You Aren't A Democrat
If this lesbian feminist thinks Democrats are obstructionist losers, then by golly, they are!

September 16 2004
Counterbias.com
Robert Furs

As editor of the Counterbias.com website, I am always in favor of running articles that inspire debate and go to battle against media spin and government talking points. In fact, although we have a 'liberal' aura, we did at one point feature a conservative columnist whose first piece was a criticism of Noam Chomsky; unfortunately, even with constant sucking up and reminders from me, this was this particular columnist's first and last piece. And no conservatives have stepped up to the plate since. Why? One possibility is that the “bias” our website attempts to "counter" is the Republican leaning, corporate/ mainstream-media agenda that dominates the airwaves – and when my call is made for articles from all stripes and political affiliations, only the liberals feel beat up enough to fight back by taking time out to construct heaps of words into powerful political weaponry.

To my chagrin, I recently received a submission from a man named Michael Ashbury; his column was entitled “Was John Kerry A.W.O.L.?”.

Ah, finally, I thought to myself – a full-on conservative perspective. I gave the piece a quick read, then read it again, enamored by the fact that an article accusing John Kerry of treason had somehow ended up in the Counterbias editor’s mailbox. Was this a mistake? Had Mr. Ashbury, author of the book Who Is The Real John Kerry?, accidentally mistaken me for an editor of NewsMax or WorldNetDaily? Couldn’t be; for our website is much too professional in appearance and content to be mistaken for such rubbish.

The column in question asks whether John Kerry was “AWOL”. “Where was Lt. Kerry during the 18 months from 1970 to 1972? Did he attend the required drills and active duty that he agreed to?” asks Ashbury. He then accuses Kerry of “coddling of Communists” while protesting “against our military”, and that Kerry "is still considered a hero in Vietnam where his picture is in a place of honor in the Vietnam War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City” – a charge which is outrageously misleading.

I responded bluntly but truthfully. “What a load of bullshit”, I included in my otherwise calm-and-collected e-mail reply.

He replied kindly, to his credit, thanking me for reading his article and my providing a response of sorts. “I can appreciate your views”, he wrote, indicating that somehow, my charge of “bullshit” was in a way correct, even in his eyes.

What struck me was what Mr. Ashbury wrote next.

“In fact I am a registered Democrat. Yet I am a Democrat that was concerned that many are rushing to elect a man that most know very little about.”

A registered Democrat, who even calls himself a Democrat, accusing the Democratic nominee for president of being a traitor and an America-hating Communist-coddler? Oddly, this wasn’t the first time such a phenomena had debilitated my senses.

Fox News uses this technique to a great extent. Individuals identified as “Democrats” spouting Republican talking points and firing verbal vitriol at John Kerry and the Democratic Party – worse than anything from the collective mouths of the RNC – have made their homes on the “fair and balanced” conservative network.

The worst case came when Bill O’Reilly falsely identified his guest Tammy Bruce as a “Democrat”. She played along, too – they were obviously both in on it because a ten-second glance at Ms. Bruce verbally beating Democrats over the head would convince anyone that she’s not a Democrat – rather, a Republican of the Ann Coulter variety.

“Well, first of all, let me say as a Democrat and as a feminist and as a progressive” she said in this particular appearance, before claiming that the media was “controlled by the far left and liberals”, that people “do like what George W. Bush is doing”, then falsely claimed that an upcoming liberal event was “called” the “’Hate Bush’ event”, which even brought a correction from Bill O’Reilly!

As if to drill the point into their audience, O’Reilly once again said, “but what you’re saying, and you’re a Democrat” – to which, consistent with their perfect harmonious teamwork, Bruce replied, “I am”.

On another Fox show, Bruce claimed, “I’m a registered Democrat”, before saying that “I think that the Democratic candidates are losing credibility”. She derided pro-Democrat actors, and another time, swooned over Arnold Swarzenneger, Republican.

“As a Democrat, I’m concerned that the Democrat—about the Democratic posture”, she said another time. On one Fox appearance, this "Democrat" even whined about how obstructionist the Democrats were behaving – a distinct GOP talking point right out of the Republican playbook.

Then there was the “Democrat” Zell Miller, spitting venomous barbs (and lies) at the Republican National Convention.

And of course, John O’Neill. The unofficial CEO of the Swift Boat Veterans For Bush has donated to Republicans many times, appears to work for Karl Rove if connections and actions are any indication, and has been on John Kerry’s case since 1971. Media Matters reported that “O'Neill has made nearly $15,000 in contributions to federal races – all Republican”. Still, he says that he’s non-partisan in his hatred of Kerry – backing that up with claims that he voted for Gore in 2000 and had intended to vote for John Edwards in 2004. In an interview with Brit Hume, O’Neill said that "I'm not a Republican or a Democrat." At least he, unlike some others, didn’t claim to be a Democrat  – but his other claims show him seeking an undeserved air of objectivity and credibility.

There are many other examples – you see it everywhere. Not only people on Fox News or “Democrat” writers of anti-Kerry books and articles: you’ll find the "I'm a Democrat" falsification everywhere political discourse is taking place. Callers to C-Span will pretend to be Democrats and then trash everything Democratic, for instance.

Now, there is nothing wrong with criticizing ones own party or of looking twice at your own party’s candidate. Such actions constitute part of what makes democracy such a great thing – you are not at the mercy of one party, and you are free to change your mind.

The problem comes in when someone publicly claiming to be one thing takes the sides of the opposing group, going as far as to take their harshest arguments and claims – down to the nastiest lies, smears and specific talking points.

The action is a sickening one – especially that performed by the likes of the aforementioned Tammy Bruce, Zell Miller or Michael Ashbury; giving your words special meaning by claiming to have the inside advantage and credibility of actually belonging to the group you’re about to defecate on.

Who doesn’t think Karl Rove knew Zell Miller’s words would have that much more meaning to the politically inexperienced when one of the Democrats' own said such bad things about Kerry? Who doesn’t think Roger Ailes knew that the O’Reilly-Bruce “I'm A Democrat!” game would deceive people into thinking, “hey, if this lesbian feminist thinks Democrats are obstructionist losers, then by golly, they are!”

These fake self-labels are fraudulent dishonesty at best, and grievous rape of the democratic process at worst.

The next “Democrat” firing off Republican National Committee or Bush-Cheney 2004 talking points on my television will be forever banished from my airwaves.

And the next “Democrat” to send me an article about how traitorously treasonous John Kerry is will have his or her name on my e-mail blacklist.

There are enough lies fluttering around in this election. If you’re still registered Democrat but choose to go by the wise words of Fox News or the Conservative Book Club, then for heaven’s sake, get off your stout ass and change your political affiliation. Immediately.