Columnist Robinson lacks civility

Eugene Robinson should be one of the last persons in our country to pontificate about civility in our public discourse (Daily Herald, “Keep it Civil, Yes, but Don’t Keep Silent,” (Jan. 16.))

In 2010, many of his syndicated columns contained blatantly acerbic insults, targeting his political opponents. Robinson has called Glenn Beck “a puffed-up blabbermouth” and “a legend in his own mind;” Newt Gingrich “a lunatic” who has “genuinely lost his mind;” and Christine O’Donnell a politician with “bared fangs,” who has mastered “the Sarah Palin Effect.”

He also stated about O’Donnell: “If she’s qualified to be a senator, I’m the King of Prussia ... and she’ll have trouble finding Prussia on the map.” Additionally, Robinson has called conservatives “Islamophobic” (sic); tea party members “racists;” and conservative political candidates “crazy and ignorant.”

I wonder whether the “mainstream” liberal media, as well as our own self-righteous Sen. Dick Durbin, would be as quick to assign blame as they were to conservative voices to Robinson’s use of incendiary language and childish name-calling if another mentally-troubled person tried to take the life of a more conservative politician.

Would they blame the newspapers that published Robinson’s syndicated columns, spreading his hate speech? Would they also dare to blame President Obama himself? After all, among other things, the President is on record for saying: “They bring a knife ... we bring a gun;” “I want you to argue with them and get in their face;” “Punish your enemies;” “Hit back twice as hard;” “I’m itching for a fight;” “It will be hand-to-hand combat;” and, “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry. I’m angry!”

Just wondering, rhetorical questions — civilly-expressed, of course.

Greg Guckenberger

Batavia