Can I get more than 2 good answers to this????

Question

Why do people justify hypocrisy with hypocrisy?
When Libs/Dems are asked questions about Al Gore, or the Hollywood Left being hypocrates, they point to the Religious Right, or Rush, or some other Rep/ Cons as hypocrates.
Cons/ Reps do the same thing when they are asked about the "Religious Right", or some other Republican figure being a hypocrate, they point to Al Gore and the envrionment, Rosie and Gun Control, etc.
Do we accept hypocrisy with those that we agree with politically, or is it we can't justify it, so we point out examples on the other side?
And NO ONE tell me there are is no hypocrisy on their side of the poiltical ailse.

detoth: What are u talking about?? People accuse Gore ALL THE TIME of being hypocrisy.
Paul: I know this has been going on. Just seems we talk "issues" less now, and name call more.
Nitha: ????

Lame Duck: You DID answer, and were rewarded. I was just surprised I got only two answers.

Answer 1

The reason you haven't received more interest is because you are looking for intellectual honesty.

We ignore the hypocrisy of our particular side because we want to advance our agenda. We believe we are correct and Machiavellian schemes can be very effective. Ends justifies the means and all that.

If you want to advance your beliefs, sometimes you have to hold your nose. I am a Christian. I agreed with a great deal that the Jerry Falwell had to say. Blaming 911 on gays was not something I agreed with. Do I kick everything else he accomplished to the curb because of one egregious error, in my opinion? Of course not! And neither should you. Nobody is perfect. We go with the ones that promote the majority of our ideals.

Answer 2

I blame the media for most of the hypocrisy since they are in a position to manipulate the truth for their own purposes, whatever they might be. They will tell us that Al Gore spends X amount of money on whatever but neglect to tell us what he saves or how much he saves by using alternative energy sources. They are quick to pick out the negative because negative sells papers, magazines, gets the ratings, whatever. The same for the right, all we'll hear about is the religious right or gun fanatics, and not the good they have done either, because the public supposedly doesnt want to hear the good, only the bad.

No one is perfectly good or perfectly bad. I don't accept hypocrisy just because I tend to agree more with the left than the right. I cannot abide Rosie O'Donnell and don't like being lumped with her. The governor of the state where I live is Republican and I voted for her and am very glad I did, she is doing an amazing job.

The real crimminals are the media, who are in a position to do much good, but because they are part of major corporations, it's the bottom line that counts, and no one gets the highest ratings by reporting nice things.

Thank you for your question, it's good to put this out there, hopefully it'll make a few people think!

Answer 3

There may not be more than two good answers to your question. First, Hollywood stars do not speak for all liberals or all Democrats. They are not elected to anything. They are just private citizens who happen to have the attention of the media because of their celebrity status.

Second, it is fair to consider Al Gore a spokesperson for Democrats, he certainly ran for office, and he is still very politically involved. But, I don't understand where the hypocrisy is. You're probably referring to his high electric bills. Gore lives in a very large old house on his parent's old estate, and he and his wife do much of their work out of home offices. He does not tell people to change their lifestyles completely or to move into smaller homes or to get rid of their swimming pools. Instead, he says that people should make small lifestyle changes and modifications to reduce their energy usage and carbon footprint. He says if everyone makes these small changes, there will be a large cumulative impact, and global warming will be diminished and delayed. The measure of hypocrisy is whether people say one thing and do another, but Gore has indeed made many modifications to his home and changes in his lifestyle in order to reduce his carbon footprint.

Answer 4

The American citizenry is among the most ill-informed on the planet. As a result, the politicians know they can manipulate them with abandon.

Take immigration.....in the news as we speak. "Something must be done about the 12 million illegals!".

Why now? Did they just arrive this year? Or is it politically motivated?

And mark my words, the one who yammers loudest about immigration (Tancredo, anyone?) will soon be found to have illegal immigrants as their nanny, housekeeper and gardener.

I do think the Republicans have a bit more hypocrisy on their side (currently). You almost always find the most rabid homophobe is gay, the racist has sired a child with an African-American, the guy in charge of pedophilia is a pedophile.

I think it has to do with touting yourself as the "family values" party, then loading it up with politicians.

Answer 5

We are dealing here with human beings. Human is a trouble animal, irrational most of the time. Humans use reason to justify what they want.
So, in politics, we defend our friends and castigate the opposition.
Even when we admit that "all politicians lie", we rationalize the fact that some politicians help us and others hurt us.
If you are a person earning $200,000 year, you would tend to believe that the Bush tax cuts were a good thing.
If you are a person making $45,000 a year, you would tend to believe that a tax cut more targeted to the middle class would be better.
So, our liars are not as bad as their liars.

Answer 6

This is sad. Both sides stating that this type of argument is not right, and then pointing out the hypocrisy of the other side. Yes, there are hypocrites on both sides. Yes, it will impact whether others will take them seriously. It doesn't make the message wrong.

Answer 7

It just seems more hypocritical when someone like Al Gore, flying around on private jets and using more energy in one month, than most of us use in a year, or John Edwards building a 30,000 sq. ft. house, telling us he's for the average guy, try to run for office. A little hard to swallow.

Answer 8

Its the refusal to take blame or responsibility without a shared responsibility.
I did it, because you did it. Or "Do as I say not as I do" rule.
Ex: WE need to take care of the environment..."you do your part and I'll continue to own zinc mines, fly a jet, and use a lot of electricity"
or
We need to ban guns, but as long as my body guards can have them thats all that matters.
or
Newt Gingrich pushing to Impeach Clinton while he was having an affair.
We in general are hypocrits by nature.
I'm always telling my children not to do something that I've done a million times. Its about control, responsiblity and blame.

Answer 9

Most people only bear hypocrisy as a buzz word and too few know the real meaning let alone know how to apply it when speaking on behalf of others.

Sad, but fairly true and accurate.

Answer 10

You are absolutely right. I, myself, am guilty of this.

I point out the flaws of the left simply because they act superior and they sometimes need to be brought down a notch or two.

Can I be more civil? Of course! But sparring with liberals here on Y!A makes the work day go by faster.

P.S. I know Conservatives can be hypocrites, too.