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Remember former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.)? Last May, the Republican raised eyebrows when he accused dozens of House Democrats of being secret members of the Communist Party. Asked for an explanation, West eventually argued that, in his mind, "Communism, Progressivism, Socialism, Marxism, or Statism" are all effectively the same thing.
He's apparently not the only one who thinks this way.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) made no effort to hide the fact that he believes the Democratic agenda is radical, comparing members of the party to Socialists and Marxists over the weekend.
Johnson lamented President Barack Obama's reelection with fellow Republicans in a speech on Saturday night in Johnson Creek, Wis., calling it a "body blow to freedom." He then described what "people who like freedom" -- people such as himself -- were up against.
"We are up against a strategy that is taking place by liberals, progressives, Democrats, whatever they call themselves nowadays, Socialists, Marxists," Johnson continued, according to the Daily Jefferson County Union.
Of course, Allen West is a former one-term congressman, known for his ridiculous rhetoric, now relegated to obscurity. Ron Johnson is the senior U.S. senator from the great state of Wisconsin. That he and West are sharing talking points and twisted worldviews is not at all reassuring.
Johnson added that "they" -- his rascally foes -- "have taken over our universities," which means they also "utterly and totally control our culture." He added, "Liberals have had control of our culture now for about 20 years."
What an odd argument. Putting aside the paranoia, liberals have only had "control" of American culture since 1993? Haven't conservatives been complaining about liberals' cultural dominance for a lot longer than that?
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It's an "odd" and self-defeating statement to admit that conservatives have "lost" the universities. 100% true of course, but admitting it without addressing possible alternatives to change it make Johnson a potential right wing leader/whiner...
I'm surprised that he didn't cite the fact that you can't get a "Conservative Arts Degree" as proof.
On a related note I've already seen complaints that Obama's pre-k plan is designed to indoctrinate toddlers with the liberal agenda.
Well 'they' can make those complaints (Pre-K) but since Georgia and Oklahoma are the two states that have successfully implemented it, I'm not thinking that 'meme' is gonna take hold...
Johnson is just using the define and defeat strategy that has been used for decades. Define as negative the terms that apply to ideas, people and groups that you oppose. It has been going on for decades but it has intensified in the last few years. Remember the term "welfare"? For centuries, it was considered a positive term and that is why it was used when the welfare program was introduced. The opponents soon vilified the term as they have with "liberals,""communism," "affirmative action," "taxes," even "government" and so many more. Some terms they coin as negatives like "Obamacare."
Newt Gingrich popularized the attack on "liberals."
Glenn Beck began beating the drums against "socialism" soon after Obama was elected.
Hannity was beating the drums against "Muslims" since before Obama was elected.
Limbaugh had a phrase, "America held hostage" when Clinton was President.
Look at how they define the words: "conservative" and "Republican." In reality, the way the Koch-Rove-Fox News uses them is exactly opposite of what they traditionally meant. Conservative used to mean protect the environment, now it means exploit the environment for private gain. Republican meant freedom for slaves, now it means pay workers poorly, create a new kind of economic slavery, to benefit the rich.
Don't let the Koch-Rove-FoxNews people get away with it. Challenge the terms they consider negative and put forth aggressively the positive meaning. Challenge the definition of conservative and Republican and show how they are functionally negative. "Conservatism" today is defined by the Americans for Prosperity agenda. That brand of conservatism still controls Republican house members.
The Koch-Rove-FoxNews redefinition express can be slowed markedly by electing in 2014 many "Democrats" and "liberals" who are concerned about "civil rights," "environment protection" and "gun control."
Only 20 years??? Where's our little moron been? Asleep in the back of the classroom? It's a well-known fact that we liberals have been in control of the culture since at least the 1930s, when Hollywood was taken over by the "communists." And John Dewey was busy even earlier than that. What about Joe Hill 100 years ago?? Has the little boy never heard of HUAC? Joe McCarthy? "50 card carrying communists in the State Department"? "Who lost China?"?????All that was like more than 60 years ago.
Hey, it was 40 years ago that we stabbed Richard Nixon in the back and made sure that Ho Chi Minh would defeat our battle for freedom in Vietnam!!
And what about the Illuminati??? They're the ones who started it all and who secretly recruit many of us into their cabal to learn how to manipulate the rest of you red rubes!
Better wingnut morons, please. Pretty please??
He's like most of Generation X, thinking that "old" movies are from the 80s.
