Calls For Unity Are Obscene
Republicans have always been much better at the spin game than Democrats. That's a generally-accepted fact. Which is why it is so important right now for everyone to reject, repudiate, and heap withering scorn upon the latest GOP talking point about last Wednesday's seditious insurrection at the United States Capitol, which tried to forcibly overthrow the will of the people as expressed in a presidential election.
"Impeachment," these shameless hypocrites warn us, "would just lead to further division in the country." Seriously -- they've got the unmitigated gall to preach some sort of Utopian "unity," after a direct and violent attack on American democracy which was led and egged on by a sitting U.S. president. The sheer chutzpah of this naked attempt at gaslighting is just staggering. The very idea is downright obscene, in fact.
I certainly don't use this metaphor lightly, but the only thing I can think of to compare this to is a wife-beater gaslighting his victim into believing that "marriage is a sacred institution and is certainly worth more than a few pathetic broken bones on your part." What Republicans are now attempting is truly in that category of evil.
I heard this line of rhetorical manure being spread multiple times over the weekend, and I simply could not believe my ears. But then, when you think about it, Republicans are always the ones who sanctimoniously speak of "unity," right after doing everything in their power to divide the country as much as possible. It's just more pronounced than usual, right now.
Every time a Democrat wins the White House, Republicans immediately ask of the new president: "How are you going to reach across the aisle to us?" When the shoe is on the other foot, Republicans never get asked the same question -- either by Democrats or (sadly enough) by the media. It is always somehow Democrats' responsibility to heal the wounds that Republicans have caused. Always.
Perhaps they know that Democrats are more susceptible to this argument than Republicans. Especially since Joe Biden made bringing the country back together again such a central part of his campaign. So did Barack Obama, if you'll remember ("there are no blue states or red states, there are only the United States of America!"). So Republicans know it's a vulnerable Democratic button they can push -- and far too often, it works.
But not this time.
This time is different. This time Democrats simply cannot let Republicans get away with this dangerous nonsense.
I was heartened, when reading the Washington Post today, that two of their columnists had very similar reaction to mine. Jennifer Rubin, a right-wing commenter (who has been totally disgusted with Donald Trump from very early on, to her credit), put it as plainly as can be imagined:
Even worse, the same Republicans who pushed the lies that President-elect Joe Biden did not win now demand Democrats refrain from impeaching Trump for the sake of "unity." Impeachment would be divisive, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) argue. Keeping in place the instigator of the mob attack, I suppose, is supposed to be healing. If there is to be any reconciliation, it comes from the party's complete repudiation of the lies about fraud and ejecting members who rode this wave all the way until Jan. 6.
Even now, the seditionists in Congress cannot denounce a president whose actions threatened the lives of their co-workers and staff. Neither they nor the Republican Senate ringleaders [Senators Josh] Hawley and [Ted] Cruz express any remorse for spreading the Big Lie that the election was stolen and continuing to seek to overthrow the elected government. Their demand that we not respond to sedition is madness, and if we accept this rubbish, we have lost our moral bearings.
. . .
So, no, lawmakers who voted to overturn an election do not get to lecture on unity.
. . .
What would be unifying at this point would be a unanimous vote on Trump's impeachment and removal, followed by expulsion from Congress of the primary instigators of the bad-faith objections to the election. The only basis for unity is reaffirmation of the truth and banishment of the seditionists.
Max Boot, on the other hand, made an excellent point by asking what would be happening now if the tables had been turned:
Imagine if the U.S. Capitol had been sacked on Jan. 6 not by Trump supporters but by Black Lives Matter activists egged on by the left-wing "Squad" of House members. It is a safe bet that Republicans would not be preaching unity and resisting attempts to hold the instigators accountable. They would be baying for blood -- demanding that Democratic lawmakers not only be expelled but tried for treason.
Yet because this unprecedented and intolerable assault on representative government was carried out by their own supporters, Republicans are now ducking responsibility and trying to protect the instigator in chief. With only a few honorable exceptions, much of the party is making itself complicit in sedition.
