The American Spectator : More on the Delaware Race

Text Size

More on the Delaware Race

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 9.30.10 @ 6:08AM

The mainstream liberal press is covering up for Chris Coons.

WASHINGTON -- The race for the United States Senate in Delaware is a splendid example of what is called Kultursmog, and the smog spreads untreated. One candidate, the conservative, has been slandered repeatedly and no one objects, not even most conservatives. The Liberal opposing her has been given the proverbial free ride, even by most conservatives. Yet he is a fruitcake. She "dabbled" in witchcraft in high school she tells us. He may have studied it in grad school along with other pseudo studies. Yet he is stonewalling, while the press pillories her. No one objects save Talk Radio.

The Democrat is Chris Coons, the county executive of New Castle County, and his record gets more bizarre as the weeks pass. As a college student he converted from some kind of conservatism to some kind of far left enthusiasm. He described himself as a "Bearded Marxist" upon returning from Africa and reporting his enlightened transformation in the student newspaper. Now the mainstream Liberals are covering up for him. The Washington Post reports that he "spent time in South Africa and Kenya doing relief work," but is mum on his Marxism. Howard Kurtz on his CNN television show, in taking a swipe at Sean Hannity last weekend, called Coons' "Bearded Marxist" article a joke. One can understand why the agelastic Kurtz would find it a joke. Nothing in the piece was funny, except that Coons was becoming a Marxist about the time that Communism was evaporating across the world and leaving, according to The Black Book of Communism, 100 million graves.

But now, Jeffrey Lord who unearthed the aforementioned information about Coons' Marxism has filed a second installment in The American Spectator. He brings our story a bit more up to date. Lord tells us that this month Coons assured the Yale Divinity School's Notes from the Quad that serving in the Senate would be a "great way for me to apply the principles and values that were honed at YDS." Coons got a Master of Arts in Religion in 1994, specializing in ethics. He learned a lot.

Now everyone who has followed the Delaware race knows that the conservative, Christine O'Donnell, has been exposed by Bill Maher the comic genius for appearing on his show sometime in the 1990s and claiming to have "dabbled" in witchcraft. But do you know what was being taught at the Yale Divinity School when Coons was there as a graduate student? Witchcraft! Had Christine been a bit older and presumably sophisticated she could have attended classes with Chris and been taught witchcraft by scholars. Perhaps she could have earned a Ph.D. in the mysteries of reading chicken entrails.

Along with classes in witchcraft, there were classes in Queer Worship and Feminist/Womanist/Gendered Theologies, and, in the Introduction to Christian Ethics II, there was Black Liberation Theology, a study Coons first picked up in Africa. Were the "values" taught in these classes among those absorbed by Coons at the YDS? We do not know because Coons is not answering Lord's calls for him to release his transcripts. I have instructed Lord the next time he calls to adopt a deep baritone voice and announce that He is "the Lord," and He is becoming impatient. Test Coons' faith, I say.

Now while all this is being revealed, no one in the press seems the least curious. If O'Donnell has a bad hair day it is reported in the press. But Coons' Marxism is at best treated as a joke. His promise to apply the values he learned at YDS does not even call into question what those values might be. Queer Worship? Feminist/Womanist/Gendered Theology? Black Liberation Theology? Witchcraft? The press is too busy digging up dirt on O'Donnell.

Yet there is hope. Hannity, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh are on the case. Maybe even Fox News will take an interest. Yet do not expect the Liberal media to engage in fair and balanced coverage of the Senate race in Delaware. Fairness is utterly alien to them, which is another reason there is such a reaction building among the American electorate. Fairness is an American value, though it probably is not taught at the Yale Divinity School.

About the Author

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of the forthcoming The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn't Work: Social Democracy's Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (145) | Leave a comment

D| 9.30.10 @ 7:10AM

Regarding Coons' Marxism, the Wilmington (DE) News Journal, our big daily, has already written in an editorial that they don't want to discuss it.

Tell Jeffrey Lord to keep on plugging away, though.

chris lynch| 9.30.10 @ 7:43AM

Jeffrey Lord should keep plugging away but in fairness, it will require a name change for the publication, McCarthyism Today.

"My friends now joke..Kenya..[turned me into a] bearded Marxist" link

chris lynch| 9.30.10 @ 7:53AM

Breaking: Will Christin O'Donnell get an endorsement from Mike Castle? THE ANSWER

Tom| 9.30.10 @ 8:16AM

Chris,
While it might be a joke nothing in that article argues he did not consider himself a Marxist at that time while there are several glimpses that he might have Marxist beliefs. Every the 'joke' his friends told is telling: people do not joke that one is a Marxist if there is no something that implies Marxism. Further, from Coons' article "Certainly Kenya provided a needed catalyst; I saw poverty and opression more naked than any in America, and I studied under I studied under a bright and eloquent Marxist professor at the University of Nairobi." and "Can private enterprise and democracy solve the problems of developing nations? Is Marxism an evil ideology, leading millions into totalitarian slavery? These were some of the questions in the back of my mind as I left for Kenya."

Are these the words of a committed Marxist? Probably not, but they certainly paint a pictuer of someone who has spent some time pondering the benefits of Marxism. Does it really matter today? Probably not, what matters today are his views today. However, his political views today are decidely collectivist and statist.

O'Donnell is right in her quote in the link you provided. Her fly by night dalliance with someone who played with the occult while she was in high school is no more relevant than Coons' bearded Marxist phase. And probably much less so.

chris lynch | 9.30.10 @ 9:01AM

Except that his friends started to call him a bearded Marxist when he, a staunch Republican - had campaigned for Reagan, worked for Sen.Roth, and founded the young Republican chapter on campus - registered as a Democrat and not as a member of the Communist Party USA. I don't know how much more clear his choice could be.

The writing here on the topic is polemic masquerading as intellectual pursuit. That or Jeffrey Lord is suffering from a bout of paranoia. The dishonesty ought to be a source of embarrassment.

