‘Cancel culture’ claims reaching absurd levels

The feigned outrage from right-wing media outlets over trivial matters has risen to the level of absurdity.

Kamala Harris doesn’t salute her military escorts, for the excellent reason that she’s a civilian who’s not in their chain of command (Dick Cheney didn’t salute, either, and the Naval War College says it would be incorrect for her to do so), but on Fox it’s “disgraceful” and “a clear demonstration of her dislike for those in uniform.”

Dr. Seuss Enterprises announces that they’re stopping publication of a few of his books because they “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” and conservatives incoherently blame Democrats.

Disney adds a disclaimer before the Muppets Show warning of “negative depictions” of people of color, and conservatives claim liberals have canceled Big Bird.

Hasbro changes the name of their “Potato Head” brand (but retains both Mr. and Mrs. versions of the toy), and Republicans lose their minds.

Nearly 600,000 Americans have died from a disease the previous president consistently denied and downplayed. Almost 15 million citizens lost their health insurance during the pandemic, 10 million jobs have not come back, and untold millions are homeless and/or hungry.

But instead of focusing on real problems, Republican leaders distract voters with made-up “cancel culture.” Yes, it’s effective with their uneducated base, but fortunately that base is shrinking and increasingly irrelevant.

— Scott Paulo, Chico