57 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 18 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H1'ed 4/13/13

President Obama, Please Stop the "Both Sides" Nonsense

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   15 comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Andrew Schmookler
Become a Fan
  (31 fans)
Election Night - Obama
Election Night - Obama
(Image by C-SPAN_LCV)
  Details   DMCA

Election Night - Obama by C-SPAN_LCV
I heard you on TV last week, talking about guns. I'm glad you're pressing the matter, and not just letting it die. But something about the way you talked about the gun issue made me want to scream.

I heard you doing that "both sides do it" nonsense.  Explaining why it's so hard to get reasonable things done, you said both sides take "extreme positions."

But just what is the "extreme position" anybody in Congress is taking on the gun-control side?  Is anyone taking a position more "extreme" than what you have proposed -- universal background checks and a ban on weapons and ammo-clips that enable a shooter to massacre dozens of people within seconds?

Even if there were positions more in the direction of gun-control than yours, would they be "extreme" using the laws of all the other advanced societies in these matters as the standard of what's reasonable and what's extreme. (The citizens of those nations are 20 times less likely than Americans to die from firearms.)

No, what's extreme is the position taken by the NRA, and by all those who either agree with the NRA or allow themselves to be intimidated by the NRA.  What's extreme is taking the right to bear arms as an absolute, so that even weapons that have no legitimate civilian use -- self-protection or hunting -- must be allowed in a 21st century civilized society.

So why give voice to this "both sides" nonsense?  It's contrary to the truth, and it's counter-productive.  It gets in the way of achieving your purposes.


The leadership the American people need
on this gun issue will tell it like it is.  It will help our citizenry understand that our toxic, obstructionist, extreme politics is not coming from both sides.  It's coming from one side that's gone off the deep end. It's coming from a side that uses fear-mongering lies and treats politics as warfare. 
 
Helping the American people see this is Job One for you, Mr. President.  It's Job One because none of the other jobs will get done, or get done right, until enough of the American people see clearly the nature of the force that's preventing us from meeting our challenges -- on the gun issue, and just about every other problem in America that needs addressing.

 I don't think your way ("both sides do it," "extreme positions" in both directions, the problem with "Washington")  makes you look reasonable.  It makes you look weak.  It doesn't make you look like a truth-teller.  It makes you look like you've allowed yourself to become enmeshed in a political system in which the lie too often defeats the truth.

Appeasing these opponents with bogus even-handedness will not make them any more likely to cooperate with you. The Republicans who do the bidding of the NRA on the gun issue are the same people who made it their top priority in your first term to make you fail. If they budge, it won't be because you treat them with a respect they don't deserve but because you've made the political costs of their destructive conduct too great for them to bear.

Andy Schmookler, recently the Democratic candidate for Congress from Virginia's 6th District, is an author whose books include, Out of Weakness: Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War.

Well Said 4   Supported 4   Must Read 3  
Rate It | View Ratings

Andrew Schmookler Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Andy Schmookler, an award-winning author, political commentator, radio talk-show host, and teacher, was the Democratic nominee for Congress from Virginia's 6th District. His new book -- written to have an impact on the central political battle of our time -- is (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Why Do Conservatives Like Colbert? Article Plus Critique

Mel Gibson's Rant as Profound Clue

To Anti-Obamite Lefties: It Doesn't Matter If You're Right

How Important is the Loss of Friendship?

# 8 Beliefs that Make Liberal America Weak: Barriers to the Source of Moral and Spiritual Passions

Power and Corruption: Just What Is Their Relationship?

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend