Inglis is the kind of Republican we need in Congress. Unfortunately he was too level headed to be elected in his GOP primaries. The GOP is exhibiting the characteristic of a dying sun, just before death it gets larger and hotter before caving into itself and dying. This does not have to be of course if the real Republicans can take their party back from the nuts. Let’s have the guys who helped move the country forward in the 60’s & 70’s again. They are out there.
WASHINGTON — Too many Republican leaders are acquiescing to a poisonous "demagoguery" that threatens the party’s long-term credibility, says a veteran GOP House member who was defeated in South Carolina’s primary last month. While not naming names, 12-year incumbent Rep. Bob Inglis suggested in interviews with The Associated Press that tea party favorites such as former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and right-wing talk show hosts like Glenn Beck are the culprits.
He cited a claim made famous by Palin that the Democratic health care bill would create "death panels" to decide whether elderly or sick people should get care.
"There were no death panels in the bill … and to encourage that kind of fear is just the lowest form of political leadership. It’s not leadership. It’s demagoguery," said Inglis, one of three Republican incumbents who have lost their seats in Congress to primary and state party convention challengers this year.
Inglis said voters eventually will discover that you’re "preying on their fears" and turn away.
"I think we have a lot of leaders that are following those (television and talk radio) personalities and not leading," he said. "What it takes to lead is to say, ‘You know, that’s just not right.’"
Inglis said the rhetoric also distracts from the real problems that politicians should be trying to resolve, such as budget deficits and energy security.
"It’s a real concern, because I think what we’re doing is dividing the country into partisan camps that really look a lot like Shia and Sunni," he said, referring to the two predominant Islamic denominations that have feuded for centuries. "It’s very difficult to come together to find solutions."
Inglis’ refusal to join in on the Obama-bashing of the far right played a big role in his landslide defeat on June 22. Leading up to the election, he frequently challenged voters who questioned the president’s citizenship or patriotism. At one town hall meeting, he was jeered for saying that Beck, a Fox News Channel host, is a divisive fearmonger.
Republican Leaders Acquiescing To ‘Demagoguery’ That Threatens Party, GOP Lawmaker Says