The state Democratic chairman is sorry about the anti-Christian fish magnet the Washington state Democrats were, briefly, offering for sale.
The item — a magnetic version of the fish, emblazoned with flames and the word "Hypocrite" alongside a cross — appeared last week on the Democrats' Web site. It was displayed along with other political-message magnets, bumper stickers and buttons that the party sells.
State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said he first found out about the hypocrite fish posting on Friday when someone from KIRO radio called to ask him to go on the air to give an explanation.
"The moment I became aware of it, I insisted it be taken down," Berendt said Tuesday. "I'm sorry if anyone was offended. It's embarrassing."
He's sorry if anyone was offended, but not sorry enough to put up an apology on the Democrats' web site, or to even to apologize directly to those offended. Nor does he mention any discipline for the Democrat who put this up, not even a reprimand. The cynical will suspect that Berendt is truly sorry — sorry he got caught.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
(The Democrats' calendar shows an interesting ambivalence on the Christmas/holiday problem. If I read it correctly, the Pierce County Democrats are having separate holiday and Christmas parties — in the same place and at almost the same time. Not sure how that works.
Finally, though it has been many years since I donated to a Democratic candidate, I would be happy to give the Washington state Democrats an apostrophe.)
Posted by Jim Miller at December 14, 2005 06:51 AM | Email ThisI'll tell him, "Hey Paul, look, I don't care if Jesus would forgive. Jim Miller wants this sinner burned at the stake. So get right on it."
But wait. I should check first. Do you want this heretic drawn and quartered first, like back in the good old days of the Inquisition? Is that a "Christian" enough remedy for you?
Have a Merry Christmas, Jim. Peace on earth and goodwill toward all men, and all that.
Posted by: Ivan on December 14, 2005 07:51 AMUnfortunately, the loony left (I'm looking at you, Ivan) just won't play along.
Which is why the Republicans are going to keep winning nationally even though they don't deserve to.
Posted by: ScottM on December 14, 2005 08:01 AM"Berendt said he wasn't sure what the fish symbol is supposed to mean but said he thinks it is aimed at "people who claim to be pro-life but are for the death penalty."
Posted by: sgmmac on December 14, 2005 08:32 AMYou ought to read the RadioEqualizer (aka Brian Maloney) concerning a nitwit named Seder from Airhead America. It is posted today.
It was a discussion on the War on Christmas and he used stupid stuff in his rants. Worth the read.
Ivan, this could be you.
Posted by: swatter on December 14, 2005 08:46 AMThis site has made a fraudulent posting using my name please remove it ASAP.
Posted by: Paul Berendt on December 14, 2005 08:48 AMThey claim to be the "politically correct" inclusive party open to all. All but Christians.
Let's think about this a bit. Democrats have lost the US Senate. They lost the US House. They lost the Presidency. Parts of Washington are a last bastion of Democratic Party stength. Democrats and many here in Washington are out of touch with the majority of what American's think. Democrats control very urban, very pro-organized labor, very government employees union dominated areas.
The democratic party on a national basis is dying and they know it. As a result they are lashing out at anything and everything that they think will benfit them. They lash out at President Bush their arch-enemy. They lash out at talk show hosts who point out their stupidity to the public. They lash out a Christians who expose their lack of moral character. They lash out at the military. They lash out middle class Americans who vote against them.
There is a 12 step program that the Democratic Party needs to adopt and the first step is to admit that they have a problem. Paul B's lack of apology just means that the problem will continue and that they have no hope of curing their problem. That is just fine with me.
Posted by: Bob on December 14, 2005 08:49 AMBob, if the Democrat party is doing so poorly, why does Zogby say 48% of the people will be voting Democrat in the midterms? Why do internal polls show several R reps. in serious trouble?
The "unchallenged" D mantra against the booming economy and the successful Iraq operation is paying dividends. I don't know why Bush took so long to fight back with the truth but he has and things should change a little.
So, my point to you, don't get too confident about the demise of the D party. They keep sucking people in with misinformation and you have to stay viligant, very viligant.
Posted by: swatter on December 14, 2005 09:06 AMThe left are always out to get people that disagree with their causes fired, to send everyone else to sensitivity training, and make a big deal about silly things. The hypocracy is when a wimpy apology is good enough for a lefty that could be interpreted to maybe offend a conservative point of view.
