Chris Matthews takes a lot of heat from the left and right as either
being to much of a parrot for the right wing, or a liberal tool. Some
ways, I feel sorry for the guy.
But no more so than this interview with
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who once called herself a "a fool for Christ." Hmmm.... you gotta wonder about that after watching the interview.
Amy was that you?
Anyway, Matthews patiently asks Bachmann for the connection between liberalism and
anti-Americanism. Bachmann flatly ignored the question and repeated the
same mantra. No evidence. When Matthews asks her what percentage of
Congress is anti-American? No number was offered. Why, if you didn't know better, it seems Bachmann does not have evidence to back up her accusations. Couldn't be... unh?
So, its on this paucity of "evidence" that we are to accept Bachmann's
accusation that liberals, like Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Reed, are
anti-Americans. And just what are anti-Americans? Bachmann never
offers a definition.
In the last minute of the interview, Bachmann suggested that the media do an investigation into anti-Americanism.
Let me get this straight, conservatives
constantly whine about bias in the media because they perceive a liberal
bias and it's just oh so unfair to them. Really, all that means, is that conservatives object to the media
inserting value judgments on facts and events – and rightly so. The media is only "liberal," when a report exposes something unsavory about their ideology or actions. As if, conservatives do not like to be exposed for the beliefs and actions that they otherwise proudly espouse.
Ironically, Bachmann now demands that the media make such likewise
value judgments. And how should the media determine who is pro-American
or anti-American?
Why, exactly what right-wing conservatives, like Bachmann dictate.
While conservatives and liberals have quite natural and understandable
ideological differences, you'll find few examples of liberals attacking
a conservative's patriotism. In fact, you'll find many examples of
liberals (right on LCL) defending a conservative's right to their conscience.
Let's cut through the bullsheit. When a conservative talks about any
other American as an "anti-American" they are accusing other
Americans as being treasonous.
To the Bachmann, Hemmers, Hayetts of the world, any shade of liberal equals anti-Americanism.
In the worldview of these conservatives, pro-American is slavish devotion to conservatism; anti-Americanism is anything that is not.
And I mean anything which does not constrain itself to that narrow-minded worldview.
All-in-all, I rather be accused of being a socialist – then a fascist.