The distortions and smearing have already come home to roost. (Yes, I consider "Marxist" in this case both.) O'Donnell must press on without the benefit of Castle's write-in or alternatively his endorsement because of that unprincipled manner.

Tom| 9.30.10 @ 9:36AM

Chris,
Read the article. The man obviously had Marxist sympathies. You did not address a single point I made. Get past the silly bearded marxist crap. The sections I quoted - to me - are much more germane than the 'joke' about being a bearded Marxist.

As far as being a registered Democrat, how is that meaningful? All sorts of people register in our major parties. Including facists, marxists, bigots, atheists, religious freaks, idiots, and child molesters. They do so for lots of reasons, including political viability.

I wonder how the press would have reacted if Mr. Coons had come back from Kenya a bearded fascist? If he had studied under an eloquent fascist professor. If he wondered if fascism was an evil ideology, leading millions into totalatarian slavery.

As far as Castle not endorsing O'Donnell I doubt seriously he would have endorsed anyone who beat him in a primary. Castle, like most politicians, was in it for himself not for some larger vision. As soon as it stops being about him he takes his ball and goes home.

Eric Cartman| 9.30.10 @ 11:37AM

Um, I hate to break this to you, but the ONLY difference between the CPUSA and the Democrat Party is that one of them is truthful about who they are and what they believe. Guess which one.

RCV| 9.30.10 @ 11:44AM

Among your many mindlessly stupid comments, this ranks at the top. Cartman, you're just an idiot.

Eric Cartman| 9.30.10 @ 11:57AM

Why, thank you! I'll keep up the good work, then. Oh, did you guess which one?

Jacquie| 9.30.10 @ 12:12PM

sounds like someone has his panties in a knot. looks like eric hit too clos to home for you.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 3:01PM

Good work, indeed, Eric--keep it up!

The Bearded Marxist is in good company: Van Jones, the self-identified communist and Anita Dunn, Mao worshipper extraordinaire, are his fellow comrades within the Marxist Democrat party.

stmichrick| 9.30.10 @ 9:35PM

RCV;
Here's another brain teaser for you:
Q: What's the difference between a progressive and a Communist?
A: The Communist KNOWS what he is doing.

Ed in North Texas| 10.1.10 @ 9:06AM

Only partially correct answer. The real answer is:

They both know what they are doing, but the Communist is honest in answering questions about what he is doing.

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 1:48PM

stmichrick: Q: What's the difference between a tea-partier and a moron? A: Nothing.

Patriot| 10.1.10 @ 3:56PM

Spoken by a leftist moron.

Thomas Paine| 10.20.10 @ 9:24AM

A: The Tea Partier is better educated and more successful ... and the moron is a Democrat.

G F Y

stmichrick| 9.30.10 @ 9:32PM

Chris;
Please explain to all of us why you consider being called Marxist a smear. Is he a fan of the free market and rights of the individual? Do you think that wealth needs to be distributed more 'fairly' in America?

D| 9.30.10 @ 9:19AM

Jeezis, honey .... He titled HIS OWN ARTICLE "Chris Coons: The Making of a Bearded Marxist."

So, it can't have been that much of a joke, really.

Tom| 9.30.10 @ 9:55AM

D,
Whether it was a joke or not the rest of the article paints the picture of a budding statist. His sympathies obviously were with governmental control and not private enterprise.

Peter McGrath| 9.30.10 @ 2:22PM

Thanks, Tom, and that's the whole point, isn't it. This Coons guy is a statist who would be none too shy about making promises ("free" healthcare, "easy" college tuition, etc., etc.) to under-educated constituents using other people's, borrowed, or printed money to make good on those promises.

Being gifted with such good intentions, he'll be more than willing to accept a little campaign cash from "important" left-leaning special interests (i.e., special interests whose object is continued exploitation of the productive class) to feather his Senatorial nest and ensconce him in power.

In other words, he'll become an accomplice in our nation's continued decline and eventual collapse.

Christine O'Donnell gets more attractive by the day. Marxists / Statists / Socialists / Libs need not apply. Everything rides on an O'Donnell win and the conservative base needs to rally around and support her like there was no tomorrow.

Albert| 9.30.10 @ 11:41AM

It is the standard red herring of the Left to label any legitimate examination of a Leftist's qualifications and history as "McCarthyism." If Coons is indeed a Marxist, this should be known to the voters before the election. In your haste to judge the above article as "McCarthyism" you fail to address the question, or perhaps you dodge the question deliberately. Is Coons a Marxist? A Marxist is far from being a benign individual who only believes in an alternate economic policy. The truth is, Marxists spent over 100 years trying to wipe off the face of the Earth anyone who isn't a Marxist, to the tune of over 100 million people. Your blather about McCarthyism betrays a profound ignorance of the history of that time. The 1940's and 50's saw the rise of new Marxist Communist regimes, particularly in Southeast Asia. And this was on the heels of the Marxist domination of Eastern Europe. Lenin and Stalin starved or murdered as many as 30 million people, Ho Chi Minh was starving to death over a half million, and Chairman Mao was setting the stage for his own cultural revolution, wherein as many as 50 million people were simply murdered by their own government. Idiots today laugh at the "red scare" of the 1950's, the environment for Joe McCarthy's investigations, but Marxism has proven itself something to be feared, indeed it is by any objective measure a crime against humanity. Marxism and freedom are mutually exclusive and if this nation populates its governments with Marxists, our freedoms will soon vanish. So, the question is legitimate: Is Coons a Marxist? His history and education suggest that he is. This automatically makes O'Donnell the superior candidate and the only candidate of these two who can be trusted to defend liberty instead of trashing liberty as Leftists/Marxists do.

Tom| 9.30.10 @ 12:06PM

Albert,
I think you are dead on. His past certainly lends itself to the possibility that he is a Marxist or at the very least sympathetic to Marxist thought.

