Don’t Criticize What You Don’t Understand
June 26, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Conservatism
My pal Twosentz is running a post (by contributor Champs1) noting that Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) has been dropped from the list of speakers at the Values Voters Summit to be held in September. Fair enough. Sanford has shown that he’s hardly the kind of guy that should be held up as a representative of family values.
My concern doesn’t lie with criticizing Sanford, although I feel for his family. No, my concern is with the author’s analysis of the speakers at the summit. Riddled with inaccuracy, Mr. Champ’s work shows a complete disdain for individuals who believe that certain societal values are necessary for the success of a civil society. People like Mr. Champ denounces free markets as being laissez faire (there is a distinct difference between a free market and ordered liberty versus a complete lack of regulation) while attacking those who don’t believe in a laissez faire morality. Regardless, people like Mr. Champ have a right to their opinion; it should, however, be an informed one. The author clearly doesn’t understand who or what he is criticizing. He just knows that he doesn’t like it.
Sure, some of the speakers at the VVS are toads. Personnally, I’ve never been a huge fan of Pat Buchanan. However, participating in a conference advocating that English be made our country’s official language is hardly the same as conspiring to bomb an army post (like President Obama’s buddy Bill Ayres did). A lot of us believe that it’s not a bad idea. While I understand the problems of time and space constraints, claiming that Buchanan is affiliated with a “WHITE NATIONALIST” requires a little backup. Wouldn’t you think?
I particularly loved Mr. Champs’s portrayal of Mark Levin as a neocon. Levin may be many things, but he certainly is not a neo-conservative. If Mr. Champs had bothered to even thumb through a copy of Levin’s latest book, Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
To call Family Research Council president Tony Perkins a racist is easy. Where’s your proof? Can’t stand Don Wildmon? Fine. Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh? Ditto.
There’s just one problem guys. You can’t whine about a lack of civility in our public discourse while you use a grain of truth, or outright falsehood, to attack the character of those you disagree with. Admittedly, people like Sanford and Gingrich make themselves targets if they run as pro-family and then are proven to be less so. Unfortunately, you’re playing the same game, just on a different pitch.
Sphere: Related Content
Great post, I have come to the conclusion that ‘facts’ only stand in the way of most liberal thinkers.
This post reinforces that thought.
Liberals only retain what they are presented politically by the far left MSM , their revision of history and current events stand alone only in their twisted little minds until of course the next subject comes along that either benefits them or allows them to increase their victimism.