"Communists" Versus "Loyal Members of the Communist Party"

[Howard Schweber]

>Funny how folks who would likely turn blue in the face if one used the 
>phrase "American liberals" to include Stalinists have no hesitation about 
>turning "American conservatives" into the "American Right" including Nazis.


Nope.  Two different sins here, of which I am guilty of only one.

1.  Sloppiness -- switching from "conservatives" to "right."  Guilty.

2.  Associating "conservative" with "Nazis."  Not Guilty.  I did not "turn 
conservative into Right," I erred in shifting in focus.  (Although I think 
it is going to be hard to argue that Pat Robertson is outside the 
mainstream of American conservatism given the efforts of Bush, McCain, et. 
al. to secure his approval!)  I was, indeed, talking about the American 
Right, and that association is perfectly sound, as is the association 
between the American Left and Stalinists -- in both cases, some members of 
the larger group (Left, Right) are members of the smaller group (Nazis, 
Stalinist).  No turning blue here.

         I trust Prof. Bernstein also speaks out against the endless stream 
of invective in print and on the television in which conservative 
commentators solemnly explain that liberals -- not just extreme leftists -- 
are anti-American traitors etc. etc.  But of course, that gets us back to 
the point that very few people outside the ACLU speak up for the rights of 
others in matters of free speech.  Which to my mind does not disqualify 
them from credit for their accomplishments when they occur.

Howard Schweber