When The Right Can Do No Wrong
You have to love how some on the right are bending over backwards (or is that forwards) to defend their fallen brethren. Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review hails Nevada Senator John Ensign for bringing “a refreshing change to the handling of beltway loose-belt scandals.” Lopez praises Ensign as much as she blasts the media for pointing out his hypocrisy. And she defends Ensign’s oft-stated defense of marriage and morality:
A politician’s failings do not render the beliefs to which he subscribes morally impotent. Facts remain. Marriage is a cornerstone. Under a bastardized and unfortunately widespread understanding of hypocrisy, it is “hypocritical” for someone who is not a perfect person to ever make a statement grounded in conscience, morality, or natural law. Presumably, then, all Christians should throw out their Book. The Bible is and always has been directed to sinners. And, save for the star of the show, the preaching comes from sinners, too.
No, Christians shouldn’t throw out the book. Christian politicians should stop ramming their religious views down our throats.
And then there’s Mark McKinnon, Bush 43’s former media adviser, who rushed to defend Mark Sanford when he disappeared, saying it would help his presidential chances. This was before it became known that he had cheated on his wife, but after it became known he was an oddball (h/t Right Wing Watch):
…he just made himself a better bet for president in 2012.
Guy wanted some alone time in the woods to clear his head.
Here we have a guy in politics who actually likes to get OUT of the spotlight. How exceedingly normal.
But oh, no. Not normal at all. A man in his position has to be “troubled” or “hiding something” for taking a walk.
Whoops!
“A man in his position has to be “troubled” or “hiding something” for taking a walk.” Mark McKinnon, The Daily Beast, June 23, 2009.
“It would be really unusual for someone who’s committed the time and energy to actually become governor of a state to simply pick up one day, and, without a word to anyone, go for a walk-about.” Posted by Rocky the Liberal Rottweiler, June 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
I really enjoy being proven right.
And as for Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review, I think she needs to visit Manifested Glory Ministries of Bridgeport, CT, and get those bad republikkkan demons cast out of her.
average james Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Spot on Rocky,
Twice.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Kathryn Jean Lopez is a bad joke. She has a long, sad history of cartoonishly wingnutty comments. Everything she says has to be filtered through the Stupid-o-Tron 9000 to protect average Americans from a significant loss of brain cells.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Ms. Lopez and Mr. Mckinnon and a few others should be spinning their yarn with the rest of the Fox News clan.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“Christian politicians should stop ramming their religious views down our throats.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Daddio Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Sure you could Eric. You would have added about four or five extra adjectives.
pizzaman Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Alan says, and of course EricG agrees, that “Christian politicians should stop ramming their religious views down our throats.”
Tell me EricG: What religious views are being “rammed down your throats”? And how, in your viewing, does the expression of opinion differ from “ramming”?
Pizzaman
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I don’t want to speak for EricG, but what Alan said was in response to the writer saying, ” Presumably, then, all Christians should throw out their Book.”
Alan said, “No, Christians shouldn’t throw out the book. Christian politicians should stop ramming their religious views down our throats.”
This is EXACTLY what they do when then run on run on family values, and claim gay marriage would be a threat to hetero marriage, when THEIR own bad behavior is the only threat to their marriage.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I considered commenting on the Web site, but I would have had to e-mail the author. I figured she’s not worth the trouble. (As for other articles she has written, I am not familiar; but once again, she isn’t worth the trouble.)
June 25th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
NEWS FLASH–Virginia Democrat Governor, Tim Keane is missing. Anybody know where he is?
Kregg Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Saw him at Walmart squeezin’ the charmin. At least I think thats what her name was…
Daddio Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I think that was Mr. Whipple. Maybe he was using an alias.
CherylCarroll Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 1:08 am
nice try. tim kaine does a radio program once a month called ‘ask the governor’ n i heard him blabbin abt the state of my commonwealth this morning.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Could have been pre-recorded Cheryl. Hmmm. :)
average james Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Maybe he is hiking nude in the Appalachians.
Kregg Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Good grief, James, keep up with the times! Nude Hiking day was a couple of days ago. However, having experienced a – uh – ‘rough’ relationship with the TP on the trail I suppose he could have STILL made it to Walmart and into the charmin’.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
“When the right can do no wrong”–Alan Colmes.
