Reply #11: There is a lesson to be learned here

[bluestateguy]

Republicans say what they mean and don't back down when people call them out on it. Rove didn't apologize for his remarks about our side, Santorum did not apologize for what he said about gays, and Tommy Tan won't apologize either. Tancredo knows that a forced apology will do him no good. Come on folks, be honest. Would we all just say that everything is fine now if Tancredo apologized? No, we wouldn't. We would continue to beat up on him and what he said, because we all know what his true feelings are. He knows it, and most Republicans know it. When Trent Lott was forced to apologize for his racist comments it still did him no good and he lost his job anyway.

Republicans stick to their guns when they say sharp-tongued things, even if it pisses off a lot of people. Meanwhile, everytime a Democrat says something hard-hitting or inflammatory the right just cranks up their echo machine until he apologizes, which makes all of us who defended him look foolish, and we are left holding the bag. Then of course, the right wingers continue to beat up on the speaker even after their forced apology (which is usually written by some staffer). The consequence for this is that Republicans look strong and come across as having resolve, while Democrats come across as vacillating and unable to stand on principle. Americans respect that even if they don't agree with what the speaker is saying.

"Tough things are said. And we should not shy away from saying things that need to be said."

I couldn't agree more.