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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

The New McCarthyism is Waxmania: Silencing the Capitalists

As Pejman Yousefzadeh noted on twitter Sunday, for eight long years we were treated to leftists decrying the Bush administration and Republicans. Their motto was “If you aren’t outraged, you haven’t been paying attention.”

Now this same group is outraged that we are paying attention. They are outraged that we are outraged. And they are now playing at a most dangerous game.

Congressman Henry Waxman intends to haul before Congress corporations that have told their employees to expect increased health care costs because of Obamacare. This is behavior that can indisputably be described as soviet behavior. If McCarthyism was about hounding out communists and their sympathizers, the left seems intent on creating their own version of McCarthyism, which we can call Waxmania — silencing capitalists.

We have seen this abuse over and over from the Democrats in the past year. Waxman is a chief abuser, wanting to haul in insurance companies and other companies that have opposed the left’s agenda.

Barack Obama himself encouraged his supporters to bring guns to knife fights and get in conservatives’ faces. Where was the media handwringing back then over incitement? Why wasn’t the media bothering to mention, at least, the bipartisan “fighting words” in the past week?

On the editorial pages of major newspapers and on the news programming of major television networks we are treated to stories undercounting attendance at tea party events and painting the typical tea party activist as thuggish, racist, and violent. It is a coordinated effort to turn the media narrative from sitting on the sidelines with the exception of MSNBC to full throated condemnatory reporting on the tea party movement.

In just the past few weeks, news outlets that used to use the words “pro-choice” and “pro-life” are changing to “abortion advocates” and “anti-abortion.” That may sound fine to you, but to many Americans, the psychology in the word choice “anti-” hurts the pro-life cause. The suddenness of the media change suggests a coordinated effort. It happened overnight in dozens of news outlets.

The Left is playing for keeps. They have the power structure in their hands and they intend to make it permanent as best they can. They project on us their intimidation and thuggish behavior.

The right must fight. It is not a violent fight. It is vigilance in the political arena. We must pressure our own side in Congress to stand firm and fight like hell politically. We must also expose the left and not back down. And we must put up good candidates and work like hell to get them elected.

Lefists had hoped that after the health care vote, their poll numbers would go up and the right would stand down. We are just now fighting like our life depends on it because we realize now the survival of the American way of life as we know it is at stake.

We’ve taken down ACORN. We’ve taken down Van Jones. We’ve taken down Obama’s TSA nominee. We can take down the Democrats in November.

COMMENTS

  • RedBeard

    If we don’t fight back hard against Waxman, but rather wimper along like the nice guys we thought we should be during the Bush years, we will lose the battle and the war. America will lose.

    Waxman simply must not be allowed to get away with this sort of kangaroo court tactic. Conservatives, in the House and outside, must stand up to him, and do so firmly and loudly.

    We certainly cannot count on the MSM to do any sort of real journalistic investigation here. They put their journalistic integrity through the shredder and sold out to the left long ago. In case you miss the morning edition, remember that Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.

  • solvoreor

    This seems awfully familiar. It reminds me of segregationist democrats. The way they are using the media, influencing public opinion, imposing legal consequences on dissenters and the public floggings of the sort that Congressman Waxman, and President Obama for that matter seem to relish. The only thing missing so far is Bull Conner, the dogs and the fire hoses at the Tea Party protests.

  • 4liberty

    The Left knows that information is their second biggest threat. The first is a public who isn’t afraid to speak. Consequently, they are mounting attacks to eliminate both threats.

    In addition to pressuring our Republican members of Congress to fight back against the government’s astounding, blatant abuse of power to stifle dissent and the media’s coordinated effort to abandon their responsibility as watchdogs for the people and instead intentionally report in ways to craft the Left’s narrative and mislead us, we can also continue to make an effort to share the facts of our government’s and media’s “Soviet behaviors” with people we know are not quite yet “paying attention”.

    I find that it’s easy speak or email/blog others who are part of our choir, but we’ve also got to reach out to the same people the Left is trying to win over/ scare into submission.

    As amazing as the Tea Party Movement is, its numbers have got to grow, and the growth hormone is information.

    I will not be silent.

  • Rick_Caird

    I am glad to see Waxman doing this. We can be sure AT&T, CAT, and the others have the actual amounts. They have calculated the impact and, by law and the SEC, they are required to announce material impacts on their financial as soon as they know them.

    All Waxman will succeed in doing is calling more attention to this disastrous legislation and keeping it all in the news longer. I suspect, though, he will figure this out and quietly drop any thought of hearings. Too bad. I would love to see him left sputtering.

