October 30, 2004

Republican Loyalty

The Washington Monthly reports today on the attitudes of the different parties towards their candidates. His observation: A lot of Democrats don't like Kerry, but are going to vote for him anyway. On the other hand a lot of Republicans worship the ground that Bush walks on.

This is to make Republicans look like irrational followers of a cultic mastermind a la Jim Jones/David Koresh. While I do think there is a tendency, especially on the part of Christian fundamentalists, to overtrust the President because of his faith, that trust is not to the Kool-Aid-sipping degree that Drum's commenters seem to think Republicans operate on.

Furthermore, it doesn't fit with my observation of Republicans in general. The conservative talk-radio hosts have been sharply critical of the President, especially on the Medicare prescription drug program and campaign finance reform. Of course, you don't see a lot of criticism right now because we have an election coming up in the next couple of days.

Hitchen's offers as proof of his theory this quote from Slate:

"I want you to stand, raise your right hands," and recite "the Bush Pledge," said Florida state Sen. Ken Pruitt. The assembled mass of about 2,000 in this Treasure Coast town about an hour north of West Palm Beach dutifully rose, arms aloft, and repeated after Pruitt: "I care about freedom and liberty. I care about my family. I care about my country. Because I care, I promise to work hard to re-elect, re-elect George W. Bush as president of the United States."

I know the Bush-Cheney campaign occasionally requires the people who attend its events to sign loyalty oaths, but this was the first time I have ever seen an audience actually stand and utter one. Maybe they've replaced the written oath with a verbal one.

Pruitt's implication, of course, is that if you vote for Kerry, then you don't care about freedom, liberty, your family, or your country, which is total nonsense. It's just the stupid partisan politics that I expect from both sides of the aisle until November 2nd.

But as far as loyalty oaths go... sure, why not? If you believe that the Bush/Cheney ticket is the better choice, why be afraid to say so?

Posted by Blog Jones at October 30, 2004 12:03 AM | Category: Politics

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