The great trend of “whataboutism” has essentially become one side dismissing a valid argument when the other points out that side has similar issues. It can also be that a side with problems that refuses to deal with those problems deflects by pointing out the other side has those problems.
Sometimes, however, it is very, very valid to point out the comparables on the other side to highlight a lack of intellectual honesty. Sometimes asking “what about” is justified and relevant.
Having had my say on Marjorie Taylor Greene, it is absolutely appropriate now to ask the Democrats about their own side.
They gave Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez a pass on justifying riots.
"I believe injustice is a threat to the safety of all people. Because once you have a group that is marginalized and marginalize and marginalized...once someone doesn't have access to clean water, they have no choice but to riot. And it doesn't have to be that way. I'm not even taking about Palestinians. I'm talking about communities in poverty in the United States; I'm talking about Latin America; I'm talking about all over the world," she said.
Ocasio-Cortez also inspired a man to attack an immigration facility after claiming the United States was running concentration camps at the border. Notice how, after 2018, the kids in detainment facilities were still there, but the shrill rhetoric of concentration camps disappeared.
The media and Democrats gave her a pass on her rhetoric inspiring a violent attack. “But Trump,” they scream.
Maxine Waters encouraged protestors to harass and chase Republicans from restaurants and show up at people’s homes. That very thing happened and the rebuke from the Democratic Party was quite mild. Though multiple news outlets did have to talk about it and push back after President Trump made a stink, the Democrats themselves did nothing.
Democrats ran ads and mail pieces showing Paul Ryan throwing a grandmother off a cliff as they attacked Republican healthcare efforts. Their shrill rhetoric inspired James Hodgkinson to attempt a mass assassination of Republican members of Congress.
No Democrat was censured for their rhetoric. None were stripped of committee assignments. Nancy Pelosi remained as Speaker.
I think the GOP needs to clean up its own house. I think it needs to deal with people like Marjorie Taylor Greene.
But I absolutely understand the reluctance of Republicans to do so. Time and time again the Democrats and media give Democrats a pass on similar things. Yes, in fact, an attack on an ICE facility based on Ocasio-Cortez’s rhetoric is comparable to the mob storming the Capitol. So too is an an attempted mass assassination of Republicans inspired by Democrat rhetoric.
Those of you who decry the GOP and Marjorie Taylor Greene are going to be hard pressed to get a lot of us to care if you demand we clean up our house and make excuses for your own side. This cannot be a one way street or it will be no street at all.
Add in the latest revelations about John Weaver and the Lincoln Project. It turns out John Weaver’s abusive behavior toward young men was well known. Despite this, Democrats and the press used John Weaver to attack Republicans and advance candidates like John Kasich. On MSNBC, even after allegations surfaced, no one bothered to ask Lincoln Project members about it. They gave cover for their friends and allies.
Karl Rove raised the Weaver allegations decades ago and even then the media circled the wagons on Weaver and accused Rove of a smear. They protected Weaver until now, when he is no longer useful.
Sorry folks, but while I may try to be vocal on my own side’s problems, I totally get why a lot don’t bother. There is a recognizable double standard and a lot of people are not interested in constantly dealing with their own side when the other side gets a pass.
So yes, what about the Democrats? It is relevant and Democrats screaming “whataboutism” are just showing they don’t think they have to deal with their own crazy.
What About
Neil, I get what you are saying. There is enough lying to go around and around in Washington. There is enough hate by one half of our population for the other, back and forth, to go around and around. Much of that hate has been created because NONE of us have anywhere to go to find the truth anymore. We are all making judgements of every situation based on half truths, conspiracy theories and emotions. I did not like Trump's manner of speaking, he was never a slick politician and, yes, he was prone to hyperbole and his ego is a fatal flaw. BUT, in my most humble opinion, what he did for this country was wonderful. I will not concede that. I believe there were many irregularities in this election ( not enough to overturn it ) and he had every right to contest each and every example. However, he took it too far for too long. I resent your 'lumping' me in with the capitol protesters. You don't know my heart nor the heart of other Republicans who feel something with the election was not right. If we are ever to trust our electoral system again....we better figure out how to fix it.
For the most part, I again agree with Erick. Having already spoken out against Marjorie Greene, he has the right to ask, "Now what about . . . ." Said in that context, it is not an excuse for misbehavior.
And I'm not sure folks on my side can offer an adequate answer. The recent intensity of our disagreements has made almost all of us hypocrites at one time or another. We need to do better.
I would disagree in one minor respect, however; that being Greene's comparability to Cortez or Watters. To inspire a "lone wolf" or small numbers of people to misbehave - though deplorable and entirely worthy of condemnation - is not comparable to what we saw on January 6th. Greene is either a part or manifestation of something much more dangerous.