Personally I don't care if that is how the Dems want to portray themselves, just as I don't care if someone wants to have a Christmas display or schools having Christmas break, or if a bunch of cops make a stupid spoof film making fun of the steroetypes.
Posted by: fred on December 14, 2005 09:10 AMThanks for reading us, Paul! You want to see some really offensive stuff, go over to HA.
By the way: click post once, and wait.
Posted by: starboardhelm on December 14, 2005 09:18 AMIf you can't stand the heat, stay away from the burning hypocrite fish. Now that I know where to buy one , I think I will, and proudly display it next to my "support our troops" magnet. You are such un-Christian hypocrites.
Posted by: Winston Smith on December 14, 2005 09:19 AMThe Volokh site has some fine advice for commenters. Here's how it begins:
"We're trying something new here, perhaps quixotic but I hope useful. We'd like the posts to be civil, of course (no profanity, personal insults, and the like), but we're also hoping that people try to be as calm, reasoned, and substantive as possible."
Let me suggest that you read the whole thing, if you have not already.
I would recommend their advice for everyone, and will happily admit that I have not always met their criteria myself.
And one thought for Ivan: I hope he will read my earlier posts (at my own site) on this subject. I dislike the intolerance shown in that fish because I think it is bad for the nation -- even though it has often benefitted the Republican party.
Posted by: Jim Miller on December 14, 2005 09:26 AM
The two parties are not exactly at the same time. The Christmas party is 6 to 8 and the "holiday" party is 6:30 to 9. If they are held in the same space, the Christmas party will actually only be from 6:00 to 6:30, at which point any Christmas-related decorations will be torn down and all signage will be flipped over to read "Happy Festivus!" [see Wikipedia & Seinfeld]
Also, the holiday (Festivus?) party requires a food item donation and it appears a $20 payment. Both parties, unfortunately, have to listen to Dave Ross.
Posted by: Mark on December 14, 2005 09:34 AM"If you can't stand the heat, stay away from the burning hypocrite fish. Now that I know where to buy one , I think I will, and proudly display it next to my "support our troops" magnet. You are such un-Christian hypocrites."
O-o-o-k-a-y...thanks for the information about the mote. Would you like us to do something about that beam sticking out there, buddy?
I didn't like the fish either. It shouldn't have been on the Web site and Paul was right to have it removed. But unlike you, I consider his apology, such as it was, adequate.
Posted by: Ivan on December 14, 2005 09:48 AMThe fact that it appeared at all on the Rats' site is illustrative of the world view of lefties. Personally, Berendt's apology or lack of one is of no consequence. Both hold equal value.
Posted by: Danny on December 14, 2005 10:02 AMBS, neither party spends one dime on printing without prior approval of the party chairman. This is especailly true, if the item is going to be for sale. To say that he did not know, is like saying Bill Clinton did not know about a certain blue dress.
Posted by: Mike P on December 14, 2005 10:04 AMThere is a huge flaw in your arguement... Jesus forgave, but only those who were actually sorry for their sins, not just sorry they were caught. So the relevant question is, is Berendt sorry the offensive sticker was put up because it was offensive and insulted a lot of people? Or is he simply sorry because it was embarrasing for the Dems?
The cynical will suspect that Berendt is truly sorry — sorry he got caught.
I guess this makes me a cynic.
Posted by: Mike H on December 14, 2005 10:13 AMThere's never been a bigger actor with the crocodile tears, "I'm truly sorry" routine than Berendt.
I could care less about the fish magnet, it's the repreated calls to hatred and irrationality instead of reasoned debate that are the biggest faults of the Democrat party.
The Democrats have become the party that would rather argue using Molotov coktails and vandalism than offer their arguments to the marketplace of ideas. That's because their ideas don't sell, so the only way to spread them is to use force.
Posted by: Jeff B. on December 14, 2005 10:15 AMExcellent. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your car or truck.
Posted by: jimg on December 14, 2005 10:23 AMtheir claims not to be anti religious ring hollow. Only religions they like are atheiesm and islam
Posted by: righton on December 14, 2005 10:44 AMSorry, Paul, that I just really missed the whole point of the fish! Silly, silly me!
