The New Antagonism

As if his recent comments regarding the private assurances he received from the Bush Administration about Harriet Miers were not galling enough, 'Focus on the Family' founder James C. Dobson is at it again.

In a prepared statement regarding President Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, Mr. Dobson stated the following:

"Perhaps the most encouraging early indication that Judge Alito will make a great justice is that liberal senators such as Harry Reid and Charles Schumer and leftist pressure groups such as People for the American Way and Planned Parenthood have been lining up all day to scream that the sky is falling. Any nominee who so worries the radical left is worthy of serious consideration."

I could actually care less what Mr. Dobson's opinion is regarding the qualifications of Samuel Alito, but I am deeply troubled by this statement because I fear that it reflects a dangerous political trend in this country -- a trend which has infected both the Right and Left. This trend is typified by the proclamation that, "any nominee who so worries the radical left is worthy of serious consideration."

This attitude represents a type of New Antagonism which is rapidly becoming the norm in Washington --- sound policy, reasoned debate, and careful strategy are being replaced with arrogant, almost gleeful, antagonism. In other words, politicians, lobbyists, and other operatives inside the Beltway are measuring their own successes, and evaluating the effectiveness of their policies, and their leaders, in terms of how much they are pissing off their opposition.

Here's how this destructive thinking works: A policy must be reasonable and appropriate if the enemy disagrees with it. A nominee must be well qualified if the opposition despises him. A bill must be necessary and well drafted if the congressperson on the other side of the aisle is preparing to filibuster it.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF THINKING THAT PRESENTLY PERMEATES MODERN POLITICS.

It is an ethos perpetuated by the current media configuration.....talking heads yelling at each other, while a purportedly 'neutral' moderator lobs softball questions at them, creating a platform for the New Antagonism.

Politics has been, and always will be, a battle. That much is certain. But, a battle for what? Ideally, it should be a battle between ambitious public servants to develop and implement a strong vision for this Country, a respectable platform of ideas and reforms. Instead, it is turning into a battle for the sake of battle....it is about pride and gamesmanship, and NOT about creating a better America.

This may seem an obvious point, but it's a point that any true progressive must remind himself or herself of on a daily basis. Let's not fall into the habit of defining our successes by the degree to which we can frustrate our opposition. The New Antagonism runs completely counter to the Revolution of Ideas that all responsible progressives should be trying to effectuate every single day.