Why are liberals suddenly opposed to citizens protesting their government, even calling it fascism and treason?

[Obanocchio]

This will explain it all

Alex Knepper’s recent run-in with American University’s radical and rabid campus left seems to have taught him some surprising and invaluable life lessons about the true nature of American politics.

Lesson One: Leftists and so-called progressives are illiberal, dogmatic, and closed-minded. They believe in and promote censorship. They work assiduously and underhandedly to demonize their political opponents and thus will brook no dissent.

This means that leftists and “progressives” cannot be reasoned with or deterred. They must, instead, be defeated outright in the political, cultural and public-policy arenas.

Lesson Two: Liberals are not leftists. Liberals may harbor left-wing public-policy ideas. They may, for instance, wish to promote universal health insurance coverage. However, liberals believe in the foundational principles of the American republic; leftists and so-called progressives do not.

Liberals, moreover, believe in intellectual tolerance and free speech, the American military, the defense of U.S. national security interests abroad, markets, and private property. Leftists and so-called progressives, by contrast, believe in none of these things.

Lesson Three: American conservatives are the true liberals. This is quite literally true in that the political ideas and principles espoused by classical 19th Century liberals are today championed by American conservatives.

These ideas include limited government, protection of private-property rights, equal treatment under the law, and economic growth precipitated by entrepreneurs and businessmen.

But American conservatives also are the true liberals in that they are far more intellectually and socially tolerant than are leftists and so-called progressives.

Indeed, the greatest incidence of censorship in America today occurs not in small towns and villages, but at allegedly cosmopolitan college campuses. American University’s social and cultural jihad against Mr. Knepper’s column is a prominent case in point.

Lesson Four: Far from being a hotbed of intolerance and reaction, Middle America is instead wonderfully tolerant, open minded and good natured. In fact, the idea that racism, homophobia and bigotry lurk deep within the American soul is a slander on the American people.

Mr. Knepper, who is himself a gay man, knows better. “The outpouring of support that I have received from Middle America has been heartening and reassuring,” he wrote at David Frum’s website, FrumForum.

The essence of my argument — don’t engage in volatile, risky situations unless you’re prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions — is a common sense, mainstream argument among everyday Americans

Yes it is. But although the Left dominates American colleges and universities, it doesn’t believe in commonsense; nor is it part of the mainstream. The Left believes in destroying its opponents through intellectual bullying, intimidation, and character assassination.

Unfortunately for the Left, when they decided to make an example of one campus apostate, Alex Knepper, they picked on the wrong man. Thus their bullying backfired and they themselves have been exposed. But it wasn’t the first time – and nor will it be the last – that the Left has met its match and gotten its comeuppance.

—

John R. Guardiano is a writer and analyst in Arlington, Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter: @Guardian0.

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/04/04/a...t-lessons/

[43289]

Because liberals are aggressive thugs. They'll do whatever it takes to win this country.

[Eugene]

So there are conservatives protesting? What happened to calling it unpatriotic and treason?

[Quan]

Not true...

None of that crap in your question is correct.

Provide examples. I am sure if a Liberal did it, you could provide examples.

[SwizzleStick]

Every republican since reagan massively overspent. Now that a black man is president all the crazies come out of the woodwork.

Where the HELL were these "fiscal conservatives" when Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 spent money like drunken sailors???

[Bethy]

Because they now are in power


Democrats out of power = dissent is patriotic

Democrats in power = dissent is dangerous, and can lead to violence

[zzone]

They are trying to cover up for the fact that they are the real ones committing Treason against the country.

[cool breeze]

you've always been facist. it has nothing to do with the fact that facists are now having tea parties. if you recall we called you facists when you controled the white house too. treason is forming armies and taking violent action against the govt in a political manner. if you wish to rebel against the govt and come down from the mountain in camo with some 6 packs of busch and expect to have a coup de tat, then be ready to get charged for it.

you also take the zen master of liberal college professors words out of context and suggest this is govt policy. noam chomsky is not a govt official and most of the people answering this question don't know exactly what you're talking about. it's a hyped up selective narative.

[L.T.M.]

The "Dissent Is The Highest Form Of Patriotism" bumper sticker was canceled by executive order on January 20th.

[Et Tu Brute]

We all have a right to protest our government. This IS the form of free speech we are given in our constitution. We have the right to speak out against our government without fear of reprisal from our government.

Perhaps the libs are confused about this since anyone opposing Bush war policy was called a traitor and unamerican. Doesn't feel so good when the shoe is on the other foot does it?

Patriot Act - unamerican and gives aid to the terrorists if you do not support it.
Wire taps on U.S. citizens without a warrant to do so - unamerican and gives aid to the terrorists if you do not support it.
Dixie Chicks - traitors for speaking out against Bush policy in a country that is our allie and the majority of their own people did not support the Bush policy.