Oh, my. Amazing what passes for journalistic standards these days (h/t Michelle. Woops, picked the wrong post. Meant to be this one)
IF YOU HATED IT the first time, you might like the sequel better.
Remember Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the right-wing goon squad whose defamatory insinuations helped sink John Kerry's presidential campaign? They're back! This afternoon, key Swift boaters George "Bud" Day, Mary Jane McManus and Carlton Sherwood are holding a little reunion, in the guise of a panel discussion at the American Conservative Union's annual Conservative Political Action Conference. The panel topic? "The Left's Repeated Campaign Against the American Soldier."
It's not hard to visualize the right-wing talking points that will emerge from this. The Swift boaters will be dusting off their 2004 scripts and reaching back still further to dredge up their Vietnam-era notes. Expect to see all the old myths revived: The antiwar left spits on returning troops and gives aid and comfort to the enemy. Oh, John Murtha, why do you hate our brave troops?
What's depressing about the reemergence of the Swifties, though, is that it's symbolic of the increasing takeover of the "conservative" movement by unprincipled, right-wing extremists.
You have got to read the whole thing. Seriously. Click on the link, read it, then come back. Notice the title: The Lunatic Right Returns. Yes, it is opinion. Read on.
All done? That is what passes for professional journalism nowadays. Yes, it is an Op-Ed. But it is an op-ed in a major American newspaper. It's not like this seething, hysterical, fictional, opinion piece was published by a tiny, middle-of-nowhere paper with a circulation of 50. This could have come straight from Kos, the DU, the HuffPost, MoveOn, or any of the other Nutroots candidates for straightjackets.
As for the "myth" of lefties spitting on returning Vietnam soldiers, guess what? Not a myth. Those on the left have been working hard to create the impression that it never happened, but, truth wins out over the "reality based community."
I missed any mention of constant slurs and demonstrations against the troops, as well as using them for political cannon fodder being symbolic of the takeover of the Democratic party by left-wing extremists. That's right, those people are mainstream. Anyone who disagrees with them are right wing extremists.
Tell you what. I will believe well over two hundred former Swift Boaters over one rented Democratic presidential contender who used his bully pulpit to smear his fellow soldiers, including before Congressional panels, any day. While I haven't participated in the "Kerry 180" blogburst in quite some time, as he is a non factor for the 2008 elections, Cao shows that he still hasn't released his full Form 180's to the public, as promised.
Are these Vietnam Vets against Kerry a right wing goon squad? How about these ones?
Soldiers Angels Germany points out that one of the Swift Boaters was a Medal of Honor recipient.
Op For takes on many other parts of the unhinged op-ed.
The Drive By Review wonders why Rosa Brooks, the op-ed writer, is so worried if the right wing isn imploding.
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, Is It Just Me?, The Virtuous Republic, Random Dreamer, A Blog For All, 123beta, Adam's Blog, basil's blog, Stuck On Stupid, Cao's Blog, Phastidio.net, The Bullwinkle Blog, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Jo's Cafe, Conservative Cat, Conservative Thoughts, Rightlinx, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, stikNstein… has no mercy, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, The World According to Carl, Overtaken by Events, Blue Star Chronicles, Renaissance Blogger, The Pink Flamingo, Stop The ACLU, and Dumb Ox Daily News, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
