What do you mean, WE, white man?

Shoot, Atrios beat me to this but I'm going to post on it anyway...

From today's Meet the Press, former Middle East specialist for the CIA, Reuel Marc Gerecht said:

In 1900, women did not have the right to vote. If Iraqis could develop a democracy that resembled America in the 1900s, I think we'd all be thrilled. I mean, women's social rights are not critical to the evolution of democracy.

Ah, yassss. Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed! Robber Barons! Sweat shops! Why wouldn't we wish such wonders on our new friends the free peoples of Iraq?

I'm always hesitant to point out the obvious, for fear of seeming to insult the intelligence of my readers. But Reuel... dear heart. You know there are people today who would like to see us return to that Golden Age, don't you? Many of them fairly highly placed? In those days, an Inconvenient Woman like Cindy Sheehan could simply be committed to an insane asylum on the word of some male relative and kept there indefinitely. Wouldn't that settle her hash?

Think about it. No income tax. Politicians explicitly for sale. Land and natural resources for the grabbing. Women and non-whites firmly in their place. What's not to like? If, that is, you're rich, white and male.