No one cares about a war that isn’t there

“I want a World War Two style victory plan-a decisive, all out cataclysmic effort to break the back of the drug culture.”

Yes, Newt Gingrich actually said that.

Please let that sink in. He did not say he wanted a World War Two style war on drugs, but against drug culture.

What does that mean, exactly? It is beyond dispute that Newt wants to execute drug criminals, as he has recently reiterated his support for Singapore-style drug laws.

But as we all know, executions don’t win World War Two style wars, so what would Newt do?

Beats me. How about invading the Haight Ashbury? Or blowing up the Merry Pranksters’ “FURTHER” bus?

Regardless of whether or not people support the war on drugs, Newt’s World War Two statement would be considered hopelessly loony if uttered about any other culture.  Had he been on record as saying, say, “I want a World War Two style victory plan — a decisive, all out cataclysmic effort to break the back of the atheist secular culture” (or fill in the blanks with whatever disliked culture you desire), his candidacy would be toast.

But his outspokenly heavy-handed statist approach to the drug war apparently matters not at all to voters.

My first reaction is to find that scary. However, after reading a post by Bill Quick that Glenn linked earlier, I’m thinking that the reason no one cares is because the war on drugs ranks so far below all the issues of importance that it just doesn’t register on the charts. As Quick points out (and as I have similarly pointed out) homosexuality and moral issues rank at the bottom. And I guess I never thought about it before, but apparently WOD ranks way down in the less than one percent category as an issue of importance.

Hardly worth another World War Two.

MORE: I should add that when I say “no one cares” I am referring not to everyone, but mainly to Gingrich’s incredibly clueless (or incredibly callused) supporters.

Radley Balko cares, and he is keeping track.

The Gingrich drug war agenda is deadly serious, and not mere rhetoric cranked out for the masses.

I think the man is a clear and present danger to our freedom.

All I can do is hope he loses now rather than later.