By guest author, Anthony Painter
Neo-McCarthyism comes in many forms: escalating the assessment of risk posed by your international adversaries, describing them as evil, unhinged, incapable of dialogue, hell-bent on apocalyptic destruction, dismissing your domestic critics in the media and politics as naïve, appeasers, weak, or treacherous, and then pursuing the most bellicose response to external threats possible. Some of these threats are absolutely real, some are manufactured, but almost all are made more unstable by the type of diplomatic environment that neo-McCarthyism creates. It is the public relations of neo-conservatism. It has kept the Bush administration in the political ascendancy for most of its two terms.
In his latest blatant attempt at inducing domestic fear, President Bush’s speech to the Knesset to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary of Independence last week was an unstatesmanlike departure from the convention that Presidents do not take domestic politics overseas. While his staff were briefing furiously that the comments were referring to Senator Obama, who has pledged to enter into dialogue with America’s adversaries a la Nixon in China or Reagan and Gorbachev, the President said:
“Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals….We have heard this foolish delusion before. We have an obligation to call this what it is- the false comfort of appeasement.”
There was also a pretty hackneyed reference to Nazi tanks rolling into Poland. Senator Obama, determined not to be ‘swift-boated’ as previous Democratic candidates have been, was quick to the counter-punch. He responded that the comments were typical of the type of attack that divides America and alienates it from it the world. Despite the fact that Senator McCain has previously advocated entering into dialogue with Hamas, he also attempted to paint Obama as ‘unfit to protect America.’ But the signs are that Obama’s robust response carried the day. Perhaps the old plays are no longer effective?
Someone who will be feeling the force of this shift in prevailing political-media winds is the hapless right-wing talk show host, Kevin James. He went on MSNBC’s Hardball to attack Barack Obama following President Bush’s speech but didn’t have the slightest clue what appeasement meant. The line of questioning by Chris Matthews, the show’s host, was the most interesting thing. He made the basic distinction that talking is not appeasement; it only becomes appeasement when you offer your adversaries something (a country, say) with no guarantee of anything in return. No longer are Bushite neo-conservatives going to be permitted to throw around accusations without basis or understanding.
So the neo-conservative era, served so well by its neo-McCarthyite communications strategy could be drawing to a close. The lesson for Senator John McCain is that any attack on Barack Obama’s fitness to be Commander-in-Chief could backfire spectacularly. He’s going to need a new playbook. Perhaps, he could go back to that old-fashioned US way of doing things? He could become a statesman.
Anthony Painter is a regular contributor to Tribune magazine. His blog can be read here
Very interesting indeed, but tell me what has America or other 'democratic' western nations done to prevent the neo-cons and the Neo-McCarthyists to impose their will and their failed policies on the world?
The west participated in the destruction of Afghanistan and Iraq and is participating blindly in the pursuing of 'evil' and 'devils' while it lost its soul and faith altogether.
Can America or the western world promise to the victims of the brutal and barbaric Bush regime that this type of hijacking of western democracy will not repeat itself?
Can the west ensure that the world will be at peace after Bush? I doubt it. You know why? Because most of the writers in the western world are imbued in rhetorics and no action at all!
Thanks
Yours truly
Kazi Mahmood
Posted by: kazimahmood | Monday, 19 May 2008 at 12:15 PM
The best things about Obama are (1) he raised momney from ordinary people rather than the wealthy minority and (2) he isn't a lawyer.
I truly hope he will be elected and - harder still - be able to turn around the heartless juggernaut of American policy.
Posted by: Mark_IV | Monday, 19 May 2008 at 08:01 PM
Dear Fellow Americans,
Our Great-grand Nation, the United States of America
is facing and will face very critical and substantial
"Challenges" in coming, months, years, and decades to
come.
It is very essential that we pick out our next
President keeping in mind the following criteria.
1. A candidate who has a clear and candid " Vision
and Mission" for our Nation.
2. A candidate with " Strong Character and Stable
Integrity" in-spite of adversity during primary
election process.
3. A candidate with sound and sustained
"Presidential Temperament" and
" Judgment".
4. A candidate with little "Washington exposure"
and "real connectedness with people and future
generation".
5. A candidate who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down".
6. A candidate not based on sexism,
racism,regionalism,and ageism.
In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate who meets the all above
characteristics and has shown constant and consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barrack Obama.
As an independent registered voter since 1980. I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and In the process last
interest in Washington politics and I
stopped voting. Getting disinterested and disgusted in
our political process and stopping voting that was a
bad decision in any circumstance, particularly under
present circumstances.
This time we can not afford to stay on side lines and
let "Washington" stay the same.We can not afford our
Greatgreat Nation to become less than what we are,
what we were and what we can be?
We need to send clear, careful and candid message to
the world and some time 24 hour partisan hateful media
to set the agenda for our future.
These partisan media outlets are trying to deprive,
dupe, and derail us and our Nation getting it right
this time.
These partisan media and pundits are trying their best
to deny us better future and continue focus our
weaknesses and generate bitter future for us and our
Greatgrand Nation. { Our Greatgrand Nations people
are persistently and constantly subjected to this
Psychological Terrorism" without our knowledge. The
common and regular people do not have time to see
thru
and sort thru this psychological terrorism perpetuated
by these partisan media outlets.
We the Americans should not and would not to allow
these partisan media outlets psychologically
terrorized, traumatized and silence us this time and
any time in future.
I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama our next President.
Let us remember that our Greatgrand is constituted of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear or favor.
We can not afford to lose any of above. Let us stand
up, be counted, save, build our Greatgrand Nation for
centuries to come and regain our world economic,
moral, and power status back.
God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.
Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at the all levels.
Yours sincerely,
COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disables American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975
Posted by: COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall MD | Monday, 19 May 2008 at 11:12 PM