The Return of McCarthyism

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Obama did! Are you fvckin kiddin? Give me your purse and I will spread it around, DUH!

Edited September 22, 2009 by ={Rogue}=

[Danno 1,228]

McCarthyism - the politically motivated practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

....

The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.

How far off is that definition of the treatment of Joe the Plumber?

The highlighted part, perhaps? It's not like the issues that Joe had were someone's fantasy or made up to make the guy look bad. Those were real, actual issues that the man had. That's far from "unsubstantiated". The communist death panels, on the other hand... Well, get it now?

And you think that in the McCarthy era, there were no real Communist's at work and with sympathetic ears in Holly wood and elsewhere?

Now lets get to the meat of this whole "communist charge" in 2009.

Almost all these comments made in the clips.... pertain to Van Jones.

(Except the silly ones claiming Barack himself is a full fledged Communist)

Was VAN JONES INNOCENT when LABELED A COMMUNIST.... NOW OR IN HIS PAST?

[rebeccajo 14]

McCarthyism - the politically motivated practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

....

The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.

How far off is that definition of the treatment of Joe the Plumber?

The highlighted part, perhaps? It's not like the issues that Joe had were someone's fantasy or made up to make the guy look bad. Those were real, actual issues that the man had. That's far from "unsubstantiated". The communist death panels, on the other hand... Well, get it now?

And you think that in the McCarthy era, there were no real Communist's at work and with sympathetic ears in Holly wood and elsewhere?

Now lets get to the meat of this whole "communist charge" in 2009.

Almost all these comments made in the clips.... pertain to Van Jones.

(Except the silly ones claiming Barack himself is a full fledged Communist)

Was VAN JONES INNOCENT when LABELED A COMMUNIST.... NOW OR IN HIS PAST?

Danno - Did you get the memo that Van Jones resigned?

[HAL 9000 96]

The Evil Bolsheviks are watching. Finding ways to undermine our bodily fluids.

[rebeccajo 14]

The Evil Bolsheviks are watching. Finding ways to undermine our bodily fluids.

You learned that in solar school, didn't you?

[GabiandVi 34]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

Yeah maybe I missed it... but I'm trying to figure out how the people in power messed with poor ole Joe.

Sure- treating people harshly is what some of the media does... and it gets plenty condemnation on all sides. Period.

Do you think you could survive unscathed the scrutiny Joe the Plumber went under? I don't think I could and I seriously doubt anyone on VJ could.

I don't know where that would be relevant unless I made a false claim about my business being unfairly targeted for a tax increase that didn't exist.

And your relationship with your son and your divorce proceedings and custody hearings and financial standing any exaggerations you've made in your life. But again, I guess you wouldn't have a problem with the full force of the media trying to dig something up on you because you asked a question. I still do have a problem with it. I would have a problem with it if it was you asking a question of a polititian, fair or unfair. I don't want the citizenry to be afraid to question the powers that be. But if this is the world we live in, I, among others who have something to lose, would be afraid of asking a question, and that is a very, very, very scary scenario.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The Evil Bolsheviks are watching. Finding ways to undermine our bodily fluids.

See! look how punks try to minimize whats goin on!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

Yeah maybe I missed it... but I'm trying to figure out how the people in power messed with poor ole Joe.

Sure- treating people harshly is what some of the media does... and it gets plenty condemnation on all sides. Period.

Do you think you could survive unscathed the scrutiny Joe the Plumber went under? I don't think I could and I seriously doubt anyone on VJ could.

I don't know where that would be relevant unless I made a false claim about my business being unfairly targeted for a tax increase that didn't exist.

And your relationship with your son and your divorce proceedings and custody hearings and financial standing any exaggerations you've made in your life. But again, I guess you wouldn't have a problem with the full force of the media trying to dig something up on you because you asked a question. I still do have a problem with it. I would have a problem with it if it was you asking a question of a polititian, fair or unfair. I don't want the citizenry to be afraid to question the powers that be. But if this is the world we live in, I, among others who have something to lose, would be afraid of asking a question, and that is a very, very, very scary scenario.

Gabi! Let the boy ramble. The boy has a government job that hangs on your dollar.

[HAL 9000 96]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

Yeah maybe I missed it... but I'm trying to figure out how the people in power messed with poor ole Joe.

Sure- treating people harshly is what some of the media does... and it gets plenty condemnation on all sides. Period.

Do you think you could survive unscathed the scrutiny Joe the Plumber went under? I don't think I could and I seriously doubt anyone on VJ could.

I don't know where that would be relevant unless I made a false claim about my business being unfairly targeted for a tax increase that didn't exist.

And your relationship with your son and your divorce proceedings and custody hearings and financial standing any exaggerations you've made in your life. But again, I guess you wouldn't have a problem with the full force of the media trying to dig something up on you because you asked a question. I still do have a problem with it. I would have a problem with it if it was you asking a question of a polititian, fair or unfair. I don't want the citizenry to be afraid to question the powers that be. But if this is the world we live in, I, among others who have something to lose, would be afraid of asking a question, and that is a very, very, very scary scenario.

