NOTE THE LANGUAGE - AT 3:42 P.M. ET:  From The Hill:

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) blasted "tea party" protests yesterday, labeling the activities "despicable" and shameful."

"The ‘tea parties’ being held today by groups of right-wing activists, and fueled by FOX News Channel, are an effort to mislead the public about the Obama economic plan that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and creates 3.5 million jobs," Schakowsky said in a statement.

"It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt," she added. "Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

COMMENT:  The language here is entirely unacceptable.  Translated into plain English, Rep. Schakowksy is saying that no criticism is permitted.  Combine this with that absurd Department of Homeland Security memo warning of right-wing zealots who are interested in such things as abortion, and a disturbing pattern appears:  You must have no ideas but ours.  If you do, there's something wrong with you.

This will not be news to conservative college students.  They get this extreme approach on campuses all the time.

April 16, 2009