Facing the Brownshirts

What would YOU do

I don't think it is too much to claim that once again the American democracy is threatened by the evil within. People who wrap themselves in flag and faith while gnawing at every civil right we have.

We've seen this all before.

Only weeks after I was born (ahem) the nation watched in rapt attention as Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy continued on his relentless, brutal and destructive drive to weed out Americans who held political views that did not match him, or his supporters.

Finally, 51 years ago this week...

Army counsel Joseph N. Welch confronted Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy during the Senate-Army Hearings over McCarthy's attack on a member of Welch's law firm, Frederick G. Fisher. Said Welch: ``Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?'' (This transcript of that confrontation captures the ugliness--and Welch's calm courage.)

And that was the beginning of the end for McCarthy. So, where are the Welch's of today? Where are the people of standing and public respect of any party will say publicly--and finally--what any rationale person knows in their gut: the madness we're living in now must come to an end.

Which brings me to my email to the media web site Romenesko today. I just had to put a line in the sand about the deceptive messages from the right against the media.

Jonathan Alter from Newsweek also takes on the jerks who would dare challenge his integrity.