Richard Dubin and I disagree

Not fundamentally, but on what I view as a technical point, is it appropriate to treat all conservatives and members of the GOP as if they were Rush Limbaugh or John Hagee. Richard’s position is principled and fair minded, and I admit to some misgivings about my position.

I do think it’s unfair to use the same label for the decent, caring neighbors who call themselves conservatives and the likes of Limbaugh, Savage et al. So why do I do it? It makes me uneasy, and oddly enough it makes the neighbors uneasy too. They don’t approve of the message being peddled as “conservative”, and don’t like the taint they acquire with the label. Richard to his credit wants us to welcome them and treat them fairly without respect to the label they choose to place upon themselves. There we part company, I’m eager to welcome and work with my neighbors, even when we disagree. If they want to use the conservative ™ label, they will have to reclaim it from those who claim trademark monopoly. I can’t do it for them, I don’t like causing them discomfort, but I have been forced to distance myself from the more extreme elements of the left. It’s time for conservatives to tell us who they are. If Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage don’t define who they are, it’s time for them to publicly say, “These guys don’t speak for me.” They’ve demanded this from liberals, progressives, and the left for years, forcing the fragmentation of a broader coalition.

I’m in favor of encouraging conservatives to reclaim their label, but I can’t do it for them. I believe letting them maintain this fuzzy definition strengthens the extremists, while simultaneously providing tools of intimidation within that false coalition.