Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
At NRO's "The Campaign Spot," Jim Geraghty discusses an attempt by liberal bloggers to smear Haley Barbour, who they apparently fear as a GOP presidential candidate, as a racist based on his response to a question in an interview with the Weekly Standard.
They believe Barbour whitewashed the allegedly racist record of his childhood town in Mississippi, which means he's either dishonest or grossly insensitive to sins of racism.
Geraghty, I think, is quite correct in observing that conventional liberal wisdom holds that Republican politicians are presumptively somewhat racist and Southern ones even more so.
Of course the race issue transcends Haley Barbour and his presidential prospects and handicapping. This is all about the left's stereotypical demonizing of conservatives and Republicans as racist. You can pooh pooh it if you choose, but we've seen it over and over again, for decades now. Remember the charge that "George Bush let people die on rooftops in New Orleans because they were poor and because they were black." The Democratic radio ad in Missouri that if you elect Republicans more churches would burn? That Republicans are forever employing the Southern strategy to gin up racism to garner more votes?
Charges of racism and nativism permeate the immigration debate; even some pro "comprehensive immigration reform" conservatives sometimes haughtily level the charge against their otherwise ideological brethren. Similarly, liberals framed conservative opposition to the Ground Zero mosque as being motivated by bigotry.
Likewise, the left frequently frames conservative opposition to same-sex marriage and the repeal of DADT as stemming from homophobia. Besides this being grossly unfair and inaccurate in the overwhelming number of cases, it involves a perversion of the language. Truth be told, critics of the opponents of same-sex marriage and the repeal of DADT come closer to having a phobia than the opponents themselves -- in my opinion. But who's keeping score?
All of this is getting worse before it's getting better. President Obama, despite holding himself out as post-racial, has stoked the flames of racial discord, from his extemporaneous comments (e.g., the Cambridge police acted "stupidly,") to his Justice Department's racially-based handling of the New Black Panther voter intimidation case, to Attorney General Holder lecturing America for being cowards about race.
As incendiary as charges of racism and bigotry are, the left considers it fair game to issue them routinely against conservatives.
We should understand the left's glib characterization of conservatives as racists, bigots and homophobes as being in the same family as their sweeping, categorical denunciation of conservatives as being devoid of compassion.
Just today I was on the receiving end of a group email from a liberal who condemned conservative opposition to the Dream Act. He stated, "The liberal in me will always want to err on the side of compassion and justice -- an area with which my friends on the right will seldom identify -- and I can't stand the thought of our nation being so cruel."
Apart from rejecting this liberal's notions of compassion and justice, I think the record is clear that liberals believe they are on solid footing in accusing conservatives of racism, bigotry, and heartlessness.
Moreover, I think there is a method to the left's madness, whether or not it is premeditated or conspiratorial. Conservatives are often intimidated by the accusations, to the point of softening and, in the extreme, reversing their positions on issues. The accusations also affects the conservative commentariat. Way too many conservative opinion makers allowed themselves to be cowed by the charges, which is why so many on our side are forever sucking up to leftist elitists and trying to set themselves apart from the Neanderthals that allegedly dominate our ranks.
So my questions to Ricochet members are: Do you think I'm overstating the case as to the left's habitual depiction of conservatives as racist, bigoted, "homophobic," and heartless? If not, do you agree this undercurrent affects conservative policy advocacy and governance?
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Jul '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
David, this is spooky...I simultaneously put up a long-contemplated post about race on the member feed.
Guess I should have pulled the trigger sooner.
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
Great minds, Kenneth :-).
Edited on Dec 20, 2010 at 4:11pmJun '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
If they call me a racist, I call them anti-semites. There you have it, "sticks and stones". If you guys would convert to Judaism, you could use that line yourselves.
Seriously, it is long past time that we conservatives take back the English language. Stop allowing liberals/leftists to define the debate and characterize the issues.
Edited on Dec 20, 2010 at 4:27pmSep '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
I have believed for a while now that we should ignore this charge and call the left out on it. Its ridiculous and we should treat the charge and those who use it with utter contempt.
And it is losing its sting because it has been overused and abused. 95% of black folks voted for Obama, up from 90% who voted for Kerry in 2004. Republicans are not going to make any headway with this group. The people who believe these things are not going to change their minds, because they want to believe these things and are desperate for any evidence that will support their existing beliefs.
We have been held hostage by this for too long. Republicans in my opinion actually care more about African Americans and race relations than Democrats and many blacks themselves. I am absolutely sick of this situation.
I also believe that defensiveness and acquiescence on the part of the accused, in the accusers mind is a tacit admission of guilt. Trying to show black folks that we care about these things is a waste of time.
I no longer engage in these debates and I think this is the best counter.
