During the height of the Red Scare, Republican Sen. Joe McCarthy reportedly said, "I have here in my hand a list of 205 -- a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department."
McCarthy never shared the list of names, which was largely the point -- "McCarthyism" was about creating fears and sowing seeds of suspicion based on nothing. The resulting hysteria led to blacklisting, ruined lives, and a witch-trial atmosphere, motivated by little more than paranoia.
McCarthy was disgraced, but his tactics live on. Consider, for example, what Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) told constituents last night (via Jennifer Bendery). [Update: here's the video, posted by our pal James Carter.]
The audio is a little tough to make out, but the right-wing Floridian says between 78 and 81 members of the "Democrat Party" in Congress are "members of the Communist Party." Though the crowd gasps, West didn't name names.
For all the talk about McCarthyism in politics, we don't usually come across literal examples like these. Here's an unhinged congressman who's "heard" that roughly half of the House Democratic caucus are secretly members of the Communist Party, and though he's not prepared to say who's on the alleged list, the federal lawmaker feels comfortable sharing this in public.
I don't expect much from West, but even by his standards, this reckless, irresponsible rhetoric is beyond the pale.
It's worth noting, though, that West isn't alone in his embrace of McCarthyism. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has endorsed bringing back the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC); Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has said she supports investigations to determine which members of Congress are "pro-America or anti-America"; and in Texas, right-wing activists rewriting the state's curriculum have recommended telling students that McCarthy was a hero, "vindicated" by history.
If I thought they'd appreciate it, I'd gladly chip in to buy copies of "Good Night, and Good Luck" for West, King, and Bachmann.
Second Update: West has posted a longer clip, suggesting he was taken out of context, and was referring to members of the House Progressive Caucus as communists. But that doesn't help his case -- even going by West's video, he's still arguing that nearly half the House Democrats are, in fact, members of the Communist Party, which is still stark raving mad.
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And I am wanting to send copies of "The Republican War Against Women: An Insider's Report from Behind the Lines" by Tanya Melich to all the Republicans, especially the women, who say there is not one. One of their own has documented it and they still don't believe it. They will say "Good Night and Good Luck" is a Hollywood fabrication.
Thank you, Rachel. I hope you touch on this on your show as well.
Am I the only one who is trying really, really hard not to make a "Yo dog I herd..." meme out of this? Maybe it's just me. I hope not.
Yo dawg, I heard you like filibusters, so we put a legislative block on your legislative block so you can obstruct while you obstruct.
Wow, you guys are racist. Because he's black he has to talk like that?
You idiot, I'm black.
That's not jive talk, that's the meme. The meme comes from Xzibit and his Pimp my ride show. It's a nested function joke.
It's framed like that. "Yo dawg, I herd you like x so we put a y in your y so you can z while you z."
It's one thing not to know the meme, that's fine. But to throw the word racist around so casually is something I'm less forgiving about.
That word means something, its a serious matter, not a political toy.
I expect better from you in the future.
Oh, so you can't be black and be a racist? Good job perpetuating the stereotype and spreading a racist meme.
The meme isn't racist.
The meme makes fun of how Xzibit acted on the show, it doesn't spread that to the entire race. You can make fun of someone being goofy without saying that it reflects on the whole race. Xzibit is not the representative for African Americans worldwide.
White people can make fun of Flavor Flav and Snoop Dogg, they are ridiculous. It's not racist for someone to say that Kanye is obnoxious. It is only racist when people use these traits to say that the entire race is inferior. Or that these people are goofy because they are black. It's not racist to say that Flavor Flav is gnarly-looking, or that Snoop Dogg spends all his time stoned, It's racist when you extend that and say "That's just how black people are."
Racism isn't simple, Racism is one of the most complex issues that Humans are called to deal with. You shouldn't treat it so lightly. It's not as easy as "Look, Allen West is being made fun of and he's black, and the person in the meme is black so that's racism!"
You need to think before you speak, you need to deliberate and evaluate things before you accuse people. Talking about race requires discernment and reservation.
