Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: Yes, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism [View all]LeftishBrit
(41,305 posts)Last edited Wed Dec 12, 2012, 05:49 PM - Edit history (1)
consider that Mitt Romney's views should be taken seriously on DU?
I believe in democracy; I believe that people of all stripes should be allowed to express their views in the public domain without censorship. HOWEVER, that is not the same thing as saying that they should have the right to present themselves as progressive. DU is supposed to be a progressive site; and quite rightly excludes the views of Republicans.
In my view, anyone who opposes social safety nets and supports Thatcherite/Reaganite economic policies and their offshoots, or worse, is beyond the pale from a progressive point of view and should not be treated as an ally on DU, whether they be antiwar.com with their right-libertarianism, or Barry Rubin, considered by some of the pro-Israel people here as a liberal, writing after the election that 'The strategy of higher taxes, high regulation, increasing government intervention, and bigger government are already unattractive in Israel and will be even more so. ...(Probably wrong about Israel here actually). the Obama-European approach has been disastrous.. . Romneys expertise on turning around failing businesses would have provided the proper management. But thats not going to happen.'
This is not the same thing as saying that they should not be allowed free speech.
As I once said to someone on DU who defended Dan Pipes on 'free speech' grounds and thought it 'bigoted' not to give such views a hearing: Voltaire said 'I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it. He did not say, 'I disagree with what you say, but I promise to consider them with an open mind'. The two are different.
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