Thursday, June 21, 2012

Am I My Keeper’s Brother?

The loony left has been in such disarray recently that they’ve forgotten how to focus their own vile rhetoric. They claim that all opposition to socialist Barack Obama is based in racism. They find hidden messages in every criticism, all of those messages pointing to the alleged racial inferiority of blacks. And most of all, God forbid a conservative should use the word “ape” in any reference to Democrats and particularly to President Obama.

As always however, the left feels free to say any damned thing that comes into their minds, however offensive and racist. They don’t even try to justify it because they firmly believe that only conservatives can be mean-spirited and therefore what liberals say is always sugary Rodney King-like “can’t we all just get along?” Some of these closet racists are at least moderately subtle, but that doesn’t apply to Bill Maher, Monarch of the Mad Mouth.

HBO’s resident leftist cuckoo (also occasionally known as Lord of the Loud Mouth) has just hit his favorite target—Republicans—and he has done so by using the very “ape” language about a rising star in the Republican Party that even a Ku Klux Klan grand Cyclops would be tempted to avoid. Right after declaring that Republicans have nominated a man for the presidency who belongs to a religion that is stupid but very much in keeping with a nation that is also stupid, Maher went after Rep. Allen West. West is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, a conservative, and, uh, black.

So this past Monday, Maher sneered his best sneer and called the Republicans the Party of the Apes. Without taking a breath, he then called Republicans crazy for not rejecting West’s allegations of communist sympathy within the left wing of the Democratic Party and at the White House (pictured is Maher after being told a daily ration of bananas is not in his contract).

Now there’s simply no way of getting around what the two statements run so closely together actually mean. The thought is simple. Republicans are the Party of the Apes, and Allen West is the most dangerous ape in the party. Nice, huh?

Two names, just by themselves, prove that West is neither crazy nor stupid. Van Jones and Anita Dunn are former high-ranking advisers to Barack Obama who were tossed under the bus only after highly-public revelations of their philosophy and loyalties overcame the administration’s attempts to downplay Obama’s leftist sympathies. Jones is an [allegedly] former member of a communist-front group and spouts Marx on a regular basis, and Dunn named her favorite political philosophers—Mother Theresa and Mao Tse-Tung (pronounced “mousey dung”). So much for Rep. West being crazy.

In case you didn’t catch the reference the first time around, Maher wrapped up his mad rant with a discussion of the past two decades in politics with: “The idea that the blame for our government’s dysfunction is equally shared by the parties is just a giant, steaming mound of horses—t and anyone who pays attention to politics over the last twenty years knows it.” And now, returning to his original thought, he concluded on his blog with: “Or as I like to call it, ‘The Rise of the Party of the Apes.’”

Maher claimed that Rep. West had said that there are eighty communists in the US House of Representatives. That is not at all what West actually said when discussing communist influence on the views of certain House members. And West didn’t even bring up Barack Obama’s beloved communist mentor, Frank Marshall Davis. He could have added “and one communist-inspired resident in the White House.”

Maher skipped right past the usual liberal pejorative and didn’t call Rep. West an “Oreo.” He pointed straight at the trees and called a black Republican an ape. I know I’m stating the obvious here, but I need to say it before I explode. If Jay Leno, for instance, had called the Democrats “the Party of the Apes led by Barack Obama,” he would instantly have been terminated by NBC and sent back to his automobile and motorcycle collections. But when it comes to a leftist defending leftists, the mainstream media either entirely ignore the vicious and racist remarks or explain them away with “well, he’s just a comedian, so you can’t take it too seriously.”

Barack Hussein Obama and his Democratic colleagues have no legal or political obligation to denounce or even recognize Maher’s venom. But don’t they have a moral obligation to do so? Particularly in light of Maher’s million dollar donation to Obama’s campaign? I guess that’s another liberal one-way street. The liberals and the mainstream media will circle the wagons and defend this comic’s right to be both racist and unfunny. But at least as Eric Holder might put it, Maher’s not a coward about race. Maher is too busy frothing at the mouth to hide his inherent racism.

God, it felt good to put that “racist” shoe on the other foot, even for a brief moment. Unfortunately, I won’t have a lot of company, and none at all in the mainstream media.

38 comments:

LL said...

