For far-right Republicans, when nothing else is working in the midst of a political campaign, they always seem to go back to the same thing: the good ol’ red scare.
Take Tom DeLay, for example. The former House Majority Leader took time away from his criminal defense — DeLay is currently facing felony counts of money laundering and conspiracy in Texas — to appear on right-wing talk-show host Mike Gallagher’s radio show yesterday. When the subject turned to the presidential campaign, the former exterminator went after Barack Obama: “I have said publicly, and I will again, that unless he proves me wrong, he is a Marxist.” Gallagher agreed, saying, “[T]hat’s what he is.”
GALLAGHER: Yeah, that’s, we hear that every day. Congressman, every day someone will say to me, and I’ve said it, it’s as if this were a guy who’s desperately trying to cover up what seems to be the kind of old school Marxist, radical liberal failed ideology.
DELAY: Absolutely.... No doubt about it.
There are a couple of angles to consider here. First, this is the same DeLay who, just a few months ago, lambasted John McCain for “betraying” the conservative movement. He said he’s prepared to “sit this [election] out” if McCain won the Republican nomination, and told Fox News, “There’s nothing redeeming about John McCain.” I guess he’s come around.
Second, the right gets pretty worked up when the left throws around the word “fascist.” Oddly enough, though, the ease with which they talk about red baiting appears effortless. In fact, conservatives do it all the time.
