Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: I wish the only race we worried about was the space race
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Leonard Pitts on telling the truth about the Republican Party. Miami Herald Here’s how The Southern Poverty Law Center defines a hate group. It is, they say, “an organization that — based on its official statements or principles, the statements of itAbbreviated Pundit Round-up: I wish the only race we worried about was the space race
Leonard Pitts on telling the truth about the Republican Party. Miami Herald Here’s how The Southern Poverty Law Center defines a hate group. It is, they say, “an organization that — based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities — has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.” That definition is offered preparatory to an explosive question: Is the Republican Party a hate group? I have my hand up. Pick me. Granted, in its “official statements or principles,” the party doesn’t meet the SPLC standard. Over here. I have an answer. For half a century, then, the GOP has taught white voters racial resentment, taught them to prioritize concerns about white prerogative over concerns about shuttered factories, dirty water, lack of healthcare, foreclosed futures. It did this in code — “Willie Horton,” “tax cuts,” “welfare queen” — which, while obvious to all but the most gullible, still allowed respectable white men and women to maintain fig leaves of deniability. So politicians accepted the votes, but never had to acknowledge the means of their manufacture. White voters gave them the votes, but never had to confront the reasons they did so. Donald Trump is the payoff of that devil’s bargain. His “innovation” has been to shred subtlety and abandon code. With blunt, brutish clarity, he tells four black and brown women to “go back” where they came from, and if you don’t see racism there, you’ll never see it anywhere. As Republicans have whittled down their definition of racism, they’ve whittled away their own morality. Until anything is acceptable, and nothing is indefensible. Not only are Republicans today willing to defend Joe McCarthy as a hero, if confronted by the “have you no decency” question … they’d be genuinely puzzled. Come on. Let’s read pundits. Read more