On March 10, 2003, the Dixie Chicks performed at Shepherd’s Bush Empire Theatre in London. Before playing their song, Traveling Soldier, Natalie Maines, the lead singer, told the crowd, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
The ensuing weeks and months were, well, crazy. The Chicks were all but banned from country radio. Some stations held CD burning ceremonies. The group was damned as anti-American; anti-patriotic; anti-everything.
•••
A couple of days ago, a Colorado congressman named Mike Coffman, spoke to a group of Republican supporters. Toward the end of his speech, much of which was devoted to slamming the president, he said this: “”I don’t know if Barack Obama was born in the United States. But in his heart, he’s not an American.” In case you don’t believe me, here’s the audio from the talk …
Let’s recap: A country music group slams George W. Bush, and the GOP is up in arms, demanding apologies, citing the Chicks as liberal extremists, etc … etc. Now, an ELECTED MEMBER OF CONGRESS questions the patriotism and loyalty of the president of the United States … and what? Will be resign? Apologize directly?
Of course not.
Why? Because this is what the Republican Party does in 2012. The goal isn’t merely to defeat a sitting president. No, it’s to throw into question his loyalty … his origin … his devotion. First, we talked about his birth certificate. Then, when that fell through, his patriotism. After he ordered the mission that killed Osama, there had to be a slightly different narrative. He doesn’t want what you, Mr. Average Family Person, wants. He’s an extremist. He’s dangerous.
This election is going to get uglier than ugly. Fugly. And the Mike Coffmans of the world—idiot politicians who bide for the Tea Party loons—are leading the war.
Sigh.
