GOP Cranks Dominate Oppositon to Sunstein And Health Care Debate

Two days ago I noted that some of the rare remaining rational conservatives are speaking out against the smear campaign against Cass Sunstein which was launched by the wingnuts who have captured control of the conservative movement.  Another conservative, David Frum, has written about this today. Frum calls Sunstein the “best friend conservatives are likely ever to have inside the administration.”  He criticized the smears which have originated with Glenn Beck, noting that his show is “paranoid and hysterical” and that Beck is “none too scrupulous about facts and truth.”

Frum concludes by writing, “It’s beyond time for conservatives who know better to join us at NewMajority in emancipating ourselves from leadership by the most stupid, the most cynical, and the most truthless.”

Also at NewMajority, Tim Mak has a post showing why conservatives should support rather than oppose Sunstein noting, “Deregulators have generally favored the Sunstein nomination.”

The smear campaign against Sunstein is just one of many examples of the lunacy which now dominates the conservative movement. While it is hardly news, Politco notes this in the context of opposition to health care reform in an article entitled “GOP ‘cranks’ dominating debate.”

Joe Wilson’s outburst Wednesday night earned more than a personal rebuke from the president and a dagger-eyed gasp from the speaker of the House; it drew winces from Republicans worried that their party is becoming known less for the power of its ideals and more for the pettiness of its vitriol.

“Neither party has an exclusive on wack jobs,” says Republican media consultant Mark McKinnon. “Unfortunately, right now the Democrats generally get defined by President Obama, and Republicans, who have no clear leadership, get defined by crackpots — and then they begin to define the Republican Party in the mind of the general public.”

Turn on the TV, and you see what he means.

Here’s Orly Taitz, insisting that the commander in chief was born in Kenya. There’s a flock of angry protesters chanting “Just say no!” and carrying signs depicting a Democratic congressman with devil’s horns. Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin warns darkly that Obama is planning “death panels” for senior citizens. Georgia Rep. Paul Broun equates the president’s plans with “Nazi” policies. Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt — last heard calling John Murtha a “coward” — tells a birther: “I agree with you, but the courts don’t.”

And then, in the midst of all the catcalls, hand-held signs and “I’m not listening” BlackBerrying, Wilson interrupts Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress by shouting, “You lie!”

No matter what the topic is, from the confirmation of Cass Sunstein to the health care debate, the Republicans are dominated by cranks and cooks as most of the serious conservatives have been driven away.

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