Hey, I know. According to Alan and the rest of the libs here, the right can do no wrong when we agree with them. When we vote for them. When we condemn the right. That is when the right can do no wrong, according to libs.
TDro319 Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Seriously Daddio, if you want to whine about libs, why don’t you visit a right wing site – and take Kregg with you.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Do-dah, do-dah. Can’t stand the heat TDro? You don’t care for my comments? Get a hanky and wipe those tears away.
Me and Kregg aren’t going anywhere.
TDro319 Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:30 am
So….you’d rather whine on a liberal site than be happy on a right wing site. To each his own, I guess.
JaredfromTexas Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
TDRO,
You’re so boring.
TDro319 Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
hey! The troll Jared calling me boring. Thanks for the compliment.
JaredfromTexas Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
TDRO,
My pleasure…you seem to be used to people blowing smoke up your arse…I figured it was time for a dose of reality.
Here’s a thought…be original.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hold everything Alan,
Where were all the reporters and press coverage when Edwards (who had a child out of wedlock I might add) was lying about his marital affairs? Remember his bull crap bluff about the paternity test?
… oh I remember. His wife was sick.
When will you folks ever figure out that most of these career politicians from both sides of the aisle are a bunch of reprobate, pond scum?
To make this a partisan issue is just flat silly.
CherylCarroll Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
“To make this a partisan issue is just flat silly.”
I agree. However –
“Where were all the reporters and press coverage when Edwards…”
Ummm, they were reporting and speculating on this over and over and over and over. Where were YOU?
TDro319 Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I also don’t remember Edwards ranting and screaming about the immoral behavior cf those on the right – the so-called “family values” crew.
average james Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I seem to recall lots of coverage of Edwards. Negative coverage. It took Edwards down.
I do not recall Edwards on a soapbox for family values either.
Edwards blew it, big time.
Sanford and others blew it big time, while ranting and raving about ‘family values’ and’sanctity of marriage’.
Therein lies the difference.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
WHEN THE LEFT CAN DO NO WRONG:
Donstone Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
WHEN THE LEFT CAN DO NO WRONG:
You have to love how some on the left have bent over backwards (or is that forwards) to defend their fallen brethren. Was it all that long ago that we heard that “It’s only sex” when DEMOCRATIC President Clinton lied about his affair with Monica.
Have we forgotten about DEMOCRATIC NJ Governor Jim McGreevy confessing to a homosexual affair.
And of course the DEMOCRAT John Edwards admitting to an affair which produced a child. I understand he is now attempting to restore his political career.
Will we (left and right) ever be willing to admit that making mistakes and sinning is a nonpartisan problem?
OldLefty Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Difference is that Democrats don’t present themselves as the “Family Values” party, while cheating.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Which makes their cheating just fine and dandy Lefty?
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Daddio,
Nobody said anything about fine and dandy.
The Republicans hold themselves up as the party of “Family Values”, when they are NO better than anyone else.
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), said it best, “The GOP needs to ‘lose the stinking rot of self-righteousness.’
They have never had more morals or values than anyone else.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Personally you are right Lefty. But on some issues they actually do have better values and morals.
I believe the Family Values issue isn’t about their personal lives, but about the values of America.
But a person should try and uphold those values with which they proclaim to hold.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:55 am
But also, liberals do seem to hold their party to a different standard BECAUSE the Dems never proclaimed Family Values so therefore when they cheat, at anything, it isn’t as bad.
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Well, Daddio, there you go, when you say “on some issues they actually do have better values and morals.”, that is only because YOU define values and morals……when I define define values and morals, they are better represented by liberal ideology.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:04 am
I think murdering an unborn baby is immoral and has no redeeming values. That is the conservative core value. And my faith tells me that that is wrong.
I think the progressive tax policy is immoral. Punishing someone because they are successful has no redeeming values.
I think forcing anyone to sign on to a national health care policy is immoral and it has no redeeming values.
I think nationalizing banks, insurance companies, and private business is immoral and has no redeeming values.
Your turn.
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:05 am
“BECAUSE the Dems never proclaimed Family Values so therefore when they cheat, at anything, it isn’t as bad.”
……………………..
Again, nobody says it isn’t “as bad”, only that it isn’t as hypocritical.
Democrats do not proclaim Family Values, because they believe they are personal issues that are not the purview of the government.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
So therefore the government should not make any laws because our laws are based on a value system. You know, life is a value so it is illegal to murder. Property is a value so it is illegal to commit theft.
