In recent days, Republican pundits Bill Kristol and Rush Limbaugh have each, in their own unique and special ways, revealed the dark heart of conservatism and the Bush Republican Party. First, here's Bill Kristol, joking (?) about President Bush's SCHIP veto:
First of all, whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it's a good idea. I'm happy that the President's willing to do something bad for the kids.
Yeah, I know what Kristol's saying. Whenever I hear about children getting sick and stuff, milk and peas start shooting out of my nose and mouth. I mean, it's just so funny. Hahahahahahahaha. Ha. Not.
Oh, and for good measure, just so we know he wasn't really joking, Kristol "then disparaged [the September 29] Democratic Radio Address, delivered by a 12-year-old boy named Graeme Frost who had received care under the SCHIP program, calling it 'pathetic.'" Kristol added this gem: "You really wonder how stupid they think the American people are." Not really, Bill, but we DO wonder how heartless and nasty you and your fellow conservatives are!
Then, of course, we have the "phony veterans" comment by draft dodging drug addict Rush Limbaugh. On this subject, nobody in the Virginia blogosphere has written more effectively than The Richmond Democrat, and I strongly recommend his latest article ("Rush's 'Macaca' moment").
The only question now is how badly this will damage Limbaugh, and by extension the Republican brand, and when--if ever--Limbaugh will apologize. Limbaugh's statements are far more damaging than anything Moveon.org has done or said. Moveon.org insulted a single, highly political general participating in a highly political hearing. Limbaugh attacked hundreds of thousands of ordinary American service men and women. His actions cannot help but damage the Republican brand as the war grinds on.
As if, after IraqKatrinaAbuGhraibGuantanamo the Republican "brand" can be any more damaged? Let's see, draft dodgers who insult our soldiers and heartless hypocrites who will spend $1 trillion on Iraq but nothing on children's health care? Yeah, that's an appealing combo right there! Oh, and let's not forget the "leaders" they provide us, people like Mark "Love Those Male Pages" Foley, David "D.C. Madam" Vitter, and Larry "Wide Stance" Craig. What a party!