Cantor and 'Fanning The Flames'

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023051.php

CANTOR AND 'FANNING THE FLAMES'.... In the face of right-wing activists engaging in acts of political vandalism, assault, and harassment, most reasonable people should agree that the Republicans who helped generate this rage have a responsibility to help lower the temperature.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) has a slightly different take. As he sees it, it's Democrats who need to stop "fanning the flames."

Seriously.

"Legitimate threats should be treated as security issues, and they should be dealt with by the appropriate law enforcement officials," Cantor said. "It is reckless to use these incidents as media vehicles for political gain. That is why I have deep concerns that -- some chairman Chris Van Hollen and chairman Tim Kaine, in particular -- are dangerously fanning the flames, by suggesting that these incidents be used as a political weapon."

Let me get this straight. As the dim-witted Minority Whip sees it, Democrats are facing vandalism, assault, and harassment, and Democratic leaders want it to stop. But by urging responsible officials to denounce (and hopefully, discourage) misconduct, Dems are, Cantor believes, "dangerously fanning the flames."

Does Eric Cantor hear the words coming out of his mouth as he says them? Does he not realize how ridiculous he sounds? His message seemed to be: "If Dems just stayed quiet in the face of violence and intimidation, everything would be fine."

A few hours after accusing Democrats of "fanning the flames," Cantor was the featured guest on a conference call held by the "S.T.O.P. Obama Tyranny National Coalition."

By all appearances, Cantor isn't quite bright enough to appreciate the irony.

—Steve Benen

[BlueIdaho]

1. Fascists like Cantor have overplayed their hand.

The majority of Americans are now seeing a political party incapable of functioning in the marketplace of ideas. When the only product you have for sale is "NO" - or "Hell NO" - you are effectively out of business. A fascist party so owned by the lunatic fringe they will effectively marginalize themselves in the eyes of most sane citizens.

Cantor deserves his status as a minor footnote in history.

[Cha]

2. Typical republicon-teabagger..whining and not taking any

responsibility.

[SoxFan]

3. Ahem

[high density]

4. Republicans and the right have lost any limited reasoning they once had

I'm rather concerned about how we ever regain some sort of sane political discourse in this country. Too many people are getting very rich off of having a violently-incensed right-wing. Plus the GOP is hoping they can scare or confuse enough uninformed "independents" to their side so they can grasp control again.

[MissMarple]

5. We just "don't know our place". Typical.

:eyes: These guys just don't get it. I'm sure in 2000, they thought the South had risen again. But there ain't no going back. We can change this country. YES WE CAN!

[jenmito]

6. Sadly, it worked. The media is now repeating his claims and "asking" if the Dems.

are wrong for "using the situations for their own advantage" and claiming "both sides do it."

[jenmito]

7. Lawrence O'Donnell just talked about the police report showing the bullet may have

been just a ricochet off his window, not aimed at him.

[rufus dog]

8. It works short term

Same crap used to denounce Civil Rights activists, Equal Rights, but they always lose because they are always wrong.