Political Correctness Dominates 2008 Campaigning

THE NO-NO LIST

For Campaign 2008, PC Politics In Full Control







Remember when political correctness was merely a nuisance one had to endure while on a college campus? Beyond the ivory tower, this vile form of censorship and behavior modification was widely denounced.

It's enough to make a person nostalgic for the early 1990s. Today, however, the virus has spread nationwide, most notably to the 2008 election cycle.

As the year progresses, we've seen the No-No List grow, while the ranks of free speech defenders shrink with each new controversy.

For talk radio, bloggers, pundits and partisan campaigners, each addition to the off-limits list requires a mini- "re-education" about what is "appropriate" and what isn't.


Here's a (probably rather incomplete) scorecard:


Because of his ethnic background, it isn't okay to criticize Barack Obama, under penalty of being labeled a "racist". But Obama himself is free to wrongly blame talk hosts for inciting ethnic "hate crimes" without fear of a backlash.


It isn't okay to use Obama's full name (Barack Hussein Obama) because it implies he's a Muslim. Violating this rule will lead to quick denunciations from petrified Republican candidates.


Challenging or questioning the Obama family's patriotism is also unacceptable, even though they've given us plenty of reason to do so.


Confusing "Obama" with "Osama" is a cardinal sin, unless your name is Ted Kennedy.


Now that Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with cancer, it isn't okay to mention his past transgressions, which include killing a young woman with his car. In fact, that never happened.


Unless you're a power- hungry Massachusetts Democrat, it isn't okay to speculate on who might replace Ted K in the US Senate. And if he designates his own successor, which might be a family member, that is also beyond reproach. Otherwise, you're disrespecting a man with a terminal illness. This rule applies only to Republicans.


Radio talk show hosts in particular aren't to call any attention to Kennedy's past record. If they do, the Fairness Doctrine should be re-imposed in order to shut them down. In fact, all criticism is off- limits, even though the left openly celebrated the death of Ronald Reagan in 2004.


While critics must remain silent during the duration of Kennedy's illness, it's perfectly okay for Obama to shamelessly exploit the family "legacy" for the sake of November's election. Here's a sample:

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) - Filling in for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and tying himself to the family's legacy, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged college graduates Sunday to "make us believe again" by dedicating themselves to public service.

"We may disagree as Americans on certain issues and positions, but I believe we can be unified in service to a greater good. I intend to make it a cause of my presidency, and I believe with all my heart that this generation is ready and eager and up to the challenge," Obama told Wesleyan University's Class of 2008.

The Illinois senator peppered his speech with references to the Kennedy legacy: John F. Kennedy urging Americans to ask what they can do for their country, the Peace Corps and Robert Kennedy talking about people creating "ripples of hope."

He devoted special attention and praise to Edward M. Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts senator who had planned to deliver the graduation address but backed out last week after he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

There's little doubt we'll be adding many items to this list in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, have you got all of this straight?

Failure to comply could result in a one-way trip to a Chinese re-education camp. Who knew campus- style PC politics would eventually take over the entire country?


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