Quote of the Day

GOP Chairman Michael Steele guest-hosting Bill Bennett’s radio show today.

STEELE: Good morning y’all, we’re back in the house. We’re talking a little bit of Constitution and a little bit Supreme Court. And a whole lot of saving America’s judicial system and saving our rights as citizens and not having empathetic judges decide cases, but rather judges who are actually understanding the rule of law and what the Constitution and those laws are all about. And how to apply the facts to the law and the law to the facts. And adjudicate my case. I don’t need some judge sitting up there feeling bad for my opponent because of their life circumstances or their condition. And short changing me and my opportunity to get fair treatment under the law. Crazy nonsense empathetic. I’ll give you empathy. Empathize right on your behind. Craziness.

He got the last part right. I suppose the opposite of empathy is… … uh … I got nothin’.

12 Comments

dada on May 8, 2009 at 3:04 pm

simple answers to simple questions:

the antoym of empathy is…republican.

BooMan on May 8, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Synonym.com provides no antonyms for empathy, but their definition is: understanding and entering into another’s feelings.

So, failure to understand or enter into another’s feelings is a synonym for Republican.
- dada on May 8, 2009 at 3:46 pm
  
  that’s from encarta…but apathy works as a synonym for ‘republican’ just as well.
- DaveW on May 8, 2009 at 5:44 pm
  
  So the GOP’s new message is that they’re going to enter into another’s feelings right on their behind. The images that conjures up are not pretty, but explain many of the mysteries about the Republican mindset. Anyway, this should broaden their base a little.

boran2 on May 8, 2009 at 4:16 pm

But Chariman Steel, wouldn’t the rule of law, umm, apply to other isssues such as, umm, torture?

Oui on May 8, 2009 at 4:22 pm

.
with that empathy again.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
- Dongi 2 on May 8, 2009 at 5:04 pm
  
  Thanks for the link, Oui, that was a fine article by Professor Kramer. It’s amazing how often torture goes with Empire, is it not?

Oscar In Dallas on May 8, 2009 at 6:40 pm

I suppose the opposite of empathy is…

…Antisocial

Also referred to as the GOP Platform (pdf).

aarrgghh on May 8, 2009 at 8:05 pm

retort of the day, via think progress:

i really think one afternoon, david axelrod leaned back in his office chair and said, “i know, let’s see if we can get all the republicans to denounce the concept of empathy.”

Indianadem on May 8, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Its not much of a stretch to Sociopath

1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Teacher Toni on May 9, 2009 at 7:45 pm

Is this Darth Cheney’s CV?
- Indianadem on May 10, 2009 at 9:24 am
  
  It certainly appears more than coincidental, doesn’t it?

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