. . .
It's an open and shut case. The president incited a violent insurrection against another branch of the U.S. government. He needs to leave office immediately -- either via resignation, the 25th Amendment or impeachment. His most egregious enablers -- such as Sens. Josh Hawley (R.-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R.-Tex.) -- should be either censured or expelled for violating their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution.
But while Democrats are moving forward with impeachment, Republicans are rushing forward with a litany of lame excuses. "Impeaching the President... will only divide our country more," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R.-Calif.) after having attempted to throw out the votes of Biden supporters. "We must work together to lower the temperature and unite the country." Republicans seem less exercised about Trump instigating an insurrection than they are about social media companies preventing Trump from provoking more violence and sedition.
. . .
And now they want unity? Now they want to put divisiveness behind us? This isn't an attempt to heal the country; it's an attempt to avoid accountability for those who attacked it.
This is exactly right, and it is exactly what everyone should be saying right now -- Democrats, the media, and Republicans who actually mean it when they say they revere the United States Constitution. There can be no unity until this shocking and revolting push for dis-unity has been dealt with, in the strongest way possible.
The president divided the country for four long years, by absolutely demonizing anyone that didn't bow down in front of him. This included Democrats, the media, and even any Republican who Trump deemed insufficiently sycophantic. Where was all the concern over dividing the country then, Republicans? Where were the cries for unity?
Trump capped this four-year hate-fest by issuing a call to arms to his most rabid supporters -- the very same ones he had earlier told "stand back and stand by" -- to come to Washington on the day that Congress would meet in joint session to do their constitutional duty by proclaiming the (already-certified and already-predetermined) result of the presidential election. Trump had tried to avoid this from happening in every way he knew how, and he failed in all of them. So all that was left was "might makes right," for him. He gathered his fanatics and zealots and then wound them up to fever pitch and threw a lighted match into an ocean of gasoline.
They then did exactly what Trump told them to do. They attacked the legislative branch of the United States government by force, and tried to carry out a putsch. Thankfully, they (mostly) failed. But as we're all now learning, it was a lot closer thing than it should have been. What would have happened if the rioters had actually caught, say, Nancy Pelosi or even Mike Pence? Would they have shown restraint? Unity? Not very likely.
This was a crime against our nation. It was a crime against our democracy. It was a crime against our form of government. It was a crime against the United States Constitution. And it was led, aided, and abetted -- before, during, and after the fact -- by not only the president of the United States, but over 100 seditious members of Congress. This is all fact, and it is all beyond shameful.
There will be no unity until every Republican is forced to admit this harsh reality. And to live up to their very own decades of sanctimonious lectures (to the rest of us) about "taking personal responsibility for one's actions." That is what needs to happen right now. And until it does, there will be no unity, period. Because at this point, you either stand for the Constitution or you stand for the insurrection, plain and simple.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Well said!
And, it is disturbing, if not surprising, to learn how many in law enforcement that day were not only sympathetic to 'stop the steal' rioters but complicit in their actions.
I don't know how you persuade people who believe deeply that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen" even when all of the evidence is to the contrary. I know that there are people who just can't believe that Joe Biden got 80,000,000 votes. I mean, I was pretty surprised by that, too - just not for the same reasons. Heh. I'm kidding!
But, seriously, how do you counter the Big Lie?
With regard to countering 'the Big Lie', I think Democrats need to tread very, very carefully, especially in their rhetoric, just for starters.
It's very similar to the idea that we have to try harder to understand the people who vote for the hate group known as the Republican party regardless of whether or not they win, but the same is never true of Dem voters. The safaris are always to diners in Iowa, not cafes in Philadelphia.
The half-naked Qnut terrorist with the horns is starving in jail according to mommy because they don't feed criminals organic food.
The Nashville bartender rampaging through the Capitol building with zip ties drove to DC with his mommy. You can see him hanging on to her in some of the attack porn vids.
