discussion on McCarthyism

[dannybin1742]

ok so i've posted this question on many other threads in the hopes that someone from the right would answer it, but anyone can comment on their thoughts

What is McCarthyism?

how did it arise?


how is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s?


i've read quite a bit on it (in high school and then in my own free time), and i'm just curious to what the other side thinks

 

[Red Dawn]

What side is that?

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
ok so i've posted this question on many other threads in the hopes that someone from the right would answer it, but anyone can comment on their thoughts

What is McCarthyism?

Mccarthyism
n. practice of accusing citizens of being Communist or disloyal without proof (named after Sen. Joseph McCarthy); policy of using accusations or personal investigation to restrict political opposition

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
how did it arise?

how is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s?

I've noticed that more than a few suppors of Bush and/ or the Iraq war are quick to accuse opponents of a lack of patriotism, or even that they are traitors. It's a way of neutralizing political opposition by questioning the integrity of your opponent. I also think the gay marriage panic that appears to be sweeping the US definitely has the air of a witch hunt. It's about people with vague, undefined fears choosing to pin those fears on a scapegoat, be it communists or homosexuals.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

/thread

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
ok so i've posted this question on many other threads in the hopes that someone from the right would answer it, but anyone can comment on their thoughts

What is McCarthyism?

Mccarthyism
n. practice of accusing citizens of being Communist or disloyal without proof (named after Sen. Joseph McCarthy); policy of using accusations or personal investigation to restrict political opposition

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
how did it arise?

how is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s?

I've noticed that more than a few suppors of Bush and/ or the Iraq war are quick to accuse opponents of a lack of patriotism, or even that they are traitors. It's a way of neutralizing political opposition by questioning the integrity of your opponent. I also think the gay marriage panic that appears to be sweeping the US definitely has the air of a witch hunt. It's about people with vague, undefined fears choosing to pin those fears on a scapegoat, be it communists or homosexuals.

Spot on :thumbsup:

Viva La Bigots

 

[cKGunslinger]

What are you asking? If you've "read quite a bit on it," shouldn't you already know what it is and how it arose?

Can you find traces of McCarthyism or witch-hunt mentality in "today's social climate?" Sure. (I assume you are referring to the "war on terrorism.") Does it appear to be anywhere near as pervasive and/or illegal as the red scare of the 50s? Not at all. And we all, as citizens, need to make sure it never escalates to that point. The PATRIOT Act was a step in the wrong direction - one that needs to be righted soon. We should always be alert, but there's not need for panic.. yet.


And this whole thread reeks of "I need some material for my 10th grade paper."

 

[cwjerome]

"hopes that someone from the right would answer it"

What is McCarthyism? Spreading lies and disinformation about people through inuendo and baseless claims.

How did it arise? From a disturbed, corrupt politician who was seeking maximum exposure.

How is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s? Too numerous to list?

 

[CaptnKirk]

McCarthyism

 

[frankie38]

Maccarthy was an abused child

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
I've noticed that more than a few suppors of Bush and/ or the Iraq war are quick to accuse opponents of a lack of patriotism, or even that they are traitors. It's a way of neutralizing political opposition by questioning the integrity of your opponent. I also think the gay marriage panic that appears to be sweeping the US definitely has the air of a witch hunt. It's about people with vague, undefined fears choosing to pin those fears on a scapegoat, be it communists or homosexuals.

It's like how some on the Left try to neutralize debate on issues like affirmative action - if you're not for quotas, you're racist!! All sides draw from the McCarthy playbook.

 

[kaizersose]

the odd part about mccarthyism is that the US govt. was completely infiltrated by soviet spies. however, almost none of the people mccarthy fingered were involved. kind of ironic.

great read: "the sword and the shield". gives the soviet intelligence community perspective on the issue.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

I've noticed that more than a few suppors of Bush and/ or the Iraq war are quick to accuse opponents of a lack of patriotism, or even that they are traitors.

