David Gergen

[okhela]

I've been aware of Mr. Gergen for a while as a Republican operative. I was surprised when he was offered and accepted a position in the Clinton administration. Although not a fan of Bill Clinton, I am becoming more impressed with his decision to have Mr. Gergen as an adviser. Mr. Gergen has been tapped as a political commentator on CNN. I share his cautious view of the immediate future of America's political scene. He may not say it as I would, but the extremely fragile social fabric of America is fraying. The potential for political violence is enhanced. The veneer of acceptance of differing views is cracked. New code words and phrases are being nurtured to define "the other". While some would say the mud slinging is two way. The reality is that the violence pronouncements are coming only from one side.
McCain and Palin can not plead innocence in the rise of violent talk at their rallies. They remain mute to the racial epithets and cries for physical violence. Their silence is a tacit endorsement of the behaviors. A united social fabric for America has never been a conscious concern of
politicians. It appears that politicians will be implicated in a rending of what unity in that social fabric has evolved.
I pray someone who matters is listening to the concerns of Mr. Gergen.

[Razorwire]

Well you matter, and posting here to draw attention to it. And I couldn't agree more. Watching recent McCain/ Palin campaign events have been more than instructive. And I'm not excusing McCain, but the real deal is Governor Palin's appeal to a "know nothing" segment of the nation. It's not that I think they're dumb, it's I feel they are uninformed or have bought into the lazy but hyper views of the hard right echo machine.

David Brook's,today, in the NYT basically calls his party anti-intellectual and gulity of practicing a sort of reverse class warfare.

We're in big trouble.

Very nice post.