"Back Up Your Opinions Please!"

Have you ever engaged in a balanced debate with a friend who has a differing opinion? They can become very lively at times; and if not handled correctly, can degenerate into name calling and childish displays of emotion. When entering into the discussion of any issue, one should always be prepared with factual information to support their position. Opinion and fact are not always the same thing. As a sports fan, I often engage other fans in conversation about our respective favorite teams. As a former serious gambler, I was always informed of the condition of teams across the league; I had a financial interest to know what was going on. When I would discuss teams with other fans, I usually had the upper hand because I could back up my opinions with valid facts. Home team backers would always bet with their heart; not a good idea. I understand the love for a team you have followed since childhood; but don't let your heart trump your brain when making a decision. You will live to regret it!

Recently Cynthia Tucker, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, was on the "Chris Matthews Show" on MSNBC. Her interview consisted of charges of racism about the Tea Party and the Republican Party. It showed its' own form of racism and hatred toward both of these organizations. She had the perfect forum for her views, as Chris Matthews is a far left advocate. Matthews was a former U.S. Capitol police officer who worked for four Democratic members of Congress and was active against the Reagan administration.

During her interview she said "Obama's election has suddenly made many White Americans aware of the loss of a White Majority ","...that's what this crazy summer has been all about...anti-mosque construction, anti-immigrant ravings". Ms. Tucker is a big fan of Jimmy Carter saying "Now I happen to think Jimmy Carter was right..well if he had done the things that; if we had done the things that Carter called for then, we may not be looking at this huge oil spill (does this make sense to you?)" . Ms Tucker also believes we haven't spent enough money on the Stimulus, she advocated even higher spending then we've already done. More of her racial rantings state that "45 to 65% of the Tea Partiers are racists" and "Racism is a reflection of the Grand Old Party". On Michael Steele, the GOP chairman, she said "...(Steele) is a self aggrandizing, gaff prone (Biden!) incompetent who would have been fired a long time ago were he not Black." "The irony is that he never would have been voted in as Chairman of the Republican Party were he not Black." Do these statements sound oddly racist to you, as they do to me? Ms. Tucker just chooses to ignore all of the real political issues that are plaguing the Obama administration; health-care, weak defense, high unemployment and lack of regard for our Constitution. When things cannot be defended with fact, then the left degenerates into the old "racist rant" against the opposition. If you have no facts, start name calling. The real racists are those "New Black Panthers" and the "Neo-NAZI Skin-heads". Honest Americans, with legitimate concerns, don't deserve this type of rhetoric directed toward them! When you have actual fact, give us a new interview; your lack of credibility is showing!