Bob350| 9.30.10 @ 12:31PM

It is worse then this with the News Journal. They have started a fact check section. So far everything that Christine Odonnell has said that has been covered is either Lame or a Lie. Not so for Coons.This is the same thing that the Philadelphia Inquirer did in the 2004 presidental election. They had 21 days of John Kerry. I have not bought an Inquirer since. Except Sundays my wife wants the ads and coupons.
The New Journal is a liberal newspaper. Which is why they like Coons and why they liked Castle.

logmank| 9.30.10 @ 7:11AM

What? The lamestream media covering up for a closet Marxist?
I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you.

Deborah D| 9.30.10 @ 7:26AM

He's just a little Marxist in Delaware -- it's the big Marxists in D.C. that the Marxist media are really covering for...must protect your own, ya know? I don't call them the Pravda Press for nothing.

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 7:34AM

We are in a Media War with The Liberal Mainstream Media .
They have propped up liberalism and , while applying their double standard agenda against conservatism .
Noticeably, Conservative Women from Sarah Palin to Christine O'Donnell have been given an attempted marginalizing beatdown from these liberal media types .

Nevertheless , Christine O'Donnell's Liberal opponent Chris Coons is a Serial Taxer from New Castle County Government and the word is getting out in The Alternative Media .

Delawareans Want Jobs , Not Taxes .

We Tea Party Rebels Support Christine O'Donnell .

We Can See November From Christine's House .

Mattled| 9.30.10 @ 7:40AM

Mr. Tyrrell,
Your story here is exactly why we need to start a very public campaign to put media anchors faces on billboards or newspaper ads and call them what they are:
Biased.
Liberal.
Untrustworthy.
They want you un-informed.

We will contribute. Ask other sites to post the fund. We will pay cold hard cash to see Courics, Lauers and other anchors integrity being questioned.

Imagine driving to work and average Joe or Josephine American stuck in traffic sipping on coffee and Perky Katie's face on a board with "you can't trust her---don't watch" underneath her face?

Priceless. It will be the mother of October surprises preempting the news media attacking everyone and everything conservative.

Build it Mr. Tyrrell. We will come.

gearjammer| 9.30.10 @ 9:23AM

Why not an investigation into the business practices of the television industry ? Is this really the free market at work ? Do all these tv " STARS" really deserve what they make ? Don't the same people just float from network to network making bigger money as they get lower ratings ? I know most conservatives never met a millionaire or billionaire they never liked-but maybe these people need to get cut down to size. And, how does all that cable money get spread around ? Remember when it was 10 bucks a month and you pretty much got what you needed !

Tom| 9.30.10 @ 9:38AM

I no more want the government investigating the television industry than I want them investigating the software industry. The million dollar salaries will end of necessity as soon as enough people stop watching. In the end the power is totally in the consumer's hands; stop watching the crap.

carnot| 9.30.10 @ 10:02AM

and stop vacationing in CA! time to mount a nation-wide boycott against that State. the libs want to play hardball....ok......let's dance!!!

coal carrier| 9.30.10 @ 8:40AM

When I see and hear communists, I see 40,000,000 dead under Stalin. When I see and hear socialists, I see 50,000,000 dead under Hitler.

I can see communists and socialists from my house. And they will all be gathering in Washington DC this weekend.

Wake up America. November 2nd is fast approaching.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 3:04PM

And that doesn't include 100 million dead under the communist, Mao and the millions who were slaughtered by Pol Pot the commie.

Nice bunch.

Nate| 9.30.10 @ 4:14PM

Hitler wasn't a socialist, jackass. He was a fascist. Big difference. Just ask the Swedes, the Norwegians, and the French. Unless you figure them for Nazis ....

And no, just because the Nazis called themselves "socialists" doesn't mean they were socialists. The USSR called itself a Republic, but it wasn't a Republic.

Distinguishing between fascism and socialism is very easy, but for some reason it's a skill lost on the right. (I wonder why that is ....)

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 4:21PM

No difference at all, stupid--both are collectivist and as such are inimical to the American way of life.

Nice try at diversion, though. We don't want any stinkin' Fascists or Socialists here--get it?

coal carrier| 9.30.10 @ 5:35PM

Jackass? Intelligent comeback Nate.

Well, how about this, when socialists don’t get their way, they turn into Fascists and people begin to disappear.

Brooke| 9.30.10 @ 5:51PM

Tyranny is tyranny, regardless of spelling.

Albert| 9.30.10 @ 6:17PM

Nate: The OFFICIAL name of the Nazi Party of Adolf Hitler is the NSDAP, or "NationalSozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei." The word "Nazi" is an abbreviation of this name. Hitler was indeed a Socialist, hence his "Nationalist-Socialist" party.
And yes because they call themselves Socialists does mean they were Socialists. My mother was from Germany of that time and there was absolutely no mistaking it, Nazis were Socialists, a different brand of socialism than Soviet socialism, but socialist nevertheless. "Fascism" was Mussolini's attempt to recreate the dictatorial power of the Roman Empire. What should be noted is that it is the LEFTISTS who revere such totalitarian regimes as Chairman Mao's, Hugo Chavez', Uncle Ho's, Che and Fidel's, Josef Stalin's, et al. It is the American Right who oppose totalitarianism, not the Left. And by the way, is it really necessary to call someone a jackass, just because of your politics?

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 2:45PM

The Nazis were totalitarian, fascistic monsters, but they did not happen to be socialists in any sense of that word. There was nothing socialistic about Germany's economy under Hitler. The Nazis ran against the socialist Weimar government. They adopted the name "National Socialists" to differentiate themselves from the left, and to try to counter the appeal the German Communist party was having with workers.

North Korea calls itself the "Democratic Republic of Korea," but that doesn't make it democratic!

There are authoritarian regimes that are leftist -- the Soviet Union, North Korea, Cuba, Sandinista Nicaragua, China, to name only a few -- and authoritarian regimes that are rightist -- Franco's Spain, Pinochet's Chile, Hitler's Germany, Samoza's Nicaragua, to name only a few.

There are democratic regimes that are leftist - Sweden, the UK labor governments, the early Israeli governments, to name just a few -- and democratic regimes that are rightist -- Thatcher's UK, Adenauer's Germany, Reagan's US.

