Poll on 9/11 Conspiracy Theory Highlights Difference Between Republican, Democratic Parties

Over at Politico, Ben Smith digs up a 2006 poll that had over 50% of Democrats believing it was either “somewhat likely” or “very likely” that “people in the federal government either assisted in the 9/11 attacks or took no action to stop the attacks because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East.”

Yes, it’s completely bonkers – and deeply offensive – if any of my fellow Democrats actually believe(d) that crap. Yes, I understand the antipathy and distrust towards George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, etc. But that’s no excuse for heading into conspiracy theory fantasy land. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, anyone who believe(d) this crap about 9/11 is in the exact same category as people who believe(d) Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim, or was really not born in the United States (and therefore is not qualified to be president) — cuckoo, cuckoo!

So, alright, there are crazies on both the “blue” and “red” teams. So, then, what am I referring to in the title of this diary, exactly?  Very simple, just think about it for a second: how many Republican candidates — for president, Senate, House, whatever — pander to the “birthers” or, at least, “birther curious” (“politicians who casually lean up against the birther bandwagon but run away before anyone sees them“). A fairly high number, actually, including two possible GOP presidential front-runners, Donald Trump and Michele Bachmann (until recently). Also, there’s Sen. “Diaper Dave” Vitter, who said he supports birther lawsuits. Or Sen. James “Climate Change Denier” Inhofe, who believes the “birthers ‘have a point’.” Or Rep. Roy Blunt, who said it’s a “legitimate question” why “the president can’t produce a birth certificate.”  Then there’s Eric Cantor, seen here snuggling up to none other than “birther” queen Orly Taitz. Or, last but not least, our own cuckoo-bird Attorney General, Ken Kook-inelli, a super-popular leader among the rightwing nut-o-sphere, who was caught saying, “Someone is going to have to come forward with nailed down testimony that he was born in place B, wherever that is. You know, the speculation is Kenya. And that doesn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility.”

Now, let’s review a list of all the Democratic elected officials or candidates who believed that “people in the federal government either assisted in the 9/11 attacks or took no action to stop the attacks because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East.” Uhhhhhh. Well, there was total nutjob (as in, clinically insane) Rep. Cynthia McKinney, but fortunately she was defeated in a Democratic primary in 2006. Good riddance. Other than that? Well, there’s Dennis Kucinich, who’s never met a president he doesn’t think should be impeached (including, apparently, President Obama). Whatever. So, two insignificant, powerless weirdos from the far, far left fringes of the Democratic Party. Other than that, any other national Democratic figures who believe the lunacy that Bush and Cheney knew about 9/11 but let it happen anyway? Right, none.

Bottom line: both parties have plenty of followers who are willing to believe the most outlandish things, especially about the EVIL!!!! of presidents of the opposing parties. But only the Republican Party has leading, high-profile elected officials and candidates for president who either go right up to the edge, or cross over that edge, into conspiracy theory la-la land. That’s a major difference between the two parties right now.