According to MSNBC, it's only possible to be a racist when you're conservative because the liberal/progressive movement are far too enlightened to engage in that sort of rhetoric. When a liberal calls a black person a monkey or an ape, he's simply pointing out that the black person is conservative, thus stupid. There is no racism there at all...

Anthony said...

Lawhawk,

I just checked the Maher post in question and the apes insult is nowhere near Allen West (though obviously it is being leveled at all Republicans of all colors). Was the post editted inbetween this morning and when you read it on Monday? If not, then calling it a racist insult is a stretch.

Maher's said a lot of stupid, offensive things, some of them sexist or racist(I remember him calling on Obama to act more ghetto or something to that effect) but his latest rant merely seems to fall under the first two categories.

http://therealbillmaher.blogspot.com/2012/06/right-shift.html

--------

http://therealbillmaher.blogspot.com/2012/06/right-shift.html

Now, if I were a Washington pundit, I’d launch into some boring speech about how both sides are equally to blame, and then I’d call it a day and we’d all meet at Katherine Graham’s house for cocktails. Which is weird because Katherine Graham is dead. But this is why you never see us booking George Will and Peggy Noonan on my show (besides the fact that they wouldn’t do it): Because the same old Washington pundits haven’t said anything interesting since disco. Also because the idea that the blame for our government’s dysfunction is equally shared by the parties just is a giant, steaming mound of horse---- and anyone who has paid attention to politics over the last 20 years knows it. Or as I like to call it, “The Rise of the Party of the Apes.”

In fact, recently Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, two old wonks who have been in Washington as long as the Potomac, wrote a book called “It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism” in which they basically say, flat out, what I say every week: it’s the Republicans who are crazy. And they wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post to go along with the book called, “Let’s Just Say It: The Republicans Are the Problem.”

They write: “We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.” And they’re not saying Democrats are blameless and perfect. We all know there’s only been one perfect man in human history. And that’s David Beckham.

But it reminded me of something Barney Frank recently said: “…people have said to me, well, why can't you work things out with the Republicans, and my answer to my friends has been: Exactly on what issues do you think Michele Bachmann and I can compromise?” Basically Barney is saying, look, how do you expect me to work on the 2+2=4 bill when their side believes math is a liberal plot to turn your kid queer?

Take Dick Lugar. Who was always a staunch conservative, just not the modern-day insane variety. He was just throttled in the Republican Senate primary in Indiana by a Tea Party guy named Richard Mourdock. And after Mourdock won he said this about working with the other side: “I certainly think bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view.” Which is sort of like saying to your girlfriend, “I think both our sexual needs will best be fulfilled by you blowing me.”

Or take Allen West. Seriously, take him to the padded cell and give him 20 CCs of the high test. Ornstein and Mann start off their Post op-ed by noting that recently Rep. Allen West said that there are “78 to 81” Democrats in Congress who are members of the Communist Party. And not one Republican said, “Allen, come on. You’re making us look dumb.” Not one of the Republican candidates for president said anything. Because in today’s Republican Party, that’s not even edgy anymore. They probably saw him later on and were like, “Word, Allen. Word.” Because that’s how they think black people talk.
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Unknown said...

LL: Yep. That's how it works.

tryanmax said...

“The idea that the blame for our government’s dysfunction is equally shared by the parties is just a giant, steaming mound of horses—t and anyone who pays attention to politics over the last twenty years knows it.”

I actually agree with Maher on this statement. However, I don't think our perspectives on how to interpret those words could be any more different.

tryanmax said...

Anthony, the connection between apes and Allen West is still be too close for comfort. Here, Maher is basically running down the Mann/Ornstein article which starts off by attacking Allen West. And how does Maher start off relating the article? With a Planet of the Apes reference. Lead to lead, the parallel connection is inescapable.

Unknown said...

Anthony: I saw the clips and read what I thought was the original version from the blog. But even granting that the version you produced is the correct/only/final version, I don't see that it makes much difference. ANY reference to apes, if done in one paragraph or three chapters later on an entirely different topic by a conservative would have brought down the ire of the entire MSM.

In the version you've produced, the reference to apes is followed only five paragraphs later with the reference to West as an integral part of an anti-Republican/ape/crazy blog.