Or is it more likely that you are projecting? Yeah, I think so. This whole they "accused me of lack of patriotism" canard is hilarious. Support America, support our troops and there will be no hint of it. But alas some of you go off on wild anti-american tangents and then whine when people hit you on it. Calling your anti-american tripe - anti-american is not a swipe at you personally(or you patriotism), it's just calling tripe - tripe.

Directly about the OP:
Two Cheers for ?McCarthyism??
That might explain a few things...but I'm not holding my breath that the people who frequent this place will actually read AND understand what is being said - much less stop trotting out the McCarthy canard.

Oh and unless you think people are being accused of being terrorists - even your canard fails the similarity test. But hey, you can think what you wish...

CsG

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Oh and unless you think people are being accused of being terrorists - even your canard fails the similarity test. But hey, you can think what you wish...

CsG

like these Freepers?

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:_3...posts+%22kerry+is+a+terrorist%22&hl=en

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Directly about the OP:
Two Cheers for ?McCarthyism??
That might explain a few things...but I'm not holding my breath that the people who frequent this place will actually read AND understand what is being said - much less stop trotting out the McCarthy canard.
CsG

I read AND understood the article. Jonah Goldberg's central point was that McCarthy (though a "jerk"), was "right" because (guess what?) "there were hundreds of Communists working for Moscow, directly or indirectly, in the United States during the Roosevelt and Truman administrations."

Notice how conveniently Goldberg completely avoids the central issue that was so troublesome about McCarthyism then and as an intrinsic part of this Adminstation's practices in the "War Against Terrorism", namely, that individual liberties were/are trampled in the name of pursuing the bad guys.

Senator McCarthy and his followers conveniently ignored our constitutionally protected freedom of association just as this Adminstration tries to justify ignoring due process.

The fact that there are indeed terrorists in our midst (and does anyone really doubt that that's the case?) is completely irrelevant to the question of whether the government can lock people up (let alone torture them [and let's not get into the right's absurd little game of trying to define "torture" into meaninglessness]) without justifying it's actions in court, subject to challenge by those it wishes to deprive of their liberty.

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Or is it more likely that you are projecting? Yeah, I think so. This whole they "accused me of lack of patriotism" canard is hilarious. Support America, support our troops and there will be no hint of it. But alas some of you go off on wild anti-american tangents and then whine when people hit you on it. Calling your anti-american tripe - anti-american is not a swipe at you personally(or you patriotism), it's just calling tripe - tripe.
CsG

Exactly. only unpatriotic scum would dare speak ill of the infallable US. The ideals of this nation are one with the actions of those who lead it. If you attack the actions of anyone within the american government, then you might as well be dirty sanchezing lady liberty herself.

 

[Hecubus2000]

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
ok so i've posted this question on many other threads in the hopes that someone from the right would answer it, but anyone can comment on their thoughts

What is McCarthyism?

how did it arise?


how is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s?


i've read quite a bit on it (in high school and then in my own free time), and i'm just curious to what the other side thinks

Write your own paper.

 

[cwjerome]

McCarthy was a stupid, troubled person and although his methods were deeply flawed there were problems with communists. So he was twice as bad because he used witch-hunt tactics and in doing so damaged the real and practical issue of communist conspiracy.

I'd have to say though that anyone who seriously uses a "McCarthyism" argument against the Right today is a moron who is probably practicing what they supposedly preach against. The level of unsubstantiated and unfair congressional investigations today isn't even in the same galaxy as what Joseph McCarthy was doing in the 1950s. Besides, the Left is just as guilty as creating scapegoats, boogeymans, and promoting malicious attacks on "types" of people as anyone else is today.

 

[Genx87]

Blame this one on me. I asked him to start a thread because he was crapping SS thread #45847467 this morning about McCarthyism.

What is McCarthyism?

A scared man who used the common threat of communism to scare avg people and create a name for himself. He also conducted witch hunts and what I can see made false statements against innocent people

how did it arise?

From the fear the communists were on the verge of taking over the world and infiltrating this country. The 50s was a much different time than the 80s. Back then nobody really knew where communism was headed and when it would stop spreading. And the whole Soviets stealing our prize nuclear secrets didnt help the hysteria.

how is today's social climate any different from McCArthyism and the Red scares of the 50s?

Vastly, I dont see congress hauling in Hollywood and making accusations which essentially destroyed their careers. Quite the opposite really. I see congress hauling in members of the govt to grill over this war.

I do thank you for making this thread and not continuing in the SS thread.

 

[daveshel]

McCarthy and Bush have both exploited fear for political gain, but the similarities don't go a heck if a lot further. In the longrun, the mastery of propaganda and the shredding of constitutional protections by Bush & Co will greatly overshadow anything McCarthy did.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Oh and unless you think people are being accused of being terrorists - even your canard fails the similarity test. But hey, you can think what you wish...

CsG

like these Freepers?

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:_3...posts+%22kerry+is+a+terrorist%22&hl=en

UH - how exactly does your link show a "terrorist - McCarthy" scenario? Oh, that's right - it doesn't. It's just a link to an internet forum where people were talking about a poll and voiced their opinions.

Nice try conjur.:roll:

CsG

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Oh and unless you think people are being accused of being terrorists - even your canard fails the similarity test. But hey, you can think what you wish...

CsG

like these Freepers?

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:_3...posts+%22kerry+is+a+terrorist%22&hl=en

UH - how exactly does your link show a "terrorist - McCarthy" scenario? Oh, that's right - it doesn't. It's just a link to an internet forum where people were talking about a poll and voiced their opinions.

Nice try conjur.:roll:

CsG

I fail to see where you qualified your statement. You're just trying to back out of a statement that you made. Your typical m.o.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Oh and unless you think people are being accused of being terrorists - even your canard fails the similarity test. But hey, you can think what you wish...

CsG

like these Freepers?

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:_3...posts+%22kerry+is+a+terrorist%22&hl=en

UH - how exactly does your link show a "terrorist - McCarthy" scenario? Oh, that's right - it doesn't. It's just a link to an internet forum where people were talking about a poll and voiced their opinions.

Nice try conjur.:roll:

CsG

I fail to see where you qualified your statement. You're just trying to back out of a statement that you made. Your typical m.o.

No, there is no backing away from anything. Your link has nothing to do with "McCarthyism" of terrorists. It's about a freaking poll that people opined on. Who is being hunted down as a terrorist? Sheesh conjur - get a grip.

CsG

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Or is it more likely that you are projecting? Yeah, I think so. This whole they "accused me of lack of patriotism" canard is hilarious. Support America, support our troops and there will be no hint of it. But alas some of you go off on wild anti-american tangents and then whine when people hit you on it. Calling your anti-american tripe - anti-american is not a swipe at you personally(or you patriotism), it's just calling tripe - tripe.

Ahhh, yes the old lock-step with us, or else face the consequences. :roll:

And coming from the individual who has used the phrases "Anti-American" and "feeding the hate" more than anyone else on P&N concerning anyone who diverges from the "America is Great" mantra is especially hilarious.

 

[dannybin1742]

now that i'm back from work

What are you asking? If you've "read quite a bit on it," shouldn't you already know what it is and how it arose?

Can you find traces of McCarthyism or witch-hunt mentality in "today's social climate?" Sure. (I assume you are referring to the "war on terrorism.") Does it appear to be anywhere near as pervasive and/or illegal as the red scare of the 50s? Not at all. And we all, as citizens, need to make sure it never escalates to that point. The PATRIOT Act was a step in the wrong direction - one that needs to be righted soon. We should always be alert, but there's not need for panic.. yet.


And this whole thread reeks of "I need some material for my 10th grade paper."

i'm merely looking for input on the subject, no need to get personal (although i may somtimes in other threads)

i was just curious as to what people from the right though of McCarthyism and communism vs bush admin/terrorism

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: daveshel
McCarthy and Bush have both exploited fear for political gain, but the similarities don't go a heck if a lot further.

In the longrun, the mastery of propaganda and the shredding of constitutional protections by Bush & Co will greatly overshadow anything McCarthy did.

That's for sure.

At least most reasonable folks recognized the horror McCarthy represented back then and his agenda quickly failed, that is not the case with Bush as evident by the General Election and the rabid supporters in here. Sad