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Too many people who lean left would rather crack nasty jokes than actually be liberal and listen to other views
Edward Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, democratic convention
Senator Edward Kennedy apologized to Richard Nixon for putting politics ahead of healthcare reform. Photograph: Reuters
Why is it that liberals feel no qualms about being rude? Far too many people who are perfectly polite and courteous, otherwise, think nothing of insulting you for not sharing their political opinions. They look at us with disdain, thinking we're unenlightened conservatives and never hesitating to say so.
As the lone conservative at the tennis courts, I cringe at the Sarah Palin jokes and the jabs at Mormons. When news came on 9/11 that planes had struck the World Trade Center, my partner commented that Bush would use it as an excuse to increase military spending. Bush, of course, is dumb – as are all Republicans, and we're epitomized by Dan Quayle, whose spelling of "potatoe" has entered historical canon. (Never mind Obama's telling us there are 57 states, or having a meltdown without a teleprompter) And now it's Marco Rubio, caught drinking water. "Next time he'll forget to zip his fly," joked one of the guys. Mitt Romney changes his mind more often than he changes his underwear. Reagan had Alzheimer's when he made B movies, and Bonzo had to feed him his lines. And would you believe, from a guy with a pathetic serve, this comment about the Clarence Thomas, justice of the supreme court: send him back to the plantation.
Liberals have no shame. A dinner guest in our home stood up at the table, clinked his wine glass and said, "It shows how stupid the American people are, they voted for Bush twice." He turned to me, smirking, and said, "I know you voted for him." A biochemist who had been too busy learning liberal doctrine instead of the basic manners of being a guest.
We also had dinner with a couple who spent the evening trashing Rudy Giulliani, claiming that the former mayor of New York had nothing to do with turning the city around, even though he took office in a crime-ridden city and stepped down when it was safe. It would have happened anyhow, they said. As we said goodnight in the driveway, one said with a grin, "We like you even if you are Republicans."
I once called up a friend before a trip down to Florida, and I told him I enjoyed driving and stopping at different places along the way, staying awhile to learn about the country outside of New York. "The red states," he said disdainfully. "Those pickup truck people have a lot of common sense," I said. Click. He had hung up the phone.
It isn't just the liberals I know personally who have no manners. It starts at the top. Dave Letterman welcomed Bill O'Reilly to his show by lashing into him, accusing him of dishing out crap. "Have you ever seen my show?" O'Reilly asked. "I wouldn't stoop so low," Letterman replied graciously, his audience howling.
And the Saturday Night Live cast found it hilarious to mock Greta Van Susteren by twisting their mouths in imitation of her appearance. Now that's liberal humor.
What can you expect, when you have Hillary Clinton regaling her worshippers with jokes like: "Mahatma Ghandi? Isn't he the fellow who runs that gas station in St Louis?"
It's cool to be rude if you're a liberal. But it isn't cool for the country.
Wouldn't it be better for America if liberals really were liberal, and listened to other points of view? Is prayer in public places really so awful? Isn't it possible to have legitimate concerns about the effects of gay marriage? Hasn't Sarah Palin earned some respect for her successful fight against corruption in Alaska? Perhaps the best response to global warming is to adapt to it, rather than spending billions to fight it. Think about it.
President Nixon proposed a healthcare plan that was blocked by Senator Ted Kennedy, and the senator later apologized for putting political interests ahead of the good of the country. He had not wanted Republicans to get credit for accomplishing something positive.
This is a critical time in America. Instead of taking sides we should be working together. Now is the time for liberals to emulate Ted Kennedy and, instead of automatically ridiculing conservatives for digging into questions about Benghazi, the IRS and the seizure of press records, help us find the truth – no matter what that might turn out to be.
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