You know one of the reasons that there aren't more conservatives in our universities is because they generally have high standards for reasoned argument, something the conservatives think they meet but really they fall very short.
There have been many examples of sustained efforts to insert conservative thought into once 'liberal' universities like the U of Chicago. They succeeded to a degree, but in the long run, trying to make heads or tails of most of their ideas, and find out ways to apply them, is often near impossible.
It seems sort of self-defeating to insist that you're the party of the less intelligent. Republicans have tried to make a virtue of ignorance. That probably works with a good chunk of their base, but it would seem to turn off moderates and independents.
So all old south universities are LIBERAL ? And there are zero conservative universities or programs any where else ? And Harvard has not taught the wall st business model for the last 30 years ? Next joke please , have you noticed how CLIMATE CHANGE legislation ,and it's message was defeated ?
Apparently not, Glad to see you coming out of your GOP closet , Dude
Pat: It's remarkable how you try to parse my posts into gibberish, truly childish. Your use of caps points to anger and insecurity, an intelligent person confident in what they post does not need to emphasize words or phrases IMHO. Go ahead and keep making a jerk out of yourself, it's a free country, or if you want to parse "free country" too, go for it.
The Kochs and Murdochs are targeting the universities. They buy an endowed chair or two in a number of departments and reserve the right to determine who is appointed, a "conservative," of course. The strategy has worked beautifully in the past in religious institutions including universities and churches. Karl Rove's faith based initiative was effective in getting the "conservative" message from the pulpit.
Notice how many "clergy" and "university professors" are on FoxNews and notice what they "preach" and "profess."
Another advantage that Koch-Rove-FoxNews have is that they own the media and thus control what message gets out. Obama is censored and distored unbelievably on Fox and the treatment he gets in other media, like USA Today and CNN is not much better.
They who control the channels controls whether the message gets out. "THEY" control 80% of all media and have infiltrated the media they do not own. There is very little unbiased media out there and even less "liberal" media. Turn on talk radio in most midwest and southwest states and you get Limbaugh and Hannity and the other "conservative" voices --- that's all you get. You certainly do not get liberal voices.
Don't blame the people who hear only the "conservative" message for believing it. Those who control the media make certain that it is the only message they hear.
They made the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) dysfunctional during the George W administration and have kept Obama from doing much about it in the last four years. There should not be such a concentration of media ownership.
So, at least, we have Rachel's blog and the social media to get the message out and that is what we have to do if Democrats are to win in 2014.
"Democrats, whatever they call themselves nowadays, Socialists, Marxists," Johnson continued,"
He left out the most important one: "African Americans".
He left out the most important one: Americans.
we wont have to worry about Sen Johnson ever being confused with a member of MENSA. he's a dullard non pareil. the word 'tool' describes this man rather well. anything his true benefactors, the Koch Bros/Big Business, want he will gladly deliver.
These are not the 60s on major campuses today. Look at the buildings on your state campuses. Most of the newer buildings are underwritten by major corporations...the Bank America School for Business, etc. The Koch Brothers are not the only wealthy contributors determining the philosophical, economical, political thought directing the academic areas' content at major universities across the nation.
Johnson's comment needs to be publicized and rebuked. What Democratic senator has ever said, "We are up against a strategy that is taking place by Republicans, conservatives, tea partiers, whatever they call themselves nowadays, Fascists, Nazis"? He owes over half of America an apology. Those in his party should let him know his talk, like Cruz's innuendos and inferences are not acceptable in political talks before any audience.
Why do the Republicans more and more remind me of these folks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUHk2RSMCS8
That showed 'em...
The Left control our universities...
Our universities train professionals needed for the high tech, petrochemical, financial, and other industries...
Our universities also produce the bulk to the basic research that fuels high tech, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and other industries...
So we can thank the Left for developing our modern economy?
(Unless you can explain away Silicon Valley's growth as other than an extension of the Colleges of Engineering at Stanford University and the University of California, it is hard to deny the link between universities and high tech. For other industries, visit the College of Chemistry at UC Berkeley and look at the corporate names, such as Dow, on the donor wall -- they donate millions for very good reasons.)
By declaring that all those dreaded "-isms" are the same, any further philosophical or political statements by this man are automatically discredited. Period!
He may not be bright, but he's wily . . . and potentially dangerous.
Republicans hate educated people. Once a person is able to think for themselves, they reject the entire republican agenda.
Remember the Texas Board of Education wants to kill "critical thinking" classes since they might challenge a student's "core beliefs."
