The Left has always had it's "sacred cows." "Sacred cow" refers to any person or policy that is held to be above criticism. The list has included Margarett Sanger, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson, Social Security and other social welfare programs, the Minimum Wage, Rent-Control and Gays. This list is of course, not exhaustive for there have been many more "sacred cows" whose usefullness to the Left is fleeting and short-lived: Cindy Sheehan, Richard Clark, Joe Wilson and the families of 9/11 victims who criticised the Bush administration.
The Left loves its "sacred cows" because it allows them to be nasty and polemical, making wildly irresponsible and irrational personal and political attacks while remaining free from criticism or objection. That's right, not only can one not criticise Leftist "sacred cows," one may not even disagree with them; for mere disagreement is itself, painted as a vicious personal attack. This is rather odd considering the fact that the Left is always first to claim that nothing and no one is above criticism.
The new popular "sacred cow" is Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa), who has called for a pull-out in Iraq coupled with personal attacks against both the President and Vice-President. Note the civil nature of the following quote from Murtha referring to the Vice-President, "I like guys who got five deferments and [have] never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."
Republicans who have criticised Murtha's policy positions on the war - setting aside his personal attacks on the President and Vice-President - have been vilified for having the audacity to criticise as "decroated Vietnam War veteran." With all due respect to his service in Vietnam, the fact remains that Congressman Murtha is a politician today. He has proposed a policy that many people find foolish and irresponsible. Many of those who currently serve in the military view any retreat in the face of danger as the epitome of cowardice. Are those who disagree with Congressman Murtha, barred from voicing their disagreement with and criticism of his ideas? If we listen to Democrats and their willing accomplices in the media the answer is a resounding, "yes."
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