American Morning
Avlon: Partisan politics ought to end at the water’s edge
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is the author of "Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics" and writes a weekly column for The Daily Beast. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/07/wingnuts.malloy.quist.art.jpg caption="On the left, radio host Mike Malloy and on the right, Minnesota congressional candidate Allen Quist."]
By John Avlon, Special to CNN
In the wake of the thwarted Christmas bombing we’re seeing an unwelcome return to hyper-partisans treating terror threats as a political football.
But wingnuts have their unique take on this ugly game and this week we’ve got two outer-limits analysis from the far-right and far-left.
On the right, conservative Minnesota congressional candidate Allen Quist announced that terrorism wasn’t in fact the biggest challenge facing freedom-loving Americans today. No, to him, the biggest challenge to freedom is coming from Democrats like President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, who are “destroying our country.” Here’s the full quote from a campaign stop.
“Our country is being destroyed. I mean, this is – every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom. This is our fight. And this is our time. This is it. Terrorism, yes – but that's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C., with the radicals. They aren't liberals, they're radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz – they're not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country.”
Quist is no political newcomer and this is no slip of the tongue. He’s served in the statehouse and been the GOP convention’s nominee for governor in the 1990s – and now he’s challenging incumbent Democratic congressmen Tim Walz for his seat. We should take Quist at his word: even while Americans are reminded of the non-optional war we are in against radical Islamic terrorism, he genuinely believes that Democrats in general and the president of the United States in particular represent a more clear and present danger to our freedom than terrorists.
This is the type of wingnut conviction that is fueling the more unhinged edge of the protests we are seeing – not just rational protests against overspending and the growth of government – but the belief that the real battle we face is against our fellow Americans. This is dangerous and ugly stuff; it’s a reminder that you reap what you sow.
On the left, radio host Mike Malloy saw in the terrorist plot an anti-Obama conspiracy. Here’s his full quote:
“There are forces at work in this country, and I believe this as surely as I put on my right shoe before my left – that there are forces alive who are very active, very wealthy in this country, at work in this country that want Obama to fail no matter what and the idea of killing 200 to 300 people on a jetliner in order to make the point is nothing.”
Despite full documentation of the suspect’s radicalization at the hand of al Qaeda, Malloy seems to be suggesting that a conservative plot against Obama was either behind the BVD bomber, or that they would have applauded a successful attack. This is outer-limits conspiracy theory that attempts to politicize the attempted attack even more than it has been done to date.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen unhinged commentary from Mike Malloy. In the summer of ’09 he indulged in an extensive on-air fantasy about Glenn Beck committing suicide: “I have a good news to report; Glen Beck appears closer to suicide – I'm hoping that he does it on camera; suicide is rampant in his family, and given his alcoholism and his tendencies towards self-destruction, I am only hoping that when Glen Beck does put a gun to his head and pulls the trigger, that it will be on television, because somebody will capture it on YouTube and it will be the most popular video for months.” Stay classy, Malloy.
Send in your suggestions for Wingnuts of the Week
What connects our wingnuts this week is a tendency to try and deflect the clear and present danger of terrorism to conform to their hyper-partisan obsessions. We are already facing a real war against an extremist enemy that tries to divide the world into us against them – we don’t need wingnuts trying to do the same thing here at home. A bit of Cold War wisdom of the Truman and Eisenhower era should apply: partisan politics ought to end at the water’s edge.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
Could I please see what the republicans offered up thru bi-partison agendas. Oh that's right they refused to have anything to do with the HC issue except to do everything they could to make sure that it didn't get passed. The republicans couldn't stand the thought of poor people who need health care help ever being helped(they just don't care about the poor,minorities, and the middle class) except for what they can steal from them. Obama's over seas exploits were done to try to recapture our leadership and trust foreign countries used to look at us with. The last pres. had pretty well destroyed how the rest of the world looked at us. Whoever the idiots are that thinks our pres. doesn't realize we are in a war are just that idiots. The last pres. and his henchmen knew their was a fortune to be made in these wars if our security people couldn't figure out there was no reason to start a war(how could anyone expect them to stop 9-11 even though they had several red flags pop up) even after being told there was no weapons of destruction by the inspectors sent in to find the WMD. May GOD have mercy on us if these self centered,greedy fools start running this country again.
Please see each response to this right wing nuttery:
Artimus January 9th, 2010 3:14 am ET
I do not agree Daily Beast columnist John Avlon. He is not doing his homework . Too much watching CNN.
Radio host Mike Malloy and Minnesota congressional candidate Allen Quist are right on. Why has Obama spent $2.5 Million hiding all of his Education, and lot of other Fact that every other Canidate has disclosed.
If you are able to read the Health Care bill, you will find that Congress is willing to give much of their legislative power to the Executive Branch & to someone whom no one knows anything about. Almost all of Obamas Czars have repressed anti-american sentiments.
