The Curmudgeon Offers a New Distinction

In a previous post, I offered a distinction between the Democrat and Republican parties, based on their respective platforms (in a nutshell, and based on what those platforms have traditionally been, and not what they have become in today's polarized world). Herewith, I offer a distinction based on the vitriolic rhetoric that has sadly overtaken our two-party system today.

Let's start with President Donald Trump. Yes, his rhetoric is over-the-top, as I've noted many times - in my most recent post, and in posts dating back to when he was a candidate, when I repeatedly criticized him. That rhetoric formed the foundation of why I ultimately found myself unable to vote for him, even as I knew that Hillary Clinton would have been an unmitigated disaster as a President - self-serving to the core, dishonest, and corrupt beyond perhaps any aspirant to the highest office in the land that this country has ever seen, at least in modern history.

That same candidate, now a washed-up political failure, recently stated that it is impossible to be civil toward those with whom you disagree, if you are a Democrat. She stated quite clearly that civility can only be re-introduced when the Dems control the House and the Senate.

No one - no one - on the left called her out for that outlandish statement.

Eric Holder offered that, if Republicans go low, Democrats should "kick them."

No one - no one - on the left called him out for that outlandish statement.

Sen. Cory "Spartacus" Booker extolled Democrats to "get in the face of" Republican elected officials.

No one - no one - on the left called him out for that outlandish statement.

Rep. Maxine Waters has repeatedly called for Democrats to harass Republican elected officials and cabinet members in public places. She has said explicitly that they should let those people know that "they are not welcome, anywhere," as if our public places - restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores - are the exclusive domain of Democrats, and that anyone whose opinion differs is not welcome in America.

No one - no one - on the left called her out for that outlandish statement.

We have seen groups of angry protesters (for the sake of argument, I won't call them "mobs," but this is the textbook definition of mob behavior) harass Republicans in public places, attempting to disrupt their peaceful meals with their families or other daily activities. This has happened to Ted Cruz, Betsy DeVos, Sarah Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Kirstjen Nielsen, and many others.

(I won't mention those who have been threatened with or have been victims of violence, such as the Trump family, Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. Susan Collins; I addressed that in my last post. Suffice it to say that that brand of crazy exists on both sides.)

Imagine you're out to dinner with your family at your favorite restaurant. You're minding your own business. You're not wearing your Obama hat. You're just trying to have a nice, quiet dinner with those closest to you.

Then some angry mob (okay, I said it) storms in and starts shouting at you, disrupting your family time. The management of the restaurant does nothing to stop it. You eventually have to get up and leave. Is that okay?

Here's the deal: we have never seen angry Republican protesters chase Democrat officials out of restaurants. Never.

We have never seen a Republican Senator or Representative condone such behavior, much less advocate it. Never. (Yet Cory Booker and Maxine Waters have.)

We have never seen an American university refuse to allow a liberal speaker to come to their campus to present his or her ideas to the student body. Never.

If that had ever happened, the Curmudgeon would have been the first to condemn it, because I respect each individual's right to believe what they want to believe. (For the record, Nancy Pelosi was chased out of a campaign event by protesters, and Maxine Waters, after she made the outrageous statement above, was hounded by a conservative in the halls of the Capitol. That's quite different from being harassed in public, when you're off the clock and dining with your family.)

I have been told (not to my face; oh, no; the left is far too passive-aggressive for that) that I should be ashamed for supporting this or that aspect of the current administration's agenda. How I can live with myself for that has been called into question.

So here's my message to you:

If you are a  Democrat, and you have ever posted a partisan comment or meme on social media, but have not condemned this behavior, you should be ashamed of yourself, and I don't know how you can live with yourself.

This is not America. This is not civil discourse. This is not democracy.

But Democrats, despite their party's name, have no interest in democracy. They are only interested in furthering their cause at all costs. They cannot accept the outcome of a free and fair election, or of the legitimate appointment of a Supreme Court Justice.

So, again, if you are a  Democrat, and you have ever posted a partisan comment or meme on social media, but have not condemned this behavior, you should be ashamed of yourself.

But I know you won't be.

That's okay. I'll be ashamed of you on your behalf.

The bottom line is this: we don't see this kind of behavior being conducted or condoned by Republicans, but we do see it being conducted and condoned by Democrats. (And yes, if you post your partisan crap on Facebook but don't condemn this, you're as guilty as those who do this stuff.) That is the clearest distinction between the two parties today.