# The Republican Party is the Party of Evil **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 4, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187 "2021-03-04T17:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 146
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2902 "2024-09-18T12:18:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > That all makes sense, in a MAGAt way. but why do any Israelis (or Jews in general) want anything to do with them? Because Trump & MAGA are the archetypal “useful idiots” to them. Same reason lots of other foreign people and groups support them. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2903 "2024-09-18T13:06:20Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Berry’s responses were right on point. > [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Why is “Congressman, don’t be silly” or “Congressman, don’t be an idiot” not a legitimate response? But why couldn’t she simply say “no” before starting to lecture Kennedy? He’s actually right – she doesn’t seem to be able to say “no, I do not support Hamas/Hezbollah.” She veers off into talking about Iran. I know he’s an idiot and a bigot, but why give him the fuel to make her seem weaselly? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2904 "2024-09-18T13:24:34Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > He’s actually right – she doesn’t seem to be able to say “no, I do not support Hamas/Hezbollah.” I was thinking the same thing. Why not respond with “No, I do not support Hamas, and I resent the fact that you asked me that question.” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2905 "2024-09-18T13:38:47Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Why not respond with “No, I do not support Hamas, and I resent the fact that you asked me that question.” Because then the Honorable Senator wouldn’t have been reduced to telling her to hide her head in a bag after lying multiple times about the words she said on camera 2 minutes prior. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2906 "2024-09-18T14:51:47Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I was thinking the same thing. Why not respond with “No, I do not support Hamas, and I resent the fact that you asked me that question.” [You mean like this?](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-senator-repeatedly-suggests-arab-american-witness-supports-hamas-h-rcna171565) > [@](#): > > “Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support, but you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country,” Berry responded. > > “I got your answer and I appreciate it. You support Hezbollah, too, don’t you?” Kennedy continued, referring to [the Iran-backed militant group](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-lebanon-militant-group-rcna120092). > > “I find this line of questioning extraordinarily disappointing,” she responded, before Kennedy said, “Is that a no?” > > “I don’t support violence, whether it’s Hezbollah or Hamas or any other entity that invokes it, so no, sir,” she said. > > "You just can’t bring yourself to say no, can you? Kennedy said. “You just can’t do it.” > > He then asked her whether she supported Iran and “their hatred of Jews,” and she again said no. Note that right after she literally says “No”, she is accused of not being able to say no. Followed by > [@](#): > > “Let me ask one more time, you support Hamas, don’t you?” Kennedy pressed. > > “I think it’s exceptionally disappointing you’re looking at an Arab American witness before you and saying you support Hamas. I do not support Hamas,” she said. SHE ALREADY FUCKING SAID SHE DOESN’T SUPPORT HAMAS, YOU TOAD-HEADED HALFWIT. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2907 "2024-09-18T15:43:06Z")
Republicans have trouble understanding when a woman says no. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2908 "2024-09-18T16:01:59Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > SHE ALREADY FUCKING SAID SHE DOESN’T SUPPORT HAMAS, YOU TOAD-HEADED HALFWIT. > [@ekedolphin](#): > > Republicans have trouble understanding when a woman says no. That’s why she should have clearly said the word “no” at the beginning of each response: - _Do you support Hamas?_ **No** I do not, but I’m actually glad you asked that question … - _You support Hezbollah, too, don’t you?_ **No** , I do not support Hezbollah either, and I find this line of questioning … Then he looks even stupider when he says, _You just can’t bring yourself to say no, can you?_ I thought she came across as evasive, frankly. Just fucking say **no**. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2909 "2024-09-18T16:07:29Z")
_Sarah Huckabee Sanders jabs Kamala Harris for not having biological children_ _Even one of Trump’s senior campaign advisers called the remark “offensive.”_ [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/18/sarah-huckabee-sanders-harris-children-00179800](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/18/sarah-huckabee-sanders-harris-children-00179800) Keep fuckin’ that chicken! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2910 "2024-09-18T16:19:13Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > _Sarah Huckabee Sanders jabs Kamala Harris for not having biological children_ > > _Even one of Trump’s senior campaign advisers called the remark “offensive.”_ The fact that the advisor was later seen walking outside with a cardboard box full of his desk supplies and his underwear pulled up around his ears was just a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2911 "2024-09-18T16:25:15Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I thought she came across as evasive, frankly. Just fucking say **no**. Why should she treat a racist question as if answering it was the sole reason for her testimony? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2912 "2024-09-18T16:31:17Z")