-Actually it was Bush & Cheney that moved a number of provisions from Congress to the Executive. Part was done under the Patriot Act, part was done ater
Obama has been soft peddling Terrorism, not mentioning the Taliban, and other Radical Groups, bowing down to the Saudi King and others. Didn't you all notice that Obama dropped the "War" word earlier last year. Is he sticking up for the Navy Seals? How about Fort Hood, it was Terrorism.
-Try a google search. Obama has NEVER said we are not at war. he has used it hundred of times. He jus sent 30k more troops to Afganistan. Bush kissed the Saudi Princes' hand, Bush Sr, Clinton, Nixon and Eisenhower all bowed slightly to Japan & China's ministers. Its the custom.
Obama Skipped any mention of Pearl Harbor, and his pathetic remarks on 9-11 day. The biggest challenge facing freedom-loving Americans today is coming from Democrats like President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, who are “destroying our country.” Read the Health Care Bill, as it Stinks.
–The HC bill provides the ability to get insurance for 30m americans who have been denied or can't afford it. What is wrong with that???
Take Obamas Blackberry and tele-prompters away and check the domestic Agenda.
-Please provide the Republicans agenda....if you can find it.
That's because the terrorists we are fighting WERE NOT in Iraq.
-----------------------------
Vietnam Vet January 8th, 2010 11:13 pm ET
I don't remember you complaining when the Democrats, Obama, Reid, Durbin and Polosi included were on the side of the terrorists in Iraq against President Bush.
They did everything they could to see America defeated, even trying to cut off funds for our troops on the battlefield!
Now that the "Dear Leader" is in office, politics should stop at the water's edge? Don't make me laugh.
jim vicalvi:
Congradulations, you just proved Mr. Avlon's point.
You are so right! I am much very worried about the poisonous political environment and the media's role in promoting it.
It is getting to the point that people will say absolutely anything to score political points. The more outrageous their statements are, the more likely they will get media coverage. It is shameful and the fact that these statements go unchallenged and it is harmful to our country's ability to solve the serious challenges facing us.
Thanks for calling out those who lie for political profit.
There will come a day when the politics of this nation will be purged from the divisiveness that is destroying America.
Many Americans still don't get it. Why is this country going through so much pain? Cause God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit readies this country for a Great Awakening.
So many people are so mislead in so many different directions that the very fabric of our nation's pledge to it's people is being shredded. Only One Being will bring this to an end. There's going to be a lot of people who are not going like how that will come about, but it will be for the betterment of all people. And it will be the betterment of this world.
Both sides need to grow up. I've seen many elections come and go and its long been this way (though it seems to be getting worse): each side wants to paint the other side as destroying the country. Both sides are destroying the country. How? By their greed for party power. Most really do not care about the country. Just for gaining power – for creating political empires. And so they have to demonize the other side. They cannot support the other side when they are right, for that would be "weakness." Instead they have to paint the other side as complete losers, as devils and wolves in sheep clothing, while they paint themselves as saviors. It borders on blasphemous. And it is unpatriotic. Our country is a democratic republic. Just one party in permanent power is communism. It is tyranny. Our country began as a rebellion against tyranny of all kinds – governmental and religious. A true leader is bipartisan – they put the country first. That is patriotic. That is American.
Many Americans are beginning to realize that the nation is indeed being radicalized.
The method of radicalization is the Hegelian dialectic. First, the 'thesis'–the traditional ideals are declared old, dull, inaccurate and ineffective. Second, the 'anthesis'–far out ideas are cited. Third, the 'new synthesis'–a new policy is promoted which is cited as balanced, reasonable and effective, but it is not representative of the values held by most citizens in the country.
The dialectic is anologous to the hammer and the anvil–the hammer rises, the thesis, the hammer falls, the anthesis, and finally the anvil becomes the new synthesis, the new policies. And these policies are enforced by edict, and then laws. Anyone questioning them is first marginalized, then ostrasized and finally demonized. It ends with a new totolitarianism–state control. (The Hegelian dialectic was used by Karl Marx successfully in bringing Communism to Russia. The general populace were unsuspecting.) This is now happening to America.
I wonder if the same people who are calling for partisanship to end at the shore are the same ones who were lamblasting Bush for 8 years about lying us into war, cheating, killing innocent babies in Iraq, etc.
I agree with the concept of not carrying our personal battles overseas, But I can't blame those who see what this Presicent has done to undermine our country's security for expressing their outrage.
How about instead of making commentary about people we already know are nuts and who have no power, we actually take look at the people who the author would consider "centrist" like his old boss Rudy 9iu11iani, John McCain who use rhetoric that is hardly dissimilar to that right-wing candidate running in a hopelessly blue district and who has no chance of winning?
