BCT Editorial – 4/5/09

This page was last updated on April 13, 2009.

Off base; Editorial; Beaver County Times; April 5, 2009.

The editorial subtitle is “Democrats could make same political mistake Republicans have made.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“The problem with political and ideological zealots is that they are blissfully and fatally unaware of reality.”

[RWC] Anyone want to bet the Times doesn’t see itself as a group of “political and ideological zealots?”

“That’s one reason the Republican Party is in the shape it is, and why Democrats could very well be heading in the same direction.”

[RWC] That’s a nice drive-by assertion, but where are the examples?

“The Associated Press reported last week that U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, warned liberal groups not to target moderate congressional Democrats in next year’s primary elections.

“He said he has personally talked with certain individuals from liberal organizations who have begun raising money to finance challenges to centrist Democrats.”

[RWC] Keep in mind the Times considers Democrats with ADA Liberal Quotients of 90+% to be “centrist.”

“If liberal groups want to see the folly of their ways, they need only look at the consequences of the Republican Party pursuing ideological purity — at the expense of winning elections.”

[RWC] “[T]he Republican Party [is] pursuing ideological purity?” Wow, on what planet? Has the Times noticed the last three Republican candidates for President?

“[A]t the expense of winning elections?” What good is winning elections if it means supporting and implementing principles in which you don’t believe? In any case, Republicans tend to do well when they run as and govern as conservatives. They have problems when they run as Democrats-lite.

“The reality is that most Americans are not liberals or conservatives, or true believers of either party’s agenda. They are independents who have views that range across the political spectrum. They want a government that takes into consideration that diversity of views, not one that is ideologically pure.”

[RWC] “The politics of hope” made the same assertion. As I wrote in my critique of that editorial, “According to a late-October [2009] Battleground Poll (self-described as a ‘bi-partisan survey’), 59% of those surveyed claimed to be either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ conservative. 36% claimed to be ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ liberal (poll terminology).”

“Most important, they are the ones who decide statewide and national elections, not the parties’ bases.

“They are the ones who have elected Bob Casey, a pro-life Democrat, and Arlen Specter, a pro-choice Republican, as Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators. Their votes put Barack Obama in the White House.”

[RWC] Mr. Specter is a RINO.

“Only those who are blind to reality cannot see that.”

[RWC] The Times is like many of us; it cannot see in itself the behavior it claims to see in others.