SoCon| 10.1.10 @ 3:55PM

You can't see the forest for the trees: Socialists and Fascists are both Collectivists/Statists, and both are inimical to the American individualist way of life.

We don't want either one.

Karl Wildforster| 9.30.10 @ 11:29PM

Gee, I wonder why Nazi is an acronym for National SOCIALIST Party. Would love to hear your explanation for that. Guess they were stupid, too!

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 2:47PM

They were stupid. And you might try reading some history before people think you are as well.

AJ K| 10.1.10 @ 3:50PM

We already know you're stupid, RCV.

chester arthur| 10.3.10 @ 10:51PM

Well,let's see,in reading history,we find that the NAZI party favored nationalized healthcare, was for gun control,environmentalism,and it's leader was an extreme animal rights advocate.What side of the political spectrum would that put them on?Anyone? No need to raise your hand here.

RCV| 10.3.10 @ 11:46PM

Let's see, in reading history, we learn that the NAZI party was backed by the major industrialists, believed in traditional male/female roles and strong "family values", abhorred welfare and distrusted foreign immigrants, railed against homosexuality and communism, favored a strong national defense, and its leaders blamed defeatist unpatriotic "socialists" for the country's military setbacks.

Now which side of the political spectrum would that put them on? Anyone? No need to raise your hand here.

Doug| 10.4.10 @ 6:53PM

And let's not forget that the Nazis were the first to institute a no-smoking policy, due in large part to Hitler's distaste for smoking. It didn't work very well, but Adolf tried. Sound like another government you can think of? http://tinyurl.com/25om9hz

RCV| 10.4.10 @ 10:34PM

And remember, Hitler built Germany's first national highway system ... Just like ar Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower -- who was of German ancestry! Coincidence?

Could you guys get any sillier?

Feralcat| 10.1.10 @ 4:18AM

Fascism and socialism/communism are basically the same statist show just under a different tent. Fascists tend to be better dressed. That's the main difference.

Anthony| 9.30.10 @ 9:22AM

Thanks Bob, We constantly need reminding of who our true enemies are. In addition the the LSM, O'Donnell is being pummeled by the elite R establishment as well.
Washington is in need of systemic changes, so are what Rush calls the four pillars of corruption, which include the careerists in Washington, which includes those inside the RNC.
The R establishment is not fighting our fight, nor are they interested in doing so. They are content with power for their own sake. They are not interested in systemic change, they just want to be in the game, as do the so called conservative pundits that are always making sure they never stray too far from the LSM's role assigned to them.
We have a lot of house cleaning to do!!!

Tim| 9.30.10 @ 12:43PM

You can say that again.

CopyKatnj| 9.30.10 @ 10:07AM

"Your silence gives consent." --Greek philosopher Plato (429-347 BC)

Open Season starts this November - NO BAG LIMIT.

Oldefarte| 9.30.10 @ 11:25AM

I urge everyone here to also read R. Emmett's referenced articles by fellow TAS writer Jeffrey Lord, as they all paint a beautiful picture of this Democrat, Coons. My impression from same is that Coons is the second coming of Barack Obama [only he caucasion, as opposed to African American]. Like Obama, Coons has obviously flown under the political radar in becoming elected in Delaware, and it also obvious that the citizen-voters of that state cannot be educationally aware of who he really is. Similar to R. Emmett's indication that some of Coon's educational papers are locked up from being available to the public for reading same, all of Obama's written papers from Princeton and Harvard are likewise unavailable to the MSM and the public. Why would same be important? Simply by exposing the writers [Coon's and/or Obama's] thought processes when he/they wrote same. Are they radical in content and nature [we don't know, and there's a reason for that]????????????????????

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 12:05PM

This is growing tiresome. Is this sort of nonsense really what the Spectator represents? Let's examine your claims here.

Mr. Coons described himself as a bearded marxist? Not quite. He described himself as being described by his friends (jokingly) as a bearded marxist.

"But do you know what was being taught at the Yale Divinity School when Coons was there as a graduate student? Witchcraft". False. Mr. Lord managed to uncover that there's a history of witchcraft class being taught in the spring 2010 semeseter. Was that taught 18 years ago? No.

"Along with classes in witchcraft, there were classes in Queer Worship and Feminist/Womanist/Gendered Theologies, and, in the Introduction to Christian Ethics II, there was Black Liberation Theology, a study Coons first picked up in Africa. Were the "values" taught in these classes among those absorbed by Coons at the YDS? We do not know because Coons is not answering Lord's calls for him to release his transcripts. " False. Those values weren't taught in those classes, because again, those classes are being taught in the spring 2010 semester. Mr. Coons graduated from YDS in 1992 (not 1994, as Mr. Lord claims. If you want proof, look at the interview Mr. Lord links to.)

Mr. Tyrrell, aren't you even slightly ashamed to be publishing this rubbish?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 3:13PM

Ashamed? Hell no! Why so hesitant to claim your inner Marxist, DRed? Could it be the disastrous upcoming election you libtards are facing?

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 3:35PM

This article is specious nonsense. What does that have to do with claiming my inner Marxist (whatever that means)? Anything to offer but name calling?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 4:13PM

If it's good enough for Van Jones and Anita Dunn, it should be good enough for the Bearded Marxist, right? Why so hesitant to claim the Marxist mantle now?

C'mon now, 'fess up!

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 4:32PM

SoCon, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm discussing the lies that Mr. Tyrrell published in this article. If you'd like to engage in some infantile name calling, I suggest you piss off and find someone else, as I have neither the time nor the inclination to oblige you.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 4:45PM

You refuse to answer my question. I just want to know why you object so strenuously to admitting the self-identified "Bearded Marxist" Coons is just that--a Bearded Marxist?

Communists and Marxists abound in your party--why all the fuss over Coons the BM?

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 4:57PM

Read the second paragraph of my original post.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 5:30PM

You're wrong. Bearded Marxist Chris Coons wrote an article for his school paper titled, "Chris Coons: The making of a Bearded Marxist."

Sorry, his friends weren't involved.

