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MAGA's New Mantra: "Blame America First"
Some of us are old enough to remember when conservatives were thrilled by Jeanne Kirkpatrick’s denunciation of the Left’s tendency to always blame America for the world’s problems.
A lifelong Democrat, Kirkpatrick spoke at the 1984 Republican convention, and lacerated her old party for always attributing every crisis, set-back, and disaster to American perfidy — from Grenada to Lebanon, to the arms race with the then-Soviet Union.
She turned it into a crowd-pleasing mantra:
When our Marines, sent to Lebanon on a multinational peacekeeping mission with the consent of the United States Congress, were murdered in their sleep, the "blame America first crowd" didn't blame the terrorists who murdered the Marines, they blamed the United States.
But then, they always blame America first.
When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations, and refused even to discuss the issues, the San Francisco Democrats didn't blame Soviet intransigence. They blamed the United States.
But then, they always blame America first.
When Marxist dictators shoot their way to power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago.
But then, they always blame America first.
Ah, but how times have changed.
For you students of conservative history, set the 1984 Kirkpatrick side-by-side with the right-wing circa 2022.
This week, when the Nord Stream undersea pipeline exploded — and experts suspected sabotage — right-wing id Tucker Carlson was quick to cast blame.
While most international observers suspect that Russia may have blown up the pipeline to punish European supporters of Ukraine, Tucker pointed the finger at…. the United States. “{On] Tuesday night, Carlson strongly suggested the United States is responsible for explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines - and, at times, seemed to more explicitly blame it.”
 Acyn @Acyn
After suggesting the US blew up the pipelines, Tucker starts listing possible options for the Russian retaliation
September 28th 2022
1,621 Retweets5,761 Likes
Nota bene: There is absolutely no evidence tying the U.S. to sabotage; the narrative makes no sense at all. Here’s Fox News’s National Security correspondent… an actual reporter:
 Jennifer Griffin @JenGriffinFNC
There is no evidence or indication the US was involved in any way with the Nordstream 2 pipeline explosions. My question at the Pentagon briefing today: Can you rule out that the U.S. was involved? Senior Military Official: “Yeah, we were absolutely not involved.”
September 28th 2022
690 Retweets3,740 Likes
Not that this matters to Tucker. The Wapo points out that Tucker’s “evidence” is, to put it politely, “shoddy.” But, as usual, the facts are not the point here: the key is the instinct. And MAGA’s instincts were on full display. Here’s TPUSA’s Charlie Kirk, who has become a sort of de facto RNC chair these days:
 Jason Campbell @JasonSCampbell
Calling the leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines "a potential midterm election operation," Charlie Kirk says US intelligence agencies are "guilty until proven innocent in this situation. They're going to have to prove to us it wasn't them"
September 28th 2022
58 Retweets216 Likes
U.S. intelligence agencies are “guilty until proven innocent in this situation”? They are the ones who have to “prove to us that it wasn’t them”?
This is a weird flex for the “America First” crowd, because, (forgive me for offering some historical context) this sounds pretty much like….. BLAME AMERICA FIRST.
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Speaking of MAGA. Just leaving this here without unnecessary commentary.
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