Methinks the Democrats doth protest too much about “Tea Party” protesters allegedly calling two Congressional Black Caucus members the dreaded “n” word during a rally at the Capitol.
But let’s assume for the sake of argument that what Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., claimed is true. Then let’s evaluate the righteous indignation of some Democrats in Congress to the alleged incident. Here are some select comments taken from news stories:
Rep. James Clyburn, the House majority whip from South Carolina: “I have heard things today that I have not heard since March 15, 1960, when I was marching to get off the back of the bus.”
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, the House majority leader from Maryland: “On the one hand, I am saddened that America’s debate on health care — which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect — has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility.”
WHAT?! Did Hoyer forget that he’s from Maryland, for heaven’s sake? This is the state where, for at least the past 12 years, Democrats have all but cornered the market on incivility. Let’s review the time line.
1998: Republican Ellen Sauerbrey challenged then-Gov. Parris Glendening in the gubernatorial race. Those state Democrats that Hoyer must think are the quintessence of civility wasted no time in claiming that Sauerbrey was a racist.
Only three Democrats in Maryland — former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, former state Del. Clarence Mitchell III and former Prince George’s Count Executive Wayne Curry — had enough integrity to step up and defend Sauerbrey against the scurrilous allegation.
2002: Observers at a debate between gubernatorial candidates Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and then-Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend claimed the latter’s supporters insulted Michael Steele by tossing Oreo cookies in his direction. (Steele was running for lieutenant governor on Ehrlich’s ticket.)
There’s an interesting side note here: After the incident, Democrats tried to play it down by claiming it never occurred, much like the conservatives have doubted the allegations that racial slurs were directed at Lewis and Carson.
So let me see if I get this straight: When it’s alleged that it happened to the Dems and their guys, it happened; but when it’s alleged to have happened to Republicans, it never occurred, right?
Let’s humor the Democrats on this one: The Oreo cookie incident never happened. But this one did, a year earlier.
2001: Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., the president of the Maryland Senate, called Steele “the personification of an Uncle Tom.” Miller later attempted a lame apology, calling his choice of words “poor.” But if “Mr. Civility” Hoyer ever condemned Miller for his lack of civility toward Steele, I have yet to hear or read about it.
Democrats, in Maryland at least, were slurping the waters from the incivility trough long before “Tea Partiers” came on the scene. And Democrats outside of Maryland are no slouches either.
2003: In a committee room of the House Rayburn Office Building, Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan suggested that there was something wrong with the thinking processes of black conservatives. Not quite Miller’s “Uncle Tom” gem, but bona fide race baiting nonetheless.
2003: Conyers referred to then-President Bush’s opposition to a University of Michigan admissions racial quota plan as a “Plessy v. Ferguson” moment. More race baiting.
Pick a year: Former National Association for the Advancement of Colored People board Chairman Julian Bond launched several scurrilous attacks on Bush. And he supported the 2000 “issue ad” put out by the NAACP Voter Education Fund that all but accused Bush of being part of a lynch mob.
Incivility, Mr. Hoyer? Better clean it up in your own party first.
Examiner Columnist Gregory Kane is a Pulitzer-nominated news and opinion journalist who has covered people and politics from Baltimore to the Sudan.
