Since the Tea Party Movement was formed early last year, the Left has been tirelessly shouting warnings of the "potential dangers" that may arise from such "right wing extremism."
As we all know, no violent acts of note have sprung up from the Tea Partiers as of yet — and thankfully so. However, quite a bit of violence has sprung up from the leftists that predicted an onslaught of horror from America's recent uprising of fiscal conservatism.
Take the Honorable Representative Bob Etheridge, Democrat of North Carolina, for example. When approached by a student journalist earlier this week, he lost it — to say the least. After being asked if he supported the Obama administration's political agenda, he attempted to knock the journalist's camcorder to the ground. When that effort failed, he proceeded to grab the journalist by his arm and demanded his identity. As the journalist attempted to respond, Etheridge took hold of his neck and began to ramble incoherently. Eventually, the journalist was able to break free and the Distinguished Gentleman from North Carolina scurried away.
Unbelievably, this was topped by an extremely disturbing event that took place over the weekend. Strangely enough, it concerned North Carolina as well. Just what is it with the leftists that come out of that place — are they all crazed militants? During a peaceful Tea Party rally in downtown Greensboro, the chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party, a Nathan Tauber was punched in the face by an enraged anti-Bush activist who was attempting to disrupt the event. Both Tauber and the man who assaulted him have since filed charges against one another. Judging from the footage taken of the altercation, I cannot see how Tauber could be found guilty of any wrongdoing.
These incidents, while horrid in their own right, are symptoms of an infinitely larger problem. The problem is that when the Left begins to see its political influence wane, it resorts to violence. We saw this happen over 40 years ago with the anarchist countercultural movement and more recently with the horrific urban riots of the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
We are on the dawn of a new phase in leftist violence, and if what happened this week is any indicator, it will be a particularly destructive one.
For more information, watch the video of Rep. Etheridge's assault:
Also, see the footage of the altercation in Greensboro:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Doug Hunter
As far as examples of 'horrid' violence go, those are pretty piss poor.
I'd much rather have a congressman come out and directly punch me in the face, than for them to enslave my children with another few $trillion in debt behind closed doors.
2 - Baritone
Yes indeed. These 2 incidents demonstrate the left's organized and finely tuned attacks against the right. It's obviously a conspiracy of violence - probably promulgated by some secret lefty oath taken while inhaling the burning embers of an arugula plant.
You know, I don't see or hear of the left telling their adherents to arm themselves, or to "take aim" at their common enemy (that being us evil leftists.) I don't see leftists roaming the Michigan woods every week end playing army and planning for Armageddon. I don't see leftists showing up at political ralleys armed to the teeth.
A couple of guys getting pissed off and punching somebody hardly counts as brand name "leftist" violence. I don't particularly condone the actions of either Etheridge or the other fellow, but neither incident can be fairly extrapolated as "leftist violence."
How many leftists have set off bombs during the Olympics? How many leftists have taken it upon themselves to murder doctors and nurses? How many leftists have chosen to blow up a Federal building or to fly their airplane into another? Let's add them up.
B
3 - Dave Nalle
I'd much rather have a congressman come out and directly punch me in the face, than for them to enslave my children with another few $trillion in debt behind closed doors.
Doug. I think the problem here is that they have enough time on their hands to do both.
How many leftists have set off bombs during the Olympics? How many leftists have taken it upon themselves to murder doctors and nurses? How many leftists have chosen to blow up a Federal building or to fly their airplane into another? Let's add them up.
You seem to have forgotten the Unabomber, the ELF, the SLA, the Weather Underground, the Black Panther Party, etc, etc.
But the real authors of terror here in the US aren't the little groups or the lone nuts. They wear suits and ties and wield pens and computers and destroy lives with the click of a pen or the stroke of a key.
Dave
4 - Mark
The Senate 'limits' support for the unemployed and you talk of left wing violence. What a load of crap.
5 - roger nowosielski
I agree with Baronius - poor "example" of violence. Still, Etheridge's behavior was inexcusable. What it does show is the arrogance of politicians.
I surely hope he gets sued for assault.
6 - roger nowosielski
Not to say, Mark, I agree with where Cotto's going with this.
7 - roger nowosielski
And perhaps unemployment benefits out to be cut to bring things to a peak. How else are you going to energize the underclass?
It's too early though for such a radical move. We haven't sunk low enough.
Timing is everything.
8 - roger nowosielski
ought to . . .
9 - Mark
The 'ought' thing.