Posted by: Yah right on December 14, 2005 10:47 AMPaul, I, for one, am sorry someone impersonated you when commenting here today and you found it offensive, even though other public figures are impersonated for the purpose of satire here, and on other blogs, all the time.
I'm sorry because the comment was really funny, a satirical 'translation' of your non-apology for the fish sticker, and if the person had not used a name too similar to yours as a handle, or if you hadn't seen it and got all bent, then it would still be there for me to enjoy.
Maybe that person could repost it under a different name, and with a bunch of disclaimers and warnings and such? (hint, hint)
I'm sorry if this apology seems to you like a non-apology . . . but see how unsatisfying it is?
I only used your name because it is obvious from the signature on these posts who actually posted! Do you need blog comment lessons?
I'm glad to see that you read this blog. Too bad you don't read your own web site.
Posted by: Janet S on December 14, 2005 11:09 AMAnd he ended the conversation by saying, "the only thing missing is the swastika for eyes".
Posted by: swatter on December 14, 2005 01:31 PMJim, that's EXACTLY what Mr. Cynical thinks!!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 14, 2005 01:43 PMHmmmmmmm....sounds like Paul has sensitive rabbit ears. I think he is playing for the "sympathy card". Berendt offends the vast majority of his State and his own Political Party.....and now wants folks to feel badly for him???
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 14, 2005 01:51 PMYou incorrectly assume that the local Dems produce the magnets sold on their Website. In actuality, all of the magnets they sell (including the fish no longer there) are available elsewhere on the Internet, and are obviously mass-produced and distributed commercially.
(Just check your assumptions before making an argument, neh?)
Posted by: Patrick on December 14, 2005 02:43 PMThey are, in fact, made by a comapny in Mt Vernon called Reefer Magnets that primarily makes (suprise) pro-weed stuff.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002682385_fish14m.html
Posted by: Mike H on December 14, 2005 02:54 PMTell that to the families of innocent victims who were murdered by death row inmates who are usually given decades to prove their innocence.
But I guess to someone who doesn't understand innocence and justice it's difficult to see the difference.
Posted by: JB on December 14, 2005 03:38 PMThis statement lacks logic. What do you imply he was hoping to get away with, selling it anonymously? It was on the party website and the stickers were meant for public display. There is no indication that Berendt personally approved the item, and as soon as he heard about it, he removed it. What's the big deal?
Posted by: Bruce on December 14, 2005 03:44 PMOh, I get it Patprick. So that makes it ok because the CLOWNS didn't actually manufacture them. I get it. The problem Sir CLOWN is the Washington State Democratic Party was marketing them on their official website! One of the biggest of many problems CLOWNS have is they are too stupid and embarrassed to stop digging when they dig themselves into a hole.
How are things in China Patprick???
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 14, 2005 05:41 PMInstead of "give peace a chance" in the '60's, the left-wing protester mantra has evolved to "give political correctness a chance" - in other words - We will shout you down if you disagree with our viewpoint and not let you speak, just like the radical left hopes to do with the next State of the Union address by the Pres.
You assumed that I gave the WA Democratic Party credit for coming up with this idea in the first place. If they did, then they are truly messed up. Mainly, I think that this sticker shows how the WA Dem Party Leadership really thinks of religion in general.
This is like watching Bill Clinton at Ron Brown's Funeral. Laughing and joking until he sees that the TV camera's are still watching him.
Posted by: Mike P on December 14, 2005 08:37 PM"IF!?"
There it is, folks. The expected non-apology. Toldja so.
Liberals are incapable of apologizing, because they have lost the ability to take responsibility for themselves, and have lost all clear sense of social responsibility as well.
Typically, liberals project their own failings on the people around them because they lack the courage to face their own failures. And when they are caught showing their true bigoted, hypocritical, asinine colors, all we ever get from them are excuses, dodges, attempts to change the subject, and non-apologies.
Posted by: ERNurse on December 15, 2005 10:05 AMThe magnet is sold by a pro-marijuana activist, and the profits presumably go to fund her pro-drug activities.
Now, I'm actually sympathetic to the argument (well, not this stupid woman's "arguments") that marijuana should be legalized, but I'm not sure that "dope-smoking bigot" is quite the image the Democratic Party wants to project.
Posted by: ScottM on December 19, 2005 11:55 AM