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Pat Buchanan Thinks the Key to Re-Building the Republican Party is Scapegoating Minorities |
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As I’ve noted, the Republican party has some work to do if it wants to erase the stain that racism has left on the party, including, but not limited to the series of racist comments Republican elected officials, staffers, and activists have directed at President Obama and his wife over the past year. I’m still waiting to see if Republican leaders will take this on, but some people would like to see the party embrace the politics of division.
Pat Buchanan’s group, The American Cause, held a conference last weekend that provided guidance for conservatives and Republicans looking to build “a new majority.” (Thanks to Think Progress for reporting on this). During a panel discussion, some panelists suggested backing English-only initiatives as a way to build support among working-class Democrats (who, according to the panelists, must care more about linguistic primacy than they do about paying their mortgages). The proposal did include some unintended comic relief–a banner hanging over the panelists misspelled the English word “conference”.
Scapegoating minority groups during a time of economic crisis is an old, tired tactic that should be relegated to the dustbin of history. This is an appeal that depends on ugly racial divisiveness. One of Buchanan’s panelists, Peter Brimelow, describes himself as a “white nationalist” and has suggested the Republican party “must appeal to its base: “white Americans.”
One question I have is: why is Pat Buchanan able to market himself as a mainstream commentator, appearing regularly on cable TV shows like Hardball and Morning Joe? He has immersed himself in the ugly politics of scapegoating minority groups. It might be nice if, at the least, Chris Matthews or Joe Scarborough asked him about this some time.
On the plus side, I don’t think these scare tactics (panelists suggested that Obama could force Americans to speak Spanish) will actually build the new majority Buchanan promises. That doesn’t mean scapegoating can be ignored. For one thing, the politics of scapegoating minority groups can be dangerous.
The Republican party is faced with a choice. Is it a party that believes scapegoating minority groups is the way to political re-birth, or is it a party that will denounce the ugly message on display at The American Cause’s conference? Speakers at the conference included two former Republican congressmen (Tom Tancredo and John Hostettler), former Republican secretary of state from Ohio (Ken Blackwell), Newt Gingrich’s former press secretary Tony Blankley, and Buchanan himself, a former Republican presidential candidate. Will anyone in the party make clear that they denounce the politics of scapegoating spread by these prominent Republicans?
Eldelson%u2014It%u2019s me! You Doctor of Truth exposing you for the lies and unconscionable disinformation tactics you use. You are a study of Goebbels but so transparent. Lets start with you source for the American Cause meeting results. I notice you quote a left wing blog as you source of information and comments for the actual meeting. I have not been able to find minutes of the meeting to verify the racist statements you and your sympathizers are proclaiming. Only what your propangda blog states. Know your propensity to lie I am very uncomfortable taking your word of what happened at any meeting much less your biased reporting of a Republican meeting. So, lacking the original text of the meeting (which you also lack) lets take some of your Nazi like charges and analyze them.
1) I%u2019m still waiting for the racist charges you attribute to the whole Republican Party against President Obama. As I%u2019ve stated before I want actual proof of what you claim and not what some left wing blog states. I realize truth in lending is difficult for you - but try.
2) Am I to assume you do not support English as a primary language and requirement for citizenship and mortgages? What language would you prefer? Remember, whatever language you choose must be in all contract law, schools, air traffic control etc.
3) %u201CScapegoating minority groups%u201D is a pretty serious charge. Please elaborate what groups have been scapegoated and specific examples of how they have been scapegoats. Remember the truth meter and Nazi Propangda when you answer, if you even can.
4) Could it be the reason Matthews or Scarborough don%u2019t ask Buchanan about his alleged scapegoating is you are lying and it doesn%u2019t exist?
5) %u201CFor one thing, the politics of scapegoating minority groups can be dangerous%u201D Yes I agree that lying to people when you have an unopposed platform is dangerous. You are doing the very thing you charge others with and know you are. A truthful blog will go a long way Chris%u2014try it.
Why would Obama force Americans to speak Spanish, when he already has practical knowledge of another, much simpler language: Bahasa Indonsia!
Apa kabar?