Why "Idiot Liberals" and not Idiot "Democrats"?

[trumad]

I watched the video of Obey and I thought the dude was passionate in trying to describe the frustration with ending this damn war.

If the dude didn't use the phrase "Idiot Liberals", this would be a non-story.

It's pretty simple why this became such an issue here on DU..... simple because for the last 30 years, us Libs have been slandered by the right with every Lib phrase in the book and "Idiot Liberals" probably rates as the phrase used most by the Right.

We hear "Idiot Liberals" and we Libs immediately get into Spartan battle mode. I think some are right in questioning why Obey would use a right wing term to describe people in his own party. Is Obey not a Liberal? Does Obey have a genuine dislike for folks who are a bit more left than him?

Simply put: The phrase "Idiot Liberals" is an offensive term to us Liberals, hence the uproar.

[mmonk]

1. So any allies (politics around the war) they have in the democratic party

can make the same charge or insult.

[mmonk]

2. The issue should always be where the charge or insult lies.

Using the term "idiot Liberals" first off plays into the hands of those who gave us endless war (if you oppose it, you're a "liberal" idiot). Second, it will further divide our party and the propaganda that Liberal is negative, unpatriotic, and void of rational thought. Therefore, I have NO repect for those that use it and will provide him or anyone else NO intellectual excuse for using it.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. I think he was pointing out

that most of the in-your-face aggression to end the war is coming from liberals.

Even his having said that, it's still not a big story. 98% of Americans couldn't tell you tomorrow who Obey is.

[trumad]

9. in-your-face aggression

I really didn't think the people who questioned him on this were that rude. They were persistent and nothing more. mho

[HereSince1628]

4. Methinks it's evidence the old team is feeling lots of pressure.

Too many people getting arrested in his Wisconsin office. Too many people in his face. He isn't taking the pressure very well.

Obey doesn't like the notion that not having enough votes is seen as his failing. Obey KNOWS that Iraq will still be a huge campaign issue in 2008. He may be getting uptight at the idea that Iraq will be used against him.

The "Idiot Liberals" believe if there aren't enough votes he ought to be working to get them.
Rather than screaming at the "liberal idiot" activists who ARE working the hallways of Congress to get those votes, Obey ought to be talking about how to be effective in building the votes he needs.

[mmonk]

5. He knows and feels the frustration that many of our elected

officials are more concerned about their political seats and any nasty names the repukes may call them in a campaign than they are about the war, those dying in it, or this country in general. When they get called on it, the reaction is to be nasty and to call people names who confront them on the issue.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

6. Good.........

The "old guard" and their accompanying sycophants need to learn that they are extensions of our will, and their jobs are NOT safe. If they adopt a circle the wagons policy that solely preserves their employment, they'll be out on their asses soon enough.

[mmonk]

8. I'd like to see the old guard call Walter Jones (R) NC

an idiot Liberal when he calls for troop withdrawal. To be intellectually honest they should (but they aren't).

[NDP]

7. It's time for the Democrats to destroy the myth of Conservatism. Conservatism is anti-American

and has always been anti-American, but the Democrats have allowed Conservatism to thrive. No longer. Destroy the perception of that ideology. It is selfish, favors privilege and wealth, and wants dynasties instead of Democracy.

Kill the myth.

[EndElectoral]

10. Good point..why not just idiot! His use of liberal with idiot plays into the nutcases hands

[Zodiak]

11. I believe that the use of "idiot liberals"

by a man who is ostensibly a "liberal" in Congress is very telling. Our politics are so skewed that even the more liberal members of Congress run away from the word as if it was radioactive. I would imagine running from stances that are "liberal" is also part and parcel to running away from the monniker.

As a result of this paradigm, the marketplace of ideas is bereft of any liberal input, and our country has suffered greatly because of it.

As to who was right, I do not care. I am just glad to see that the pressure is being felt on the Hill, as it should be.

[KingofNewOrleans]

12. Because the person in question was an idiot

and a liberal. It's not a polite phrase and maybe that's why Tina and her friend chose Obey because he has a past history of losing his temper. Clearly, given the camera and the immediate appearances on TV they were looking for a confrontation, to make news.

