A nature sighting from the RNC McCarthyite Preserve
Interesting story. I followed a few links to get some background outside the guy's own highly self-promotional Web site. Particularly illuminating was the Guardian article Are US campuses in the grip of a witch-hunt of progressives? and it sure seems that way. McClaren's high up on the extreme Right's hit list, and it's a big list. The UCLA Commie List
Few would argue there are direct parallels between the current assaults on liberals in academe and McCarthyism. Unlike the McCarthy era, most threats to academic freedom - real or perceived - do not, yet, involve the state. Nor are they buttressed by widespread popular support, as anticommunism was during the 50s. But in other ways, argues Ellen Schrecker, author of Many Are the Crimes - McCarthyism in America, comparisons are apt.
"In some respects it's more dangerous," she says. "McCarthyism dealt mainly with off-campus political activities. Now they focus on what is going on in the classroom. It's very dangerous because it's reaching into the core academic functions of the university, particularly in Middle-Eastern studies."
Either way, a growing number of apparently isolated incidents suggests a mood which is, if nothing else, determined, relentless and aimed openly at progressives in academe.
Few would argue, but many would hesitate to point out, outside the grounds of Flame, of the parallels with Nazi Germany. Who can forget Sean Hannity offering his viewers $100 to snitch on their professors?
Quite the ugly little fascist witch hunt you and your RightWing extremist buddies have going there, Tom.
McClaren's probably the most radically left professor in the UC system, but somebody has to hold that title. So when you and the other jack-booted thugs get rid of him, will you stop there? Or will you keep on going, taking out the next-most-radical professor, and the next one after that? Will you stop when you've run out of radicals, or do you think you might just hack and slash your way through mainstream liberals and right into the center, long as you're on a roll?
You're as much an extremist as McLaren, Tom. "California Government Commie Preserve" my ass. I'll back people like McClaren to protect the country from people like you any day.