Your copy may very well be the correct one, but I don't think it matters. I don't ever want to make the mistake of doing what the left does all the time, which is to say to take things out of context or edit solely to give a different impression of what was said by virtue of that editing. Assuming that the version you produced is the correct/final one, the implication remains, even if slightly diluted.

The ultimate point of the article remains the same, regardless of what order the Maher blog stated it in. If a Republican mentioned apes and a black man within a thousand words of each other, he would automatically be anathemized as a racist. I'm not even really suggesting that Maher is a racist (though I hinted at it for effect). I am merely pointing out the difference between the way a leftist and conservatives are treated by the MSM whenever there is the least possibility, however improbable, that the speaker/writer has made a racist remark. Had Maher done this on two separate occasions, I wouldn't have pointed it out, but it was one piece of one relatively short, crazed rant.

Each of the paragraphs that you produced are contained in the version I read. If I got it wrong (and I'm not sure I did), then perhaps I should have said "shortly thereafter in the same blog" instead of "without taking a breath." But either way, it's a distinction without a difference as to the main point of the article--media bias.

All of that said, thank you for keeping me honest.

Unknown said...

tryanmax: There is indeed plenty of blame to go around. But as I've said before, even the devil tells the truth occasionally when it suits his purpose.

Unknown said...

tryanmax: I think Anthony was making a valid point, but I also agree with you that the parallel connection is inescapable.

BevfromNYC said...

But Anthony, but if we are to play by Maher's rules, then using referneces to "ape" or other such non-human/animal kindom related words in any context within the same show, speech, or article (or week) as a minority person appears or is referenced is racist. These are Maher's rules, not ours.

Unknown said...

Bev: I would probably say those are the liberals' rules, and Maher is just working within that framework. Either way, you nailed down the issue.

BevfromNYC said...

LawHawk - after I hit published I realize that I should have said "liberals", not just Maher. Because in fact Maher defended Limbaugh's use of "slut", so Maher does have some sense of fair play.

Unknown said...

Bev: That's a dubious honor. LOL

T-Rav said...

Maher and Limbaugh have an on-again, off-again relationship. Maher once got in trouble for saying something un-PC (by which I mean he was un-PC about the Left's protected groups) and got blasted for it by his fellow liberals. Limbaugh and other conservatives came to his defense on it, to the point that Maher sent Rush a thank-you note later. A few years ago, Andrew Breitbart was on Maher's show, and when Bill and the other guests started going after Limbaugh as a racist, Breitbart reminded him of that note and sucked all the air out of the room. I didn't see it, but apparently it was an epic slapdown.

Tennessee Jed said...

unfortunately, Hawk I don't see this changing anytime soon. Sure there are going to be racists, bigots, or whatever in both the major parties. However, conservatives (including Republicans, Libertarians, and independent) tend to be more willing to shuck things off. When Rush Limbaugh was subjected to boycotts over the Sandra Flucke affair, it was almost expected. As conservatives, we generally don't do that kind of stuff.

Another reason is that while we now have Fox News, talk radio, and the internet to combat liberal control of news, it is still much more widespread to get Jimmy the Greek fired from ESPN than Maher fired because the first story is plastered above the fold on all the big dailies, USA Today, and CBS Evening News. It IS getting better, but hardly an even playing field yet.

I heard the other day the big difference is that when a black bashes a white, it is "racial". Only when it is the other way around is it "racist."

Unknown said...

T-Rav: I guess my response on Maher is that even a broken clock is right twice a day. Alternatively, I suppose I could say that he is evil, but not pure evil. LOL

Unknown said...

Tennessee: And there's even another irony. What Maher said on ABC that got him fired was ill-timed and dastardly, but essentially correct. He wasn't defending the Islamist 9-11 terrorists, merely pointing out that calling them "cowards" was not entirely accurate. It was a stupid thing to do, given the emotions of the time, but ABC overreacted. And now I'm on record as defending Bill Maher's right to be both correct and obnoxious at the same time. Nuts.

rlaWTX said...

Jed, "I heard the other day the big difference is that when a black bashes a white, it is "racial". Only when it is the other way around is it "racist." "

Gotta love the NewSpeak...

K said...

Friends don't let friends subscribe to HBO.

Maher et al = Limbaugh envy on the left.

StanH said...

In a sane world none of this would matter. It’s imperative that we beat the left with the club that they’ve created. The PC police are out of control, and someone has to be petty, so I say, right on Lawhawk, give as good as we get.

