The Emily Post of politics
By Molly Ivins, Star-Telegram.com from the Web, April 22, 2005
AUSTIN, April 21.-- Spring fever is taking a weird form this year.
Politicians say nice things for political reasons and then revert with a vengeance.
Tom DeLay, of all people, recently issued a fatwa on the need for good manners, a concept so bizarre there is no comparison for it.
It is itself a simile: "… as weird as the time Tom DeLay gave us all a lecture on manners."
In his new role as the Emily Post of politics, DeLay informed us: "It is unfortunate in our electoral system, exacerbated by our adversarial media culture, that political discourse has to get so overheated, that it's not just arguments, but motives are questioned."
Did someone question his motive in taking an all-expenses-paid vacation from a lobbyist?
This would be the same DeLay who said, "Screw the Senate," when he learned that Bob Dole had cut a deal with President Clinton to end the government shutdown caused by Newt Gingrich.
"We're in charge. We don't have to negotiate with the Senate." Same as above.
"I can't afford you as a brother anymore," DeLay told his brother and lawyer Randy after Randy's lobbying had embarrassed him.
"The EPA, the Gestapo of government, pure and simply has been one of the major 'clawhose' that the government has maintained on the backs of our constituents," DeLay said in 1995.
And this truly spectacular outburst just a few weeks ago:
"One thing God has brought to us is Terri Schiavo to elevate the visibility of what's going on in America. … This is exactly the kind of issue that's going on in America, that of attacks against the conservative movement, against me and against many others.
The point is, the other side has figured out how to win and defeat the conservative movement, and that is to go after people personally, charge them with frivolous charges and link that up with all these do-gooder organizations funded by George Soros, and then get the national media on their side.
"The whole syndicate that they have going on right now is for one purpose and one purpose only, and that's to destroy the conservative movement.
It's to destroy the conservative leaders. … This is a huge nationwide concerted effort to destroy everything we believe in."
Whew.
According to The Associated Press, DeLay has urged the Republicans in Congress, when asked about his ethics problems, to blame Democrats.
DeLay also said there is a "mammoth operation" funded by Democratic supporters designed to destroy him.
People on the right just will not give up this eternal pretense of being victims.
DeLay's unlikely excursion into defining proper conduct came a few days after he had made a comment about the judges in the Schiavo case, which he repeatedly described as murder:
"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."
Some picky people thought there was an implied threat or encouragement to violence in that.
Even DeLay had to admit he had expressed himself "inartfully."
As for DeLay's claim of a vast left-wing conspiracy out to destroy the conservative movement -- nonsense.
I like conservatives. They're opposed to all questionable adventures abroad and for fiscal prudence and responsibility.
It's right-wing nuts I can't stand.
Molly Ivins writes for Creators Syndicate. 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
|
