THE NEW "KNOW NOTHINGS"

The folks now intent on dividing us into
true Americans and fake, or anti-Ameri-
cans remind me of the American Party
of the 1840s - 1850s. They were called by
their critics "The Know Nothings." That's
because they were instructed by their
leaders to answer when questioned by
outsiders about their beliefs or member-
ship, to say: "I know nothing."

This is what happens, essentially, when
"low information voters" are asked why
they think Obama is a Muslim, or a
Socialist, or won't salute the flag, etc. They
don't know what to say, so they mumble
and stumble, reluctant to admit they got
it from Rush or Fox Noise (who don't know
anymore than they do, which is nothing!)

The original Know Nothings were under-
educated (for the most part), and nativist
white protestants, strongly opposed to im-
migration because they feared we were be-
ing inundated and would be "taken over"
by Irish (and other) Catholics who would
turn the country over to a rule by the Pope.
They were the only "real Americans," they
claimed. They spread scurrilous stories
about supposed sexual activities between
priests and nuns.

The great fear being pedaled now by and to
the unknowing is of Muslims, terrorists,
and Socialists, all lumped together and
loathed in the way communists have been
in the past. It's an old game. Obama is not
"palling around with terrorists." That's a lie.
And Sen. McSame keeps defending it. He
(O.) is not (present tense) "palling" with any-
one subversive. He served, ten years ago,
on a board with a bunch of Republicans and
one now respected college professor who had
been a terrorist 40 years ago, and was honored
as "Chicagoan of the Year" in 1997! Why
does Palin not mention that, by the way?

So the old Know Nothings were the real Ameri-
cans, and Catholics weren't. The new Know
Nothings claim only they are real Americans
and Obama and his supporters aren't. A Minn.
Congresswoman said Obama "may have anti-
American views." Evidence? "I know nothing."
"But we had better be frightened."

"The liberals hate real Americans that work and
achieve and believe in God," said a Congressman
in N. C. Which implies that we libs don't work,
don't achieve, and don't believe in God. Like
Obama has done none of the above? And hates
real Americans? Come on. Try to make sense!

A TV interview lady in Florida asked Joe Biden
if Obama is a Marxist. She cited Obama's "spread
the wealth" quote. Biden thought she was kidding!
She wasn't. Her husband is the county leader for
Republicans. They are genuinely that ignorant!
Teddy Roosevelt embraced the "spread the wealth"
idea, recognizing that all taxes do that, in fact.
Ronald Reagan of all people, introduced the in-
come tax credit for working people who live below
the poverty line. He was justly proud of it. It's the
best thing he ever did domestically. Was he a
Marxist, lady TV person?

Gov. Palin ridiculed fruit-fly research as a waste
of time and money. ("I kid you not," she said.)
I learned 60 years ago in a freshman biology
class that fruit flies are the idea species for study-
ing genetics because they have such a short gen-
eration time (about 2 weeks), and high fecundity.
A female lays an egg every 30 minutes (like Palin)
and lays 800 in a lifetime. Fruit flies are to the
study of genetics (and other things) what rats and
mice are to the study of cancer. If Palins writers
had just Googled the subject they would have
known this. But Know Nothings are proud of
their ignorance! They are afraid of smart people.
Smart peopld might know something.

jgoodwin004@centurytel.net