Marty in KC . . . Bingo! You hit it on the head.
Republicans have a "faith based" agenda. We're supposed to take it on faith that allowing the uber-wealthy to act without regulation and giving them huge tax breaks will lead to lots of "trickle down" that will produce a thriving society.
Conservatives want us to take it on faith that shredding the social safety net by eliminating Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will lead to stronger, healthier communities full of generous people who will care for the sick, elderly, and/or impoverished.
We're also supposed to take it on faith that, somehow, ignoring science will allow us to better solve problems and produce rapid technological innovation that improves the economy and our quality of life.
No thanks, Republicans. As someone with multiple degrees, I'll trust in logic and reason.
20 years, 30 years, whatever. It's just another mindless reference to "the good ol' days" when everything was perfect.
I now believe in reincarnation.
Republican Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy has returned.
What's amazing is that conservatives have been on the upswing for 35 years or so, but think that liberals are holding more power. Between the Presidency, the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court they've had far more power than the Democrats since 1969 but refuse to admit it because to do so would be to admit their era of rule has failed.
Their whole philosophy is based on being victims of powerful others, which explains why they are all losers and lets them off the hook.
Yes colleges may have a liberal bend to them. Thank goodness. Conservative thinking is indeed needed and useful, but in sutuations where a choice reflects advancing or staying the course - but not in a learning or creating environment. Many young new hires I talk to claim to be conservative or independent and few claim to be liberal. However, as we talk they are for women's choice, gay rights, green energy and green initiatives, anti assalt weapon, pro imigration and on and on. One may think that they have been indoctrinated but they also believe Social Security and Medicare will be gone before they get it, that the budget defecit is a real problem, that student loans should go away due to how crushing the debt it creates and they also supported Kasich here in Ohio and a few worked for the Orangeman - Boehner. This new generation - I'm kinda liking it a lot. Free thinking will be the only thing that saves us from this backward thinking Republican party short of them going away... and that will never happen in my lifetime.... but one can dream.
"Conservative thinking" is an oxymoron, which presumes that a "conservative" would have the necessary equipment to do so, very much "a fact not in evidence."
I'm confused. If those dang "libruls" with their isms and such have been in control for the past 20 years what was the era of Bush-Cheney, chopped liver?
It will go down in history as the last repub administration in the White House.
Holy Haliburton Heaven
The teatards are using those terms so much and tossing them out when speaking of dems so much that they are becoming meaningless. When we do have a country or a person with one of those labels, that truly believes that way, we have heard it so much about Americans and politicians that disagree with the teatards that no one will care.
The Republican party has become desperate as they descend into the dust bin of history. Any tactics will do, including demonization of any and all opponents. These new tea partying Republicans have become the radicals of today, and it is way over the top, too extreme for America.
Oh well, next they will say that the DNC is full of Marc Dutroux's in the making. And THEN they may fall into the "Democrats are all Hitler fans" conspiracy". And then they will call Obama an alien. Just maybe.
Well, I know for a fact that I spent 22 years in the classroom at a NorCal High School brainwashing all of my students with liberal principles. When my job was done, I retired knowing that the socialist/marxist way of existence is protected. <sarcasm>
Sorry, Senator Johnson, but most universities do not accept "the Bible tells me so" as definitive.
Just wish that were true of most politicians . . .
So I guess conservatives, reactionaries, Republicans, fascists, Nazis, whatever they call themselves nowadays...they're all the same.
Johnson is full of hyperbole as well as something else.
So Dwight Eisenhower was a communist according to Johnson? Funny how McCarthy missed that.
I've heard variations on this argument before, just make it banks or media and you can complete it for yourself.
What Johnson's doing and what he is, is very obvious.
Wisconsin should consider him a disgrace.
Labels, labels, labels. Remember. A fringe politician does not try to stimulate intellectual discourse to help make society better. He tries to use as many keywords and catchphrases as he can.
The more you use slanted rhetoric and repeat it often enough, you consolidate your own like-minded supporters, but you also start swaying uniformed or undecided people as well.
This is a variation of the Big Lie tactic.
A fringe politician is confined to his unwavering world view with no thought of trying to learn other viewpoints that differ from his own. His agenda is set. His goals are set. There is no room for compromise.
If ignorance is bliss, Senator Johnson must be the happiest person on earth.
As a Wisconsin resident I am embarrassed that he represents my state. Well not the whole state, just the know nothings and the don't wanna know nothings.
I guess it's like a great philosopher once said...Ya can't fix stupid.