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Click here for all of Jonathan Kay’s posts from the Tea Party convention in Nashville.
Aside from Tom Tancredo’s creepy outburst last night about the education level of Obama voters, the Tea Party Convention in Nashville has gone more or less on script — putting a conservative face on a movement that, if not quite mainstream, is at least respectable.
That just changed with one long dumb speech from WorldNetDaily chief Joseph Farah, one of the leaders of the so-called Birther movement.
Farah started fine — heaping praise on the constitution, and urging America’s leaders to be faithful to it. He ended well, too, with a stirring exhortation to “take the offense in this struggle.”
But these flourishes were merely the bread in a lunacy sandwich — the filling of which were 10 solid minutes implicitly questioning whether Barack Obama is an American citizen. In 2012, he declared, every single election lawn sign should say: Show me the birth certificate.
It’s a silly line of attack against Obama — one that’s become the stuff of parody on late night cable shows. Even Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck have turned their back on the Birthers. Yet Farah’s cheap shots on this subject got big ovations. Message for the cameras: This is a room full of conspiracy theorists.
What’s worse, Farah wrapped up his Birther nonsense in Jesus’ garb, going on in semi-satiric detail about how the Bible documents Jesus’ lineage in a way that Obama cannot.
“I’m a follower of Jesus Christ!” Farah exclaimed to much applause. That’s fine. America has a lot of time for the devout. For the paranoid, less so.
Will Sarah Palin Denounce Joseph Farah and the Birthers? : Jenn Q. Public // Feb 6, 2010 at 2:51 am
[...] night, Farah serenaded his cult of birthers during a dinnertime speech at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville. Farah started fine — heaping praise on the [...]
Tea Party participants support the birther movement, enough said.
Um, who benefits if the Tea party looks like a bunch of wingnuts? I gotta wonder if there’s some friendly sabotage going on. Or maybe they are that nutty?
That’s fine. America has a lot of time for the devout. For the paranoid, less so.
The part of America that’s the Republican party seems to have plenty of time for the paranoid. The teabaggers and birthers are all the same people. I look forward to the GOP convention 2012 with these loons in full effect in prime time. The GOP will bring teh crazy like you’ve never seen.
Your Readers might consider joining our new Centrists Group at Linked In and might like to look at my new blog for and about Centrists, The Rest of U.S.
Extremists have become so loud, they’re deafening. And because they shout in perfect sound bites, the media birddog their every rant, however irresponsible or outrageous.
But we believe the political tide’s about to turn with a vengeance. No matter their party affiliation or lack thereof, Americans are disgusted with those who harass to harass, obstruct to obstruct, tear down to tear down. Compromise, consensus, bridge-building, and respect for differing viewpoints have been the hallmarks of American life as long as there’s been an America. We’re certain they will be again.
Please read: The Rest of U.S. – Who We Are and What We Stand For
http://newcentristera.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/the-rest-of-u-s-who-we-are-and-what-we-stand-for/
If you like it, please circulate to your family, friends, and colleagues. Or perhaps to your favorite extremist!
I do think the Honolulu Advertiser item more or less settles the issue for practical purposes, but what’s the deal with this dynamic?
Birthers: Why not just produce the actual original long-form birth certificate?
Anti-birthers: *Derisive laughter and name-calling*
Doesn’t impress a disinterested, man-from-Mars observer about the strength of the anti-birther case.