Fraters Libertas

You Can't Tell the Right Wing Radicals Without a Program

According to the institutional voice of the Star Tribune, it was unnamed "right wing radicals" who supported the Terri Schiavo bill signed into law on Monday, in a "totalitarian fibfest." (Which is not to be confused with Totalitarian Ribfest, being held down on Harriet Island, July 28 - 31. Their motto: "You don't need to worry about BBQ sauce stains when you're wearing a brown shirt.")

In the spirit of stamping out the scourge of fibbing in all forms, we review the House roll call vote from Monday, to identify exactly who these Star Tribune branded right wing radicals are, once and for all.

It is true, Republicans showed remarkable unity of principle in this matter. Of the 161 GOP Representatives present to vote, 156 of them supported the bill to provide Federal judicial review of the Florida state court's decision to mandate Terri Schiavo's death by starvation. Right wing radicals all, I'm sure. At least that's what we're left to believe when blanket slurs are cast down from the journalistic pulpit.

But it's interesting to note the bill received far more votes than the 156 provided by the Republicans. Joining them were 47 fellow totalitarian fibbers. And in a two party system, that means those folks happened to be (gasp) Democrats. Which I think makes this the largest exercise in bi-partisan right wing radicalism in history.

100 Democrats showed up to vote (of the 202 in the Democratic caucus) and a nearly half of them (47) supported the bill. These weren't just any old Democrats either, their number included such leftist luminaries as Chaka Fattah (PA), Jose Serrano (NY), and that old Karl Rove disciple himself, Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL).

And let's not forget our own Jim Oberstar, from Minnesota's 8th District. A life long DFL member, loyally serving his party in the House for 30 years. And because he had the courage of his convictions to look beyond political partisanship and stand by his long time moral commitment to pro Life issues, he's slapped with the label of "right wing radical." Not to mention vulgar, vile, silly, tyrannical, and totalitarian.

Does the Star Tribune really believe that about Jim Oberstar and the 46 other Democrats supporting the Schiavo bill? I suppose it's possible (such is their commitment to ideological purity), but unlikely.

The only other explanations are, they simply weren't aware of the magnitude of Democratic support for this bill (if so, they need to hire more researchers, fact checkers, and editors immediately). Or they were just slinging partisan mud, beyond the level engaged in by even the Congress itself. An amazing feat that, and one that would prove the Star Tribune editorial board doesn't need to leave their offices to find a fibfest.
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