Hating What’s Right: How the Modern Liberal Winds Up on the Wrong Side of Every Issue
by Evan SayetIt was almost exactly two years ago that I walked into the Heritage Foundation in Washington to deliver a speech about how the Modern Liberal “thinks” and why he invariably and inevitably sides with evil over good, wrong over right and the behaviors that lead to failure over those that lead to success.
Having had very little experience with the Internet, I had no idea that the talk would go much further than that half-empty room of eggheads. Instead, it soon went viral and became the talk of the conservative community. To date, the speech, which I called, “Regurgitating the Apple: How The Modern Liberal ‘Thinks’” has been viewed by almost a half-million people on YouTube alone. As far as YouTube hits go, that’s perhaps not the biggest number, but remember, I wasn’t wearing a bikini and singing about my love for Obama. This was a forty-seven minute, rather wonkish talk, by a previously unknown (at least in Washington and political circles) television writer with a bad haircut.
Striking to me was not just the number of people who watched the talk, but the calibre of thinkers who were sending it to each other, discussing it amongst themselves and going out of their way to contact me just to say “hi” and “thanks.” These were people who thought, wrote and read about this stuff every day and surely didn’t need to take an hour out of their busy schedules to listen to just another talk. This speech resonated with what I consider the best minds and most important thinkers and activists in the Republican Party and the conservative movement.
Since then, I have had a great deal of time to devote to the thesis of “Regurgitating the Apple,” as the success of the original talk saw me become an even more in-demand speaker, appear on radio and television programs and do the research for my someday to be finished (I promise) book now called, “Hating What’s Right: How The Modern Liberal Winds Up On The Wrong Side of EVERY Issue.” As I have devoted more and more time to what has been called the “unified field theory of Liberalism,” my conviction that it is a cult of indiscriminateness, intentionally promoted by those who see a utopia to be found in the elimination of all efforts to be right, has only deepened.
Also striking was the utter failure of those who took exception to my thesis and made arguments that didn’t actually work and only further proved my points. Name calling, ad hominen attacks, strawman arguments, vulgarity and anger were the vehicles of “debate” from the left.
As the number of viewers of my talk began to approach the half-million mark, I decided it was time to return to the Heritage Foundation for a “follow-up” lecture on the “thinking” of the Modern Liberal in order to revisit and expound upon some of the most important points from the first talk and to introduce some further consequences of the mindset I call “Modern Liberalism” and the rejection of rational and moral thought that now dominates the Democrat party in America.
Please enjoy the talk and, if you think it worthy, pass it on to others and link it to your sites. I can be reached for questions and comments at www.evansayet.com.
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58 Comments
Sweet! I must have watched that first video at least a dozen times and I love the new one. If you're talking, I'm listening.
Evan, you need to incorporate WHITE GUILT into that lecture. It's basic to the Liberal psyche. Otherwise you're right on track.
Heard both talks. I've even got them on my iPod! When I listened to it, I was nodding my head every time,saying "It all makes sense now!" to myself.
A friend sent me Evan's first video. My initial reaction was "I'm not sitting here for 47 minutes" but I decided to watch a few minutes. After the first 5 minutes I knew I was watching something special. I finished out the whole video and sent it to all my friends. Truly brilliant…can't wait to see your next talk.
Sorry I missed that one. I don't spend a lot of time at YouTube. Will have to see it now.
Evan, you were great on RedEye!
Your speech was excellent.
When your critics resort to name-calling and hysterics, then you know you've won the debate. I look forward to your book.
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
Loved It. Does it sell well on the Corprate Circuit?
Reverse racism comes out of two simultaneous and incompatible tactics to counteract discrimination — either minorities get the same treatment whites have always gotten, or whites get the same treatment minorities used to get.
I loved it too, Evan. Why aren't you writing policy and speeches for Republican candidates? Or hell, why aren't you running for something yourself?
This has helped me understand why it is so difficult to discuss anything with liberals – it's often like talking to a child.