I always like to say, when you sling $hit, it gets everywhere…ha.

T-Rav said...

Jed and rla, just remember that all animals are equal. Some animals are just more equal than others.

Unknown said...

rlaWTX: And when liberals discuss race, it's a dialogue. When conservatives discuss race, it's a diatribe.

Unknown said...

K:: Correct on both points.

Unknown said...

Stan: Turnabout is fair play. Two wrongs don't make a right, but truth isn't a wrong. They hammer us unfairly, we pummel them fairly. They have to lie, we don't. The important thing the Republicans need to remember is that you still have to break eggs to make an omelet.

Unknown said...

T-Rav: And if Orwell had been around to see Obama, he would have added "and at least one animal on every farm is totally exempt from criticism."

T-Rav said...

"And when liberals discuss race, it's a dialogue. When conservatives discuss race, it's a diatribe."

Just like that "national dialogue on race" liberals keep wanting all of us to have. Mainly consisting of white people apologizing for all the awful things they've done and still do to minorities.

Unknown said...

T-Rav: "I'm guilty. I'm guilty. I can't apologize enough. But here's some money to assuage my guilt." Is that the one you're referring to?

Notawonk said...

Bill Maher reminds me of nasty internet trolls. come face to face with any of his foes, my guess is he withers under the glare of truth.

drinking from the douche well can do that to a person.

Unknown said...

Patti: He does that dismissive, snarky thing, but when someone ignores it and challenges him, he starts sputtering and mumbling obscenities. So you're right, he is a lot like internet trolls.

tryanmax said...

Patti, "douche well"? Brain bleach, please. ;)

Notawonk said...

tryanmax: now you know *exactly* how i feel about maher!

Individualist said...

I will be blunt. Barney Frank is a criminal who holds more blame for the Housing collapse of 2008 than any other person in Washington.

As chairman of the House Services Finance committee he was approached by OFHEO the regulatory agency responsible for Fannae Mae and Freddie MAc in 2006. Fannae Mae had an adverse audit opinion on their 2005 financial statements and Franklin Raines had changes the bonus structure for the executive to not be based on profit but nubmer of mortgages made.

Frank told the auditors who were doing due dillegence in recommending the capital reserve requirement be increased to 4% from 2% to protect against an upcoming crises that they were racists.

For your information in case you don't know an adverse audit opinion means that the auditor feels that the entirety of the financial statementss are completely unreliable to present the financial position of the company and that it appeara to be due to intentional irregularities by management. An irregularity is a CPA code word for fraud.

If we want an example of a democrat who is fairminded... Barney Frank -- ain't it

Individualist said...

Lawhawk

Does this mean the party slogan should be

"C'mon you Apes, you want to live forever"

I think Heinlien would like that....

Unknown said...

tryanmax: You notice I didn't expand on that thought. LOL

Unknown said...

Patti: You definitely have a way of conveying a thought! I'm too timid.

Unknown said...

Indi: I agree. Barney Frank is the single most significant figure in causing the housing and lending collapse. Of course, he had plenty of willing fellow-travelers too cowardly to say "stop, you're full of crap."

Frank's behavior is reprehensible. He wasn't satisfied with his "roommate" running a gay house of prostitution out of his home. Why not go all the way and start sleeping with the male head of Fannie Mae while the banking crisis was developing? He should at least have been charged with conflict of insertion. But it would have been politically incorrect to point out that sleeping with the main guy at an agency with which the government does immense amounts of business is a serious conflict. So he got a pass on that one too.

Unknown said...

Indi: Well said. We do have to find a catchy slogan for the campaign, and that's more original than any I've seen so far.

Berkely Logic Institute said...

Lawhawk

Obviously if Maher says all Republicans are Apes and then sayus that Allen West is the Craziest Republican one can only suggest that Maher means that West is the Craziest Ape if those two statements are within 57 words of each other (one for each state).

This is the numerical word count distance corrollary. It is one of those advanced nuanced things you learn at Berkely.

By the way just to let you know in another 9 momths we might finally have a definition for the word "is".

Unknown said...

BLI: I must have missed that course when I was at Berkeley. Was it an elective? LOL

I'm hoping that in nine months, Obama will have a definition of what "was" is.

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