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To: soccermom
Okay, so now the litmus test for a 'true' conservative is that they can't condemn ad hominem attacks?

You didn't get the point at all. I thought liberals were the only ones that needed things like this spelled out for them.
The issue is how fast the conservatives jump to apologize when liberals demand apologies. However, the term "apologize" is not in a liberal's dictionary even though they know how to pull it up when demanding it of conservatives.
When did you ever hear Reagan apologize for something someone else said? What is your definition of "free speech"? There is a conservative definition and then there is a liberal definition. Stating your definition will tell me whether you are a liberal or a conservative. However, I think I already know.

297 posted on 03/06/2007 12:21:59 AM PST by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: taxesareforever
"The issue is how fast the conservatives jump to apologize when liberals demand apologies." There is a difference between "condemning" and "apologizing for". In this case, I think conservatives jumped to condemn Coulter's words (rightly, in my opinion) even before there was an outcry from the left. It isn't about anyone "apologizing" for Ann. She's a big girl. There is a difference between apologizing for someone and "distancing" one's self from someone or holding someone accountable.

How many times have people in this forum and conservative commentators demanded that "good" Muslims condemn the violent behavior of those who are perverting their religion? I don't expect every Muslim to "apologize" for terrorists. But I do expect them to say, "Those people don't represent me and I condemn their actions."

The notion that we must not condemn Ann Coulter, simply because liberals fail to hold their bomb throwers accountable, is childish. It shouldn't be about left or right -- it should be about right or wrong. If you think it is wrong, in the context of political discourse, to call a political opponent a "faggot", that should be your moral framework, regardless of what others "get away with."

Just last week, conservatives were all condemning the Huffington thread where people were wishing Cheney had been killed in the terror attack. Then, P.J. Comix posted a DUmmie Funnies thread in which the Daily Kos denied lefties were wishing Cheney dead and then went on to point to all the times conservatives had wished people dead or said other outrageous things and demanded that conservatives condemn those comments.....as if anything conservatives said excused what their side said about Cheney! The Daily Kos article even addressed the notion of having to "back down" to conservatives by condemning those who wished Cheney dead --- as if the real concern isn't over whether or not the comments were right, but whether or not it was right to "cave".

Both sides have become obstinate, deciding that "my side -- right or wrong" is more important than right or wrong. ENOUGH already! Enough of the childish, "Well, they did it too and why don't they apologize and then I'll condemn this or that." Both sides view it through their own skewed prism. If someone believes another's comments are wrong, he should be willing to say so regardless of what "the other side" does.

This isn't about "free speech". No one is denying Coulter and Maher and whomever else have the right to say what they do without retribution from the government (unless their words are literally treasonous.) This is about decorum and civility. I think people should be civil. If you don't, that is fine. That is your right to defend or even applaud Coulter's uncivil tongue. But the fact that I condemn incivility does not make me any less conservative.
301 posted on 03/06/2007 6:13:05 AM PST by soccermom
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