Since values are personal issues then these laws should be repealed. Right?
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:17 am
I believe that having one of highest infant mortality rates in the industrial world is immoral.
I believe that killing innocent people in an unjust war, and engaging in war profiteering is immoral.
I believe that NOT having a national healthcare policy and protecting the profits of multi billion dollar industries at the expense of healthcare is immoral.
I believe a system of government where he who writes the biggest check, gets to write the legislation is immoral.
I think that government seeing it’s job as facilitating predatory economic practices by the few at the expense of the many as immoral.
And by the way, with the power that the GOP has had in all three branches they have never done anything about abortion because it performs too well as a fundraiser for them.
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:21 am
“So therefore the government should not make any laws because our laws are based on a value system.”
……………….
The issues that the government makes laws about, are NOT the “family values” issues we started the conversation about, unless you want to make laws about adultery, like the Wahabbis do.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:30 am
George Washington in his Farewell Address declared:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens….Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution undulge the suppositon that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education…reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I believe abortion is a family value, but the government made law on abortion. Adultry is a family value issue, but the government made law on adultry. Personal property is a family value issue, but the government made law on theft. I think offensive speech is a family value issue, but the government made law on offensive speech, aka Hate Speech.
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Re: George Washington
He ALSO said:
As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”
George Washington
“The man of great wealth owes a particular obligation to the state because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government.”
TDR
The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism—ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.
FDR
Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
Thomas Jefferson
“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
Abraham Lincoln
It always gets down to, WHOSE version of WHOSE religion?
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Abraham Lincoln: “Property is the fruit of labor. Property is desirable, is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich and hense is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently to build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence…I take it that it is best for all to leave each man free to acquire property as fast as he can. Some will get wealthy. I don’t believe in a law to prevent a man from getting rich; it would do more harm than good.”
James Madison on taking from the “haves” to give to the “have nots”: “Government is instituted to protect property of every sort….This being the end of government, that alone is not a just government,….not is property secure under it, where the property which a man has in his personal safety and personal liberty is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service of the rest.”
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:03 am
The Supreme Court declared this on the Redistribution of Wealth:
“No man would become a member of a community in which he could not enjoy the fruits of his honest labor and industry. The preservation of property, then, is a primary object of the social compact…The legislature, therefore, had no authority to make an act divesting one citizen of his freehold, and vesting it in another, without a just compensation. It is inconsistent with the principles of reason, justice and moral rectitude; it is incompatible with the comfort, peace and happiness of mankind; it is contrary to the principles of social alliance in every free government; and lastly, IT IS CONTRARY TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION.” (emphasis added)
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Daddio,
All very lovely quotes, but here’s the problem….both sides claim them.
MY side claims that between corporate welfare and lobbyist money, it is the REPUBLICANS who redistribute wealth from the bottom up…..who take from the have nots and give to the have mores.
It’s not an issue of property, it’s an issue of using the government to enrich those who control the government.
“Remember, almost all the economic gains of the last decade have gone to the people at the top. And they pay a relatively small percent of their income compared to what the people at the top used to pay.
Long time Republican advisor, David Gergin said, “”The wealth over the last 30 years has been redistributed — it’s been redistributed upwards,” “As we grow, the top one percent’s getting a disproportionate share.”
Adam Smith said, in Wealth of Nations:
“It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.”
average james Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hey Lefty, Willio,
Adam Smith–Wasn’t he a contemporary of Jefferson.
If I recall Jefferson agreed with many of his ideas. Am I thinking correctly ?
OldLefty Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
James,
I don’t know about Smith and Jefferson, but he also said:
“As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce”.
“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.”
Oh well, I gotta git for a while.
steve Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Daddio
Very well stated in your post. However….
1.Illegal abortions and unwise deaths along with health risk if we had no law.
2.No laws on adultry we woulnd end up having duels;killings and strength of marrige broken into bits.
3.The value of property would be look upon like the cattle barrens of the wild west and Americans being swindle from ownership.
4.No laws on speech only leads to anarchy and would make the Sex Pistols very happy and have a anarchy goverment.
Daddio Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I agree with the laws Steve. Except abortion laws and hate speech laws.