The beauty of this video (and post) and others like it is the simple fact that empty headed liberalism is just that; it doesn't hold up to common sense evaluations… have you ever noticed, or kept time, of how long it takes for a liberal to react to cool logic with emotional invective? It's usually less than one minute. Check for yourself, and look at your timepiece. It will amaze you…
I think your "conversion" was as moving as David Mamet's. I too, downloaded your original talk and keep it for reference.
Thank you Evan.
Ack! I started watching and I couldn't stop! It was like lights coming on in my head to illuminate thoughts I already had but was afraid to say out loud. I thank you, too, Evan.
sayet loud – we're right and proud!
I'm looking forward to hearing you on Pat Dollard's show Thursday over at Blog Talk Radio. Pat works blue, in case you didnt know…..
I think perhaps Evan has over thought the situation. He touched on it, but I think most of the problems he speaks about can be attributed to simple selfishness. Everything stems back to the whole 60's mantra of "Do your own thing". Don't judge me. Don't say anything to me about my drug use, sexual promiscuity, etc. and I won't say anything about your vices. And that has snowballed into the indiscriminate behavior Evan notices today.
No, I think Evan has really shined a light on the issue.
The narcissism you speak of is the result of a foundation that has been built over decades. When you have an individual who acts as you say, then yes, it may be pure selfishness, but when you have an entire culture who acts on, holds, and promotes these same ideas, you have an established worldview.
One that is enshrined and nurtured in those institutions and industries that shape our culture, namely academia and entertainment.
It's been an immense pleasure knowing Evan, who epitomizes the team player concept, over the last 4-5 years, watching him continually hone his message. The scary thing is, folks, he's just getting warmed up. Sorry, libs. Ahem, modern libs.
Those in SoCal, please don't forget to support Evan's Right to Laugh nights of comedy at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, every third Tuesday of the month (last night excepted). For more with Mr. Sayet, please click (not fart) in these general directions:
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=ydkU4z...
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=ydprVr...
Evan, You really should give credit to Thomas Sowell. Much of your material was discussed in "Black Rednecks and White Liberals" and "The Vision of the Anointed".
Both of those talks were fantastic and have been duly e-mailed and posted in my little circle of influence. I love it when someone can take the jumblings and grumblings transiting between my conscious and unconcious mind and give them direction and clarity. While these themes are basic to Sowell, he has never put them that succinctly. While I revere Sowell as someone who can inspire that "AHA moment" and has many times for me this inspired a double "AHA" pulling the liberal mind to the part of the root that usually gets stuck because I pull too hard. Thank you Mr. Sayet.
You killed me on Red Eye…. I actually watched the Youtube vid based on that appearance. Cannot wait to read the book!
When you gonna be on RedEye again?
It was an amazing talk you gave Evan and I did send it out to several people.
Evan, the YouTube of your speech two years ago was great. My views have been generally conservative/libertarian, but you really hit upon some things I never thought about.
Oh, and get to work on that book.
Now that Obama is in power, arguing with liberals is like arguing with 6 yr old Anthony Fremont.
Evan: Hurry up and publish your book so I can publish my book. It's entitled: "Loving What's Right—-How the Modern Conservative Always Ends Up on the Right Side of Every Issue by Listening to What Liberals Think and Doing the Opposite." Thanks for the inspiration!
Are the libs hacking the Popmodal site? I can't get it to load properly
What a speech! I hope you get more air time on more mainstream media outlets, not just latenight like Red Eye.
Evan mentions Sowell many times in the video.
I had the EXACT same reaction. Someone sent that first one to me and I saw the time and thought, "Are you out of your mind?" The only reason I even clicked 'play' was because I had seen Evan do stand up already and loved the way his mind works. Well, of course I sat there through the whole thing and couldn't shut it off. Same with this one. Brilliant stuff.
these two talks make way too much sense…no liberal will sit still long enough to listen…the only way a liberal ever learns is to suffer the consequences of their decisions personally…for instance I always ask open borders proponents if they leave the door to their house open, not unlocked, but open. If they say no, I ask why. If the door to our country needs to open to all, why not their home? I've never gotten an intelligible answer.
That was the most important 47 minutes spent by any conservative in the last two years. I loved it Evan. We need to hear much more from you much more often. Brilliant! Loved it!
This was as good if not better than your first speech. This was great. Please keep it up. We need people like you in Hollywood.
