Passion And Politics On The Right

I came upon this item by VodkaPundit Stephen Green last night that fed into a larger issue I'd been pondering - passion and politics, especially on the Right in light of the Joe Wilson affair. Disagreeing, I teased him, perhaps a bit too hard, and we had a very few words. I apologized for any misinterpretation and that's all cool now. It was never my intention to go looking for a fight. But there it was again, passion in politics, especially political discourse.

For the record, Joe Wilson is a bit of a jerk, and a raging symptom of what’s changed for the worse in American politics in the last 40 years or so.

That said, how is one rude congressman bigger, more important news than Van Jones or our CINC turning himself into a self-destructive attention-whore?

Just askin’.

Wilson didn't call Obama a "Buttmunch, geographically misplaced metro-sexual" who needed to grow a set, as I Tweeted to Stephen, honestly, in jest, as I respect him quite a bit. And when I interviewed Wilson he was a surprisingly soft spoken fellow. I realize he's a politician, he could be managing himself just now, who knows. But he was certainly passionate when he blurted out, "You lie!".

It's said one shouldn't argue politics or religion at the kitchen table, which also speaks to passion. And correctly, or not, I've always believed the Founders and many previous generations of politicians were likely more passionate than one appears to be allowed to be if on the Right in America today. Some of those fellows dueled, for heaven's sake. There certainly seems to be some passion in that to me.

I've been praised for being dispassionate in my work by supervisors. I came up in corporate America, after all. Yet, from the time I began blogging, I made a deliberate decision to bring some of my passion to the game - to let it flow, without losing control. I think that's why some see me as perhaps overly combative out here sometimes. Trust me, in real life, I'm actually not. But when it comes to politics, to freedom, our flag, democracy and We the people, I am an extremely passionate man. Those things are woven into my core, somehow. I didn't wish, or will it so. They simply are. It's who I am.

I came away from speaking with Wilson honestly believing his passion had simply gotten the best of him at, potentially, an unfortunate minute. But how unfortunate was it, really, given that the Democrats immediately moved to shut down the loophole that proved Wilson correct?

If you cast Republicans as the Party of stodgy old white males, it's not hard to envision a Party where no passion is allowed. But Reagan had it, even as tempered as it was. Like them, or not, Tom Delay has it, Lee Atwater had it ... others, too. Sarah Palin seems to have it. When I look back over the period of politics I've observed, it has always been the more passionate advocates for freedom through limited government that have won conservative hearts and minds and also at the polls.

I know when I grow angry at Obama, and I do - it isn't because of his color, his Political party, his speeches, or his wife, or place of birth ... it's because of what I so strongly believe about what America should be and how important that is to me - how passionate about it that I am.

Not completely sure how to wrap this up, but if they strip away our passion on the Right by using political correctness, what is it we really have left with which to fight in political terms? Is it right, or smart to give it up, given the stakes?

Whatever the case, so long as I have even a small voice out here on the Right, there will be at least some passion in our right-side blog politics. And just as in the case of a likely unconscious blurt, for my passion I will apologize to no man, no president, no political party and never some king. At least not so long as I am an American, I trust.

And so, while I might concede Representative Wilson may have been overly passionate given the location, I do not for one minute believe that he was in any manner wrong, or being a jerk.

Comments

[Mrs. Peperium]

"I know when I grow angry at Obama, and I do - it isn't because of his color, his Political party, his speeches, or his wife"

You won my respect by including her. That took guts. Thanks.

With men like you and Joe Wilson we may just turn this mess around.

[Firehand]

Without passion, beliefs become a form with little real meaning.

From the sound of it Wilson spoke in outrage at another flat-out lie. The proper apology would have been simply "I let my emotions get the better of me and I regret that." Period.

And if Pelosi & Co. keep whining and bitching to punish him, let's have some Stupid Party members who still have balls start offering resolutions to censure Pelosi for lying about the CIA, and work down the list from there.