He was identified primarily because he was with her. He wore a mask and gloves, but she didn't. lol
JFC,
It's very similar to the idea that we have to try harder to understand the people who vote for the hate group known as the Republican party regardless of whether or not they win, but the same is never true of Dem voters. The safaris are always to diners in Iowa, not cafes in Philadelphia.
Actually, if you want to see your country move forward to a better place, less divided and more in tune with reality, then it's not very similar, at all.
This is about how you begin to persuade people that what they believe has no basis in fact, no connection to reality.
What is your solution?
[7] Elizabeth Miller wrote:
"This is about how you begin to persuade people that what they believe has no basis in fact, no connection to reality.
What is your solution?"
I don't know. According to the psychology, the more you point out to them how wrong they are with facts and reality, the more it has exactly the opposite effect, resulting in them clinging even more tightly to their delusional beliefs.
That's why I said you cannot reason with these people as ordinary rational human beings open to persuasion, because that is exactly what they are NOT.
Does anyone know how you counter mass hysteria and delusion? Because that is what it is going to take. To somehow treat millions of people as mentally ill.
John,
I think the solution will involve treating people who voted for Trump with respect. It will take a special kind of presidential leadership. And, it will take a lot of hard work by the new administration to get things done quickly to improve the lives of all Americans, including those Americans who don't now trust Biden or, worse, think he is corrupt.
It is my hope that some of those Americans will find this blog and engage with us. But, that won't happen if we close ourselves off to them by disrespecting their views.
Now, do I count the people who stormed the US Capitol as among those Americans who are capable of contributing here in a respectful manner? No, I do not. But, there are 74 million Americans who voted for Trump and many of them should be welcomed at this blog to engage in some friendly debate and discussion about where the country goes from here. Because, the alternative pathway will only lead to more division and chaos and diminish the prospects for keeping your Republic.
By coincidence, I've just read SF author Adrian Tchaikovsky's new book Bear Head, which features a character, Thompson, who has some very familiar characteristics. (There's also a dead intelligent bear currently living in another character's head, read and find out.) More than that, the setting is a future in which mental controls called Collars can be implanted; it's not so much that they compel obedience or make disobedience all but impossible, as that they make obedience and identity overwhelmingly important.
It seems that in reality, some don't need implants.
If only we had an SF solution.
Tchaikovsky's earlier series, Tales of the Apt, also dealt with issues of fascism and racism, among others, in a fantasy setting.
LizM [7]
Actually, if you want to see your country move forward to a better place, less divided and more in tune with reality, then it's not very similar, at all.
Actually, the phony Republican call for unity is very much like the call to understand their voters. It is never reciprocated. In addition, it's similarity or lack thereof, is not dependent upon my wants or future actions.
This is about how you begin to persuade people that what they believe has no basis in fact, no connection to reality.
Hmm. It sound likes you're talking about religion. Or maybe white supremacy? Tax cuts pay for themselves? Fat Donny's election lies? You'll have to be clearer about which of the Big Lies that they believe that I have to convince them is baseless.
LizM [9]
I think the solution will involve treating people who voted for Trump with respect.
Lack of respect is not the problem just as "economic anxiety" is not the problem.
It is my hope that some of those Americans will find this blog and engage with us.
It's unlikely that CW's blog is going to be carried by some RW entity or shared widely by Republicans on Facebook. You'll have to settle for your malignant troll buddy and Stucki (who I do not consider to be a troll).
the alternative pathway will only lead to more division and chaos and diminish the prospects for keeping your Republic.
Such drama. This country is perpetually deeply divided unless we have some other country to drop bombs on. Even that doesn't work for very long.
Surprisingly, today I do feel a little respect for somebody I never thought I'd say that about.
Bill Belichick
It's unlikely that CW's blog is going to be carried by some RW entity or shared widely by Republicans on Facebook. You'll have to settle for your malignant troll buddy and Stucki (who I do not consider to be a troll).
That hurt.
I fully support Big Tech's decision to purge the orange one and various other nazis from their platforms although their reason for doing it is strictly self-interest. It's disappointing to see Angela Merkel poo-pooing it.
