You Can't Say That

Our lefty friends call it “controlling the narrative.” In plain English it means controlling what people are allowed to say.

Whatever nonsense people talk about the First Amendment it remains patently clear that you are not allowed to say certain things. The name of the game in politics is to be the guys to control what is allowed to be said, who get to say: “I can’t believe what I just heard!”

In the aftermath of his month from hell, Senator Obama doesn’t want us to talk about character and the company he keeps. He wants to talk about the issues. Translation: He wants to stop people talking about his snooty Whole Foods arugula culture and his disreputable lefty friends.

And even John McCain has got into the act, sending a message to the Republican Party in North Carolina imploring them to stop running an ad featuring the racist Rev. Wright. But Instapundit Glenn Reynolds wonders what the flap is all about.

MICKEY KAUS: "What exactly is so terrible about that North Carolina GOP ad?" Seems like a pretty typical political ad to me, too. Watch it yourself and see what you think.

An emailer writes to Instapundit to explain the whole thing. It’s an extension of the Democrats’ “Don’t question our patriotism” meme.

Don’t question their patriotism, don’t question their economic policies, don’t question their tax policies, don’t question their record in office, don’t question their character, don’t question their shady business and political deaings, don’t question, period.

The great thing in politics is to get your ideas into the public square, to get people talking and thinking about them. But first you have to brave the nay-sayers who will say: “Who is the turkey/racist/sexist/homophobe who just said that?”

Back when Rush Limbaugh was just starting out people would call into the program and breathlessly say: “Rush! You’re not allowed to say that!”

Not any more.