The GOP's "Era of Apologizing"

Bt Robert Parry

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele says, "the era of apologizing for Republican mistakes of the past is now officially over." But that must have been a very brief "era," since it's hard to remember any significant mistakes that the GOP has owned up to - except perhaps that George W. Bush wasn't right-wing enough.

Instead, leading Republicans - and right-wing pundits - have engaged in a steady campaign of defending almost every controversial action of the Bush years, including torture of detainees, a war of aggression in Iraq, disregard of constitutional rights, failure to address global warming, massive tax cuts for the rich, the absence of financial regulation, etc., etc.

Nor has the Republican Party apologized for its ugly chip-on-the-shoulder tone and divisive tactics. It continues to exploit "wedge issues" designed to split the nation, now focusing on "gay marriage" as the party earlier relied on the "Southern strategy" to attract white voters upset about civil rights for blacks.

The GOP also won't stop its extreme rhetoric. Its national committee even contemplated demanding that the Democratic Party change its name to the "Democrat Socialist Party" - though the idea was ultimately rejected.

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