Whining about freedom of speech from Republicans should not be taken seriously. They went all the way with cake bakers who didn't want gay marriage messages on their cakes. I'd say Twitter is well within their conservative supreme court established rights to ban liars and haters from their property.
There's a real question about unity within the Republican coalition. For many years, the dominant tax cut wing tolerated and manipulated the various knuckle-draggers like snake handlers and gun nuts, but now untouchables are in the driver seat. What will they have to give up to get along with the ascendant deplorable wing?
Holy cow! Susan Collins is on drugs. Iranians? Really?
[15] I spoke too soon. Big Orange has successfully circumvented the Twitter purge.
CW: The president divided the country for four long years, by absolutely demonizing anyone that didn't bow down in front of him. This included Democrats, the media, and even any Republican who Trump deemed insufficiently sycophantic. Where was all the concern over dividing the country then, Republicans? Where were the cries for unity?
This! Also, the right-wing propaganda media echo chamber are calling for unity and attempting to gloss over their culpability in Trumpism. As we speak, these morons are primarily whining about their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech being violated [spoiler alert: they're not] and whining about losing followers on Twitter and social media.
Dearest right-wingnut morons, uneducated lefties, and those belonging to no political party: You have no First Amendment rights on media you do not own. Full stop. Your ass is allowed there at the pleasure of the owner(s). You have no right to disseminate voter disinformation on any media or to incite violence or riots or sedition against the government of the United States. Full stop.
Where was the rightie concern with First Amendment rights when they vandalized the equipment of the journalists outside the Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, before they moved inside to vandalize the People's House with the intent to delay the People's Representatives that were performing their duties as required under the Constitution of the United States?
There is no absolute right to free speech, and there is not one single right granted to the People under the Constitution that isn't somehow limited... and that includes your so-called "freedom of speech." The First Amendment limits the power of Congress to abridge the freedom of speech. Spoiler alert: Twitter ain't Congress. Parler ain't Congress. Your frequented media sites that you believe owe you a platform aren't Congress either, and they owe you nothing.
AOC to Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Free advice – if you are losing tens of thousands of followers the moment Twitter starts taking down Neo-Nazis and violent insurrectionists, maybe don’t advertise that!
Kevin McCarthy is apparently worried that his caucus members who vote for impeachment will be assassinated by Frankenstein's special monsters.
@kick,
so what you're saying is that CW could decide tomorrow that he's anti-pie, and ban me indefinitely from his site because he doesn't like my promotion of pie-based voting? it's a travesty! come on CW, show your support for pie by allowing me to write a guest column on the democratic potential of pie-based voting. anything less would be censorship!
JL
John From Censornati
15
Whining about freedom of speech from Republicans should not be taken seriously.
Exactly. Their brand of "freedom of speech" is warped. They insist they have some kind of "religious right" not to serve people (even when it's contrary to the law of the state in which they reside), and yet they whine like little bitches when Facebook and Twitter exercise their right not to serve their kind. Too damn bad. No one owes them a platform to spew their misinformation to the masses.
They went all the way with cake bakers who didn't want gay marriage messages on their cakes. I'd say Twitter is well within their conservative supreme court established rights to ban liars and haters from their property.
Exactly.
nypoet22
24
so what you're saying is that CW could decide tomorrow that he's anti-pie, and ban me indefinitely from his site because he doesn't like my promotion of pie-based voting?
Oh, hell no, JL... hold thy tongue and perish the thought!
it's a travesty!
A mockery, a farce, a charade!
come on CW, show your support for pie by allowing me to write a guest column on the democratic potential of pie-based voting.
I hereby demand your guest column on 3/14!
anything less would be censorship!
I know, right!? It is quite obviously the responsibility of each and every journalist and blog in America to inform the people about the greatness of pie. At long last, where is our freaking article pushing pie for the people? How long must we toil and troll this site for our just desserts?
Bake up. Rise up. Pies up.
Get real whipped cream.
So to recap: Yes, he could. :)