IS HE STILL AROUND? – AT 10:33 A.M. ET:  The Rev. Jesse Jackson, apparently trying for the kind of comeback usually reserved for old lounge singers, now pronounces on the political atmosphere of the country:

(CNN) – Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, condemned the charged political atmosphere of the moment in harsh terms Friday, comparing some conservative and Republican opponents of heath care reform to enemies of the civil rights movement.

Please note that the left always winds up describing its opponents as racist, stupid, or violent.  Substantive issues need not apply.

"These days will live in infamy, as the scenes of our elected representatives shouting, 'you lie' and 'baby killer' echo inside the halls of Congress," Jackson said in a statement released by his office. "We've stooped too low when protestors begin hurling the 'n' word at African American congressman, and start making direct and indirect threats at representatives who supported the historic health care legislation."

There is no evidence to support the charge that the "n" word was hurled at black congressmen.  Direct and indirect threats have been made against both conservatives and liberals for years.  Cries of "BushHitler" did not bring any reprimand from Rev. Jackson.  When Chris Matthews described former Vice President Cheney as the "bathtub ring" of the Bush administration, did Rev. Jackson call in? 

"These and other radical statements from members of Congress, conservative talk show hosts and "protestors" are drawing ideological lines – states' rights versus federalism, harkening back to the cultural lines drawn over the civil war and modern civil rights movement," he said. "They revive our worse fears and divisions."

I fully agree that we need a higher level of decorum.  But the one-sided accusations contribute nothing to a charged atmosphere.  And talk-show hosts?  Sure, some conservative hosts go over the top.  But where was Jackson when talk-show host Al Franken, Now Senator Al Franken of Minnesota, was embarrassing himself on Air America? 

It's all part of the imagery that leftists have of themselves:  We're better people, more refined and intellectual, and we're fighting uncouth monsters.

Right.

March 27, 2010