9/5/13 - The debate over military action in Syria has produced a
landfill's worth of stupidity, from every side of the debate, and every
corner of the political media. This is somewhat predictable, as we all
know what opinions are like, but on Thursday night's All In with Chris
Hayes, "Congressman with Guts™" Alan Grayson (D-FL) made a bold
incursion, from stupid into contemptible.
Following his excellent
interview with Secretary of State John Kerry, host Chris Hayes
continued the media's current pastime of coaxing valueless opinions out
of unqualified guests by interviewing Rep. Alan Grayson, who opposes the
proposed military intervention in Syria. There are legitimate reasons
to oppose the strike, as well as to support it, but Grayson's
performance here was a very extreme example of what has been so wrong
with much of the media's treatment of the Syria debate: a complete lack
of seriousness or humility. If you'd like to see an example of
seriousness and humility, check out the first half of this Chris Hayes
commentary from Wednesday night, then slam your head on your desk.
You
can watch the full Grayson segment here, but I don't have the time or
the inclination to pick it all apart. It's chock full of genius. I just
want you to watch what has to be the most ridiculous displays of callous
arrogance in the history of cable news. Chris Hayes asked Grayson if
there was anything in the interview with Secretary Kerry "that you find
compelling or convincing?"
"Not at all," Grayson replied, with a
thin smirk. "Listen, most people understand this is simply not our
problem. This is not our problem to solve."
Hayes, to his credit,
pushed back, although with characteristic understatement. "I have to
say, that sounds morally obtuse to me."
"Sorry," Grayson replied, and with a cackle, added "I'm being totally honest."
He
then went on to argue that the calls he's getting from constituents are
running "100 to 1″ against the intervention. Whatever you think about
Grayson's logic, which I will get to in a second, what the frack is he
laughing about? What, exactly, is so funny about this? There doesn't
seem to be much that people agree about with regard to Syria, but can't
we at least find common ground in the notion that this is not a laughing
matter?
As for Grayson's reading of the American public, he
seems to be forgetting that the American people overwhelmingly supported
military action in Iraq. Now, Grayson might point out that this was a
result of misleading information, and he'd be right. However, aside from
the fact that a significant chunk of the American public probably
thinks Damascus is some kind of Halloween super-store, a certain amount
of the erosion of public support for airstrikes could have something to
do with people in the media telling them that this is just like Iraq.
