“…So how did the right react to this (genuinely) modest proposal?
Sirota enumerates some of the ways:
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, called the recommendation “heresy” and pledged to “have the double rib-eye Mondays instead.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told his drought-stricken constituents that “I will eat more meat on Monday to compensate” for the USDA suggestion.
And Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, proudly posted a photo to his Facebook page showing a Caligulian smorgasbord of animal flesh that his Senate colleagues were preparing to scarf down as a protest against USDA.
It should be well and duly noted that all three of those fine upstanding fellows officials are deep in the pockets of the meat industry.
I was fascinated by the ridiculous temper tantrum these three stooges staged -
- because it’s a pitch-perfect illustration not only of how the wingnut outrage machine works -
- but how the economic and cultural arms of the conservative movement not only work hand in glove – but are pretty much the same thing.
Doing the bidding of the meat industry, Grassley and company are dedicated, of course, to squelching any initiative that has the word “meatless” in it.
But cleverly, they don’t make dry economic arguments; what they do, is turn it into a culture war — into identity politics, really.
Suddenly, eating animal flesh means you’re a real man – a true blue conservative -
- and the kind of two-fisted red-blooded American who stands up to socialistic pointy-headed bureaucrats -
- by gawd…”
(cont..)
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The Republican War on Vegetables: GOP Goes Bananas for Meat Industry | Alternet.
