USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,” Mark Antony declares in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Those familiar with the play understand the subtlety of the oratory and its hidden political purposes. There are political parallels now that Republican Sen. John McCain has passed, with Democrats signaling their admiration for the man.
I’m not going to speak ill of the dead. McCain’s record in life was clear and my differences with him – and there were many — were expressed then. It’s more productive for the purpose of defending against some of those differences to look at what his ostensible political opponents, his friends across the aisle and in the media, are saying about him now.
Barack Obama recalled a “shared… fidelity to something higher.” Joe Lieberman “lost a dear friend.” Joe Biden “will miss him dearly.” Bill and Hillary Clinton noted “He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do.”
The New York Times called him “a last lion of the Senate,” a title previously bestowed on the death of another McCain friend, Sen. Edward Kennedy. Similar tributes appear in all the major papers.
MSNBC remembered “the ‘maverick of the senate,’” compiling recollections from, among others, “Rev.” Al Sharpton and “conservative” radio host Hugh Hewitt. As with the newspapers, all the major networks have similar fond memories with similar controlled opposition.
That’s just normal, though, right? At times like these, people put aside their differences; they do the right thing, the polite thing and try to find something good to say?
If you believe that, you believe the sympathizers are essentially benign and objective, as opposed to opportunists bent on manipulating public perceptions in order to advance an agenda. Who thinks those delivering the “heartfelt” eulogies would not find all kinds of critical remembrances if the politician being memorialized were President Donald Trump? Who thinks some wouldn’t be “In your FACE!” about it?
What they say and do for public consumption is about power.
This is the lesson Republicans continue to not learn—every time they make a concession and surrender a point on guns, what happens? It’s never enough, and the citizen disarmament zealots are back demanding more—and painting anyone who stands in their way as an uncompromising extremist.
They won’t appreciate you for “compromising.” They’ll take it and continue on their quest to have it all, and to apply the politics of personal destruction against anyone who stands in their way.
Case in point, let’s look at how “actress and activist” Hayden Panettiere regarded John McCain in a (NSFW) “Funny or Die” video (one that looks like attempts have been made to scrub it from the internet, but is still posted – for now — on a Brazilian site).
The underlying message: McCain was too conservative, too unethical and too dangerous, in fact, the political equivalent of a carcinogen.
If that’s what they’d say about a man many of us considered unacceptably “moderate,” what must they want followers to think about those of us that are more hard line and less willing to cede any ground?
We know. We’re extremists and haters. Just ask the Southern Poverty Law Center. And because “hate speech isn’t free speech,” not only will the dominant DSM ignore us, we’ll be increasingly locked out of social media platforms.
For now, those praising Caesar to advance their own ends are extolling his virtues for reasons beyond good manners. Look for them to hold those up as the ultimate edge of acceptable political discourse, where anyone outside those calculated boundaries can be branded an “anti-government” radical, a clear and present danger, and ultimately, an “enemy of the Republic.”
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
i read recently that some people make others happy by showing up, others make people happy by leaving. mccain, small letter intended, is, for me, of the latter variety. like smelly garbage, it is good he is gone. good riddance.
The main portions of obe the one care for insurance companies (justice Robert’s tax out of wholecloth) was mostly written by the husband of a congressgenderthing from Illinois who was in prison for financial fraud. This was the commies det dream of taking over and nationalizing yet another portion of the country. Obe the one went after food, energy, healthcare, housing, the vehicle industry by buying Chrysler for 56 billion and selling it for 550 million to his buddies at fiat,. He took over GM and gave it to his buddies at the union, forsaking all contract law and threatening… Read more »
Claims that McCain was responsible, fully or partly, for the tragic Forrestal fire and was protected because he was son
of an admiral is ridiculous. If McCain had been in any way responsible, no relation or connection would saved him from
facing up to the consequences, court martial or otherwise. If there had been any truth to the allegations, he would have
been stopped early in his political career.
I think McCain’s nickname among other residents of the Hanoi Hilton pretty much says all we need to know about the (now “late”) Senator from Arizona. IMS, the other POWs named hm “songbird”. And I doubt it was a reference to his singing voice.
QOUTE: “Look for them to hold those up as the ultimate edge of acceptable political discourse, where anyone outside those calculated boundaries can be branded an “anti-government” radical, a clear and present danger, and ultimately, an “enemy of the Republic.” ”
So be it. Looks like we’re in for “a fight to the death” for our country… again.
Glad to see conservative in quotes describing Hugh Hewiitt. Talk about a swamp creature, he makes me sick. Started as a neverTrump and when he saw which way things were going, did a 180. There’s your POS for you.
As for McCain, I remember when he ran for the nomination, how REgressives fawned all over him. Then the day after he nailed it, The NYT had a front page article accusing him of infidelity. The same people that are praising him now are doing so because he ratted out Republicans constantly.
There is also s great video of fellow senator Bob smith and I think b1 bob as well on McCain and Kerry covering up the POWs mias for the cia. I have no link, sorry
Sorry for cyndy and meghan for there loss. But good bye to a pos lying traitorous bastard. Have fun with your best friend teddy Kennedy in hell.good riddance to a guy that helped his chief of staff become a billionaire by writing and profiting from the va choice program, I have called the ig on the strip mall HMO drs too numerous to count. They have a reported reimbursement rate 30percent lower than Medicare but they are subcontractors so we can only say what drs say, even while drunk lying on reports. This money was stripped from the va so… Read more »
Good Bye “Judas” McCain. Now, let’s hope some more RINOs bite the dust very soon……..Hip Hip Hooray.
Of coarse the left loves McCain, they could count on his support on most of their bills. He attacked Republicans and stopped many bills they proposed for spite. He was a spitefully, small person, and I don’t mean his stature, but his character. We can thank God that he never got in the Oval Office, I believe he would have been as horrendous as Hillary.