To: jlallen who wrote (762633 ) 6/4/2007 3:02:50 PM From: Steve Dietrich Respond to of 769670 Peggy Noonan is none too pleased either: opinionjournal.com The president has taken to suggesting that opponents of his immigration bill are unpatriotic--they "don't want to do what's right for America." His ally Sen. Lindsey Graham has said, "We're gonna tell the bigots to shut up." On Fox last weekend he vowed to "push back." Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff suggested opponents would prefer illegal immigrants be killed; Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said those who oppose the bill want "mass deportation." Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson said those who oppose the bill are "anti-immigrant" and suggested they suffer from "rage" and "national chauvinism." Why would they speak so insultingly, with such hostility, of opponents who are concerned citizens? And often, though not exclusively, concerned conservatives? It is odd, but it is of a piece with, or a variation on, the "Too bad" governing style. And it is one that has, day by day for at least the past three years, been tearing apart the conservative movement. I suspect the White House and its allies have turned to name calling because they're defensive, and they're defensive because they know they have produced a big and indecipherable mess of a bill--one that is literally bigger than the Bible, though as someone noted last week, at least we actually had a few years to read the Bible. What i find so amusing is that this is all the President and his supporters have ever done: personally attack their critics and question their very love of country. Suddenly they discover the sword cuts both ways and cry foul. I don't remember Peggy Noonan complaining when the administration and its supporters questioned the patriotism of those who did not support the Iraq invasion for example. It's pathetic, and funny at the same time...