An Opponent or an Enemy?

For the past few years there has been a tone in America that troubles me. I remember the comment that struck me and put this concern in my heart. I remember who said it.

 

For me, this comment changed the tone, and changed the game. This comment told me I was no longer an opponent who differed on policy views. This comment told me I was the enemy.

But how had I become the enemy in my own country?

I have voted in every Presidential election from the moment I was eligible, but I never really participated in the political process, that is, until Rick Santelli called for a modern day Tea Party on the trading floor during a CNBC newscast. I listened to his statement a couple of times and my ears perked up.

I voted for George W. Bush twice, but I was angry about the bailouts. I was angry our government was providing what I viewed as a route to not only bailout large corporations, but also a path to cover sins of politicians from decades past. I believe the crash happened because of bad laws and regulations put in place over the past decade. I believe the crash happened because of politicians using tax dollars to buy votes.

Furthermore, I was angry at the new administration that promised hope then created, defended, and forced a program likely to bankrupt our nation down our throats. I was angry at a new administration that promised hope to turn the economy around, but did little to address the issues.

So, I loaded up my kids, and headed to Washington, DC to peacefully voice my dissent on the lawn of our capitol at a Tea Party rally. I was joined by thousands of Americans – polite, calm, but passionate Americans from all races and socioeconomic groups. I was there. There were no swastikas or other offensive things there. Had there been, I would not have taken part in the rally.

It was clear, Rick Santelli felt the same way, along with hundreds of thousands of Americans just like me. But Pelosi’s comments, placed all of us as enemies of the state. We were not American’s, we were Nazish. The most disheartening thing about this to me was no one called her on it. Democrats would just say, “Well, Republicans bash Democrats all the time.”

Yes, I have heard Republicans say things about Democrats, but I call them out. I encourage my fellow Republicans to dissent about policy, but not get personal. I do not view Democrats as the enemy. I view Democrats as people who have different views on policy.

But Pelosi’s comments did more than just hit me personally. I believe it changed the tone of our nation. As much as I try to remain focused on a difference of opinion on policy, it is difficult to debate Democrats knowing the highest leaders of our country named me an enemy.

It is not surprising that three years later, we are told the IRS targeted conservative groups, specifically ones with “tea party”, “patriots”, or “9/12” in the name. Sure, we had heard rumblings about this by the Tea Party leaders and Republican Congressmen they petitioned. In early 2012, the IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, received letters from members of Congress asking about potential targeting. His reply to the House Ways and Means subcommittee, “There's absolutely no targeting. This is the kind of back and forth that happens to people" who apply for tax-exempt status. However, an investigation into this targeting by an inspector general for the Treasury included information that “On Jan, 25, 2012, the criteria for flagging suspect groups was changed to, "political action type organizations involved in limiting/expanding Government, educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, social economic reform/movement.”

Coming to understand the IG’s report would contradict what Shulman said to the Congressional subcommittee, a plan was formed to ask Lois Lerner, head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations, about the targeting at a dinner. Their hope – just like Pelosi’s comments about American’s participating in the modern day Tea Party being equal to Nazi’s fell on deaf ears, this information would too.

Since I heard Pelosi’s comments, I have felt more alienated in my own country than ever before. “Republican” is no longer a title of an opponent, or someone who has different views on policy. It is the name of the foe. And, the only way to beat the foe is to annihilate them. To learn the IRS is being used to help with this annihilation is more than disturbing.

It is little consolation the fears of Tea Party members were well founded. It is little consolation we are also seeing truth to the ruthlessness of this administration through the targeting of James Rosen for doing his job – report the news.

The consolation will come when Democrats recognize the tactics of Pelosi, Obama, and their loyalists as un-American and distance themselves from these types of practices. The consolation will come with we return our nation to Americans who are sometimes opponents, not enemies.

By SB

© BiGWand. All rights reserved.