Sorry, West, but Joseph McCarthy died ages ago

The Red Scare has long since been over.

The Cold War too.

Russia has become more of a business partner these days than an international menance which needs to be dealt with on a political, military, and diplomatic front.

But in these uncertain times, the Republican Party has been at it again--this time painting a large number of progressive Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives (between 75 and 81) as absolute Communists.

As someone who grew up in the heyday of the Cold War and watched as the old U.S.S.R. fall apart along with the Berlin Wall, I can certainly attest to the sad fact that neither Democrats, progressives, or liberals are card-carrying Communists working either in open or in secret (as the GOP has alleged in times past) to undermine our seat of government.

If anyone is doing the undermining, it is the Republican Party itself. Allen West's disgraceful comments towards his fellow representatives only helps reinforce (in people's minds) the paranoia and utter insanity the GOP has openly embraced in the last decade--discarding their conservative and moderate roots and going for gusto with the extremist elements that haven't seen the light of day in a good half century.

Speaking as a progressive liberal myself, I know for fact that I am no Communist, never been approached by the Worker's Party for membership, or even have a copy of the Communist Manifesto (I added one to my Amazon Wish List the other day as a cultural and historical curiosity) presently in my ever expanding library at home.

To say that people like me are Communists and not being able to prove without a shadow of a doubt only serves to further damage the public image of the Republican Party itself--by telling voters everywhere that: "Hey! We're nuts! And here's how we prove it!"

Joseph McCarthy and his fear-mongering days are dead. The former Wisconsin senator couldn't prove then that Communists have infiltrated the elcheons of our own government, but then again, Allen West can't prove the same now.

And the sad part to this little tale is that he not only stands by his comments without fail, but he's also showing the true face of the GOP in this day and age: A party that runs solely on fear and doesn't give a damn about facts or reality.

But if this caucus of progressive Democrats were Communists, and so were every liberal and progressive out there were too (as the right constantly charges), what real difference does that make in the here and now?

Does that make people like me less and less of an American? Or a threat to the status quo? (What status quo?)

The truth is...labeling people, minorities, and women is what Republicans do when they can't run on their failed records each and every time there is a general election.

They can't.

It's what they do best. But in the short and long term of it all, the GOP are systematically damaging themselves and their credibility each and every time they open their mouths. (And don't keep them shut--right Newt?)

And after 10 long years of party and personal self-destruction, it doesn't look like this patterned end game is going to end any time soon.

So long as there is a Republican out there who believes in the worst in either the people or an entire demographic.