If you don't understand it, you shouldn't be levying charges of "Racism." It's like the Boy who cried Wolf, you're just making it harder for us when we're faced with actual racism.
And being black doesn't prevent me from being discriminatory, but you charged me with assuming that "all black people have to talk like that." and being black and not talking like that automatically means that I don't think that about black people.
If I were to accuse a latino of "thinking all hispanics speak only broken english" He would think I was an idiot. It wouldn't be championing multiculturalism, it would just be me, posing, and telling this person that they were racist for holding views that they didn't hold. I wouldn't be defending Hispanics, I would just be posing.
Conservatives accuse liberals of "playing the race card." And it's nonsense. But I actually do try to be careful when talking about race, I don't just go around labeling everyone I disagree with as a racist. (Because as you're going to learn, there are actually very few full time racists. It is more often a behavior, a concept, and institution that is racist, rather than a person.)
That is why I am angry. Not because you called me a racist against my own kind, (that was just dumb luck, you could have just as easily been talking to someone of any other race.) No, I'm angry because you treated racism with such willful neglect. As if you were just going to step in and dictate who is racist and who isn't. This isn't a game.
You treated racism with the kind of casual neglect that conservatives always accuse progressives of having. You actually played the race card.
You need to either learn a lot more about racism, or stop talking about it. Because you're not helping us, you're not helping your argument, and you're certainly not taking the moral high road. You're just showing off your ignorance.
I'm not saying all of this to scold you, or to mock you, I'm just trying to illustrate to you how completely wrong you were, both in idea and behavior.
By the way, I am not pretending to be the final authority on racism just because I'm black. But I've had a lot of experience with this issue. Being Black doesn't mean I'm automatically right about everything to do with race. But it does mean that it's an issue that I'm forced to spend a lot of time with.
It's just like someone being a woman doesn't automatically make them the final authority on women's issues, but it does mean that they are too personally involved with the issue to treat it casually. (Though of course some choose to do anyway.)
That's what I'm trying to emphasis, it doesn't bother me that you called me a racist. It bothers me that you treat race with such casual disregard.
I'm throwing racism around no more loosely than anyone else on this blog or Maddow and her show does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9bHG2fTEmyM
The entire Democratic party is based on throwing the race card anytime they're losing the argument. Instead of relying on facts it comes down to emotion. If racism gets thrown around as loosely as liberals do then it's meaningless.
Sigh,
You just make me tired all over.
You seem to have no interest in reason.
You see race as nothing more than a political weapon, you feel aggrieved, thinking it was used against your "side" unfairly in the past, now you want to use it too.
Terms like "The Race Card," and "Losing" or "Winning," an argument, just reveal how little you care about the issue.
This is not a game. Racism is serious.
If you're not interested in serious discussion than find some other thread, because I will not waste my time trying to explain racial politics to someone who sees this as a game of football.
As for your idea that the party that disregards facts in favor of emotionally charged rhetoric is the Democratic Party?
All I can say is wow. After the tea party and the conservative propaganda from Fox News and Conservative Talk Radio, after the Bush administration, and the fearmongering and the jingoism, after all of the Sarah Palin blustering, after all the sheer overemotional illogical insanity that we've endured for over a decade, for you to even try to make that argument is easily more idiotic, and ridiculous than the already laughable things you've already said.
I'm done correcting you. I'm not interested in wasting my time trying to hold your hand and lead you example by example through why you are wrong. But by all means, feel free to continue to rant delusionally. I'm sure someone else will be amused by your tantrums.
No interest in reason after I just showed Maddow doing exactly what you accused me of? That's hatred?
Thanks for proving my point in a way that I could never have done without you. I show you proof that you're a hypocrite and you completely ignore it and attempt some emotional appeal. I love the internet. Liberals can't continue to say contradict themselves and get away with it anymore!
Wow, you think because you think Rachel Maddow does it, that makes it ok for you to do it? What are you five?
