The Republican Hissy Fit...

[Webster]

A semi-fascist hissy fit - Digby's Hullabaloo

The right and the press react to Biden's speech I have often referred to what I call

digbysblog.net

I have often referred to what I call “The Art of the Hissy Fit,” defined as the right using “faux outrage to get the media to press the Democrats to disavow or apologize for something they were perfectly entitled to say or do. Most often, it’s something extremely mild compared to what Republicans say and do every day.”

One example of this play to work the refs from the past was the GOP’s flamboyant pearl-clutching over the Democrat’s behavior at the funeral for progressive Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota who died in a plane crash during the 2002 election season. Democrats held a memorial service/celebration of life in which people eulogized Wellstone and also rallied for his political cause (as he would have wanted) with some stemwinding political speeches. The right went nuts, cynically decrying the event as being “disrespectful” and calling for the Democrats to apologize over the alleged insult to Real American values — which they dutifully did.

It was a crock, obviously, but those who’ve been around long enough to remember that event will recall that the pundits went crazy, demanding that the Democrats answer for the outrage while the Republicans snickered behind their backs. It was a minor incident but it illustrates this ongoing tactic of the right wing which has been on display again over the past few days after Joe Biden described the “MAGA Republicans” as “semi-fascist.” The hand wringing and rending of garments by Donald Trump’s minions has been a sight to behold....