The Consistency Of Sludge

Anyone remember way back when Jared Loughner shot Gabby Giffords, and some liberals attributed it to right-wing hate speech? You know, the time when the RWS™ got all outraged at the mere suggestion that their rhetoric could have anything to do with inciting violence? Who me? wailed the whiny woman from Wasilla. They're attacking my first amendment rights.

So although it's entirely expected, it's still interesting (in an "is there anything about which these guys aren't blatant hypocrites" kind of way) that when the shooting seems to go in the opposite direction, they're all, like, bunched up.

In a statement released yesterday, Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, said, "Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end." And Gary Bauer, the former head of the FRC and current president of the similarly minded American Values, pointed to "a disturbing level of intolerance and hate aimed at those who share traditional values."

[But wait! There's more!!]

Okay, I guess I understand, although I admit I'm having a hard time: it's only hate speech when it's directed at right wingers. And such speech only incites people to act badly when it's left-wing speech. Makes sense to me. So, I guess, calling homosexuals abominations in the eyes of god, blaming them for hurricanes, claiming America will feel the wrath of god if it fails to follow the biblical definition of marriage (i.e., polygamy, killing non-virgin wives, impregnating your brother's widow...); calling Obama a traitor, an America-hater, carrying a sign with his head on a pike, that's what we call free speech. (Even though people are paying a pretty penny to keep it out there.) People hear it, see it, and get all nicey.

And, far be it from me to smell a too-long-in-the-sun chicken sandwich, but I'm waiting for confirmation that the Chic-fil-A-eater wasn't pulling a reverse-Obama.*

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* I'm not trying to downplay the seriousness of this, or any of the ever-increasing politically-motivated gun violence in this country. It's the hypocrisy of the right-wing response that's nauseating. And unlike the Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys of the world, who got all defensive when the shoe was on their foot, and unlike anti gay marriage groups who remained silent about anti-gay hate crimes, LBGT groups have immediately and thoroughly condemned the act.