I just finished reading Judith Warner's arrogant, snooty column about how she pities Meghan McCain (even though "she knows she shouldn't"). Oddly enough, the only person I feel pity towards after reading it is Judith Warner. I am not a frequent visitor of Warner's blog, but went looking in The Times today after reading a tweet from Meghan about a "hit piece" that they had done on her. What I found was a disgraceful piece from Warner (I'm assuming that was what Meghan was referring to).
The piece left me wondering what the hell is Judith Warner's problem? Warner writes that she knows she shouldn't be pitying Meghan but rather should be mocking and deriding her. I'm not sure I understand where all the contempt comes from. But there is lurking behind Warner's hyperbole and vitriol a very judgemental and pitying voice, one that says "I feel bad for you, you republican woman. You're too dumb to realize how repressive you're party is on women's issues. When will you ever learn?" It's not surprising to read this in the NYT, which is undeniably the choice rag for many of the unwitting bourgie feministes, women who freely scorn other women that have views and values different from their own (pro-life etc). I would know, I went to college with a lot of them. They feel a sense of sadness that these women are unenlightened or something. It's bizarre, and incredibly arrogant.
It's really unfortunate that a writer with such a prominent voice could sink to this low a level of empty ad hominems. It's especially sad because these attacks are on real people. Meghan McCain and so many with similar circumstances (in the public eye) are like us; they're not made with thicker skin. I think many people forget that. I'm no defender of celebrities, but when the attacks are so empty and seemingly just to toot your own lame horn (as Warner did in this case) they're pointless.
To the substance, Meghan McCain is doing a noble, and admittedly a very difficult thing. She is desperately trying to reorient her party (and mine) on social issues that are a huge factor in the GOP's alienation from younger voters. To go on national TV (let alone Colbert!) and defend your beliefs is a fiercely difficult task. I respect Meghan's courage. As for Warner, she has definitely lost the de facto respect that many of the writers at The Times get from me. I'll read her in a different way from now on (if I ever do).
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8 years ago
I agree, that was pretty low.
ReplyDeleteBut there is plenty of room for the Republican party to find their niche, especially if they're willing to move toward the center. In my opinion there's an emerging American consensus that neither unfettered free-market ideology (Republican) nor command-and-control government (Democrat) is optimal, and if Republicans find this out quicker than Democrats they could be reaping advantages come 2010.
Free markets can't operate without government intervention by necessity. Governments must protect the value of private property and facilitate contracts. On the other side, free markets can't operate with government-imposed externalities and friction on otherwise smoothly operating free markets. Republicans can be the sensible and, most importantly, informed voices of dissent by abandoning their non-libertarian and non-free-market social agendas. If they want to move into post-modernity, this is must.
From Paul Krugman's Op-Ed column today:
ReplyDeleteTo be blunt: recent events suggest that the Republican party has been driven mad by lack of power. The few remaining moderates have been defeated, have fled, or are being driven out. What's left is a party whose natoinal committee has just passed a resolution solemnly declaring that Democrats are "dedicated to restructuring American society along socialist ideals," and released a video comparing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Pussy Galore.
This is why I can't trust the Republican leadership or take them seriously whatsoever.
Personally I thought the Pussy Galore comparison was quite apt. It showed a heretofore unseen adroitness that conservatives have for painting there enemies as fictional supervillains that a majority of Americans have a deep and abiding disdain for. I think it might end up being good election strategy. Ill have to think this through a little more and see if I can come up with any good ones
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