April 29, 2005

Dictator Update: Is Naifeh Like Saddam?

Nashville radio talk host Steve Gill responded to my mild criticism of his comparison of Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and former Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein with the following email:

Thanks for the reference in the blog. My comparison of Naifeh was actually focused on how our young troops are fighting and sometimes dying on the front lines of freedom to bring democracy to the Middle East while petty political tyrants like Jimmy Naifeh are undercutting basic democratic principles here at home.

To me, that is the real shame of his actions. I did refer to his Saddam Hussein-esque heavy handedness, and I stick by that comparison.

Let's review. Raw power exercised to benefit the powerful themselves rather than following the rules and standards of a democratic system? Check. Silencing those who would object by the use of threats and intimidation? Check. Narcissistic self importance and a willingness to ignore the law when it is inconvenient? Check. Keeping lackeys and yes-men (and women) close by to constantly reaffirm the wisdom and greatness of their beloved leader? Check. Using power to attain great personal wealth and luxury? Check. Paranoid fears that someone may try to remove him from power? Check. Shall I go on?????

Where I disagree with Gill is the overt comparison to Saddam Hussein, for the simple reason that it gave Naifeh a way to shoot back. Until Steve compared Naifeh to Saddam, Naifeh was on the defensive and under scrutiny for his heavy-handed, abusive-of-power and, yes, downright dictatorial actions on the House floor on April 27. But WKRN's story, the first major media coverage of the story in the Nashville market, focused not on what Naifeh did wrong, but on Gill's "Saddam" remarks. Instead of the WKRN story showing the damning video of Naifeh's dictorial actions, it carried video of Steve Gill behind his radio mic.

Naifeh was under heavy fire. The Saddam remark gave him a target at which to shoot back - and gave the media a way to cover the story without making Naifeh look bad. When your enemy is drowning, you don't toss him a rope.