The EXEGETIST: A Library Of Independent Political Thought. By: Jack H. Dawsey

Dog-Whistle Politics

By:

Jack Dawsey

Recently, when House of Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina hollered out “You Lie” to President Obama, I was willing to bet a month’s pay that most Americans were disgusted.  In retrospect, it seems I was wrong. 

Many supportive republicans, including the far-right conspiracy theorists, and certain home-spun militia groups reacted positively.  They sent Joe Wilson over a $million dollars for his next campaign.  Ole Joe knew that if he blew the dog-whistle, the pack would “come-a-running” -bringing in the sheaves.   

Who is Joe Wilson?  According to Gail Collins, a columnist for the New York Times, Joe’s real name is Addison Graves Wilson, Sr.   Addison?  Addison?  Addison?   In political circles, (particularly among the right-wing homophobia), the name Addison could sound effeminate; hence, the name-change to the more masculine, Joe? 

Where do the republicans find these phony Joe’s?   Hum???  Let’s see.  John McCain had his “Joe the Plumber.”  And then there was Sarah Palin with her “Joe Six-Pack.”  Remember that?  And now we have the ole South Carolina fox-hunter himself, Joe “You Lie” Wilson (shotgun, fox-hound, dog-whistle and all) making a fool of himself.  Is it something in the water that causes a person like Joe Wilson to be the jerk he is, or is it a “squiggly” gene that comes from certain Family Trees having no fork at the top?  Joe’s supporters will argue that he was correct, that the President (is) a liar and that what we need are more Joe Wilson’s in Congress.   I would argue that we need another Joe in Congress about as badly as Custer needed another Indian at the Little Big Horn.

My late father, of the Great Depression era, use to say that republicans and democrats were alike, that they were an imaginative group, having more imagination than most; hence, their habitual habit of being less than honest on political issues.  But calling the President of the United States a liar -during a joint session of Congress where he, the President, was their invited guest- is crossing the line.  In my day, a school teacher would discipline a child for such an outburst.  Today however, the actions of the Congress and Joe Wilson encourage school children to be a juvenile.  Can you imagine the level of incivility in the next election if the GOP trumps the democrats in juvenile outbursts?  If that occurs, “We, the people…” are the real losers. 

I think my dad was probably correct.  He once told me of having a republican and a democrat school-yard friend.  He said their parents had the dubious distinction of holding Saturday night gala parties, without inviting guests, and they never gave their children a toy to play with, or provided them a balanced meal.  Each was required to wear “hand-me-downs” to school even though both were the oldest of seven in their respective families.  Eccentric behavior and rudeness must have paid off for them however.  Look at Joe “You Lie” Wilson’s success story in a Jerry Springer Congress.  Observe the daily sickness of talking heads like Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and the nation’s Republican Lap-Dog, the Fox News Network.

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