Scott Brown, Mitt Romney, and Expelling Truth from Politics

Since the comments and ratings have been disabled, we have no way of knowing whether Scott Brown's new reelection ad has gone viral in a good way or a bad way. I suspect it's probably six of one and half a dozen of the other. It doesn't have the absurdity that other viral ads bring to mind, but that doesn't mean it's not ridiculous.

The big problem with Brown's ad is that it hitches a ride on Mitt Romney's "you didn't build that" smear. And undermines that same smear.

"Just as Romney’s Web video does, the audio is edited to remove the chunk of the speech in which Obama talks about our 'great American system' and 'roads and bridges,' misleading listeners into believing that the 'didn’t build that' line was an insult to business owners," writes Greg Sargent. "Any listener would reasonably conclude that the language quoted above is exactly as Obama delivered it."

But then Brown includes the words of the woman vying for his Massachusetts Senate seat, Elizabeth Warren -- and Warren supplies the context that Romney's smear cuts out. In fact, it was that speech by Warren that Obama borrowed from in his own speech. The lie only works if the context is removed, which means that Brown is presenting the absolute, 100%, undeniable truth that goods travel by road as an attack on free enterprise.

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Scott Walker, RINO

"Republican In Name Only" or "RINO." As far as I can tell, it's a term coined by anti-tax fanatic Grover Norquist. It describes a Republican who's insufficiently ideologically pure. Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered a RINO, despite being a darling of the right immediately after winning his office. Likewise, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown was a Tea Party hero for a bit -- before revealing himself to be less insane than they'd all hoped he would be. Republicans like to talk about the power of the individual and individualism, but the truth is that they hate individualism with a passion. If you're not 100% ideologically pure right down the line, you're a RINO -- these "individuals" must be ideological clones of one another. No independent thought or actual individuality is allowed.

If the right weren't so enamored of embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker right now, they'd notice he's talking like a RINO.

Associated Press:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday he's not afraid to lose the historic recall election he faces in less than three weeks, but if he wins he intends to govern in a more inclusive, consensus-building way.

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