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06/09/2015
Maggie Gallagher's familiar 'victim' psychodrama
The article in question features quotes and recollections from a couple of actual Baltimore residents, both onetime fans of conservative darling Ben Carson. These residents use words like "disappointed" and "disconnected" and "sell-out" to describe what they say is a growing consensus among fellow African Americans who once considered Carson a hero. And even Michael Steele, the Republican pundit, former Maryland governor, and former head of the RNC, said that he wondered why Carson would want to "muck up" his legacy with politics.
However, the article is from the left-leaning MSNBC, and social conservatives like Maggie Gallagher do little else other than play "victim" these days. So here's what the anti-gay activist says about the piece and its impact on her fellow traveler:
In the Left’s familiar shaming psychodrama, MSNBC is saying his criticism of Pres. Obama and his socially conservative views on homosexuality, marriage, and abortion have knocked him off his pedestal. His achievements apparently are no longer inspiring.
FULL: Dr. Carson Is a Black Icon in Baltimore [Pulse]
Go read the MSNBC article yourself. No one says that Carson is not inspiring. On the contrary, all interviewed in the piece make it clear that his life story inspired them and everyone else they now. His inspiring nature is the basis for the piece.
And there is also no "shaming." Instead, there's befuddlement, and/or annoyance. Those interviewed feel that a man they thought they knew so well has turned a new corner that is both surprising and disappointing to them and many of their community members. And all of these feelings are based on the clear, public recorded, perfectly tangible (and Google-able) things that Ben Carson has said and done since he decided to become a socially conservative politician and Fox News pundit.
But nowadays, this "they're out to get us" schtick is how folks like Maggie talk about everything involving their cause or their players. According to pundits like Gallagher, no one on their side ever does anything to earn the reputation that has come his or her way. Also, even when the criticism is focused and properly directed, they oversell it as harsher and more nuclear than it is (e.g. "His achievements apparently are no longer inspiring."). And of course they, ironically enough, remain on an ever-quest to shame those who dare form an opinion about or push back against a public man like Carson and his public words and actions. They claim to be "silenced" by liberals, yet theirs is a day-in, day-out attempt to silence any and all scrutiny of conservatives and their agendas.
Look, Ben Carson has said some truly shocking things. Almost no one in American politics would debate that. If Maggie Gallagher enjoys said bits o' shock, then she can and should stand by them. Vote for them, even. That is how you "do politics." But this whole thing of making people feel bad, and making outlets look negligently partisan, for simply noting legitimate controversies and giving voice to those who stand in opposition? It's an unbelievably tedious development. It also seems like a really draining way to go through life.
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