[Rich K]

Funny but I dont seem to recall ANY democrat apologising for the dumb ass things they have said during protacol correct functions. And Im pretty tired of the PC crowd crowing fowl when a R guy or gal expresses themselves. If I didnt know a guy like Mark levin I'd invent him as the prefect counter to this PC B.S.

[Gary Maxwell]

Ok how about " Mr. President, you speak with forked tongue."

[Sharon]

Political Correctness is a weapon of the left to shut people up and control those who don't. I supported Wilson the minute he was identified. He has apologized more than enough and if the House moves to punish him next week he should wear that as a badge of honor. I was shocked at his mild, nervous manner. Stand strong! We cons need more of that! How are they going to stand up to the coming maneuvers for a simple majority vote on this piece of crap? GROW SOME!

[Mark Turner]

I think too much is being made of the Wilson incident and the feigned selective outrage from the left is particularly comical. From a different perspective, outbursts such as Wilson's are far more common in the UK, when the House of Commons is in session. Prime Ministers from both major political parties there have had to deal with them for years.

[David R. Graham]

Straight on, Dan, straight on!

[Faraday Cage]

Stephen Green needs to do some soul-searching... I distinctly remember, after the election, his segment on a Pajamas Media podcast where he said, literally, that Obama is sounding like "the kind of president I can live with."

A little less vodka, pundit.

[lonetown]

Ask yourself this question -

Who could sit through the litany of bullshit being thrown around by Obama and NOT say anything?

Answer that and you will have the faces to put with pusillanimous.

[jd]

Although I agree that much of the anger shown towards Joe Wilson by the Dem. party is artificial at this point, I do think that their real goal is to fan the flames of real anger (and perceived racial slights) in the black community. The constant use of the race card is dulling its effect on the Repubs-knowing as we do that the race of Obama has nothing to do with whether or not we agree with his policies-however, the race of Obama is VERY important to his black admirers. I think Pelosi is not above using the black community to accomplish many of her goals for her.

[David]

Spot on. I have been wondering why the left has been so flummoxed over our protests. I think part of it is they honestly can't imagine us being passionate about our cause. Perhaps the greatest gift Obama will leave us is a reawakened passion for liberty and freedom and a firm understanding that they need to be protected at every turn. We cannot stand by while the statists chisel away at our fundamental rights.

[martin j smith]

Sorry but the bruhaha about Wilson is lost on m,e. Maybe I am naive --but--lets look at all of name calling from Obama, Pelosi, and others. I feel that while it might not be proper decorum according our rules of debate or speeches in a joint sessions tell him if the Left were paragons of virtue when GWB was in office or or currently calling town Hallers Nazis, terrorists,racists
or whatever-sorry but there is a bit too much defensiveness on it. I agree that the : My loss of decorum I regret. But unsaid: Obama is a liar

[A. Stephens]

I won't defend Wilson's outburst. That's for him to do. Having apologized, appropriately in my view, it should have been over.

Now the left wants to make political hay from it. I say bring it on. Hopefully Wilson is getting the advice to say nothing, to let Pelosi, Reid, et al, throw everything they've got, then in a national interview or live on CSPAN read the laundry list to them, unemotionally and without rancor, then offer to apologize once they have. For those not familiar with the laundry list, think Pelosi, Reid, Durbin, Kerry, Murtha, Rangel, Waters, and others.

Particularly sweet; the evidence of the President's "mistruths" is, that the language in any health care bill regarding illegals, is being revamped in the aftermath of Wilson's outburst.

[WestWright]

Joe Wilson is very interesting, he sounds like a principled Politician and was prompted by the arrogance of BO's lying to this outburst. He apologized and that should have been the end of this but the Left actually has taken this in their teeth and will regret it. The BO Care movement, including the prog-Repubs have been harmed by this 'truth vs. lies' a lot more than Joe Wilson or the Conservatives!

[jd]

To quote Mark Steyn: The right has a lunatic fringe. The left has a lunatic mainstream.