You and the Bearded Marxist, Chris Coons, should embrace your inner Marxist, DRed; Van Jones and Anita Dunn have.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 5:43PM

" My friends now joke that something about Kenya, maybe the strange diet, or the tropical sun, changed my personality; Africa to them seems a catalytic converter that takes in clean-shaven, clear-thinking Americans and sends back bearded Marxists."

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 5:55PM

Coons' friends called him a Marxist for a reason--just what could that be? Perhaps it was the Bearded Marxist's "fundamental transformation."

When did "Marxist" become a dirty word to you?

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 6:06PM

The reason was that they thought it was funny. At least you admit now that it was his friends who called him a bearded marxist. We're making progress.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:29PM

Coons called himself a Bearded Marxist first--that's where his friends got it. Nice try, though.

You still haven't answered my question: "When did "Marxist" become a dirty word to you?"

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 7:39PM

hahaha. Where did you get that from? Because the title precedes the article?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 8:20PM

Answer my question.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 8:48PM

When did Marxist become a dirty word to me? I've thought it was a silly philosophy since I first read about it, back in the salad days of my youth.

"Coons called himself a Bearded Marxist first--that's where his friends got it". Do you have a shred of proof for this?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 10:15PM

The salad days of your youth? Waxing poetically tonight, are we?

I think Marxism is silly, and dangerous, too. Why do so many Marxists work for Obama and why do you object to calling the BM a Marxist?

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 11:09PM

"Coons called himself a Bearded Marxist first--that's where his friends got it". Do you have a shred of proof for this?

I'm still waiting. I've treated you with nothing but respect. You've called me a fascist, a libtard and a liar. The least you can do is try to back it up.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 11:42PM

Libtard was not meant as an insult; sorry if I hurt your feelings. I only called you a liar because you called RET a liar first. When did I call you a fascist? I don't remember.

Coons wrote an article for his school paper inwhich he called himself a bearded Marxist --that's good enough for me. I don't care what his friends thought, they're not running for the US Senate. I'm surmising just as you are.

Tom| 10.1.10 @ 7:47AM

DRED,
I've read the article in question and I have a few questions for you:

Why did his friends call him bearded Marxist? I've had lots of friends and none have ever called me that. If they joked about it it was mostly because there was a shred of truth in it.

Did you read the article? He pretty clearly had a certain sympathy for Marxist views. Whether he was a Marxist or not is unclear from the article but it is certain he did not think it was a 'silly philosophy'.

DRed| 10.1.10 @ 10:41AM

Yes, of course I read the article. As you say, there may have been a shred of truth. But let's be serious here. This is a college nickname. It's not like he left Amherst and vanished into the revolutionary underground. You actually think he's a marxist? Believes in the dictatorship of the proletariat?

SoCon| 10.1.10 @ 11:18AM

Uh, yes, we do. Took you a while, old boy, but I think you finally got it!

DRed| 10.1.10 @ 11:40AM

Well, it's a pretty absurb position.

SoCon| 10.1.10 @ 3:31PM

Not if you have eyes, ears and half a brain.

Oldefarte| 9.30.10 @ 4:42PM

RED, as in Communist? Tell Eric and everyone at your Dept. of Justice office HELLO for all of us conservatives [and tell them that their extreme-radical blogging on conservatives sites to promote their bosses' message isn't working!!!!!!!!!!

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 4:56PM

No.

Now, anyone want to explain to me how publishing blatant lies is the fair way to cover an election?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 5:32PM

What lies? The only lies I read here are yours.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 6:07PM

Which ones? Be specific, and show me some evidence.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:32PM

You lied when you claimed Coons' friends rather than he, himself, came up with the name "Bearded Marxist." Chris Coons identified himself as a Bearded Marxist.

BackToBasics| 9.30.10 @ 7:14PM

Maybe those classes were not being taught in 1980's and early 1990's by those names but such material was no doubt included in the classes he attended. Today, the universities are just more brazen about what they offer and do not feel the need to "hide" such course offerings. But the foundations for the crop of classes you mention were already being laid in 1992 and even before at Yale and at very many universities. Such nonsense is even being taught at the high school level.

Yale was not "pristine" and void of Marxist teachings, witchcraft, feminist and gender and homosexual teachings, etc, etc, when Coons attended. It's just better to admit to it that he's a Marxist.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 7:29PM

By your logic just about every university grad in America is a marxist, which makes the term meaningless. Clarence Thomas went to Yale-is he one too?

And do you seriously not understand the difference between teaching a class on the history of witchcraft and teaching the practice of witchcraft?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:35PM

Justice Thomas never referred to himself as a Bearded Marxist. If he had, I would have taken exception to his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Do you understand that Christine O'Donnell was only 16 years old when she briefly "dabbled in witchcraft?"
Your powers of discernment aren't so great yourself.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 8:54PM

I wasn't talking about Ms. O'Donnell. "But do you know what was being taught at the Yale Divinity School when Coons was there as a graduate student? Witchcraft! " That's what I was referring to. Not only is the class Mr. Tyrrell talking about not teaching the practice of witchcraft, it's pretty unlikely that it was being taught 18 years ago.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 10:16PM

But you really don't know and that's RET's point.

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 12:14PM

Coons Is A New Castle County Government Serial Taxer .

Jeffrey Lord , "........ after promising in his 2004 election campaign that he wouldn't raise taxes Coons raised property taxes by 5% in 2006, then again by 17.5% in 2007, and again by 25% in 2009. Coons has proposed to raise hotel taxes, paramedic taxes, and, in a hilariously stereotypical move reported by the Washington Examiner's Byron York -- even taxes on 911 calls!"

Delawareans Want Jobs , Not Taxes .

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .

We Can See November From Christine's House .

Oldefarte| 9.30.10 @ 4:43PM

Yea, and our Commander can see America from Berut also!!!!!!!!!

Shamus| 9.30.10 @ 12:55PM

People do some odd things during their youth. I'm not convinced this is the best indicator of future success in a position.

