Kathleen Parker: Obama shines as the Republican fringe goes mainstream

[mainer]

Wow. Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker pretty much calls the Republican candidates crazies -- and praises Obama.

“Ridiculous” and “sad” were the words Obama chose to describe recent comments by Republican presidential contenders and others. Pointedly, he singled out former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.

All three men dug deep into their sacks of Pavlovian metaphors and similes that would get their constituents banging their reward levers. Even ol’ Pontius Pilate, to whom Cotton compared Secretary of State John Kerry, got a trot-out. Huckabee said that the Iran deal was leading Israelis “to the door of the oven.” And Cruz brought it home with his charge that Obama is a leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Put these three in a cocktail shaker, and you get a rather mixed metaphor that nonetheless pours like a narrative: Pontius Kerry is leading the Jews to the Auschwitz ovens in a terrorist act orchestrated by the president of the United States.

With all due respect, you three are making Rick Perry look like Confucius, though you might edge out Graham for a spot on Fox. Outrageous remarks get attention, and attention gets ratings, and ratings are the coins of the realm.

http://www.pressherald.com/2015/08/04/kathleen-parker-obama-shines-as-the-republican-fringe-goes-mainstream/

[progressoid]

1. Pretty sad when Parker is the voice of reason in the party.