  • mikerazar
  • NeoKong

    I said this before. The lame stream media are taking direct orders from the White House.as to how they will format their nightly “news” broadcasts. They are on a very serious and committed media campaign to paint any opposition to Barack Obama as borderline illegal and as an incitement to violence.
    Several outlets are still pushing the story of how Tea Partiers were using the n-word and spit at black congressmen even after it has been completely debunked.

    I fear not however.
    It may seem like a tidal wave of momentum but it is all just Axelrod invented astro-turfing and the people will not be fooled again..
    Axelrod on his best day couldn’t get a million people to march on Washington like they did on Sept.12th.
    Against all the propaganda of the left and the media Scott Brown won in Mass. and the Tea Partiers are growing stronger every day
    Brown didn’t win against Martha Coakley.
    He won against Ted Kennedy and his health care dream.
    When the voters weighed in they spit that out like a bitter pill.

    The left is going to get creamed in November and only a miracle can change that.
    The passage of the health care boondoggle has only galvanized organized opposition to
    the Democrat left-wing agenda.

    People are mad and that makes them vote.
    If the Democrats think they will ram through cap and trade this spring they got another thing coming.
    Pissing on the voters is not a good re-election strategy.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    Do not expect to see many more corporations splashing the ill effects of ObamaCare across the headlines. I talked to a few folks from major corporations over the weekend. Most are trying to determine how they will tell employees that costs are going up and benefits will be changing significantly without a letter leaking out to the media Some are trying to wait until their annual “Open Enrollment” period or end-of-year, to announce changes. That buries the headline and makes it look like insurance companies are the bad guys. They are also trying to bury and effects to the balance sheet in financial statements.

    I fully understand that companies need to have a good relationship with the government, especially one that is hostile and can negatively impact business in many ways. But the relationship with this administration appears to be one-way, and business always takes it in the neck.

    So I guess not articulating the facts about ObamaCare and not being up-front about the negative effects makes them cowards.

  • gwalt

    They are still alive and witnessing the same thing they saw as children.

    They are afraid for us as their lives are near an end and their children/grandchildren will pay the price of Marxism much like they did.

    The media.
    The media.
    The media.

    Without their incessant complicit Soviet style rhetoric, Obama would be in Ill Senate voting “present”.

    Defeat the media—–defeat Obama and the Dems.

    We need to get MSNBC and that other network (sorry Erick) below 100k viewers consistently. Starve them. Starve NBC, CBS, ABC, NYT.

    Let’s start going after local affiliates. Smaller targets are easier.

  • Ausonius

    It is the IRS! This administration is not above “urging” the IRS to look into a troublesome, disgruntled company.

    If you want to lose perhaps millions of dollars as a corporation, have the IRS knock on your door for an audit, an investigation, a review, whatever they want to call it.

    And that is the time for the companies to become even louder to their employees, to the press, to anyone who will listen. It is the march of Communist restrictions on freedom of speech.

    Such de facto censorship in this country is a disgrace to all of our patriots since 1776.

  • Ausonius

    It is the IRS! This administration is not above “urging” the IRS to look into a troublesome, disgruntled company.

    If you want to lose perhaps millions of dollars as a corporation, have the IRS knock on your door for an audit, an investigation, a review, whatever they want to call it.

    And that is the time for the companies to become even louder to their employees, to the press, to anyone who will listen. It is the march of Communist restrictions on freedom of speech.

    Such de facto censorship in this country is a disgrace to all of our patriots since 1776.

  • NeoKong

    They can even operate at a loss.
    Their parent company is GE.
    GE is poised to score big time on the heath care legislation because they are developing the technology to digitize medical records which is a key to the new health care system. They look at MSNBC as just another operating expense no different from their advertising budget.
    It is good for their long term security if each and every single person in America has to use their product.

  • smagar

    They have three weeks to get ready.

    Plenty of time for us to prep the battlefield in support:

    - Publish LOTS of stories about how Obamacare’s going to hurt business. Make sure the GOP Congressmen on Waxman’s committee get them—along with the PR sections of those companies Waxman is targeting.
    - Talk often and loudly about Waxman the Commissar. Help build the image in the public’s mind of a bully. Make Waxman disprove that image.

  • solvoreor

    The left understood to change America, you must have the tools. In Soviet Russia the government controlled the media. They control the educations system. They made no secret about these facts.

    Somewhere in last fifty years leftest took on responsibility for the media. They bought up or otherwise gained control over most of the main stream media, the entertainment industry, and the publishing industry, right down to the distribution channels. While conservatives and traditionalists set about building other industries.

    The only way to have a fair and impartial media is to have a variety of ownership. Not some neutral and leftest media, but a strong partisan media from both ends of the spectrum, and from the middle. That means, to defeat the propaganda machine of the left, controlled from the White House, the solution is simple. Buy them up. The New York Times could be had. Most of the big three could be had.