Record on a previous job, however, should carry a lot of weight. The fact that Coons increased taxes so dramatically at a time when real estate values were going through the roof makes a very poor statement about his management skills.

Do we need another tax and spend advocate in the Senate? I'd say not, as the country is already overtaxed and the government disastrously overspent. O'Donnell may not have the best qualifications, but on the other hand, Coons has a proven record of failure.

Mimi| 9.30.10 @ 5:48PM

Just wondering... How much did he take in? What salary did he give himself?..Where did all that dough go?....Was he in Delaware? sounds like he may have been in BELL, California. Hey you LIBS stickin up for him...Can you find out? This GUY may be done like a November TURKEY!!!

JP| 9.30.10 @ 1:17PM

Funny that we have a President (Obama) and a potential acolyte (Coons) who refuse to divulge thier graduate or law school ciricula. Yet, the YDS and Harvard Law schools are supposed to be our elite schools, and the Progressives never allow anyone to forget just how brilliant and well credentialed they are.

It is probably too late in the game to change things. The voters in Delaware obviously prefer a former "bearded Marxist" with a penchant for raising taxes over an eccentric with conservative tendencies.

RCV| 9.30.10 @ 2:23PM

an eccentric liar.

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 3:09PM

Coons' repeated breaking of his pledge not to raise taxes shows he's a liar .

Delawareans want less Government & Less Taxes .

Negro X| 9.30.10 @ 9:03PM

RCV, 'an eccentric liar' glad to see you have recognized the truth about obama.

Oldefarte| 9.30.10 @ 4:45PM

Not if they vote for Christine [it's never too late]!!!

Nate| 9.30.10 @ 2:24PM

Coons may have gone to a liberal university, but it turns out O'Donnell has been LYING about her education record.

She has twice claimed to have studied at Oxford University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world. (You would think that would be a bad thing to most of her followers.)

She did NOT go to Oxford. She has attended a variety of schools, but not Oxford.

Apparently O'Donnell is not as devoted to truthful disclosures as we might like her to be. You might dislike the fact that Coons went to Yale, where you like to believe the future Marxist revolutionaries of the world are being trained. (Which is idiotic, but you're entitled to your opinion.)

But at least have the decency to point out his opponent doesn't seem to be an angel either. (Although maybe she's an angle.)

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 3:15PM

Again, Coons' repeated breaking of his pledge not to raise taxes , shows he's a liar .

Delawareans want Less Government & Less Taxes .
"In a small state like Delaware, O’Donnell’s significantly higher fundraising haul — thanks to a massive outpouring of conservative support around the country — and the advertising opportunities it gives her pack a significant wallop. There is some fertile ground for her: Fifty percent of voters in the Fox poll want to repeal Obamacare, 53 percent prefer a 'smaller government that provides fewer services,' and 49 percent agree that 'the federal government has gotten totally out of control and threatens our basic liberties unless we clean house and commit to drastic change."

Jeremiah| 9.30.10 @ 3:17PM

Stop lying, Nate. The website making those claims was not created by O'Donnell.

We don't need more communists like the Bearded Marxist in office under Obama--kick them all out!

Yalien| 9.30.10 @ 7:00PM

Do you understand the concept of fact-checking? If we assume that Christine O'Donnell was lying about her credentials (which she was, http://www.newser.com/story/10.....xford.html), do you honestly think that she would tell the truth now?

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:38PM

Coons is lying about his Marxist ideology--doesn't that bother you? If not, why not?

Yalien| 9.30.10 @ 8:02PM

I think you're missing the point here--that is, O'Donnell is lying, and you won't admit it because it doesn't fit in with your oh-so-carefully cultivated mental rhetoric. Come back with facts, and then we might be able to reason our way to a logical conclusion.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 8:24PM

No, I'm pointing out to you that Coons' lies are much more dangerous to the Republic than O'Donnell's perceived misperceptions.

Since when did Marxist become a dirty word to you liberals? Since a devastating mid-term election for democrats reared its ugly head, right?

Haha.

Warrior| 9.30.10 @ 3:18PM

If she is telling lies about her education, then she deserves the "Biden" seat. After all, lies about his education was only the start of his misdeeds.

Oldefarte| 9.30.10 @ 4:47PM

No it's not 'idiotic' if you observe who resides at 1600 and who he has hired in his administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JP| 9.30.10 @ 4:50PM

I have never heard O'Donnel say she was an Oxford grad or even attended that school. But we all know that Biden plagerized several speeches from Irish and English socialists. And the people of Delaware continued to re-elect him.

RCV| 9.30.10 @ 6:57PM

She not only falsely claimed she attended Oxford University, but also lied and claimed to have attended "Claremont Graduate School." She did neither. She's a lying, conniving, thieving person. End of story.

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 7:11PM

Coons' repeated breaking of his pledge not to raise taxes , shows he's not only a liar ,but a Serial Liar .

End Of Story .

GO CHRISTINE!!| 9.30.10 @ 7:40PM

O'Donnell is going to beat Coons the Bearded Marxist like a rented mule--that's the real end of story!

Negro X| 9.30.10 @ 9:05PM

RCV,
And obama falsely claimed to be a professor. I suspect you enjoy being used sexually by bald men with beards.

Patriot| 9.30.10 @ 10:18PM

EW! Most likely.

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 12:15PM

Obama said he taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School. The truth is, he taught Constitution Law at the University of Chicago Law School.

O'Donnell said she attended Oxford University and Claremont Graduate School. The truth is, she did not.

I see the parallel.

Patriot| 10.1.10 @ 3:35PM

Please provide proof for your assertions.

We already know that Coons is a bearded Marxist, don't we?

Interested Conservative| 9.30.10 @ 4:59PM

YJCMTSU.

Actually, you can, and you have company as RET elucidates.

Still - if Mr. Coons is proud of his Yale experience (and why wouldn't he be) what's so hard about releasing the transcripts? Who knows what he took? Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not?

Did John Kerry ever release his transcripts? Al Gore? Yes, in both cases, though long after their respective campaigns. Remember why?

