They and We

[fallenpegasus]

When They do it, it is "the mask slipped" or it is a "Freudian Slip".
When We do it, its a "mistatement" and "allow me to revise my remarks".

When They do it, it is using "code words" and "dogwhistling".
When We do it, it is "speaking to our base".

When We do it, it was a "lighthearted jest".
When They do it, it is Not Funny

Comments

[nancylebov]

Yeah, I can remember when being partisan felt like an altered state.

[loganb]

I'm assuming "we" == "Democrats."

Given:

When one of Their people attend services in a church with a "weird" minister, they are a "nutjob".
When one of Our people attend services in a church with a "weird" minister, they are "being part of their community of faith".

Can you honestly say that McCain has gotten more criticism for his association with Hagee than Obama's association with Wright? From my observations of the "liberal" media (I mostly read NYT, CNN, MSNBC, BBC) Obama seems to be taking most of the heat. I didn't even know Hagee's name until I googled "McCain religious extremism" after reading your post.

[tcepsa]

I'm assuming "we" == "Democrats."

I kind of thought those statements generally held true regardless of which group was saying them ~wry grin~ (and I'm not limiting this to political parties)

[loganb]

hahaha, good call. Though either way you slice it, an asymmetry exists on the reporting of these issues.

[fallenpegasus]

Bad assumption.

Tho I find it interesting that most of the people I've shown this to or have written to be about it have assumed that I wrote it to puncture "them".

You both do it, and are equally bad.

[tugger]

It is sad that many of the events of the past decade have been used to divide us, when they could have been used to unify. I don't always understand what others are thinking, but I at least start with the premise that it makes some kind of sense to them...

[docorion]

Actually, I've got to hand it to you on this one. Those are all apropos. Non-partisan, even. I'll own the ones perpetrated by 'my side', because I[m not any fonder of them than those perpetrated by 'their side', truly. I wish that there was more context in all of the debate, and less sound bite. That everyone could embrace the fact that many of the issues which divide us are *hard*, and there may not be a 'right' answer, just an answer which is less wrong than many other answers. That the world, and the issues, are complex, and we'd get further if we debated them like adults, rather than choosing up sides and fighting.

I also wish I had a pony. :-)

[fallenpegasus]

All of them are perpetuated by "your side". And by the "other side".

And where would you keep a pony?

[rhonan]

When we can't remember how many houses we own, that's being a successful leader. When they remember that they only own one house, that's being elitist.

[fallenpegasus]

Quick trivia question. Which household made more income last year, McCain or Obama. Which one gave more of their money away, in both absolute and % terms?

McCain would make a terrible President.

Obama would make a HORRIBLE President.

He's a Chicago Machine politican. He is nothing new, he is not special, he is not great. He's just as corrupt as the Chicago Machine has always ever been.

[nancylebov]

He's been consistently opposed to torture. McCain hasn't. What's more, Obama pushed through a law in Illinois that requires videotaping of interrogations and confessions in capital cases.

All I was hoping for is to get back to politics as usual, rather than the amazing wreckage the current administration has been causing. Obama might be a little better than business as usual.

[fallenpegasus]

While it's odd to reply to a comment after more than two years...

He doesn't seem to be all that "consistently opposed to torture" NOW, does he? Gitmo is still open, and "extraordinary" rendition is still happening. He keeps spending blood on the war he opposed, and not staffing enough for the war he supported.