During the George W. Bush administration, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton went on a famous unhinged screeching rant about political dissent. "I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration," she screamed. (Listen, if you dare, but don't turn the sound up too loud.)
Now, more than a decade later, it appears Democrats don't believe that Republicans have the right to challenge their policies.
Prior to a controversial rally held on the Capitol grounds in Frankfort on Sunday, May 24, at least three other events had been held by those opposed to the way Gov. Andy Beshear has responded to the coronavirus/COVID-19 (otherwise known as the "kung flu" Wuhan Chinese virus) situation. At some of those rallies, a handful of Republican legislators were in attendance, and some of them spoke.
There was nothing controversial in their remarks. Nothing incendiary. Not an inappropriate word. They spoke the truth. And the truth is that the business shutdowns ordered by the governor have caused major problems for thousands of Kentuckians. Businesses have been closed, and a number of them are permanently closed. Workers have lost their jobs, again many on a permanent basis, and many are having problems getting their unemployment benefits. Some estimates place our unemployment rate at 40 percent, which is said to be tops in the nation. As a result of these closures and layoffs, the state is starving for tax revenue to fund essential services.
This state is in trouble. It didn't have to be that way. But we're in this situation due to the orders of one official, and those who disagree with his decisions have every right to make their views known. And up until last Sunday, they had done so in a rational and respectful manner.
No elected officials were in attendance at the May 24 rally that resulted in the protest moving to the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, or of the hanging of Gov. Beshear in effigy on the Capitol lawn. The political candidates who attended the rally had no idea that the effigy incident would take place, and most of the attendees had already left when that occurred.
But that didn't stop Beshear from casting blame for the incident on the legislators who had spoken at previous rallies. "You cannot fan the flames and then condemn the fire," he said on Tuesday.
Oh, really? How is offering legitimate criticism of your policies and decisions that have wrecked the state's economy fanning flames? Do you expect the people who have been harmed by your executive orders to just sit idly, silently by while their livelihoods and life's dreams evaporate? Are they supposed to say, "Thank you sir, may I have another?" How can you not expect people to be upset? Are you that out of touch and tone-deaf?
The hanging in effigy was over the top, to be sure, but it's not unprecedented in American history. And there's no fence around the Governor's Mansion, such as there is at the White House, to keep the public away. The governor and his family may not have been there at the time, but even if they were, that's not private property. It's a government building.
Most of the governor's ire, and that of leading Democrats, seems to be pointed at State. Rep. Savannah Maddox, who's a rising star in Kentucky conservative circles. She addressed the crowd during one of the earlier rallies and has emerged as one of the leading critics of the economic ramifications of the "kung flu" response. But since Democrats can't abide any criticism of the governor, since he's nobly trying to save lives, they've turned on Maddox, demanding that Republican leadership censure her.
One thing they've seized on is a tweet she sent long before she was elected. In that post, she noted that many didn't regard Barack Obama as a true black because his father was from Africa and hadn't experienced the racial segregation and discrimination that American blacks have endured for years. For that, they've branded her a racist.
Funny thing. She was echoing some the exact same criticisms levied by blacks such as Al Sharpton back during the 2008 presidential campaign. A black columnist for the Los Angeles Times named David Ehrenstein pointed this out, using the phrase "magic Negro" (something falsely attributed to Rush Limbaugh since he promoted a parody song called "Barack the Magic Negro" that was set to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon.") As in many cases, no one cares who has the initial thought, but don't anyone else dare repeat it, or you're a racist or a bigot.
Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jackie Coleman, and House Democrats are trying to turn the protests into a partisan thing, but that's another falsehood. Beshear has taken most of his shutdown cues from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, and there have been a number of protests in the Buckeye State as well, some boosted by Republican legislators or legislative candidates. The opposition to the economic strangulation is based not on party affiliation, but a recognition that sometimes the medicine is worse than the illness. But it seems that for some, the end justifies the means. Who cares how many lives are ruined if just one is saved?
This might be a good time to remind liberals, though, that their hands aren't clean when it comes to protests. What group regularly dresses up in vagina costumes or those ridiculous pink "pussy" hats and listens to speeches like Ashley Judd's infamous "I'm a nasty woman" remarks? They're the ones who want to call out Republicans for their rallies? Kentucky females should be inspired by Maddox and repulsed by Judd.
And, who was it who grabbed a megaphone and addressed teachers during a raucus (and illegal) sickout protest inside the Capitol last winter? That would be then-Attorney General Andy Beshear. Has he forgotten his own actions of just a little more than a year ago?
House Democrats are criticizing Maddox for having her picture made at an earlier date with one of the protestors who hanged Beshear in effigy. Where were they when Gov. Beshear posed with a group of cross-dressers who are part of an organization that mocks people of faith? The same governor who proclaims that his faith dictates that he wear a mask in public to protect others while he allowed abortion clinics to run wide-open as he closed down other medical facilities by fiat? Remember, for two months, a woman couldn't get her eyes examined for glasses or have her teeth cleaned, but she could kill her unborn baby.
The complaints by Beshear's gangsters ring hollow. Maddox, Kim King, David Hale, Stan Lee, and other legislators who attended or spoke at rallies prior to May 24 said nothing provocative or out of line. And none of them were participants in the controversial events on Memorial Day weekend.
"Dissent for me, but not for thee." That seems to be the new slogan of the Beshearites. It's perfectly fine for them to protest things they don't like, but no else else can dare to question their leader.
The temperature just took a huge dip in hell, because Hillary Clinton actually said something of merit. We do have a right to debate and disagree with any administration. Particularly one that's acted with indifference as it's laid waste to Kentucky's economy and the lives and livelihoods of its residents. Stand strong, Savannah Maddox. Keep fighting for Kentuckians. You're on the side of the angels.
