Alan B. Cormack: Extremists, not conservatives

In his Oct. 10 column “Conservative coup creates chaos in House,” Dana Milbank used the term “conservative” 12 times, referring to obstructionist Republicans. They are not conservative. They are extremist, and it is about time we called them what they are.

“Conservative” is an honorable term, meaning someone who is careful not to waste money, cautious with change, unwilling to fix what is not broken, conserving the best of past policies.

These obstructionists are anything but honorable and anything but conservative.

Republican leaders met on Inauguration Day 2009 and vowed to obstruct everything the new president tried to do. They have refused to vote to confirm dozens of federal judges, crippling the judiciary. They have made war on gays, women’s rights, the Postal Service, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and tried to kill a reasonable deal with Iran, calling for war instead.

These are extremists who hate democracy. Let’s call them what they are.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Alan B. Cormack: Extremists, not conservatives."