The New McCarthyism

It's been a long time since we last heard talk of un-American activitites. But thanks to the retro sensibilities of America's favorite lipstick-wearing pitbull, it's back. (Palin does seem to love anachronisms and seems bent on reviving all sorts of out-of-date fashions, from beehive hairdos to coat hanger abortions.) During a recent rally in North Carolina, Sarah Palin said, "We believe, we believe that the best of America is in the small towns that we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation."

This comment was mocked in a Tina Fey parody last night on Saturday Night Live. But instead of distancing themselves from it, the GOP has embraced it. In fact, Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) has taken the ball and is running with it, urging that there be an investigation into the un-Americanism of congress members: "The news media should do a penetrating exposé and take a look. I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?"

Just when I think that the GOP has exhausted my capacity for outrage, they outdo themselves. The upside is that this kind of nonsense reeks through and through of desperation, and will probably only succeed in driving more thinking conservatives and independents away from the party. (Expect more defections in the near future.)