In today’s Wall Street Journal , Stephen Hayes exposes the disconnect between President Obama’s call for civil discourse in Tucson and the hateful rhetoric being used as part of the union battle in Wisconsin. Hayes maintains that the President should hold his union allies in Wisconsin to the same standards.
After the shooting in Tucson, Pima County Sheriff Dupnick ranted against the rhetoric of right wing activists and the tea party movement. While everyone else saw this as the act of a clearly disturbed man, Dupnick tried to draw the direct connection. The blame never took hold, but a call for civility did. In a moving speech, President Obama called all of us to live up to our ideals.
At least, until his allies have a problem.
When it was the conservative rhetoric, it was a time to return to civility. Now that the Unions and Democrats are spewing hateful rhetoric? Silence.