They could have chosen Feingold, since he's had as much success as Obey, but Feingold doesn't have a history of lsoing his temper and the video would have been rather bland.

What Tina and her friend were trying to accomplish anyway, I can't figure out. If she was trying to help her son get medical care, she should have gone into Obey's office in the first 15 seconds when he offered. If she was trying to end the war, she should have been lobbying a congressman who actually still supports the war. If she was merely trying to get on TV and demonstrate her thin grasp of the legislative process, well then she succeeded. Not a very lofty goal though.

[kiteinthewind]

13. Just to clarify....

"maybe that's why Tina and her friend chose Obey because he has a past history of losing his temper"
"Clearly, given the camera and the immediate appearances on TV they were looking for a confrontation"
"If she was trying to end the war, she should have been lobbying a congressman who actually still supports the war"

Incorrect on all counts:
Tina and her group have been lobbying as many members of Congress as they can get to. Dems, Repukes, Representatives, and Senators. The people on this thread who are making judgments don't know her or what she has been doing for 5 or 6 weeks straight, now, let alone what she has been doing for FOUR years. This was not a one time thing. This has been ongoing. The camera guy has been documenting most of her meetings, NOT just this one, and NOT to get someone to 'lose it'. If people would have taken time to research what she has been doing, they would realize this was NOT a 'set up', just one in many discussions with our paid representative in D.C. Those who have called her names have no idea her commitment to ending this war, let alone the personal pain she feels with her son going on his 3rd 'tour' of Iraq.

That is the ignorance in this whole uproar. Not seeing much compassion or understanding of this situation, whether it is because of ignorance or because of delusions of self-importance and absolute understanding of the legislative process. Either way, I am pretty ashamed of the attacks I have seen here by supposedly "liberal" thinkers. Oh, and by the way, any Congressman who is still funding the war, IS supporting the war.

:cry:

[KingofNewOrleans]

14. Why didn't Tina sit down with Obey

when he offered in the first 15 seconds to have her come in and talk about her concerns regarding her sons healthcare?

[kiteinthewind]

15. Well, I can't read her mind, but I would guess that

1. Her son is on his way to Iraq
2. She is working to end the war for ALL of the soldiers, and that was her mission in being there

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Because she is not lobbying to get health care for her son

She tells about her son to show that she does have a dog in this fight. But she gave up her life and went to DC to end the war.

[KingofNewOrleans]

19. Well she needs to get smarter and

more effective if she's going to have any impact.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I think she is brilliant and also brave

I am watching her on MSNBC right now. She knows more about this illegal occupation in Iraq than many congress reps and most DUers.

I also think an argument can be made that she is indeed having an impact.

[KingofNewOrleans]

24. And I think she's ineffective

don't doubt that her heart's in the right place, but I don't think she's advancing the cause.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Voting to fund the war is supporting it

Why is that so hard to understand?

[KingofNewOrleans]

18. What so hard to understand about Obey

telling her that he stop the war tomorrow if he had the votes, but he doesn't. See, he doesn't have a magic wand.

And if Tina and the camerman talked to others on Capitol Hill, they should post that video too. The only one I can find by them is Obey.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. There are videos on her website and on youtube

and on many other peace community websites.

[KingofNewOrleans]

23. could you post links to videos of her

specifically on Capitol Hill? I found video of others, like at Sam Farr's office where people actually sat down with the Congressman. Maybe I'm not using the right keywords to search.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I also believe Tina knows the votes are not there

Does that mean she should give up and go home?

The incorrect assumptions about Tina and what she knows and what she has done are just mind boggling. On this progressive website. It's really just heartbreaking.

[gulliver]

25. I don't like idiot liberals either.

I think idiot liberals (as opposed to idiot liberals) should just sit down and shut up. I am against incompetent noise makers, regardless of their political stripe.

There is nothing worse than making a bad argument for a good cause. Anyone who presumes to speak for the liberal or Democratic side (my side) has a big extra burden. They need to be competent, and they need to have their facts straight and grounded deep to bedrock. They need to be hard-working and clear headed. Passion is not enough. Passion alone is self-indulgent and lazy. What I saw on the tape were reasonable people on our side making each other look like fools.