Fear: The Wedge Issue For All Political Seasons

February 10, 2010  |  Posted by Danielle Belton

The Senate Minority Leader has picked his poison.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, quite proudly, told Politico that Republicans would be using national security as the issue du jour -- namely the Obama Administration's efforts to try terrorism suspects in civil court -- as a wedge to drive Democrats apart and secure victory for Republicans.

Replicating his pattern of relentless, blistering speeches against President Barack Obama’s health care proposal and his plan to shutter the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, McConnell has begun attacking Obama’s plan to try terrorism suspects in civilian courts — and he’s taking aim directly at Attorney General Eric Holder.

“The core question is whether the attorney general of the United States ought to be in charge of the war on terror,” McConnell said. “And the answer is no.”

McConnell hopes moderate Democrats will join Republicans in blocking funding for any civilian trials of terrorism suspects — a would-be GOP victory the party’s candidates could trumpet on the campaign trail throughout this election year.

Once again, McConnell and conservatives aren't offering better ideas or new solutions to our woes. Their goals are steeped in political expediency.

It's funny that McConnell would announce this as the official strategy. Most of us could have swore that this has been the GOP's point of attack for years now -- calling Democrats weak on National Security. Tackling that political football must be fun, so much more fun than making the real tough decisions about governing. McConnell would prefer to play politics and position Republicans as the "Party of No" rather than have a constructive debate on national security. Meaning? Attacking law enforcement will continue to be a hallmark of the conservative strategy to defeat Democrats. Anything for a vote even at the expense of FBI, which according to reports from the New York Times has actually had some success in their questioning of the "Mirandized," would-be Christmas Day underwear bomber. It doesn't matter that we already have more than 300 terrorists in our prisons, that 195 terrorists have been prosecuted and convicted in civil courts (compared to that FANTASTIC number of three military tribunals have prosecuted). Following the law doesn't matter. Supporting our law enforcement who fight terrorism doesn't matter. Votes matter. Polls matter. And McConnell has found himself a hot button issue that he's going to press over and over until election results fall out like Casino tokens.

From Politico:

McConnell seems to sense that keeping his party united against controversial elements of the Democratic agenda could be his key to success this year — even if the political dynamic shifts in the next nine months.

“Would I love to have the election tomorrow? I sure would,” McConnell said. “Early signs are that this could be a good year, but we have a long way to go.”

A good year! Unless, you know, you actually care about national security and want to make America safe by acting smarter, rather than being loud and reactionary, screaming the sky is falling at every turn just to see the public jump. But it works to stimulate the base -- the base being the trembling mass of bed-wetting, "tea" aficionados with their fear of any variation of National Security Word Salad -- Kenya? Muslim? Black helicopters? Immigrant!?! SAVE ME, MITCH MCCONNELL!

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