You've undoubtedly seen the brouhaha about ANSWER, the Stalinist thugs who sponsored last weekend's "antiwar" marches (even though ANSWER supports such noted pacifists as Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic, the Chinese leadership during the Tianmen Square, and the architects of the Rwanda genocide). I had written a lengthy screed, but I don't really have much to add to the reams of material that have already spewed forth from bloggers from all neighborhoods of the political continuum.
I will say this, though: A number of "big name bloggers" who attended the march (despite knowing in advance of the nature of the sponsoring organization) appear to be taking the stance that it doesn't really matter that they marched under the banner of murderous assclowns, because:
a) It's the cause that matters. Convincing people is more important than personal scruples.
b) No one knows/knew/cares about ANSWER.
Well:
1) As far as this reader is concerned, you've abandoned any right to claim moral superiority. While I am (reluctantly) in favor of war to remove Saddam, it's possible that I could've been convinced otherwise. That's not going to happen now, 'cause I'm just not going to be reading your blogs in the future, any more than I'd read a blog written by David Duke or Matthew Hale (the turd behind the "World Church of the Creator", for those who don't keep up with racist cretins). In fact, I'd probably be MORE likely to read them because those guys are an actual danger. You, on the other hand, are just pathetic.
2) I know. I care. And after the publicity spreads for a few more days, Mr. and Mrs. America are going to know, too. They're the ones you need to convince, guys. Preaching to the choir might be fun, hell, it might even get you laid, but it's not going to play in Paducah.
One of the biggest weapons in the arsenal of your opponents has always been painting you as unpatriotic. It's not like this tactic sprang fully-formed from the head of Rush Limbaugh (*) just last week. Now, explain to me again how marching with people who don't just oppose the war, but EXPLICITLY SUPPORT SADDAM HUSSEIN is going help you win against that tactic. Go on, I'm waiting.
This specific moral blindspot (and it is a moral defect, make no mistake about it) is an example of what I've decided to start calling Red-Green Evilblindness, making a bad pun on a common defect in human color vision. No matter how idiotic or even downright murderous a group is, many leftists will find them acceptable if they're perceived as, or even claim to be, Red or Green. This moral lapse affects even many leftists who appear to be rational and intelligent on other subjects. Of course, the right isn't immune to this failing, but come on... STALINISTS? Time to lay off that store-brand crack, d00ds.
Jesus Menstruating Christ. I hope someone invents a new political philosophy for the Loyal Opposition soon, because leftism has been done in by its own stupidity.
(* Now there's an unappealing image, eh? Almost as bad as when Phyllis Schlafly came out against eternal copyright extension a few weeks back and someone used the old saw about politics making strange bedfellows. <shudder>)
