News Roundup for 10/9/09

FL GOP congressional candidate Robert Lowry

-Headline of the day-
"GOP candidate opened fire on effigy of Dem Congresswoman."

What fun! During a Broward County, Florida GOP meeting, real estate CEO Robert Lowry took a few shots at "a silhouette with 'DWS' inscribed to the side of its head." DWS being the initials of the woman whose seat he's gunning for (pun intended), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

According to local TV station CBS 4, Lowry first called the action a "joke," but "minutes later called it a mistake." That's what you want in a representative to congress; the ability to think ahead. Maybe he should've taken those few minutes to think about what he was doing before he did it, rather than afterward.

"On what planet, exactly, is it considered a joke to shoot at a target representing a sitting US Congresswoman who happens to be a mother of three and a breast cancer survivor?" asks Kyle Munzenrieder with the Miami New Times. "To what audience is that a knee slapper? Really?" I'd say that those would be the same people who believe Glenn Beck is a hilarious rodeo clown.

Bonus fun, the report tells us that "another target at the shooting range was a stereotypical depiction of a Muslim male as an RPG-wielding terrorist," which out to go over great with the Muslim community in the district. No word on whether the whole meeting ended with a minstrel show, a group sing-along of "Frito Bandito," and a Charlie Chan movie marathon, but you really wouldn't be all that surprised if it did.

Some think that maybe this is Lowry's "Macaca moment."

"This same week, Wasserman Schultz has been testifying on Capitol Hill about a breast cancer bill. You know, since it's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and she's a breast cancer survivor. She's also the mother of three elementary school children. And you're blasting a gun into a target that bears her initials? As a joke?" writes Thomas Francis for the Palm Beach New Times. "Here's a joke: Gosh, with the embarrassment that this incident caused, Lowry may have cost himself a chance to beat Wasserman Schultz in the election."

Sure, playing around with guns is a lot of fun... That is, until some moron shoots himself in the foot. (Raw Story)


-Hatin' on America-
I guess Barack Obama won some sort of a prize today -- an Emmy or a Grammy or something. Anyway, something nice happened to the president and, in GOP-world, this is always the worst thing ever.

"What has President Obama actually accomplished?," the Republican National Committee said in a statement today. "It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain -- President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action."

I guess they don't sell congratulations cards in the GOP giftshop. It didn't take long for the Democratic National Committee to fire back.

"The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize," the DNC said in a statement on the RNC's statement. "Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize -- an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride -- unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore -- it’s an embarrassing label to claim."

You know what's so fun about all this? It wasn't so long ago that Republicans were yelling that anyone who said anything bad about the president hated America and loved them some terr'ists. Now, here they are rooting against America and the president. As Jon Stewart put it recently, "conservatives hate Obama more than they love America."

While it's inarguably hyperbolic to lump the GOP in with terr'ists over this, it sure is fun to do it. You've been feeding this stuff to us for years, Republicans -- how's it taste? (Plum Line)


-Bonus HotD-
"Obama's Nobel Prize Proves That Everyone Is a Stupid Communist!"

Think the RNC are the only ones on the right to pee on Barack Obama's Nobel Prize party? You haven't been paying attention lately, have you? Barack Obama is a baby-killing secret Muslim illegal alien terr'ist, after all, so giving him a Nobel is a slap in the face to everyone who Nobel Laureate trading cards.

Here's a few fun reactions from various wingnut organizations:

Catholic League:

Unlike another Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Mother Teresa, who said abortion was "the greatest destroyer of peace," Obama has never indicated that abortion undermines the cause of peace. Indeed, he champions abortion as if it were a sacred right. If he wants to pivot at this juncture, Catholics will welcome it. If he doesn't, he will have to live with the consequences.

Concerned Women for America:

When Alfred Nobel wrote his will in 1895 he insisted that the peace prize should go "...to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses." One wonders if Nobel ever considered there could have been a year where the crop of candidates was so bad that the award would be given to someone who had accomplished none of the things stipulated in his will. Apparently when there is a year where the prospects are so bleak, the lowest common denominator wins. That doesn't say much for the world's prospects for peace.

Richard Viguerie's spin shop:

The announcement from the Nobel Peace Prize Committee says as much about the Norwegian voters and their parliament as it does President Obama. All involved should be embarrassed and ashamed for using this Prize to advance a radical, leftist agenda... The award has been cheapened beyond repair and the Nobel Committee has insulted all who labor and sacrifice for true peace and freedom under God's laws."

They haven't been this mad since two years ago... and 2005... and 2002... Let's not even talk about 2001, 1994, 1990, or 1985. (Right Wing Watch)