Nate| 9.30.10 @ 7:26PM

Where did you people ever come up this "release the transcript" demand?

Since when does ANYONE release their college transcripts?

It's a stupid request. A college degree should suffice, and that's public information.

Did Sarah Palin "release her transcripts"?

I don't think so, nor should she.

The whole thing is a bogus issue. What the hell is wrong with you people on the right these days. You sound demented.

Michelle Bachman: What did she get in high school chemistry? How many American history courses has she taken?

Who cares?????

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:43PM

The Associated Press sent numerous fact-checkers to Alaska to investigate Palin, and yes, her transcripts were made public.

Obama's transcripts? He paid over a million dollars to have those "inconvenient truths" locked away.

Negro X| 9.30.10 @ 9:06PM

Nate you idiot, want a federal job you have to produce your transcripts, now go back to licking obama's ass.

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 12:16PM

Why don't you take your vile foul-mouthed comments elsewhere.

Interested Conservative| 9.30.10 @ 9:20PM

Who wants to discuss O'Donnell's high school dates?

Geez, I thought this was the most open administration ever.

What is with you people? How hard can it be to release official records? Why not? What's to hide?

The answer to the Gore-Kerry transcripts is they showed worse records than W's. Remember him, the incurious president?

And of all the complaints that the right is demented? Seriously?

I bet you think the POTUS is intellectual as well?

Get real. When is the last time a democrat wanted to talk about an issue? Any issue? Heck - they've even given up bad mouthing the military, which is OK, but have they got an issue beyond let's spend more money?

What good are the democrats in the federal government?

It's been 134 years, but they've made it all the way back to Ingersoll's speech. Fat lot of good that is.

Oldefarte| 10.3.10 @ 11:38AM

Nate, If you had any common sense [which sadly you do not] you'd know [or be willing to admit] that If Obama released the hold upon his college writings/documents/courses taken etc, that it/they would DEFINE WHO HE REALLY IS. I [and many of us who graduated from college, not HS where you ended your education] had to write tons of course papers, term papers, thesis papers etc , all of which contained our private thoughts/philosophies/ideas regarding whatever the subject matter of the paper was. Obama's personal philosophy would be clearly revealed by a public reading of same, and that is precisely why he does not release same [since they would uncover his socialistic tendencies/philosophies contained therein]. Okay, dummie?????????

Regulator_nm| 9.30.10 @ 2:30PM

If the people of the good state of Delaware send the Marxist Coons to the Senate, then I believe we should rethink the need for a fence along our Southern Border and instead build it around Delaware to keep the fools out of the rest of the Country! LOL

Long Ben| 9.30.10 @ 2:41PM

Senator Joseph McCarthy was right , there were indeed communist working in our government as the once classified Venona Intercepts prooved irrefutably . And oh by the way
not only was Algier Hiss guilty , he was a guilty communist Rat Bastard .

Jeremiah| 9.30.10 @ 3:20PM

The democrat communists of the sixties are now in power!

Nikita Khrushchev said he would bury us and the democrat party is doing its best to prove him right.

Anthony| 9.30.10 @ 3:54PM

Lenin said that they would hang the capitalists with the rope the capitalists would sell them on credit.
The rope didn't travel far, we handed it to our home grown Marxists.
Now we need to take back the rope and do a little hog tying of our own, starting Nov 2.

Jeremiah| 9.30.10 @ 4:16PM

We'd better move fast and mean business because the Marxists are entrenched as hell!

Mimi| 9.30.10 @ 6:06PM

These Marxist are not going DOWN with a smile...They will be angry as pit-bulls... I can't wait for the SHOW! Maybe they will get so mad , they may just leave ...ya know ? They can find another Marxist country....Maybe the "O" will come up with a statist program for MOVING allowance, ship fare, The We THE PEOPLE..might go for the deal....BYE....BYE !!!

anon| 9.30.10 @ 6:41PM

It's people like you that make the rest of the world hate America.

Patriot| 9.30.10 @ 7:46PM

You feckless liberals already hate your country-- a few billion more should make your day!

RCV| 9.30.10 @ 6:54PM

You guys just can't deal with the fact that we defeated the Soviets, and communism fell over most of the world. It's hanging by a thread in Cuba and North Vietnam. But instead of celebrating, you have to invent new "communists" - i.e., anybody you have a political disagreement with.

DRed| 9.30.10 @ 7:06PM

Well, they used to be able to get by with the word liberal. But then Clinton became president, and instead of tax and spend, budget deficits and fiscal collapse we got 8 years of prosperity, a balanced budget, and a huge surplus. So conservatives needed to find a new word.

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 7:48PM

We got prosperity when Republicans took over the Congress in 1994 after Clinton's first two disastrous years in office. Or are you claiming the Executive branch makes the laws now?

Joe Blough| 9.30.10 @ 9:39PM

SoCon --

We also got Bush43 and six years of Republican control of the Congress: this period was host to reckless spending; unpaid for tax cuts (typified by Dick Cheney's remark, "Regan proved that deficits don't matter"); and two wars, Iraq & Afghanistan, waged through off-budget appropriations (thereby technically not adding to the 'budget deficit', but still adding to the national deficit). The economy was subject to repeated 'booms & busts' (stock market corrections in '01 & '03; an economic collapse in '07 -'08 ).

Some prosperity !!!!

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 10:28PM

You're right, GWB was a big spending RINO--but Obama has QUADRUPLED our debt in only 20 months. Try to defend that!

Democrats have held Congress for four years. When they took office in January, 2007, unemployment was 4.6% --nearly four years later unemployment is 9.6% after a trillion dollars in stimulus and promises that unemployment wouldn't rise above 8%.

That's what democrat rule does for us. You guys have got to go.

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 12:11PM

SoCon: So I guess you credt the Democratic Congress for the success of the Reagan administration?

SoCon| 10.1.10 @ 3:39PM

Why would I? They were huge tax and spenders.
Reagan fought tooth and nail to hold domestic spending down during his tenure as POTUS. The same can't be said for Clinton or Obama.

Learn to discern please.

