Republicans: The Dark Story Behind Their “Unity”

Since most Americans think we need to get out of Iraq ASAP, you'd think this would be a no-brainer for Congress. Regardless of political party, it seems like political suicide to vote for staying in Iraq and digging ourselves deeper and deeper into Iraqmire.

You’ve gotta admire the Republicans’ unity. Whenever the Most Unpopular President Ever says “Jump!” his little congressional automatons keep saying “how high sir?!”

Is it unity, or is it more like a bunch of Brownshirts marching in lockstep?

A Republican Congressman from Maryland, Wayne Gilchrest, voted in favor of troop withdrawal. Gilchrest is a former Marine and a Vietnam veteran. But that didn’t stop some of the prominent chickenhawks in his district from lashing out at him at town hall meetings, calling him a coward and a traitor.

Bob Inglis (R—S. Carolina) also voted for the withdrawal timetable. Local GOP officials threatened him with a primary challenge.

Maybe these furious reactions were just spontaneous outpourings by concerned citizens. Or maybe they were the well-organized movements of a desperate Inner Party, clinging to its failed agenda. I suspect the latter.

Where does “unity” end and extortion begin? This sounds less like political activism and more like a bunch of Mafia goons springing into action when Big Vinnie orders a hit.