Oct '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
David—I used to think you were correct. But after the fake accusations against the Tea Party for racism, the charge has become the boy who cried wolf. It’s like dial tone now: If you are racists, sexists, bigot, homophobe, press 1 for Republican.
But it needs to end NOW.
Republicans and conservatives need to push back more forcefully to these charges (a la Andrew Breitbart) so that this tactic is no longer used. You know who used to be good at outrage? Bill Clinton. We need to borrow from his playbook and confront directly and forcefully those who toss these accusations without evidence and demand an apology. Begin blackballing reporters and media outlets who spread these lies. Shame those who carry the water for the left wing smear machine. Go to the mattresses.
We must draw a line in the stand here and now. Blacks used to be Republicans since the days of Lincoln. In order to get them to listen to our message, these attacks need to be fought against and squelched. The left is losing the debate in this country, and these charges of racism will only increase as Obama nears election season in 2012.
Jul '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
On the plus side, we are rarely as comically self-congratulatory.
Jul '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
Of course the Left's charges are rank demagoguery (though, to be candid, I do sense a certain amount of homophobia on the Right).
But the Left's tactics have been very effective at cowing elected Republicans, who rush to vote for every feel-good bill that promises to improve the lot of suffering minorities. Perhaps Republican opposition to the DREAM Act portends a little stiffening of spines, but I wouldn't count on it.
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
The academy is full of middle-of-the-road types who are thoroughly intimidated. Courage is almost entirely absent.
Nov '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
I think you are right on, David. I live in a very liberal state, and a very liberal county and that kind of attitude is pervasive on the left. It is usually reserved for some conservative they don't know. "Of course Ken, we would never call you a racist, you are more enlightened than most conservatives." I agree with the other posters. We need to push back on that. I've usually gone with this line, which works well: "How dare you call me a racist, just because we have differing political views?" and that usually puts them on the defense.
Jul '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
Wylee Coyote
You really should be wearing panties to talk like that.
Jul '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
I got a feeling I wouldn't like the academy. Other than the nubile coed thing....
May '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
I believe the Left's assumption of Conservative racism is both heartfelt and opportunistic. Recall the recent Journolist scandal, in which the journalists plotted to tar someone, anyone, with racism as a distraction tactic:
“If the right forces us all to either defend Wright or tear him down, no matter what we choose, we lose the game they’ve put upon us,” Ackerman wrote on the Journolist listserv in April 2008. “Instead, take one of them — Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares — and call them racists.”
But my sense is that, to their core, they do believe every conservative is a racist bastard. The only thing further down on the list being us heartless libertarians.
Aug '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
Red herring. Pigford , DOJ , all examples of the things that need to be hidden.
Edited on Dec 20, 2010 at 5:34pmAlinsky shell game for a nymphomaniacally willing media.
May '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
If anything, Mr. Limbaugh, you understate the problem. Liberals seem to frame nearly all issues in terms of noble liberals versus cruel, racist, fascistic conservatives.
Dec '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
The academy is chockablock with noblesse oblige. It's an anti-racism borne of paternalistic condescension.
Aug '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
Courage is absent. wow Paul - 2 tru
Jun '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
You know, I don't want to speak for all of generation loser here, but on behalf of generation loser, we see the charge of 'racist' as kind of a straw man. In my very liberal academic circles even, charges of racism that come up in debates between students almost immediately disqualify the accuser, as everyone rolls their eyes.
The term has been so misapplied, it has become meaningless. So, the term is holding less and less weight and less shock and power to end a debate. "Racist!", just sounds so antiquated... man. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go drink some Code Red Mountain Dew and eat some Bagel Bites.
May '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
There are several instinctive reliables that always get hauled 0out when nothing else works- "privatizing" Social Security, killing Medicare (with any reform other than rationing), racism, hate the poor, Billionaires for Bush, etc.
Just establish one solid rejoinder and use itt every time- e.g., "Only Liberal Fascists accuse people of racism, and only National Enquirer reporters repeat the silly accusations."
Do it every time. It is already losing its sting due to overreach vis-a-vis Obama, now make it ludicrous.
May '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
I posted in Kenneth's thread, which has a slightly different focus.
"Homophobia" is the one that drives me up the wall. There's no way to talk to someone who tosses around careless slander like that. Some just thoughtlessly pick it up from the folks around them, though, so I usually try to explain why it's a dumb term and see how the person I'm talking to responds before deciding whether or not to just ignore them.
Oct '10
Re: Endless Allegations of Conservative Racism
You're not overstating the case. Rachel Maddow just featured Haley Barbour on MSNBC, predictably labeling him a racist. She offered as evidence the Weekly Standard article you mention and a clip from Uncommon Knowledge. Give me a break.