    If capitalism is to succeed someone has to invest in the media. Its not complicated. Even the lefties figured it out.

  • libertyshrugged

    With those kind of costs I wouldn’t be surprised if AT&T, Verizon, Cat and Deere announce 20% layoffs. To make those announcements while being grilled in the light of the media circus would be a devastating response. Already know of 1 firm with over 200 employees cutting 20% staff and a firm of 40 cutting 50% staff this week.

  • weatherford

    Just about everybody has got some local “news” outlet that attempts to move its public to the left at every chance. I’ve got several, and they enrage much more than the MSM because they are closer to home.

    I’ve picked out a couple to attack, and it’s entertaining because they are clearly not used to it and tend to stagger at each punch.

    It is a great way to relieve MSM induced stress.

    Of far greater importance is Gwalt’s account of this parents. It is hard to imagine how perilously close we may be to repeating the terror they faced when young.

  • renny

    Make Congress send subpoenas and look like the commie thugs they are.

  • renny

    and wind turbines. It has doubled-down on little o’s “energy” independence and a “green” image. It will find MSNBC ad infinitum.

  • tom246

    The main problem we have is the republicans that believe we should “find a middle ground? mainly the ones in the senate. If you listen to Mitch McConnell what you here is how he doesn’t want to rock the boat, he’s afraid the republicans will be painted as the party of ?NO”. Personal I believe the only way to fight an enemy is to hold very strongly to your beliefs but right now we are trying to figure out what those beliefs are. Until the conservatives in this country speak with one voice we will not succeed. If you notice, the socialists (democrats) are all a concerted body. We must match that organization.

    The first step is making sure everyone understands what is going on not just what they are being told, that falls to us to educate ordinary everyday citizens about what the true implications of the new law is and what direction they are wanting to take us. Once this is done everything else becomes easier and since our “leaders” can’t do it we must.

    Everyone needs to remember that this is the opening volley in this war, and that this IS a war. We may not be shooting at each other but this is a struggle that will only end with a winner and a loser, there is no middle ground. Any compromise by conservatives will be the loss of more liberty and personal freedom. This is a war that we must fight, our cause is just and our goal is clear its time to mobilize and win!

  • dwells

    I sent emails of support to the subpoena’d companies yesterday, telling them that the American people needed to hear the truth about what is happening to their companies because of this, that the democrats need to hear the truth about what their bill is doing to American companies and employees.

    I told them not to give in to the political bully tactics, to approach the hearing straightforward and take no quarter. It’s too important for everyone to keep silent on.

    A quick search will find you the homepages and contact info for Deere, CAT, AT&T, Verizon, etc. Take 5 minutes to let them know that America supports them and that America wants and needs to know what this terrible bill will do to businesses and employees everywhere.

  • eburke

    that extol and purport to praise Ronald Reagan.

    It’s nothing more than a patina of ‘conservatism’ for a company that is ‘all in’ with the Marxest Obama White House.

    How revolting. What an affront to Reagan’s legacy of freedom.

  • texasgalt

    and the EEOC and Wage & Hour OSHA and on and on . . .

    The ONE made it clear early on: “Don’t think we aren’t keeping score, brother!”

  • senior72

    I seem to remember reading recently that Obama is busy trying to restore their funding.

  • http://www.thehayride.com MacAoidh

  • Xasteius

    These companies aren’t Mom and Pop’s Beer ‘n Bread Minimart. These are international companies with no negative connotation (say compared to Microsoft or Google). Once the people realize that healthcare affect these companies adversely, public opinion will swing away from Obama drastically and hopefully stop his agenda.

    Or so I think. Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress have shown that they will stop at nothing to enact their agenda, now that they’ve !) tasted blood, and 2) know that their policies ARE anathema to the average American (i.e. the devil is enraged because he knows his time is short). What do we do about the lame duck session after the elections?

  • redcometchar2010

    As long as the hearings would be televised I say the companies should go “testify”. All they are doing is following the law. If they were smart they would say something like this, “Yes Congressmen, we are law bound to report any and all changes in our financial situation. Unlike the banks on wall street we believe in full disclosure and are disappointed that the chairman thinks we should follow the practices of wall street banks that got this great country in trouble in the first place. We sincerely hope that we are not subject to IRS investigations for following the letter of the law and hope that the chairman will join us in hoping that all companies show the same transparency as we did.”

  • texasgalt

    and touting themselves as the most military friendly corp is Orwellian

    Let’s see now, how’s this state sponsored company doing:

    GE stock: July 2000 57.81 July 2007 41.40 Now 18.34
    (No splits)

    Goodness, if GE rallies 300% it will be almost to the level of 2000.
    All of which mostly means nothing but is a just rewards in GE’s case.