Tom| 10.1.10 @ 9:05AM

The budget was never balanced and there was never a surplus. It is very easy to find statistics on total national debt. National debt went up every single year of Clinton's presidency. Furthermore, much of the prosperity was fueled by the .com frenzy, and much of the assets growth of that time was driven by lies and deceptions. AOL bough Warner with stock that was inflated with false reporting, Enron hide billions in liabilities, and many companies had enormous capitalizations without any fundamental business plan.

Negro X| 9.30.10 @ 9:07PM

Moron, even ed schultz is more intelligent than you.

RCV| 10.1.10 @ 12:11PM

Thanks for your usual thoughtful and analytic comment!

Tim*| 9.30.10 @ 7:05PM

"....The Chinese government still controls major aspects of the economy and society. For example, just about every Chinese bank is state-owned, so the government decides which businesses and individuals will get the most favorable loans. The domestic media are entirely state-owned as well and offer uniformly favorable political coverage. Perhaps the biggest vestige of classical communism is the fact that every square inch of land in the country still belongs to the government. (People and businesses can own houses and other property.)

Politically, China is as Communist as ever. The country operates under the highly centralized, single-party rule of the Communist Party. Every region, whether it's a province or a city, has two sets of leadership: local government functionaries and Communist Party officials. While there is overlap between the two groups—after all, government workers must be Communist Party members—the top local government leader must always answer to the top party leader. The governor of a province might make day-to-day decisions about filling potholes and snow removal, but the party official controls macro decisions like which businesses get state money and prime real estate. "

The One We've Been Waiting For| 9.30.10 @ 7:18PM

We're buying shrimp, RCV.

"You guys just can't deal with the fact that we defeated the Soviet..."

Lets face it RCV we were sympathetic to Soviet interests during the entire Cold War. Sure since the fall we try to include ourselves in the victory but on all substantive issues the progressives have always hated their country. America was very bad until they elected me. Didn't you read what Michelle said? We don't need to hide this anymore. They elected us even though this was fairly obvious. It is time to talk about how fair health care was in the Soviet Union and how unfair it is here. Don't let these wingnuts off the hook by talking about the reality of what we promise versus what we deliver. As my good friend and co-author Billy Ayers said many of them will have to end up in re-education camps. My old communications director, Anita Dunn indicated her and my admiration for Chairman Mao. That guy knew how to break some eggs making an omelet. Maybe we need a "great leap forward" too. Maybe that is what progressive change is all about, breaking eggs. Oh well, off to play some golf, the people's game. Don't ask, don't tell forever, baby.

Jimbobogie| 9.30.10 @ 9:41PM

Looking at the Deleware race as an outsider, it looks as if, no matter who ultimately wins the seat, the state is hardly going to be "well-represented" in Washington. Let's look at the main issue folks, and lay off the name-calling. Deleware's got a problem looming and it looks as if there's nothing th at can be done.

Jimbobogie| 9.30.10 @ 9:43PM

Sorry about the misspelling of Delaware-like I said, I'm an outsider. :)

SoCon| 9.30.10 @ 10:30PM

America's got a problem looming and it looks as if there's nothing that can be done. Or not.

albert constantine jr.| 9.30.10 @ 11:32PM

Delaware's problem became America's problem. In 1972, we had a US Senator who was an entrenched incumbent somewhat moderate Republican. A brash 29 year old lawyer who was New Castle County Council President challenged him in the Senate Race. The challenger got some help from the unions (In Charles Brandt's book "I Hear You Paint Houses", convicted Teamster's assassin Frank Sheeran details how he illegally diverted Boggs' campaign literature right before Election Day), and the challenger won. It was not brought out during the campaign that the challenger had been caught plagiarizing his work in law school as but one of his character flaws. The name of that challenger, of course, was Joe Biden.

Whoever it was above who suggested building the wall around Delaware, you're too late. The time to wall us in was before January, 1973, when Biden was sworn in. Now he's America's embarassment.

I have no problem with anyone dissecting Christine O'Donnell's entire live. thus far, nothing that has been revealed about her approaches the level of serial cheating, dishonesty, confabulation, obfuscation and just plain blowhardiness that made up Biden's record. I despise those characteristics in him, but more importantly, even if he was a perfect gentleman with integrity, I disagreed with almost every position or significant vote he ever made in Congress since 1973.

Coons also is a former New Castle County Council President. In 2004, he defeated now convicted felon (also a Biden ally) Sherry Freebery and Richard Korn (now running for Delaware State Auditor) in the democratic primary for County Executive. He went on to defeat that highly qualified former New Castle City Council President Chris Castagno in the general election, and then set out breaking all of his promises about not raising taxes. As County Council President prior to his campaign, he should have been well aware of the status of revenues and the budget, and could have campaigned honestly. He did not, and as a result, every other property owner in New Castle County is shelling out more each month in taxes for less service.

Given this history, as well as the high level of scrutiny Christine O'Donnell has undergone, it seem entirely appropriate to examine every aspect of his education, political and professional career. If you want to look at Christine O'Donnell's record or lack thereof at Fairleigh - Dickinson, Phoenix, Princeton or Oxford, and how and when it was paid for and who she dated in high school, that's fine. I want to know who signed Chris Coons' yearbook, what he did in and after high school, what he knew about the illegal activities of Sherry Freebery and Tom Gordon (his predecessor in County Exec's office, convicted of a misdemeanor only) as "ethicist" and Council President (as well as when he knew it), his transcripts, any speeches he might have plagiarized from Neil Kinnock (sorry, wrong former New Castle County Council President), etc. I hope that Mr. Lord, Mr. Tyrell and AMSPEC stay after this, or who knows what Delaware might foist on the rest of the country again like the national embarassment of Biden.

Marc Jeric| 9.30.10 @ 11:48PM

America is waking up to theNY Times, the Washington Post, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN... I, to the contrary, started calling the NY Times as the NY Pravda, The Washington Post as The Washington Izvysetiya...already in the late 1960's. You see - I was a refugee from a communist hell and therefore knew what I was talking about.