I was just making the point that if family values are personal issues as Lefty said and there is no room for government purview, according to Lefty’s belief, then how can government make laws based on values.
steve Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Daddio
We have to have laws on hate speech because hate can break the fibers of the American way of life.
I am not a fan of abortions and abortions should only be used in for rape and life of the mother. A woman has her right and only GOD should judge.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
[...] to claim that liberals have a double-standard on morality issues, but Alan thinks they’re throwing stones inside glass houses. He’ll explain [...]
June 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
“Under a bastardized and unfortunately widespread understanding of hypocrisy, it is “hypocritical” for someone who is not a perfect person to ever make a statement grounded in conscience, morality, or natural law.”
-Ms. Lopez doesn’t get it. Hypocrite was a term Jesus used quite frequently in the New Testament. I believe the Greek term is derived from “stage actor/actress.” So a hypocrite is not just anybody making a moral statement but somebody who does so while at the same time violating their moral statement. In other words they are “acting.” She is saying that we have a “bastardized” understanding of hypocrisy because an obvious example is being talked about in the news. One thing you have to admire about conservatives is their loyalty.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
The main reason the right has so much trouble is their stance on family values and to many people look at conservative politicians as if they are born into SAINTHOOD right next to GOD.
Being anti-goverment when people need help from the goverment. They speak of GOD but support greed and ill will towards fellow man. Mired into total hypocriticalness with a format of pro guns,anti-abortions and GOD.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I get really tired.
The career politicians, Republicans and Democrats are just crooks. They take money from our pockets and use it to reward their supporters and increase their personal power base. They place themselves above the law. They vote themselves exorbitant retirement plans, unimaginable health plans and perks beyond belief – all at our expense.
Then they act like drunk rock stars, spoiled brats, or NBA or NFL gangsters, expecting no consequences.
Everyone wants to make this a partisan issue. It’s not. I’m not the enemy and you’re not the enemy. The congressman and senators are! They don’t even police themselves.
You should be on my side opposing the lot of them. The slime ball Republican politicians hide behind the Democrat slime balls and visa versa. Then they sit back and allow us to fight each other while they pass in the night.
Does anyone realize this is the same conversation our founding fathers had with the English monarchy?
steve Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:55 am
HELIPILOT
Very true and they are no different than any1 else.
I had a debate with a fried that plays music and i was down on musical artist and he tried to say they are different but you sum up my point.
You should add CEO,s into fray as well.
Helipilot Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Steve;
I label myself as a conservative.
However, I am willing to admit that a purely free enterprise system is devoid of any “heart” and I am willing to listen to reasoned arguments from my liberal friends (Yes, I have some).
Many of them are smarter than me and they bring excellent ideas to the table. Ideas that realize our great wealth and our ability to help so many of our countrymen who need a helping hand.
However, I am incensed at the political elite who bring disgrace to their respective political parties because of bad conduct and elitist attitudes. These scalawags (SP?) have promoted a system that rides roughshod over the people they claim to support.
THEN, they pit citizens against each other and deflect the consequences. What we need to do is unite and hold them to term limits, legal responsibilities and severe punishment when they stray.
Hang tough – together
inaisle8 Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
So after you throw out all the politicians, who do we get fill the slots then?
Another politician?
You don’t seem to make a lot of sense Helipilot.
Are you sure your Jesus Nut is still connected to the top of you head?
JaredfromTexas Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
INAISLE8
So after you throw out all the politicians, who do we get fill the slots then?
Another politician?
Obviously…
Are you sure your common sense nut is still connected to the top of your head?
Helipilot Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Always has to be some personal hit, huh?
Most of the reading I have done seems to suggest that American political office was never intended to be a career. People are weak and when it becomes apparent that that their sustenance depends on their maintenance of political office, they will use much of their energies to protect that position… it’s just what humans do.
So then, a career politician often places his career (and hence his personal welfare) about the county’s. Anyone can see that happening all around the congressional political arena. Both parties are guilty.
My suggestion is that they have lost their way and congressman with only two terms would not be AS inclined to run unchecked.
(Think about it, their own retirement, their own medical, insider trading doesn’t apply to them, corporate jets, boondoggles around the world,.. at our expence?)
June 26th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Christian politicians should stop ramming their religious views down our throats.
Funny…this is exactly what Christians are saying about secular politicians…
Southern Girl Lib Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Yea and those muslims piss me off too.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:09 pm