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August 14, 2009
Learning from the Town Halls
As you may have heard, Obama is literally Hitler.
To be clear, this comparison is odious and offensive and awful in ways too numerous to count, but it's also useful--precisely because it's odious and offensive and awful.
That kind of vitriol can be a good reminder of how quickly heated rhetoric can turn into poisonous rhetoric. For those of us who work in politics, especially those of us who work in the language of politics, it's prudent to stop every once in a while to make sure that you're still on the same planet as everyone else and that you're making claims that are fundamentally humane.
If you're comparing Obama to Hitler, you're not. If you're comparing Bush to Hitler, you're not. If you're screaming about death panels you're not. If you're saying that McCain is nuts you're . . . probably not? If you're saying Sarah Palin is a fool you . . . are? Aren't? Want to be?
It's a tricky line to walk, especially when the stakes are high and feelings are strong. There but for a habit of self awareness go we.
Posted by Drew at August 14, 2009 03:44 PM