My views on Harry Bellefonte and Cindy Sheehan

Let me first start off by saying that i respect everyones right to free speech. Everyone has the right to criticize the President. I sure do my fair share of it. Given the current political climate we're in however, i think it would be wise for those on the left to choose their words more carefully. When i say given the current political climate i think i need to carify what i mean by that.

In a normal political climate, misleading a country into an unnecessary war would be an impeachable offense. Loosening up restrictions to allow the use of techniques that could be classified as torture under the Geneva Conventions would be an impeachable offense. In a normal political climate, a President who goes on tv and essentially admits he broke the law by not seeking a court order to spy on american citizens would be impeached. In a normal political climate a large majority of US citizens would be outraged by any one of those offenses let alone all of them taken together.

We are not however in a normal political climate. We're in a political climate that is ruled by fear and that fear is perpetuated by the Bush administration and by a main stream media who seem unwilling to do their jobs. 911 really changed this country for the worse. It enabled the Bush administration to grab more presidential power and to govern from the extreme right. Something which pre 911 they would have never been able to do.

Many of the statements made by Cindy Sheehan and Harry Bellefonte are often used by Republicans and the media like an albatross to tie around the neck of the Democratic party. In the end some of their statements ultimately hurt the Democrats chances of winning back Congress. Republicans like Ann Coulter and Pat Robertson can make all sorts of ridiculous statements without hurting the Republican party. Democrats on the other hand are constantly asked about the statements made by Cindy Sheehan and Harry Bellafonte. It's a double standard.

The Democrats cannot win back power unless they appeal to the moderate or swing voters. I know i've been tough on the Democrats for not having any fight, but they also have to fight smart. As much as i agree with what Bellefonte and Sheehan say, their statements often turn off a lot of the moderates. What i would like to see are more people like Kristin Brentweiser, the 911 widow who helped push for the formation of the 911 commission, take center stage in speaking out against the President. People who are not seen as being on the far left but as being in the political center of this country.

I'm not saying that Sheehan and Bellefonte need to shut up. I'm just saying that they would help their cause more if they would just tone down the rhetoric. They need to remember that the Democrats can't win elections with just their base anymore. At least not in the "current political climate".