Party Discipline: A Modest Proposal

(crossed from DailyKos)

I have a modest proposal for dealing with Party idiots and apostates:

Eat their babies.  

No, just kidding.  This isn’t a Jonathan Swift-style recommendation.  It’s too late for that: the children have grown to adulthood and now stand at the gates of the “fourth estate” spouting the talking-points of the opposition.

Ye gads!  What to do?

If you’re thinking of picking up the ‘phone and chewing off their ear, or dashing off a fevered email of righteous indignations, allow me to offer this suggestions:  

Don’t.

Call the HammerHand.

Believe me, no one knows righteous rage any better than I do.  When I read this diary about Tennessee Democrat Fred Hobbs

“Maybe [it’s] the same reason I don’t want to – I don’t exactly approve of a lot of the things he stands for and I’m not sure we know enough about him,” Hobbs said when asked why he thought Davis wasn’t endorsing Obama. “He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.”

I was pissed.  And appalled that, at such a late date and in such a crucial year, a fellow Democrat would stoop to such tactics–for no good purpose.

The diarist helpfully supplied Fred’s email and offered that it might be a good idea to “reach out” (my paraphrase).  Good idea, I thought.  Then I began to read the comments.

I would like to know if this quote is accuratly yours?

“Maybe [it’s] the same reason I don’t want to – I don’t exactly approve of a lot of the things he stands for and I’m not sure we know enough about him,” Hobbs said when asked why he thought Davis wasn’t endorsing Obama. “He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.”

if so then i’m pretty disappointed  you calling yourself a democrate?

the what the fuck is there that you don’t know about our nominee?

get brain racist moron!

if you’re true democrate you’d get your ass in gear to get your party nominee elected

if you’re racist we don’t want your vote sucker!

OBAMA IS NOT A TERRORIST AND YOU DAMN WELL KNOW IT JACKASS. Wasn’t it your Tennessee Democratic Party that was railing against saying the same thing to raise money?

If you don’t want to support him, fine. If you pull shit like that people will notice. And we will take your moronic ass out in your next leadership election. Then again, maybe if you define terrorist as people who don’t put up with pathetic sleaze bags like you, then you might have a point. Get the hell out of our party, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. I am going to file a complaint with the credentials committee seeking to pull your credential from Denver.

If you’re bored and looking for something to do, you might want to look into joining the KKK, a moron like you would fit in well there. Again, get the fuck out, you’re not a real Democrat if you believe that.

Oh, and the truth: www.fightthesmears.com–the truth, but something tells me a bigot and fool like you isn’t literate. Again, get the hell out of the Democratic Party and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Obviously harsh and not likely to be productive.  That objection, when raised, was often countered by something like this:

Wrong (7+ / 0-)

We’ve won, now it’s time to enforce some party discipline. Now, it’s time to unload on pieces of shit like this guy…

Party discipline.  Look, this is no more disciplined than he is–this is mob.

But is this any better?

My email to Mr. Hobbs (14+ / 0-)

Good morning Mr. Hobbs,

I was unpleasantly surprised to see the quote below attributed to you this morning in the press.  Having been misquoted myself by the 4th estate I understand very well what it is like to say one thing, and read them quoting you as having said another.

So, in the interest of clarity, here is the quote I read that the press is claiming you said.  I hope it is inaccurate and you can clarify your statement.

Sincerely,

Well, it’s certainly more polite.  But I’m not sure it’s any more effective.

Here’s my proposal: Unless this guy is in your district or you’re one of his constituents, don’t write to him.  

Write to Howard Dean.

Discipline comes from above.  Write to Dean, or write to your own Party Rep, urging them to help get this guy in line.  The only people The Hobbs of the world are beholden to are the people who put them where they are and the people above them in the Party Hierarchy.  

The higher-ups really need to hear how the rank and file feel, and they need to know that we’re paying attention.  They need to feel the avalanche of our outrage, because that is what will give them the courage — and the justification — to do something about it, and shut this guy up.

Hobbs isn’t going to listen to you.  In fact, by saying something like this in the first place, he’s telling you: “I don’t care what you think.  I’m an unreconstructed racist who thinks the DLC was already a little too far to the left.”  He. Doesn’t. Care.  

Henotlistening.

If you want to bring the hammer down on this guy, talk to the hammerhand: Dean.

I don’t expect many of us will have the self-control to not send a letter or make a call.  But at least try this:  If you feel you have to “reach out and touch” Mr. Hobbs, at least make it a double-dip and call the Doctor, too.

We may have the power, but it’s Dr. Dean who holds the whip.

Of course, I guess there’s always this:

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy [DINO] well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.

—Jonathan Swift, “A Modest Proposal”