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Gun Nuts Firing Blanks in Power Play

Depleted GOP no "paper tiger — it’s a paper muskrat"

By Mat Probasco, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 23, 2009 5:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn has some gall. The fact that he can defend gun nuts calling for blood to "water the tree of liberty" after terrorist Timothy McVeigh wore the same Thomas Jefferson quote on his shirt in the Oklahoma City bombing infuriates New York Times columnist Frank Rich. When asked about pistol-packing protesters, "Coburn blamed not the nuts but the government," he writes.

"Coburn's implicit rationalization for far-right fanatics bearing arms at presidential events cannot stand," Rich fumes. The gun nuts and their supporters are part of a growing, ugly undertone of violence in current protests, writes Rich. But their "big guns" belie health-care opponents' true power, he adds. President Obama still "towers over his opponents" with the public and has the clout to pass meaningful reform, Rich notes.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

William Kostnic wears a 9mm pistol as he stands outside a town hall meeting on health care held by President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Joel Page, File)

President Barack Obama talks about health care during a town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colo. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

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The GOP, whose ranks have now dwindled largely to whites in Dixie and the less-populated West, is not even a paper tiger—it’s a paper muskrat. - Frank Rich

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 31 comments

johntitor

Aug 24, 2009 12:24 PM CDT

You have no idea about that quote do you? Any insight? Anyone in there? Nope, just drivel fed by others.

johntitor

Aug 24, 2009 12:14 PM CDT

Oh absolutely...all the more reason to carry a gun. Im not just spouting either, take a look at Switzerland's gun policies and their violent crime rate. I think the funniest thing is the way the polarized wanna-be thinkers make broad generalizations, making them guilty of the mindsets they claim to be against. Like dax for instance.... here have a look, bit biased (whats not these days?) but illustrates the point nicely. Anyone else have more than just opinions and hot air? http://www.stephenhalbrook.com...

dax

Aug 24, 2009 5:22 AM CDT

Cato, if you have a substantive rebuttal (or not), this is the place to do it. That is what the 'comments' area is for. It is in fact, the Right that has eschewed "intelligent" debate on the issue of health care reform, instead allowing hyperbole and public drama from surrogates to serve as a substitute for discussion. If the Right is so concerned about the long term national budgetary consequences of health care reform, then let them divest themselves of their reliance on financial support from the insurance and healthcare conglomerates in this political skirmish, and start offering credible options on how this country can achieve (and afford) reform. It ain't gonna come from "health savings accounts" alone, and it ain't gonna come if 1 out of every 3 health care dollars is spend on administration and billing. Perhaps a majority of people in this country are currently happy with their medical plans, but the trajectory of costs shows that a catastrophe is looming larger. Wait until the health needs of the Boomers fully blossom over the next decade or two. This issue will hit the wall.

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Gun Nuts Firing Blanks in Power Play