Flaunting Values by Twisting the Vernacular
11 Sep 2005
A Los Angeles Times headline caught my eye this morning, “Democrats See Chance To Flaunt Values.” Democrats flaunting values is like Hugh Hefner flaunting modesty. This is not to say that Republicans are paragons of virtue. It is to say, however, that unlike Democrats, Republicans are not proponents of abortion on demand, the profaning of our culture, and same-sex marriage. How, one wonders, can Democrats flaunt values when their political stances necessitate that they have none.
According to Lanny Davis, former legal counsel for President Clinton, this week’s confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts will provide Democrats with an opportunity to showcase their values and ideas. Davis warns, however, that Democrats must be careful as to how they voice their values. For instance, they should not talk about their belief in a woman’s right to an abortion, but only about their belief in a woman’s right to privacy. In other words, Democrats should utilize twisted vernacular to conceal their lack of any true values.
This ploy, right out of the Clinton playbook, could be used by anyone to flaunt values. A murderer could talk about his efforts to reduce the earth’s surplus population. An arsonist could talk about his efforts to end urban sprawl. A poacher could talk about his love for the great outdoors. And even a President, like Bill Clinton, could explain away his lying to the American people and suborning of perjury as a Herculean effort on his part to protect the private lives of all future Oval Office occupants.
In the end, I’m afraid anyone can flaunt values today, even people who don’t have any. All they need is the right talking points.
Don Waton
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