Thanks for pointing that out. My comment was really based on the original video from a couple of years ago. I haven't had the time to view the new one. I look forward to seeing it. Please accept my thanks and apologies.
I've reached more people with that first video than I can immediately think of. It's really a great way to get through to people that liberals are morally inverted and that it's systematic and predictable.
As passionately and completely as Evan indicts liberals, I think he's actually a little too easy on them in some ways. Evan seems to believe that liberals are largely a group that has either been poorly informed or has made errors in reasoning that have led them to have a morally inverted viewpoint when they otherwise could have gone the other way had they not made those mistakes or been misinformed.
I really feel that is giving them too much credit. The leftists in my world are always the first to lash out and hurt, castigate, ostracize, and bully anyone, and not just in politics. The anger and narcissism come first as a matter of their innately bad character, if you ask me. I don't think you can talk them out of it. If 9/11 didn't talk them out of their viewpoint, didn't even give them pause for reflection (if they started hammering people with "America deserved it because America isn't what I say it should be"), then they tipped their hand that they were never really concerned with justice or compassion or human life in the first place, even as they were savaging everyone around them for insufficient compassion. They tipped their hand that they weren't nice people, they're clinical narcissists who hate everyone and care about nothing but themselves and CANNOT care.
It's about control. Americans are nice people and the only people I have encountered from anywhere in the world, and I've paid attention, who actually LISTEN to criticism of themselves or of their country and weigh the merit of the criticism rationally. Narcissists abuse people with this crap because it works, and if there were some other dominant paradigm other than liberalism/American Fascism then they'd use that instead, and did back in the old days. McCarthy was a narcissist bully too. Yes, there were lots of communists, he was right, but he lied, cajoled, bullied and grandstanded for attention the same way leftists do now and got away with it for the same reasons. It was All About McCarthy just like it's All About Sean Penn.
I can tell a person's a Lib just by looking at them.
Evan, in your original speech you took various positions and applied them with a very broad brush stroke to ALL democrats and or ALL Liberals. But that is not really the way to make a good argument. It would be like finding some pockets of racism among Conservatives and saying that surely all conservatives must be racist.
Part of the problem is you see the world in only black and white.
You mention Ward Churchill who I did not agree with when he criticized the civilians who died on 9/11. In fact I have reviewed a book by Churchill that I found sophomoric and simple-minded. But there are sophomoric and simple-minded people on the Right as well. This does not mean ALL conservatives are this way.
When you talk about liberals wanting a 'utopia' I have no idea what you mean. I know no one who thinks the world can be perfect. In fact it is not, never has been and never will be. No matter who runs it or what philosophy or religion we use.
When you talk about people who say Bush is Hitler you are talking about the far left. But you don't have to look far to find people on the far right who said Hillary was Hitler or now Obama is. But you don't believe that and no one on this board does either.
But you know this. Part of the problem is that you take a view that the conservative view is a utopia. Right? If not then you would accept, as I do, that the world is better because there are many ideas that conservatives are good and there are many views that liberals have that are good.
I've watched your YT video(s) a least a half-dozen times and every time pick up something new to appreciate. The speech is a staple for this family. Thanks for all your hard work. [seriously NOT trying to brown-nose but the video is a must for any thinking person, imao]
Evan,
Brilliant!
When you say that liberals are isolated from the consequences of their words and actions, this particularly applies to liberal politicians. Witness Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, busily pointing fingers at "unregulated corporate greed" when they were the culprits who allowed the banking industry to be flooded with worthless loans while they pocketed campaign contributions from the looters.
Ditto to all the great comments here! You do a great job, Evan! Like several others here, I have passed your original talk at Heritage on to lots of people, and encouraged them to do the same. Keep up the good work, and please post here often!
Uh, sorry ModDem, but more and more the world IS becoming black and white. It is becoming more and more like the world of the late 30's, when totalitarians were amassing power while liberals dithered at the League of Nations, and tried to buy off hostilities with the territory of helpless nations.
