Politico: GOP "Cranks" Dominating Debate

Andie Collier argues on Politico.com that the radical fringe is dominating the public face of the GOP.

“Neither party has an exclusive on wack jobs,” says Republican media consultant Mark McKinnon. “Unfortunately, right now the Democrats generally get defined by President Obama, and Republicans, who have no clear leadership, get defined by crackpots — and then they begin to define the Republican Party in the mind of the general public.”

Turn on the TV, and you see what he means. Here’s Orly Taitz, insisting that the commander in chief was born in Kenya. There’s a flock of town hall protesters, waving photos of the president in a Hitler mustache. Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin warns darkly that Obama is planning “death panels” for senior citizens. Georgia Rep. Paul Broun equates the president’s plans with “Nazi” policies. Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt — last heard calling John Murtha a “coward” — tells a birther: “I agree with you, but the courts don’t.”

The party out of power typically needs time to regroup behind new leadership and the GOP is just getting started. It is also true that if media has a bias in coverage it is toward the sensational soundbite. The Republican fringe has cooperated in spectacular fashion there.

--Ballard Burgher