Hahaha! You libs crack me up! I so love your blind double standards! No wonder no one takes you guys seriously anymore!
Wow, what a coincidence! I have in my hand a list of 80 Republicans in congress who are members of the Nazi party!
I was going to make a similar comment, but you got to it first.
I was thinking KKK. And thinking that's a very real possibility. Maybe even West himself, since he does appear to be that stupid.
I was probably more innocuous... I heard that 80 Republicans are vacuous boobs who can be sucked in by rumor and innuendo.
Oh, wait. Maybe that also should follow the McCarthy approach... if pressed for numbers just say there are a lot of them out there... would you be wrong?
I think that about hits the nail on the head.
That about hits the nail on the head.
KJ, CR, IA,
You remind me of Dave Chappelle's skit about a blind black KKK member. That skit cracks me up all the time (sorry, no link as I believe the video is copyrighted by Viacom and I don't want to get Rachel in trouble :D ).
Well, you know you could honestly say that: 99% of all Republican House members have signed Grover Norquist's No new tax pledge, that a significant have received money from ALEC. No need to make this stuff up...
Carl Hiassen once observed he did not have to think up plots or outlandish characters for his Florida-based fiction. "All I have to do is read the paper," he said. LTC West is our most nationally prominent proof of how right Carl was.
Similarly, Dave Barry's "Big Trouble" reminds us that the plot consists of stuff that could only happen in Miami. I actually managed to finish that book in two days and didn't want it to end because it was so hilarious.
estamn, you beat me to it! Great idea!
Eighty Democratic members of Congress secret Communists. Wow. Thats about 1/2 the Democratic Party's congressional membership. Thanks Rep. West. They have kept their secret pretty secret all these years. They sure don't act or vote like Communists.
What a maroon.
I heard that the GOP are confusing being bipartisan with being bi-sexual, not that there is anything wrong with it.
As with McCarthy, what is truly sad is that there are a significant number of people who believe these types of things.
Allan ... the men with the nets and the straightjacket are right behind you.
Seriously , what is wrong with the people who elected this nutcase?
The sheeple that elected him didn't get the mental health-care that they needed - they couldn't afford it. And Rep. West can now afford it, yet he doesn't feel that he "needs it", that's irony for you.....
It's Florida. 'Nuff said.
"If I thought they'd appreciate it, I'd gladly chip in to buy copies of "Good Night, and Good Luck" for West, King, and Bachmann."
Just make sure they're used copies or else they'll trade them in, unopened, for copies of Atlas Shrugged Part 1.
I know of a list of Republicans who are in favor of deficit spending. Who have signed a pledge to an unelected organization that they put above their oaths of office.
Are you now or have you ever been a member of any objectivist groups? Can you name names of the people who were with you when you met with Grover Norquist in secret?
I mean, if the Dominionists and Neo-Libertarians don't count as anarchists who does.
"Oh no, you have us confused, we don't want to overthrow the government, we just think that government is evil and we want to have a revolution. That doesn't make us anarchists, we're just in favor of government shutdown, but we can't be the anarchists, because we where flag pins and listen to country music, that means we're the patriots."
It's a well known fact now that McCarthy had a blank piece of paper in his briefcase (along with a fifth of whiskey). There were also widespread rumors that he was gay.
Interesting who these guys choose as their heros. Drunks, liars and of course a group that they always seem to be attacking, trying to discredit and deny any kind of civil rights to/for.
Spreading fear and threatening people with jail time as well as ruining their lives and careers though, now that sounds like a true blue Republican.
Kathleen Parker just wrote a column on 'rumors' but only included the Nikki Haley rumor. The 'just sayin'' rumors seem beneath her. Allen West is a jerk. He gets away with his crap because people believe he's a 'hero' when in actuality he's just a thug that went in the military. I get this from many people that served this country. Somehow they believe that what they 'say' deserves more weight. Honest to God...if McCarthyism comes back I will send them all a copy of The Front...because watching a movie is easier for some members of Congress than READING. The most famous line is 'I don't recognize your power to question me and furthermore you should all just go F* yourselves'...or words to that effect.
