Posted by
The Proud Liberal on Friday, September 21, 2007 8:53:29 AM
It's not true that Democrats and Liberals want to see themselves or others killed by terrorists, our country invaded or appeasing anybody. Conservatives use a couple of different surrogates that must be scrutinized in order to arrive at the "weak on defense" mantra.
The first surrogate is funding or spending money. Conservatives believe in throwing tax payers money at the military in order to bolster their image of being "strong on defense." Any weapons system, no matter whether its any good or needed must be funded. The American taxpayer is even providing welfare to Trent Lotts district to build a battle ship that the navy keeps insisting it doesn't want or need. So if a Democrat opposes any weapons system for any reason, even cost benefit analysis or skepticism about the effectiveness or need of the system conservatives will cynically, manipulatively and dishonestly accuse them of being "soft on defense."
The second surrogate is tough, warlike talk, the willingness to shed blood, perferably foreign blood, but also our blood. It makes no difference to conservatives if our proposed actions are immoral or satisfactory outcomes could be accomplished through other means, Brand Conservative must rattle the sabres and proclaim the Brand is "tough on defense," cynically, manipulatively and dishonestly branding anyone who is not in favor of shedding foreigners' blood as "weak on defense."
This brand management is deceitful, but that gets taken care of by the other part of the conservative brand, that they are the moral and honest party.