Essential Estrogen

While surfing the tubes of the Internets, I happened across the blog of Iowa Republican Party official Ted Sporer and a post about what he describes as a "window" to the "inside" of Elizabeth Edwards and a "view of the true soul of the Democrat." Well, with such a lead-in as that you can't blame me for reading on.

Sporer links to a single news article from the Associated Press. As you might have guessed, I have a couple of problems with the article in question.

1. The article twice uses the phrase "rabid, rabid Republican" with quotations, but never attributes the phrase to anyone. (Did an audience member say it? Did Edwards say it? Did the journalist think it?)
2. Likewise, in the sixth paragraph, the author provides us with the word "slummy" in quotations and in relation to the neighbor's property. Once again this statement is not directly attributed to anyone. (It, like the other above, is loosely linked to Edwards - i.e., "Edwards views..")
3. There is no overall context. The reader has absolutely no idea where these remarks were made or to whom they were made. The photo on the page shows Edwards at a Town Hall meeting in Davenport on April 4, but the slugline on the article is dated today.

On the surface, it might seem that Sporer wants to bridge the great political divide and find some common ground away from all the bickering. Appearances can be deceiving. Sporer, arguably one of the most outspoken and controversial partisan pundits in the state of Iowa, has not pulled up his roots and remains firmly in character.

Sporer uses this article, with all of its journalistic flaws, as some sort of twisted defense for his own extreme partisan views. Further, he pushes those reading his post to "internalize" the conflict and use it as self-compass of approval for their own divisive politics.

It comes as no great surprise to anyone who hasn't been living in a cave for the past 100 years that American politics can be nasty. But to have a person who has himself used ugly politics to benefit his chosen party, point to a journalist's lack-luster and questionable job on the spouse of a Democratic presidential hopeful as proof of political nastiness against him and his noble ideals is the height of irony... and just flat out hysterical.

Cry me a river, Ted.