Yoiu express this very inability to draw clear distinctions between good and evil. Ward Churchill is not merely "sophomoric and simple-minded;" he is a crass and evil charlatan who slanders innocent victims of Islamo-nazi terror as "little Eichmans." One of Obama's cabinet picks openly blames his forced exit on the Jews. Have you never heard the term "neo-cons" used as a synonym for Jew? What rock have you been living under for the past eight years?
Mr. Sayet, I can't express to you strongly enough how much your speeches have done to give me more confidence in myself. I entered my PhD. program in Political Science a few years ago with a sense of respect and even awe for my professors. I thought it noble to teach people to help themselves, to think for themselves, to reach for the good, and to attain personal success that might benefit society. But as time wore on, I began to question myself more and more. After tortuous bouts of introspection, with the goal to formulate what it is that I believe in, I came to the conclusion that I believe in "truth." This belief in objective truth (which we all must struggle to apprehend) caused me to grow increasingly disgusted with the double standard of how 'anything goes' for the modern liberal, and how anyone who argues against them is 'de facto' biased, closed-minded, unsophisticated or a "right-winger." How can someone who believes in truth, individual rights and liberty be a "right-winger"? These are values that work in direct opposition to the state and political power writ large.
Furthermore, you must have a creative imagination to follow the modern liberal in believing that hard work, prosperity and wealth are a "conspiracy." To me these things are virtuous, beautiful and just. Modern liberals are against these things even as they appropriate these terms to mean their opposites. I'm afraid there is no place in academia for people like me, who find such intellectual dishonesty deplorable.
To comment directly on your speech, I don't think society is perfectible, for this leads to a totalitarian mindset like the one you have so brilliantly described. The conservative objections to the utopian program, from Burke to yourself, are well-articulated, well-documented, and hold up favorably against history. Yet the modern liberal has no mental flood-break, no instinct for self-preservation, and no reason will dissuade him from rushing headlong into repeated disaster. Thank you for letting me know it is just not me who feels sad and angry at times at the prospect of this country being ruined by its leadership of true anti-intellectuals and the millions of self-defeating people who believe them.
Well done Evan. A prime example of the liberal, “morale equivalence arguments. American exceptionallism is the enemy of liberal group think. Liberty, freedom, individual responsibility scares the collectivist. Keep talking perhaps you can penetrate the miserable liberal mind.
So if the United States ONLY followed a Conservative political agenda would we live in a utopia? I mean, if every liberal position is wrong then every conservative one must be right? Right? If so then you believe also in a utopia. Or is there an alternative you haven't considered? Like the place MOST Americans reside in; The Moderate position that takes into account many positions?
I'm sorry to say but your views are way too off the charts. America is great because it doesn't follow extreme views on religion or politics.
Yes! Yes! Define moderate? The USA, my home, and family. Individual liberty has but one enemy government right or left. As a freedom loving American I take serious my “contract” with the Founders of this country, The Constitution, and firmly believe in Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness where ever that may lead. I take care of myself and family that’s my responsibility. You stay out of my life, and I’ll stay out of yours. I guess you would find that extreme.
Wrong, America is great because it DOES allow for extreme views on everything….and for people to suffer the consequences of their views. Liberalism wants to say there can only be one view…otherwise you are discriminating…and there can be no consequences for your views. Sayet has nailed it.
Stan
I hope you understand that even the Founders of this country could not all agree on everything? There were deep divisions and rather nasty feuds between them but they found COMMON ground.
This is what I mean. When you say you "firmly believe in Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness and… I take care of myself and family that’s my responsibility etc" – you are talking about Liberal families as well and the things I believe in too.
I also understand we have a government which we vote into and out of power. And we pay taxes that give us infrastructure, help businesses and farmers, keep our military strong and even help older people who haven't saved a million dollars. These are great things. Conservatives don't seem to realize this and instead want everything to be about me me me and the private sector – which in case you have seen is failing a lot of people now.
Robert
I didn't say ALLOW. I said FOLLOW. What I mean is America is great because our government does not go to the Far right or Far left. We also keep religious extremists on a leash. MOST people do not FOLLOW extreme views. Most Americans are good people who reside somewhere in the middle. In 2000 they voted Bush in 2008 they voted Obama. That is pretty remarkable.
You may like Evan but he has extremist views. Only he doesn't think he does. Trust me, he is off the charts with Ann Coulter and Mike Savage and Michael Moore.
If your workplace is safe; if your children go to school rather than being forced into labor; if you are paid a living wage, including overtime and a forty-hour week standard…If your money is protected by FDIC, if your food is not poisoned and your water is drinkable…If you use highways for free, electricity at a resonable cost, If your parents are eligible for Medicare and Social Security, so they can grow old in dignity without bankrupting your family… If our rivers are getting cleaner and our air isn't black with pollution; if our wilderness is protected and our countryside is still green… If people of all races can share the same public facilities; if everyone has the right to vote; if couples fall in love and marry regardless of race; if we have finally begun to transcend a segregated society – you can thank liberals.
Progressive innovations like those and so many others were achieved by long, difficult struggles against entrenched power.
What defined conservatism, and conservatives, was their opposition to everyone of those advances.
Yes, because people would choose longer work weeks over shorter ones. And they would choose dirty water over clean. And they would choose a dangerous workplaces over a safe ones. They would choose to discriminate against their customers if the state didn't make them. And yes, no roads would ever be built and electricity prices would always go up. Thank God liberals are here to save us from ourselves.
So go ahead America! Embrace the stagnation of liberalism. At least you'll be safe.
I had no idea Joe Pesci's real name was Evan Sayet.
The result of the Founders disagreement was, “The Constitution,” a settled contract to the future, limited government, freedom to succeed or to fail. Liberals are in love with government and use bureaucracy to meddle and redistribute from the producers and give to them, them, them, and by extension increase the government collective. You mean CRE The Community Reinvestment Act, and GSE’s Govt. Sponsored Entities, Fannie-Mae & Freddie Mac buying and selling bad paper into the private sector to the tune of 5.5 Trillion dollars killing many firms, AIG, etc., and liberal Wall Street investors (Robert Rubin et al) playing with 30 to1 derivatives and thinking that would be okay. Or liberal crooks like Bernie Madoff, R.A.Stanford, yeah I’ve heard. K-Street and Wall Street are thick as thieves and have only their best interest in mind, and looking for a life from an omnipotent government is as foolish as it is dangerous.
Bernie Madoff 'liberal crook. Ha! I like how suddenly one creep who does something really bad is suddenly defined by who he voted for. Should I counter with Ken Lay Republican? Get real.
I also like the way Wall St is suddenly full of Liberals in your view. What freakin' planet are you on? I'm good friends with a Merril Lynch employee and he assures me often that Wall St primary votes Republican because they don't like government meddling – except of course when government bails them out. Does this mean Republcans are bad? No. It means capitalism and Wall St NEED the government to have oversight on them or they go off the rails. Conversely, I agree, government needs oversight. That's why we have elections.
Madoff, Rubin, Stanford are liberal, and Ken Lay is dead, “happy day.” Wall Street being “conservative” is a liberal myth, perhaps Rockefeller Republicans eh…hmm…(pinky rises in the air) That would be earth more specifically the USA. What planet do you live on? Should have let them all go bankrupt. You mean government oversight like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer, the wink-wink-nod-nod boys, that’ll be helpful. Democrats do not punish their representatives, it could mean a raise, don’t you know.
It is common knowledge that Republicans have a reputation is of being more capitalist and business friendly, and Democrats are more “tax and spend” as well as more welcoming to regulation. Wall St does not like regulation.
The trend of which party the bankers favor goes back and forth. Between 1996 and 2004 a higher % of campaign funds went to Republicans. From 2004 to 2008 it went to Democrats.
Now, that said, the markets actually have done better under Democrat control of the White House. Except now of course. But it will get better.
But you're missing my point. I'm not saying that it is a bad thing republicans are often more friendly and more liked by Wall St. I'm not looking to blame any one side for this mess. Both share a lot of the blame. And actually Dodd isn't as much to blame as Geitner right now.
This has been fun WR1. You are right as far as both parties being responsible, the difference between the 2 parties is only by degree. I would like to see term limits, the ballot box has dubious results right or left. There’s something about a career politician I find distasteful. You know the old saying, “all congressmen and senators suck except mine, ha… See you in the funny papers.
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