First most, we at this blog believe in free speech, no matter how wrong or heinous, it is guaranteed by the Constitution.  That’s a little document that this country is founded on (not to be confused with the Bible, which some folks thin).  Fox News, the Tea Party and some right-wing blogs have taken up arms against Ed Brubaker, Captain America and Marvel comics.  They’re decrying a sign in issue 602 of Captain America and one line of dialogue.  When the two are added together it implies racism.

One such person who’s screaming bloody hell is Warner Todd Huston, one of the bloggers at Publius Forum.  Taken from the website, here’s part of the where the name of this blog came from:

The name Publius was chosen as a paean to James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay who used the name as a pseudonym by which to pen The Federalist Papers, the famous defense of the Constitution that was originally printed as newspapers articles in New York. The articles were meant to convince New Yorkers that their state should sign onto the Constitution.

And here’s the irony and my issue.  A blog which takes it’s name from a man who defended the Constitution is attacking one of those things enshrined by that document, freedom of speech.  That folks is hypocrisy.  But there’s more issues with Huston’s blog post.  Let’s dissect it:

Sadly, this muscle bound hero that took on the whole Nazi army during WWII seems to be afraid of those American people who’ve joined the Tea Party movement. Not only is Cappy quaking in his little red booties, but he’s sure that the Tea Party folks are dangerous racists, too.

Captain America actually advocated for the U.S. entry into World War II a year before Pearl Harbor (nice little nugget of history).  However it isn’t Captain America that utters the dialogue that implies racism, it’s another character.  Also, Cap isn’t “quaking” about the protesters, it’s the militia group being lead by a rogue Captain America from the 50’s (long story).

Isn’t it wonderful that a decades old American comic book hero is now being used to turn readers against our very political system, being used to slander folks that are standing up for real American principles in real life — and one called “Captain America” at that?

Captain America is the personification of American values and progressive ideology, the definition of which can be summed up by “A person who actively favors or strives for progress toward better conditions, as in society or government.”

He fought against fascism in World War II before the United States entered the war, he embraced civil rights condemning racism, and recently he stood up against what amounted to the Marvel universe version of FISA and Patriot Act, two pieces of legislation that infringe on our rights.

This is a character that has fought for American ideals throughout his career and even stood up when he disagreed with the American government when he disagreed with it’s policy and felt it was working against American ideals.

In issue number 602 of Captain America, a new story line has begun called “Two Americas.” In it the current Captain (there have been a few of them, apparently) is on the trail of a faux Captain America that is mentally deranged and getting chummy with some white supremacist, anti-government, survivalists types going by the name of “the Watchdogs.”

Huston’s describes the group as white supremecist and anti-government.

In preparation for the infiltration, Marvel Comics depicts the two super heroes out of costume and observing from a rooftop a street filled with what can only be described as a Tea Party protest

Huston describes it as a “Tea Party” protest, at no times does Brubaker or Marvel.  In fact it’s described as an “anti-tax” protest in the comic book.

After this we find that the Captain’s plan is to send the black man into a redneck bar to pretend to be a black man working for the IRS and to get everyone all mad… because… well, you know that every white person is a racist that hates black civil servants, right?

Or how about Tea Partiers dislike civil servants and government in general?  There’s been violence from Tea Partiers which you can read about here, and here as some examples.  Huston himself implies violence is ok in a blog post he penned for RedState.com.  I’ve had friends who’ve been assaulted by Tea Partiers.

So, there you have it, America. Tea Party protesters just “hate the government,” they are racists, they are all white folks, they are angry, and they associate with secretive white supremacist groups that want to over throw the U.S. government.

In fact the Tea Party protesters do “hate the government.”  A simple Google search will show the myriad of signs that depict their sentiments.  In fact a few publicly advocate for an armed insurrection if they don’t get their way.  White supremacist groups are in fact encouraging members to engage in the Tea Party protests and get involved with the movement.

Nice going Marvel Comics. Thanks for making patriotic Americans into your newest super villains.

While I believe in the right for the Tea Party protesters to say what they want, and Huston to write what he wants, I also believe that Marvel has the right to print what they want.  That’s the essence of free speech and isn’t it’s defense, especially when you disagree, true patriotism?