See the above? It REALLY sounds like, yes, that is what you are saying. I figured maybe you wanted to clarify or re-write that, hence my edit.
You said: If you DO NOT want to be LUMPED IN with \"THEM\" then you must express disagreement.
Is that not what you said?
Ok, I'll do an example to help out, ok?
10 people are at a bar. Maybe 3 of them are being rowdy and a general nuisance. They say awful, hateful things. The other 7 look a little uncomfortable, but don't say anything. Hell, even when someone comes over and says something to one of the uncomfortable ones, they stick up for their friend, saying they aren't really like that and they really aren't so bad. Another person brings it up, and the uncomfortable friends are now saying how the other three are just expressing their right to have a good time.
I'm not saying the other 7 are awful, hateful people, but the excuses they make for the other three certainly don't help change how they will be viewed by others. That is the situation I see here. I'm not saying
all of the Republican party are racists, I'm saying there is an element of the party that has been allowed to run amok with hateful speech.[/QUOTE]
Ok, that's a good point, to an extent I can totally agree with that, however, I don't agree with your assertion about the racism run amok or the leadership saying "cool!" amongst conservatives. A few examples of some lowly representatives barely pandering to birthers is hardly the epidemic you seem to be trying to make it out to.
I would argue in fact, that by the consistent usage of "racist" from the left is going to end up making voters in general very uncomfortable with them. It's a very, VERY heavy term that seems to be being thrown out with scary ease right now.
Let's be clear since it sounds like you are talking about the recent protest, etc. There may indeed be racist people there. In fact, let's just say there were,but to paint the entire crowd, no matter how stupid their signs or how inane their arguments (and really, Glenn-Dumbass-Beck for prez? :blue: ) as racist would be, in my opinion, not only a very convenient but a slimy way to discredit their arguments as well as a premise for discussion that, while it certainly fits the current tone of politics these days, I'm not comfortable with.
Like I said before. I haven't "heard" you say you don't like the anti-war folks who said they hoped army folk die in Iraq, but I, in no way, would assume you agree with them. I would in fact, assume most of the anti-war protestors do not, DESPITE their stupid signs and dumb slogans and their lack of condemnation for those extremist folks.
Not because I choose to believe the best in people, but because I just can't believe that many people are that horrible without any real proof.
And now to the good stuff:
