What is wrong with the political debate is associating ideas and ideologies with their radical, and incompetent purveyors.

I am for a weaker government with less services because that allows people to chose what is right for them in more areas. The logical fallacy that some on the left (Olberman for example) frequently arrive at is that I must be a racist because:
#1 The current leader of the group of people who want stronger government with more services is black. I am against many of his policies, so I must be racist.
#2 Bozo's like this guy you highlighted sometimes also share an opinion for less government.

Let me tell you there just as many bozo's to highlight on the left (and the many other positions not well represented by the right left paradigm) They are not "what is wrong with the left" however.

What is wrong is that our political debate focuses on stupid crap like this. Lets talk about the merits of policy (or the lack of policy!), not focus on the guy wearing the dunce cap in the corner.

That right there is what I'm saying... the people on the right who are making any kind of noise are the FNC, and by extension, these tea party nuts, creating a public image of the conservatives in America that is, shall we say, less than favorable. If anyone were to stand up and say "no, that's not what we're for" they lose out...
When they can trot out the policy wonks of the right, and when those people can reclaim the microphone, then the general discourse can go back to what matters... but for now... the problem with the right (and sure, on the left) is that guys like that have the stage...