West's comment fits in with Romney's declaration that Russia is our #1 geopolitical foe. If Romney wins, he'll probably nominate West to be Secy of State.
Or worse, our UN representative.
He's just gearing up for his VP run.
He want to be a vaginal probe???
When Fla. did its mandatory redistricting, Mr. West decided to run in a different district since his old one gained some Democrats. He is running in my district now. He is warning people who may not vote for him that nothing needed locally can happen if the GOP lose. He has no facts for this either.
And yet sadly the sheeple believe him....
Since when do the tealiban have anything to do with facts?
Who is running against him - both Republican and Democratic challengers? This is one race in the House we all should seek to return to the Democrats!
Let's recall that West is only a "military hero" to the same people who think the great traitor Oliver North is a "hero." In fact, West was thrown out of the Army for violating the Laws of War by torturing prisoners.
As to "80 Communists" I wonder if he's aware that Communism died in 1989? If not then, for certain with the failure of the CP coup in 1991. The Chinese may still use the label, but they're about as far from being Communists as my cats are. But the wingnut morons this guy represents are the ones who have been looking high and low for a good "enemy" to be fearful of since Communism fell apart.
I swear this country gets dumber every year.
Well, the districts that keep voting RepubliKKKan are certainly getting dumber.
Said another way, our children isn't learning.
Adam West needs to be kicked to the curb for playing out too many cruel jokes upon his fellow Americans!
Think the voters in his district are savvy enough to vote him out of office, or will they merely be dolts working their low-information emotions when they enter the ballot booth this fall? -Kevo
Hey! Don't confuse the guy who played Batman with this slimeball!
ah, West. Another liar who claims to be a Christian. He also said that atheists couldn't be "real atheists" if they carried currency that had 'in god we trust" on it. I guess he can't be a real Christian if he uses the words Monday, tuesday, etc. I wonder if that would make him a "Communist" then by his own logic.
Just wait until you hear the idiots who talk about all the money rightfully belonging to God because it says "In God We Trust." I suppose they also think all the half-dollars are the rightful property of the Kennedys.
I don't understand this man. They need to do a serious background check on him. He attacked Deborah, Wosnick I can't remember her last name, now he's going to try creating his own black list. Someone seriously needs to follow this mans' money trail. How much and who is paying him? I'm thinking Koch as in KKK. Now, that's a man who should be on trial for treason against his own race. Where is the White list The list of Public officials who have told little white lies.
Aside from all else, why does West think it's 1954? Is he even aware that the Soviet Union no longer exists? Is anyone in that room aware that the U.S.S.R. no longer exists? :they're all nuts:
This is not "The Way We Were"but, in essence it is. Thank you Barbra Streisand ,beautiful song
Just for the record I don't think it's prudent to bring West's military career into this. It is fair game to attack policies, arguments, or otherwise statements that are stupid/incoherent/factually incorrect/hypocritical/etc. But let's not drag the military into this, regardless of what you think of his service. I really don't like our tendency to make the issue if you're a veteran whom agrees w/ me politically then you're a hero, but if you disagree w/ me then f you. Kind've upsetting for me.
Anywho I am becoming ever more convinced that these people a. don't think about the things they say b. don't care about the things they say and c. have absolutely no understanding of modern history or are at least so intent on rewriting history that they don't care to repeat the truth.
I suppose they believe that if they keep repeating the lie enough people will begin to believe it. Sigh
Steve, you DO mean the book version rewritten in Texas?
I seem to recall Don Quioakie saying the Rep West was this Character from the movie Dr. Strangelove
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003296/
But I think he's really this character in the movie
Brig Gerneral Jack D. Ripper
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003297/bio
West is just as nuts as Brig Gen Jack D. Ripper
I'm thinking more of Senator Iselin from The Manchurian Candidate. But West, like Iselin, is just channeling McCarthy.
Seriously, communists? I'm sorry, I thought this was 2012.