facts, interested in the people around him, and fair, even in the midst of one of the hardest fought (and most honorable, on both sides I think) campaigns of recent years, which is when I met him. He's what we once expected all Senators to be.

When Johnson speaks in the terms cited above, we should all listen. I think that when he has to resort to apparent hyperbole to get his point across, you should take pause. Because that guy knows his business, and he's not prone to mudslinging. If he's willing to fight it on that level, you know the fight has gone beyond mere politics and has gone to a fight between freedom of thought and that of smear and propaganda.

Senator Tim Johnson is the patriot in this fight. He would not degrade himself or his state or this country, so when he draws a simple comparison between the Biblecons and the Taliban, he's not mucking around. He's calling it like he sees it, and he sees it firsthand.

And I happen to think he hit the target dead on.

[Voltaire99]

49. Give 'em hell, Johnson!

Here's the "apology" you can use:

"I regret if some of my opponents can't stand being told what they are."

[dusty64]

52. A giant kick cause

I LOVE hearing this, I hope the rest of the Democrats start hitting back at those hypocritical and EVIL extremists.

[Bandit]

54. I love it when the Repubicans start squeeling

[tom_paine]

59. NO APOLOGIES!

About TIME someone called these Totalitarian Theocratic Busheviks WHAT THEY ARE!!!

[davidinalameda]

60. screw them

the bible thumpers are just as bad as the Taliban

if they had their way, gays would be stoned to death, women would be pregnant and barefoot and only white males would be in charge

[Donkeyboy75]

62. As soon as we get an apology

for being equated to Al Qaeda for supporting a woman's control of her reproductive rights.

[dand]

64. He could be a little more specific, in my state, Virginia,

Senators Allen and Warner are senior members of the Taliban wing of the Republican party and he didn't even mention them. Plus my Congressman, Schrock is at least an Imam.


HOW ABOUT A LITTLE RECOGNITION HERE!!!

[DaveSZ]

66. He shouldn't apologize!

That's telling it like it is!

[jokerman93]

67. Good News!

The first thing to do is to give back to the extremists what they have been dishing out to "Liberals" for decades now. Marginalize the Bastards! Back to the margins! That's where they came from and that's where they still are -- in the America where reason, humanity, and justice for all are still valued.

Words are powerful weapons. It's time to sneer right back and roll our eyes, folks. Let them know that no one in their right mind would take their extremism seriously.

Push them back! And keep pushing them!

[DaveSZ]

68. The Christian Taliban

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18259

The Christian Taliban

By Stephen Pizzo, AlterNet
March 28, 2004

During the Taliban rule of Afghanistan the world got a good look at what happens when religious zealots gain control of a government. Television images of women being beaten, forced to wear burkas, and banned from schools and the workplace helped build strong public support for the President's decision to invade Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.


But even as President George W. Bush denounced the brutal Islamic fundamentalist regime in Kabul, he was quietly laying the foundations for his own fundamentalist regime at home. For the first time far right Christian fundamentalists had one of their own in the White House and the opportunity to begin rolling back decades of health and family planning programs they saw as un-Christian, if not downright sinful.


Since 2001 dozens of far-right Christian fundamentalists have been quietly installed in key positions within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Drug Administration and on commissions and advisory committees where they have made serious progress. Three years later this administration has established one of the most rigid sexual health agendas in the Western world.


It began immediately. One of George W. Bush's first acts as president was to issue an executive memorandum reinstating a global abortion "gag rule." The rule was first implemented under Ronald Reagan but revoked during the two Clinton administrations. The rule prohibited federally funded family planning providers from even discussing abortion with their clients.

-more

[DaveSZ]

71. If this doesn't prove the existence of the US Taliban,

I don't know what will:


http://www.theocracywatch.org/texas_gop.htm


Highlights of the Texas GOP Platform, 2002

"The Republican Party of Texas reaffirms the United States of America is a Christian Nation ..."

1. GOVERNMENT
"We reclaim freedom of religious expression in public on government property, and freedom from government interference."

Support government display of Ten Commandments.

Dispel the "myth" of the separation of church and state.

-more

[IA_Seth]

69. How about we show them that we support his comments!

This weekend the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be
sending volunteers from all across the country to South Dakota to
participate in a huge Get Out the Vote effort to elect Stephanie
Herseth to Congress and gain momentum in the quest for a New Majority!

The DCCC will pay for transportation to South Dakota, lodging, and
food and drink, so the trip is free! Sign up at
http://www.dccc.org/sd today! Call Christine Meehan at 302-381-9473
for more details.

This will be a close election and we need your help to win!

[tilsammans]

73. I wish I could participate . . .

I hope they get an EXCELLENT turnout! And the desired result!

[underpants]

70. Ed Gillespie's response -a MUST READ

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55582-20...

"The following is a statement by Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, on Sen. Tim Johnson's comments comparing Republicans to the Taliban:

" 'Unfortunately for angry Democrats like Tim Johnson, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy, terrorists aren't responsible for the deaths of U.S. soldiers, their commander-in-chief is.' "

[Justice]

72. Bet Begala or Carville Brings This Up Today

Imagine what Novak or Carlson might say....