Because not answering a yes/no question with a yes or a no comes across as evasive. And she absolutely could have pointed out the bigotry of his questions (as she did) while still starting each answer with a clear “no.” ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2913 "2024-09-18T16:32:19Z")
It seems to me that the main reason she didn’t start of her response with “No” was obvious. If she had responded with “No,” she wouldn’t have even gotten to the “o” before he fired another question at her. By responding with anything else, she forces him to listen. Sure, he’s going to ignore whatever she says and read from his script, but at least she gets some words in. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2914 "2024-09-18T16:38:23Z")
He said “I got your answer and I appreciate it.” 1 second before completely ignoring her answer as part of his next question. His entire point was to say the words “you support Hamas”, “you support Hezbollah” and “you support Iran” as many times as possible during his allotted time, because repeating a lie makes it the truth. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2915 "2024-09-18T16:47:36Z")
There’s a part of me that would want to bluntly say “no” to that question, but I also can see why she answered the question in the manner that she did. Senator Foghorn Leghorn was clearly just using these proceedings to bait and attempt to humiliate her, nothing more. In that instance, I can understand wanting to phrase your response in a way that will allow you to call the asshole out on what he is clearly attempting to do. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2916 "2024-09-18T16:52:34Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Because not answering a yes/no question with a yes or a no comes across as evasive. And she absolutely could have pointed out the bigotry of his questions (as she did) while still starting each answer with a clear “no.” Please keep blaming her for being too polite to an ignorant, boorish bigot. Clearly she brought the abuse down on herself by remaining civil and giving complete answers. I’m sure that if she had just started every sentence with “No” we certainly wouldn’t be talking about how defensive and argumentative she was instead. \< checks forum \> Oh, and fuck you. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2917 "2024-09-18T17:07:42Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Please keep blaming her for being too polite to an ignorant, boorish bigot. Clearly she brought the abuse down on herself by remaining civil and giving complete answers. I’m not blaming her for being too polite. I’m blaming her for giving him the ammunition to call out her lack of clarity. > [@Gyrate](#): > > how defensive and argumentative she was instead. Your words, not mine. > [@Gyrate](#): > > Oh, and fuck you. Really? For suggesting that someone was only about 80% as effective as they could have been in answering obnoxious questions from an idiotic bigot? Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2918 "2024-09-18T17:12:28Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I’m not blaming her for being too polite. I’m blaming her for giving him the ammunition to call out her lack of clarity. She was perfectly clear. Also, why are you blaming her at all? > [@Akaj](#): > > Your words, not mine. Yes they are, in the same way that your words are that she was “evasive” and had a “lack of clarity”. My point is that if she’d done what you think she should have done, she’d still be getting criticized for something, a view that is more than amply borne out by this thread. > [@Akaj](#): > > Really? For suggesting that someone was only about 80% as effective as they could have been in answering obnoxious questions from an idiotic bigot? For repeatedly blaming the victim of racist bullying? Yes, “fuck you” seems about right. You have a nice day too. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2919 "2024-09-18T17:32:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > She was perfectly clear. Also, why are you blaming her at all? I don’t believe she was as clear as she could have been. But you’re right, this isn’t about blame. It’s more accurate to say I’m faulting her. > [@Gyrate](#): > > My point is that if she’d done what you think she should have done, she’d still be getting criticized for something No doubt, but less so by me. > [@Gyrate](#): > > blaming the victim Respectfully, I feel like you’re blowing this way out of proportion by using the language we use to talk about assholes dismissing rape. All I’m saying is that she could have responded differently and been even more effective at making Kennedy look like a bigoted fool. I never said nor meant to imply that she “had it coming.” YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2920 "2024-09-18T18:50:04Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > All I’m saying is that she could have responded differently and been even more effective at making Kennedy look like a bigoted fool. I think that in retrospect, that may or may not be true, but at the time she answered the questions, she gave well reasoned, intelligent responses which should have been enough. And as others have pointed out, answering a straight “no” may not have worked with people set on discrediting her either. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187/2921 "2024-09-18T19:23:38Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > answering a straight “no” may not have worked with people set on discrediting her either. Agreed. What I failed to make clear in my previous replies is that it’s obvious Kennedy was going to bully her with racist bullshit no matter what she said or did. Her responses didn’t bring that on. My only critique was that, by not answering each question with an immediate, clear and unambiguous “no,” she gave _me_ the impression of evasiveness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187.md?page=145) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-is-the-party-of-evil/937187.md?page=147)