When you think of tough crowds, Philadelphia sports fans or the audience for Amateur Night at the Apollo may come to mind. Washington Monthly blogger D.R. Tucker thought of the “right-wing Republicans” he expects will heckle Pope Francis when the pontiff speaks before a joint session of Congress late next month.
“Joe Wilson’s…infamous 2009 'You lie!' outburst will be considered a term of endearment relative to what ultra-conservative Republicans will holler when the Holy Father discusses income inequality and climate change in his speech,” wrote Tucker in a Sunday post. “Right-wing obnoxiousness has no known limits, and it’s a guarantee that you will see Republicans on their worst behavior on September 24…Their contempt will thrust forth like the ‘chestburster’ in Alien. Their voices will vibrate with venom.”
From Tucker’s post (bolding added):
A prediction: Pope Francis will be heckled by right-wing Republicans when he addresses a joint session of Congress next month.
Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) infamous 2009 “You lie!” outburst will be considered a term of endearment relative to what ultra-conservative Republicans will holler when the Holy Father discusses income inequality and climate change in his speech. Right-wing obnoxiousness has no known limits, and it’s a guarantee that you will see Republicans on their worst behavior on September 24.
Their contempt will thrust forth like the “chestburster” in Alien. Their voices will vibrate with venom. Pope Francis will be condemned as a Commie, mocked as a Marxist, denounced as a do-gooder…
…For these folks, Pope Francis is Barack Obama and Al Gore all rolled into one. The Holy Father is calling upon America (and the rest of the world) to pay attention to the climate crisis and its moral implications, and to reduce carbon pollution to protect future generations. That’s blasphemy in the Church of Climate Denial…
They also need to maintain their belief in the false idol of trickle-down economic theory…The Holy Father recognizes that morality cannot come from money, and that there’s nothing more demonic than what George H. W. Bush once called “voodoo economics”…
It’s going to get ugly. Will it get so ugly that Catholic Republicans who may lean right on economics and the environment begin to have second thoughts about sticking with such an uncouth party? That remains to be seen. However, what is obvious is that on September 24, this man of God will be put through a partisan hell.
