Conservative red meat

This story is making the rounds in the blog world. Evidently, Texas Senator Cornyn speculated that the recent courthouse shootings or violence against judges was a populist anger at activist judges. As many are noting, this is tantamount to justifying domestic terrorism.

Unfortunately, the right wing, and especially the conservative Christian crowd seems very vulnerable to certain conservative mantras. One is the myth of the liberal media--which allows people like Rush Limbaugh and James Dobson adopt the underdog role while they are actually more closely linked to the centers of power than their liberal advesaries. Conservative talk radio and think tanks have effectively controlled the dialogue on so many things (like taxes), but still they play the "minority under attack" role. That is annoying.

The other dominant mantra is the "activist judges" one that you hear on every talk show. Judges are somehow intruding on the democratic process and ruining our society, or at least that is what I hear. That is the only thing that can explain something as stupid and fucking irresponsible as what Cornyn said. Think about it. This is what happens in Columbia. People who don't like the judiciary shoot the judges. That isn't America, or at least it shouldn't be.

This speaks to the mindless approach so many people bring to the discussion of democracy. As if America was supposed to be some kind of pure democracy where majority rules, period. Is that really what you want, Red America? Judges are there to protect ourselves from our impulses for democratic tyranny. Remember that democratic (he who has the most votes wins) gave us slavery, segregation, anti-miscegenation laws, separate water fountains, anti-Chinese immigration. And while the courts have often been slow to correct those abominations, they have at times spoken against the mob. Those who side with the mob should at least consider that they are in a mob.

So, the next time you get a fund raising letter saying that activist judges killed Terry Shiavo, think about it. Think about whether you want Tom Delay using your personal tragedy to further his political career. Think about how emotional some responses are. Think about what democracy means when you are in the minority. Think.