Realism and Compassion: Unacceptable in Today’s GOP

[marmar]

from truthdig:



Realism and Compassion: Unacceptable in Today’s GOP

Posted on Nov 24, 2011
By Joe Conason


Tasteless and questionable as it was for CNN to “co-sponsor” a Republican presidential debate with a pair of right-wing Washington think-tanks, at least the branding was accurate. There among the honored interlocutors were the authors of dismal failure and national disgrace in the Bush era, such as Paul Wolfowitz and David Addington, whose presence helpfully reminds us that to elect a Republican risks a presidency that will make the same gross moral and strategic errors, or worse. Listening to them talk about Iran, a nation that unlike Iraq or the Taliban is a real military power, it was clear that we will certainly edge closer to another war with almost any Republican in power.

What the debate also revealed again is that a Republican who dares to utter a few words of compassion or realism is likely to prove unacceptable to the base of that party.

Coming off his proposal to repeal child labor laws, so that schools can force 9-year-olds to do the work of “unionized janitors,” it was surprising to hear Newt Gingrich appeal to human decency in resolving the immigration issue. But so he did, sensibly noting that deporting 11 million or more undocumented residents of the United States would be not only impractical but viciously cruel. It would mean ripping apart families that have lived here peacefully for generations.

“I’m prepared to take the heat,” said the former speaker, rather courageously, for insisting that the law should be enforced “with humanity”—and his opponents, notably Mitt Romney, brought that heat to a boil, attacking Gingrich for supposedly supporting “amnesty,” perennial buzzword of the anti-immigrant movement. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/realism_and_compassion_unacceptable_in_todays_gop_20111124/

[Kurmudgeon]

1. I hope some of the Obama bashers realize things could be worse, much worse.

Unless they are right wing plants, of course. For them, worse is what they want.

[libinnyandia]

2. It is surprising how many seem to think Republican = Democrat

[freshwest]

4. Due to conspiracy sources claiming both are Illuminati front men. Welcome to DU

Whether there is any connection to that stuff, those who follow the money know that a lot of conspiracy sites are funded by the Koch brothers to suck in and demoralize progressives. The reality is that the Koches, etc. have spent billions demonizing Dems and supporting all efforts to stop them from voting. They own the airwaves both radio frequencies and cable networks, seek to restrict all alternative views, and they repeat the same lies so much that even Dems and progressives hear these voices in their heads and have given up discussions because they can't catch up.

[DonCoquixote]

3. That is by design

because there are a lot of Nader types who would rather lose and complain then win, and those are the "useful idiots" of the GOP.