  • southernilpat

    All the companies mentioned are self insured. Think that’s a coincidence? I figured they’d start gunning for the large self insured companies but didn’t think it would be so soon.

  • texasgalt

    Pitiful . . .

    Let’s see now, how’s this state sponsored company doing:

    GE stock: July 2000 57.81 July 2007 41.40 Now 18.34
    (No splits)

    Goodness, if GE rallies 300% it will be almost to the level of 2000.
    All of which mostly means nothing but is a just rewards in GE’s case.
    Not so good for the stockholders.

  • Common_Cents

    Haines is an arrogant angry dinosaur. What an idiot. I can’t believe he is even on TV, oh yeah, I guess I can when it is CNBC/GE.

    There is major influence by GE and the left on these business channel “anchors”. Yeah, anchors weighing down America w/ their propaganda.

  • Common_Cents
  • Doc Holliday
  • Scope

    long before Obama ascended to the thrown. Obama is just an extra slab of icing on his cake. If Chrissy M got leg tingles because of Obama, I hate to tell what what probably tingled for Immelt on Jan. 20, 2009. Hint, it wasn’t his brain cells.

  • postanalog

    ACORN merely reoganized,it would seem,most chapters simply opening back up with a different name.

  • Joshua Persons

    AT&T must’ve missed the clause in SOX allowing accountants to hide politically unfortunate facts.

  • Martin Knight

    Unfortunately, if past is prologue, the likelihood of this happening is close to nil.

  • eastbaylarry

    They have a financial arm, “GE Credit” that offers credit cards specifically for use with medical/dental bills.

  • eastbaylarry

    They have a financial arm, “GE Credit” that offers credit cards specifically for use with medical/dental bills.

  • biglarryk56

    MSNBC is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal, of which General Elecric is selling off to Comcast. Once that’s done, do you really think Comcast will have an incentive to keep spewing oout bile from the likes of Olbermann, Maddow, Matthews, Schultz, Ratigan, et al.

  • biglarryk56

    Steve Leisman isn’t exactly a prize either. Same ghoes for Dylan ratigan before he left in a snit to toil into oblivion on MSNBC. Seems like the only two voices of reason at CNBC are Larry Kudlow and Rick Santelli (whom I think has been effectively muzzled since his outburst last year). At least Charlie gasparino had the good sense to leave and go over to FOX Business.

  • Xasteius

    The CEO of Aetna has confirmed that healthcare premiums will increase for those that have insurance now that Obamacare has been passed.

  • leehazel

    Here goes anyway: What is it about Henry Waxman that makes me think of Heinrich Himmler?

    Could it be the funny little mustache, or maybe the fact that they have the same first name, or could it be that they tend to stand for the same kind of odious fascistic practices in governing?

    Waxman needs removal from office in the worst way. Is there anybody out there running against this “wart” on the body politic.

    PC is Thought Control
    LEE

  • incumbentrant

    I hear you…I’ve considered myself a Constitutional conservative for a long time, but it’s been a damned LONG time since I considered myself compassionate…I think we’ve at the point of having to elect conservatives with gonads…take no prisoners; leave no witnesses…
    Being nice hasn’t worked…

  • Praying

    I absolutely believe in positive reinforcements. These guys probably didn’t even know they were putting their company’s life on the line – they were just being responsible and doing what the law requires them to do. It is absolutely shameful that they are being punished in any way or form for this. Of course, it is shameful that ALL that is successful in America is being punished by this administration. You know, like those of us who work, pay our taxes, pay our morgtage, etc. Yeah. I’m about over it myself. So I will write these companies and stand behind them.

  • tweeze

    I can think of four possible lessons these companies and their CEO?s have failed to learn from this administration and the Dems:

    Is Stupak there to re-teach how to sell out those that depend on your honesty and integrity (Stupak?s constituent and the company?s employees, customers and share holders)?

    Or have these CEO?s failed to study our Representatives enough to know how to judge which laws are in vogue to ignore (or at least fudge and obscure in paperwork that hides what?s being done such as tax laws)?

    Maybe they?re there for the re-education in this administration?s perfection of extortion, threats and all around criminal behavior so exemplified to this country and world, courtesy of the banks, health insurance companies (Humana) and auto industries.

    And the last possible needed tutelage is to learn that this Congress is prepared to castigate, investigate, and indict for not following a law as well as castigate, investigate and indict for following a law, depending on the mood or need of this administration.

    If these CEO?s are smart they?ll rip these two new ones and show this world just how little intelligence there is left in the Democratic Party.