Any person with common sense has to wonder how this bomber ever got on the plane. They stopped Joan Rivers because of two names on her passport and do you believe she bought a ticket with cash, had no luggage, and was flying one way!!! The problem happened in a FOREIGN COUNTRY where he boarded, not a airport manned by TSA employees. Our problem is to have Foreign Countries to be more aware of who they are letting on planes going to the US. Then there's the Okla. City bomber who we know was no lefty, or the pro-life killers of doctors in this country. These people even though they act like terrorist we don't treat them as such. If a religion is TRUE, you don't have to force feed it, no matter what brand.
I do not agree Daily Beast columnist John Avlon. He is not doing his homework . Too much watching CNN.
Radio host Mike Malloy and Minnesota congressional candidate Allen Quist are right on. Why has Obama spent $2.5 Million hiding all of his Education, and lot of other Fact that every other Canidate has disclosed.
If you are able to read the Health Care bill, you will find that Congress is willing to give much of their legislative power to the Executive Branch & to someone whom no one knows anything about. Almost all of Obamas Czars have repressed anti-american sentiments.
Obama has been soft peddling Terrorism, not mentioning the Taliban, and other Radical Groups, bowing down to the Saudi King and others. Didn't you all notice that Obama dropped the "War" word earlier last year. Is he sticking up for the Navy Seals? How about Fort Hood, it was Terrorism.
Obama Skipped any mention of Pearl Harbor, and his pathetic remarks on 9-11 day. The biggest challenge facing freedom-loving Americans today is coming from Democrats like President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, who are “destroying our country.” Read the Health Care Bill, as it Stinks.
Take Obamas Blackberry and tele-prompters away and check the domestic Agenda.
I don't remember you complaining when the Democrats, Obama, Reid, Durbin and Polosi included were on the side of the terrorists in Iraq against President Bush.
They did everything they could to see America defeated, even trying to cut off funds for our troops on the battlefield!
Now that the "Dear Leader" is in office, politics should stop at the water's edge? Don't make me laugh.
Seriously, Malloy doesn't equate with Quisp. We'd ALL like to see Beck kill himself.
They could have done better and pay more attention.
I totally agree with Avalon's assessment. I find it difficult to believe that any TRUE American would a) be worst than a terrorist sworn to kill us or b)plotting to kill americans for political gain. What those two are saying is absolutely ridiculous. In the end there is no proof to back up anything that either of these wingnuts are saying. We need to stop allowing these people who have soapboxes to put whatever conspiratory plotline they saw on TV show in our heads and making baseless accusations just to get us worked up amongst ourselves.
Mr. Malloy my be right. Not one single republican would take part in health care reform. We have men, women, and children, that die each day because they have no insurance. Sadly, it seems the republican party DOES want Obama to fail, for political gain.
Wonder what kind of comments we would get if there was a program, radio or TV, that had "normal, everyday people" invited to ask for thier views, instead of all these other idiots? Sadly, I can understand Mr. Malloy's comments, as I am SURE there are many that cannot stand having a black president! "The more things change, the more they remain the same"!
I'd like to recommend that Quist be removed and replaced with avlon, himself. What the dems and obama are doing is, ultimately, leading to our becoming another third world nation. They have denied that we are at war with terrorists to be politically correct and their security people and policies have put the country in danger.
I'd also like to recommend avlon for dingbat of the decade as it is very apparent that he really doesn't have a clue about the REAL world. Just his own insulated lala land.
I don't see how the statement by Malloy is wingnuttian. All he appears to be doing is saying there are people who share Quist's beliefs about Obama.
When Malloy says there are people who want Obama to fail, no matter what, how do you infer from this that he is alleging a conservative plot behind the underpants bomber? Where does he say that?
I believe you are looking for balance without finding equivalence. There are wingnuts on the left, and Malloy may be one of them, but not this statement.
It's no different from saying we need to have a debate about evolution because some don't believe in it.
Dear Carol,
I know there are two sides to every story and I've just watched your report about the lack of skilled workers in U.S. who are badly needed to "fill" jobs our Country. As a Business Manager for the Ironworkers Union and in the Construction industry for 35 years, I strongly disagree with whoever gave you this info. (at least in the construction industry). We have sklled tradesmen and women who had NEVER endured a lack of work in the construction industry as we have been going through the last two years. Many contractors have gone bankrupt, because of no projects, and personally in 35 years, I've never seen this amount of unemployment in the construction industry and the most troubling part is the lengh of this "depression" in construction. So, who ever gave you that report that there are skilled tradespeople needed in the Construction field, he/they must be talking about China or India, not the U.S.A.
Gary Martin
Wingnuts?
Anyone and everyone that let the Christmas attempt Bomber pass All Security checks without a Full body scan.
-One way ticket
-no carry on luggage
-from Nigeria
-Dad places warnings
What more of a RED FLAG did they need?
So I meant 250,000,000. Just an error.
It's almost hard to believe your news station is even allowing a comment such as " the admin is worse than the terrorist..". Shh, someone may hear you! Oh well 2.5 billion Americans have been saying it for months now. Weren't you listening?