HUAC Redux

California is known as the land of fruits and nuts. On the first part I’m going to take a pass, but on the second part, I don’t deny this state has it’s fair share and then some.

Minnesota has my niece and her husband, neither of whom is exactly boring, but neither of whom I would categorize as a nut either. That state did, however just outdo California hands down in the “nutcase” category, as anyone who watched Hardball today can testify.

Minnesota has Representative Michelle Bachmann, today’s version of Joe McCarthy. Ms. Bachmann believes that Barack Obama associates with terrorists, that he holds un-American views, that he is actively unpatriotic, and that he plans to install a leftist un-American form of government in this nation if he is elected. He is not alone in this, she believes, and she wants the associations of all the liberal senators and representatives in Congress investigated to see what terrorists they associate with, and to find out what unpatriotic and un-American views they hold. She is very concerned about the liberal, leftist conspiracy that is ongoing in our legislature, and she wants it to be investigated before this nation makes the mistake of electing a liberal leftist as president.

I am not kidding, and I am not exaggerating. I have condensed it, but she actually said every bit of that, and more. Chris Mathews let her ramble on, sitting there with his jaw hanging in open astonishment.

This woman is a member of the United States House of Representatives.

To this point I have been enjoying Pat Buchanan and his rather wacky support of McCain/Palin, but in his support of this nutcase woman he has stepped over the line. Calling people un-American because they disagree with you is not okay. Accusing people of being unpatriotic because their views are different than yours is divisive and corrupt. This nation is based on principles that include the freedom to express your beliefs without being attacked.

“Your words are anathema to me sir. I despise what you say, but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it.”

But not this. You are not funny any more Mr. Buchanan. When you accuse someone of a lack of patriotism, of being un-American just because they do not agree with you, you dishonor the lives lost in battle of millions of patriotic men and women who have sacrificed for this nation. Whatever you have the right to say, sir, you do not have the right to say that.