GOP Rep. Bob Inglis slams Republicans for being led by hate radio, ‘preying on fears.’

[cal04]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/07/09/inglis-preying-fears/


Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), who lost recently in his primary run-off for the Republican nomination to keep his seat in Congress, is speaking out about the influence of hate radio and right-wing fear mongering in the Republican Party. In an interview with the AP, Inglis called out reactionaries like Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck for spreading “demagoguery” and hatred in society:

– Noting that Palin had spread the “death panel” smear, Inglis said, “there were no death panels in the bill…and to encourage that kind of fear is just the lowest form of political leadership.”

– Inglis slammed GOP leaders for following hate radio talkers, rather than leading on principle: “I think we have a lot of leaders that are following those (television and talk radio) personalities and not leading <...> What it takes to lead is to say, ‘You know, that’s just not right.”

– Inglis on the right-wing’s effort to divide America: “It’s a real concern, because I think what we’re doing is dividing the country into partisan camps that really look a lot like Shia and Sunni. It’s very difficult to come together to find solutions.”

– Although Inglis did not hear the racial slurs hurled at Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) at a tea party protest on Capitol Hill during the health reform vote, he did see threatening and abusive behavior. “I caught him at the door and said, ‘John, I guess you’ve been here before,’” said Inglis, referring to Lewis’ role in the Civil Rights movement.

Like Inglis, Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) lost his GOP primary, despite a similarly conservative voting record. Bennett later slammed the GOP for being held captive to far right-tea parties and Fox News, noting, “I find plenty of slogans on the Republican side, but not very many ideas.” Inglis, who stood out as one of the only Republican lawmakers to publicly criticize Glenn Beck, warned that voters eventually will discover that the GOP is “preying on their fears” and turn away.


GOP leaders let demagogues set tone, lawmaker says
(snip)
Inglis' refusal to join in on the Obama-bashing of the far right played a big role in his landslide defeat on June 22. Leading up to the election, he frequently challenged voters who questioned the president's citizenship or patriotism. At one town hall meeting, he was jeered for saying that Beck, a Fox News Channel host, is a divisive fearmonger.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/07/09/gop_leaders_let_demagogues_set_tone_lawmaker_says/

[Stuart G]

1. Thanks for posting this....K and R

[DCBob]

2. I guarantee there are alot more mainstream GOpers who feel exaclty this way but are afraid..

to speak out for fear of inciting the wrath of the teabaggers, Limbaugh, Beck etc. The Democrats need to figure how to capitalize and exploit this Republican delema.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. I am impressed that Inglis spoke out against the crazy Right During his primary campaign

... rather than stay silent while he tried to hold onto his seat and only speak up after he lost. I am also appreciative that he reached out to Rep. Lewis after that ugly incident. I know nothing about him really but these are indications of a man with personal integrity. I wish there were more Republican politicians like him.

[burnsei sensei]

4. Brave man.

I hope more of them can speak out. They've got an ideological platform to stand on, they just haven't bothered to use it against these pretenders in their party.
Pretenders like Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann et al.

[NNN0LHI]

5. This is what we would call a DLC sellout for not goosestepping to the party line if he was a Dem

And then we would primary him out of office. Just like the Rethugs did to this guy for daring to take a stand not in line with his party.

But because he is a Republican and not going along with everything his party wants him to do some consider him a hero.

Crazy world, isn't it?

Don

[katandmoon]

7. It's crazy only if you put party instead of ideals above everything.

[katandmoon]

6. Wow...good for him. K&R

[Lochloosa]

8. A little late. For him and the repug party.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. For the Party, sadly yes. But he seems to have displayed integrity

before he lost his primary, loosing in large part because of that integrity. I salute him for that.

[Lochloosa]

12. Ok. I'll give him that.

[blindpig]

10. He's an odd sort of asshole

Mostly crazy as a bedbug but once in a while he sez something half way sensible, ie, light rail.

The civil war in the GOP is cranking up.

[Winterblues]

11. A smart Democrat running for re-election would use this in Compaign Ads.

Hammer it home by using a Republican to combat Republican wing nuts. This guys words should be on the radio every hour on the hour (in every state) for the next four months..

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

:thumbsup: