There is a common thread running through the many tributes to the late Dolly Parton.  She is usually described as ‘universally loved,’ and that is meant in the literal sense.  Country star Lee Greenwood put it this way:  ‘Nobody ever said anything bad about Dolly Parton.’  One possible exception to that rule is the ever-lovely Joy Behar, who described one of Dolly’s songs as ‘anti-feminist.’  Consider the source!

 

Joy Behar aside, Dolly Parton was cherished by Democrats, Republicans, and people of every race, sexual orientation, and religion. Her fan base was pretty much the entirety of humanity.  When YouGov conducted a survey earlier this year, Parton was ranked as the single most liked person in America.  70% of respondents had a favorable impression of the singer, with just 5% viewing her unfavorably.  Evidently, that one person in 20 was someone with an aversion to talent, generosity, kindness, and cordiality.  Part of her transcendent appeal was Parton’s tendency to avoid politics.  She called herself a diplomat, which she described as someone who can ‘tell you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.’

 

Everything Dolly Parton was … Hasan Piker is not.  Piker is the loathsome creature who has become a massive and painful thorn in the side of Democrats.  His execrable thoughts on 9/11 and Mao and Hamas are well-known, and this week he added still another outrage.  American Jews who support Israel, he declared, are inviting violence.  It sounded a lot like a threat, and even Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who campaigned with Piker, tried to distance himself from his hate-filled pal, with whom he partied the night before the Michigan primary.

 

Piker’s video channel is viewed by millions, most of them young, but that doesn’t translate into Dolly-like favorability.  According to another survey, Americans who have heard of Piker view him unfavorably by a 2–to–1 margin.  Even mainstream Democrats are finally waking up to the danger posed by Hasan and his band of radicals.  House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called his words about Jews ‘dangerous and anti-Semitic.  Colorado Governor Jared Polis denounced ‘crazy voices’ on the left, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer called Piker ‘appalling and disgusting.’  Gottheimer issued this warning to his colleagues: ‘No Democratic members should allow Piker anywhere near them on the campaign trail.’

 

Right now Americans are widely mourning the death of Dolly Parton, by all accounts a wonderful human being who cherished her family, friends, fans, and faith.  But few are grieving over the accelerating political demise of Hasan Piker, a despicable man who achieved fame by promoting hatred and conspiracies and vile Jew-hatred.

 

Next week the United States Congress will debate a bipartisan resolution denouncing Hasan Piker, a spoiled rich kid turned communist hate-merchant.  At the very moment that they consider that motion, the flags above the Capitol will be at half-staff to honor Dolly Parton, who rose from the depths of poverty to stardom and worldwide adoration.  They exemplify the worst of our nation … and the absolute best.