THE ANGRY RIGHT…. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn) wants a new round of McCarthyism. Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) believes liberal Americans “hate real Americans.” Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.) insisted the other day that Democrats want “the American public to suffer.”
Unfortunately, these aren’t odd, unhinged examples. CQ has an interesting item on what GOP lawmakers say from the House floor with some regularity.
House Democrats, a Los Angeles Superior Court official and Columbia University are among the entities Republican lawmakers have described as “anti-American,” “anti-American power” or “anti-American military” on the House floor in the current Congress.
Amid a backlash against Republicans who have challenged their colleagues’ loyalty to America or Americans on the campaign trail, a review of the Congressional Record reveals that similar rhetoric has been in use in the House chamber, as well.
In particular, the term “anti-American” has been hurled freely in floor debates by a pair of junior GOP stalwarts, Reps. Virginia Foxx and Ted Poe .
Foxx said Democrats “seem to be anti-American power and anti-American control.” Poe has lashed out at American judges, universities, and lawmakers he disagrees with.
It’s hard not to get the impression that a few too many conservative Republicans just don’t like Americans very much. That, and the fact that the line between wild-eyed right-wing bloggers and Republican members of Congress continues to blur.
