Plus ça Change...

From 2Millionth Web Log

The winger screeching has a long tradition -- a week or so ago Hullabaloo pointed this out...but on a strictly visual basis I just couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu when it came to the sheer expressions of hate.

And then it hit me.

This generation of hatemongers, be they birther, deather, tenther, whatever, are merely following from their direct antecedents...those for whom desegregation of schools, and later, businesses catering to public accommodation (and later still, the franchise), was Soviet Communism if not Armageddon.

That the issue is health care is in many respect incidental, e.g., look how loud the whining is just as loud over an appeal to stay in school...although in some ways there's a certain symmetry: once again, the wingers have a demented and perverse desire to watch people suffer.

Progressives need to call them out on that. Emphasize that we're dealing with unrepentant racists, neo-McCarthyists, and political troglodytes who'd destroy Social Security, Medicare, the interstate highway system...hell, the Supermax (thereby letting loose hundreds of dangerous terrorists), etc., all in service to their racists ends. If they holler about being called racist, strike back with the old Claud Cockburn line: "Never believe anything until it has been officially denied."

If/when they whine about inefficient or ineffective government, assert that it's only inefficient or ineffective when their chosen winger candidates are in charge...and further point out that wingnut politicians take them for fools and/or chumps...because government, like it or not, ISN'T going away and WON'T be shrunk. Ever.

Take no prisoners, and shove the whole "he said, he said" age of political reportage down the throats of the sheeple media. Paint/taint wingers with the one tag they hate, "racist," put them on the defensive, and make no apologies.

After all, they started it, calling things like desegregation and universal health care "socialist."

We'll finish it.

Oh, and Happy Labor Day. Check out the Rude Pundit for some REAL socialism.