Don't have a son; and as I already stated (in case you missed it), its wrong to railroad anyone asking questions. IMO the guy was and still is full of sh!t and is an independent event compared to the investigative blitzkrieg done to him. I'm sure we could dole out You Tube moments all night long looking for timestamps on what media outlet did what before the other too.

[HAL 9000 96]

Furthermore, trying to equate McCarthyism with getting slammed on by the wolves in the media is a bit ignorant of actual history and what transpired during those times, but I am pretty sure that's already been mentioned.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

Yeah maybe I missed it... but I'm trying to figure out how the people in power messed with poor ole Joe.

Sure- treating people harshly is what some of the media does... and it gets plenty condemnation on all sides. Period.

Do you think you could survive unscathed the scrutiny Joe the Plumber went under? I don't think I could and I seriously doubt anyone on VJ could.

I don't know where that would be relevant unless I made a false claim about my business being unfairly targeted for a tax increase that didn't exist.

And your relationship with your son and your divorce proceedings and custody hearings and financial standing any exaggerations you've made in your life. But again, I guess you wouldn't have a problem with the full force of the media trying to dig something up on you because you asked a question. I still do have a problem with it. I would have a problem with it if it was you asking a question of a polititian, fair or unfair. I don't want the citizenry to be afraid to question the powers that be. But if this is the world we live in, I, among others who have something to lose, would be afraid of asking a question, and that is a very, very, very scary scenario.

Don't have a son; and as I already stated (in case you missed it), its wrong to railroad anyone asking questions. IMO the guy was and still is full of sh!t and is an independent event compared to the investigative blitzkrieg done to him. I'm sure we could dole out You Tube moments all night long looking for timestamps on what media outlet did what before the other too.

One who judges one full of sh!t, must speak from experience.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

There were 3 days between when Joe met with Obama and the Presidential debate where McCain name dropped Joe and used him as the poster boy for the "working man". Joe also appeared on TV interviews on that same day and held a press conference at his home the day after.

He was whoring it up in the media with the best of them. If he didn't want that kind of attention - he should have refused all the media appearances, not actively sought them.

Edited September 22, 2009 by Private Pike

[HYENA 4]

McCarthy is awesome.

He's been dead 52 years.

LOL...maybe he meant...

McCarthyism - the politically motivated practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

....

The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.

That sounds like half of SE Asia!

I admit I scrutinized Joe the Plumber,,,it's my fault. I thought he was a ladyboy and I was after him. It's my fault!

Edited September 22, 2009 by HYENA

[GabiandVi 34]

Furthermore, trying to equate McCarthyism with getting slammed on by the wolves in the media is a bit ignorant of actual history and what transpired during those times, but I am pretty sure that's already been mentioned.

It has also been mentioned that the equation was to point out the idiocy of the criteria being used to suggest that Obama is the victim of McCarthy-like harrassment. See previous posts. The criteria given by the OP described what happened to Joe the Plumber better than anything that is being or has ever been done to Obama.

I agree that what was done to Joe was not on the level of what happened during the McCarthy era, but in a world where people support what was done to him, we are getting closer to the point where a McCarthy-like witch hunt could take place, and that would be when those in power use that power to intimidate and harrass and even imprison those who disagree with those in power. NOT when some members of the media and some private citizens accuse the most powerful man in the country of being a communist.

To suggest that this is a "Return to McCarthyism" (see title of thread) is as wrong as suggesting that there is Naziism afoot or that, so far, we have seen communism being implemented. If you have a problem with that label being tossed about, you should equally have a problem with this claim being made. But everyone seems to want to overlook that point. Again, I ask, convenience?

[GabiandVi 34]

McCain made Joe the Plumber a figurehead for his election campaign. Not only that Joe chose to participate.

This is kind of what happens when you put yourself in the firing line of public life.

Joe the Plumber became a figurehead in McCain's election campaign because he had immediately been put in the firing line. Not the other way around. The background checks began immediately after Obama answered the question, not after McCain took Joe in. The media continued hounding him, but it wasn't McCain's support that instigated the scrutinizing.

There were 3 days between when Joe met with Obama and the Presidential debate where McCain name dropped Joe and used him as the poster boy for the "working man". Joe also appeared on TV interviews on that same day and held a press conference at his home the day after.

He was whoring it up in the media with the best of them. If he didn't want that kind of attention - he should have refused all the media appearances, not actively sought them.

Interesting. I had heard of Joe the Plumber before the debate when McCain mentioned him. At that point, to those in the know it seems, McCain was strumming on already thrumming strings. He was using a name that already held meaning to his listeners. As for Joe "whoring" it up, when the press are camped out on your lawn and following you whereever you go because you've asked a question, what will you do? I would probably avoid them because, as I've already stated, I would be afraid of that sort of scrutiny. But I'm not proud of that. I wish I had the guts to stand up against that sort of unfairness, say what I believe and press be damned. But at this point with a child in my life, I feel I have too much to lose. I know the power of the press, especially unchecked, which it seems it is as there are so many even here on little old VJ ready to excuse them and even justify their behavior. Especially when there are people in positions of power who will abuse that power to do background checks on me. Even though they might not be able to find anything incriminating about me, they could probalby embarrass me somehow.