Different rules

The resignation of Van Jones is the latest demonstration that, for progressives and liberals — for anyone not part of the right-wing of the Republican Party — a different set of rules applies in political life. Dick Cheney f-bombed a U.S. Senator — on the floor of the Senate — and shot a man in the face; virtually no reaction from the right wing and their media lackies. Jones’ comment over 6 months ago that he can be as big an asshole as the Republicans — 6 freaking months ago! — allows those same people to go absolutely nuts and drive one of the most brilliant people in America from service in his country’s government.

Of course, signing the 9/11 petition did not help Jones’ cause, but given the number of GOP Representatives and Senators who’ve made comments about Obama’s birth, his allegiance to his nation and the possibility that he might be using his back-to-school address to indoctrinate children in socialism, Jones flirting with 9/11 “truth” nuttiness (and I absolutely believe it’s nutty; Bush/Cheney allowed 9/11 to happen, but through massive incompetence, not deliberate intent) is quite benign in contrast.

Try telling that to Sean Hannity. Hannity, like the rest of the loud fringe crowd on on the right, does give one good goddamn about what is best for the nation; their goal is to destroy whatever chances Obama and the Dems in Congress have for creating and implementing successful policy. Success by the Obama Administration on health care means, of course, more years of progressive policy to follow. Far right ideology was brutally repudiated at the polls last year, and even moderate success for Obama is more welcome by the American people than a return to the disasters Bush ruled over

So the right will ignore the heinous behavior of their fellow travellers. By this I mean most of the media will downplay, or ignore, Michelle Bachmann-type lunacy; she accused the President of plotting to create concentration camps for non-liberals and massive media silence followed. Jones’ remarks from February, on the other hand, get broadcast as if it was current and meaningful. He should never have said such a thing in the first place — not because it wasn’t accurate or true, but because it was fodder — and I haven’t heard that it’s been an on-going thing. The Bachmanns of the right, however, are spewing their hatred and lunacy on a daily basis, and rather than being run out of office or a job, they are either ignored or have their nonsense transmogrified into mainstream “news”.

I could scream with rage, but it would likely be translated into an attack on America.

One rule for us; one rule for them. And they’ve got the media amplifying it all — on their terms.