If the contradiction is deep enough and we double dip, the possibility of radical change increases -- but in everyday life this translates into suffering.
old dilemma in need of transformation
10 - roger nowosielski
No pain, no gain. I don't envisage any shortcuts. It's like having to rebuild from the ashes. Especially in US where we still think as individuals and me, me, me - no sense of solidarity.
11 - Mark
There are two schools of thought when it comes to transitioning horses from shod to barefoot. The European school advocates the 'no pain - no gain' dictum; the US approach is to avoid causing pain in the process.
American exceptionalism
12 - roger nowosielski
This may be due to different circumstances and histories. The European countries are more bonded than we are in terms of ethic unity and national purpose. Indeed, even the EU hasn't quite obliterated the individual commonalities and the financial model in place reveals structural stresses of late.
Still, I do think they have a better shot than we do.
13 - roger nowosielski
Another consideration, we have to wake up from our sense of unreality. Consequently, Europe is ahead of us on that score.
14 - Glenn Contrarian
Yet another article by Mr. Cotto wherein he will refuse to even try to defend his views.
Ah, but I forget! He's really patriotic, and Real American Patriotism excuses anything a Patriot does, right? Just ask Bush/Cheney, who invaded a nation on false pretenses at a cost of over 5,000 U.S. servicemembers, well over a trillion taxpayer dollars, and over 100,000 Iraqi citizens.
See? Bush and Cheney were Real Patriots, so they need not fear being held accountable for anything! Mr. Cotto, the Real Patriot that he must be, is merely following their example.
15 - Baritone
No Dave, I hadn't forgot about them. However, to characterize the Unabomber as a true leftist is a stretch. As to the SLA, I knew 3 of them personally. They were nut cases. And relatively speaking all of these groups are ancient history, and none of them were either a part of nor condoned by the main stream left.
However, even the most "out there" right "wing nuts" have garnered at least tacit approval from the main stream Republicans and other rightys. Abortion doctor assassin George Tiller essentially got an "Atta-boy" from many on the right. O'Reilly fell just short of dubbing him a national hero.
There are literally dozens of right-wing pols using violent rhetoric - thinly disguised threats - and proudly displaying a plethora of armaments in their campaign ads and elsewhere. Oh, but I guess it's all in good fun, right? Just good old red blooded American politics.
B
16 - Baritone
Roger - #5 - Who is it you agree with?
BARITONE
17 - Glenn Contrarian
Dave -
You seem to have forgotten the Unabomber, the ELF, the SLA, the Weather Underground, the Black Panther Party, etc, etc.
As with all other comparisons between the wrongs of the Left and the Right, Dave, it's a matter of degree...and the wrongs of the Left don't even approach the degree of the wrongs by the right.
18 - roger nowosielski
Well, I didn't care for Etheridge's behavior - no excuse. But as I said, poor example of violonece.
19 - Cindy
18 - (You wrote Baronius instead of Baritone.)
20 - roger nowosielski
Now I see why he was up in arms.
B-man - go back to your acronyms.
21 - Dr Dreadful
Speaking of the Carolinas, what does everyone make of this unknown, Greene, who won the South Carolina Democratic primary for the Senate?
Does SC have open primaries? Could Greene's victory be down to Republicans voting strategically for the worst Democratic candidate?
Or were the voting machines rigged? Or was there some other kind of skulduggery going on?
Or did the SC Democratic voters just think, "Fuck it, DeMint's going to win anyway, let's just have some fun"?
22 - Cannonshop
#15 Is it? Anti-Technology, Green agenda, random (wandering) targeting and incompetent bomb-making. I read UnaBom's manifesto when it was published, it looked pretty much Left to me-just not necessarily Statist left, and I can't help but remember how the Left tripped over themselves defending Mr. Koczinski, saying how he had a "point" and "Worthy views".
The difference between what Timmy McVeigh did and what the Weather Underground were TRYING to do, is that Tim's bomb worked without killing him first (More's the pity that...), and the side of midnight he came from-that's all.
(Well, that and he didn't have a billionaire daddy to bail his ass out w/the lawyers like a certain Ex-Weather professor in Chicago did...)
23 - Dan
I guess the black Obama supporter savagely attacking the peaceful tea party protesters is an example of that racist violence we keep hearing so much about.
24 - Cannonshop
#23 Nope, that's just political speech-ask any democrat.
25 - Jordan Richardson
What's the purpose of this pissing contest? My "side" is less/more violent than your "side." Wow. Yay. You've all come so far.