Can you imagine what would happen if, suddenly, large numbers of Republican politicians started turning on "religious right" groups like the Christian Coalition or Focus on the Family?
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The story would be all over the news, with anchors declaring that the conservative coalition has shattered.
In fact, when maverick Republicans (*cough* McCain) do get into dust-ups with such groups, it does make headlines. it also makes national headlines when, say, Michael Steele disses Rush Limbaugh.
I don't want to draw an analogy between the GOP's relationship with conservative religious organizations and commentators -- and the radical leftist Code Pink group. But I do notice a double standard in terms of how internecine disputes are covered by the establishment media. Republican family feuds are portrayed as evidence the coalition is in disarray, while Democratic domestic abuse is portrayed as an example of how the left is willing to "police" itself.
We have a prime example of this happening right now -- as almost nobody (other than Politico) seems to have noticed the Democrats' sudden and dramatic repudiation of the anti-war fringe group Code Pink.
That's right, the Dems have finally had enough -- and now they are practically lining-up to take a whack at the the Code Pink pinata. Barney Frank got a shot in when the Pinkos (I use that term intentionally and literally) interrupted one of his committee hearings. In his usual condescending manner, he told the protesters that, "I do not know how you think you could advance any cause to which you might be attached by this kind of silliness," and also remarked that they should, "act their age." High-powered blogger
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A spokeswoman for Harry Reid was a little more nuanced, saying that she didn't think the party "ever fully embraced Code Pink" and that the group was "always a little more extreme than the establishment" (In other news, the Pope announced that he will in fact be wearing white today). Still, the Majority Leader's office did not seem hesitant to join in the flogging of his one-time allies.
Now, I'm not going to emulate the drive-by media and claim that this is the beginning of the end for the American left, but I will say that cracks are definitely starting to form in their coalition (for more info on this phenomenon, see Evan Bayh and Chris Van Hollen vs. MoveOn and "progressive" blogs).
You won't hear much about this from the mainstream press -- they are too busy trying to maintain Obamamania to care about the facts -- but just keep an eye on this.
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