"Conservatives' Biggest Fear: Being Called Racist"

[applegrove]

Conservatives' Biggest Fear: Being Called Racist

By Kevin Drum at Mother Jones

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/conservatives-biggest-fear-being-called-racist

"SNIP............................

In Pacific Standard, Tom Jacobs writes about a new study that tries to figure out why so many people love to watch and listen to "outrage-based radio and television programs." After conducting a series of in-depth interviews, their answer, in a nutshell, is that unlike conversations with actual friends and neighbors, these programs provide a safe space where you don't have to worry about saying something that might get you ostracized:


But why is their pull apparently stronger among conservatives, who gravitate to such programming in much greater numbers than liberals? Based on their interviews, the researchers believe the answer lies in the fact those on the right have more to fear in terms of social condemnation for their views.

In conversation with conservatives, liberals risk being called naïve or willfully blind to potential threats—not very pleasant labels, but not especially damaging ones, either. In contrast, conservatives risk accusations of racism—and “being called a racist carries a particular cultural force,” the researchers write.

“The experience of being perceived as racist loomed large in the mind of conservative fans (we interviewed),” they report. Every single conservative respondent raised the issue of being called racist, and did so without even being asked.

“What makes accusations of racism so upsetting for respondents is that racism is socially stigmatized, but also that they feel powerless to defend themselves once the specter is raised,” the researchers add. “We suspect that this heightened social risk increases the appeal of the safe political environs provided by outrage-based programs, and may partially explain the overwhelming conservative dominance of outrage-based political talk media.”


............................SNIP"

[JHB]

1. Because the truth hurts

This goes back to the RW AM radio of the 70's, with guys like Bob Grant, long before Rush and the others showed up.

"I'm just telling it like it is."

[applegrove]

2. So this is exactly what cult leaders do. They take fucked up

people who can't get their narrative of themselves to match their actions and make it alright. They give them a 'safe place' to be fucked up. They make it allright. The people feel self actualization. They have meaning in their lives. Then no growth has to take place. They've just bought into being "good germans" (really bad germans) marching to the beat of the drums the 1% (cultmasters) play. I say people should be confronted on their racism and how it makes them so vulnerable to voting for republicans who have made them the poorest places (emotionally and financially) in the nation.

[DearAbby]

4. That zero'd me unto the statement from the congressman about being disrespected

it's fear. Once you drop the fear, you can't be easily manipulated. Look at the media on the right. They shovel fear on a massive scale.

[applegrove]

6. So true. Right Wing Talk Radio tells him what he wants to hear. That

he/she can be a 'good 'Merican' even though you are a racist. No need to grow as a human being and perhaps connect to people not exactly like you.

[OldEurope]

38. No. They are not good Germans. They feel like good Americans.

And that is why they want be with the Tea Party.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/06/tea_party_radicalism_is_misunderstood_meet_the_newest_right/

Edited to add: this was the answer to post # 2

[meow2u3]

3. They can't handle the truth

They want to be as racist as they can get away with, but not be called on their bigotry because they know racism in socially unacceptable. They think they can have their cake and eat it, too.

[BlueCaliDem]

5. ^^^This!^^^

They want to be able to shield their actions (that are based in racism) and continue to act like prejudiced a$$holes without repercussions and major loss of credibility.

But they aren't fooling anyone.

[SummerSnow]

7. I thought they wore their racism as a badge of honor?

[doc03]

9. That's the way I see it, the Republicans I know

are openly racists among there peers. Here in the Ohio WV and PA tri-state the "n" word is common place.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. They try to deflect

I actually had a rabid right winger tell me the other day if he got rid of all his racist friends, he'd have have no Democrats as friends.

Seriously.

[treestar]

24. I've seen that too

They tell us that WE are the racists. I also see them drum up as much sympathy for the poor white race as they can. They'll claim it is white people who are the victims of racism. With a straight face.

[noiretextatique]

32. omigod...if one asshole wingnut tells me i am being duped

Because the republican party used to be the liberal party a zillion years ago...I will go ballistic! They do not seem to grasp how offensive that is to black people...not too mention stupid and condescending.

[tularetom]

15. There are a few around here who are proud of being racists

[reddread]

37. oildale

plenty of sorry little towns in the valley with the reputation that blacks arent welcome after dark.
Lots of klan activity.
Thats not even the tip of the tip of the iceberg.
Fresno has nothing to brag about, thats for sure.
Most of the morons living on the north side of town wont attend the County Fair let alone go downtown
AT ALL.
Fear of crime?
Practicing racists.

[tularetom]

44. I'm up in the hills now don't live in the valley anymore but we got plenty of 'em here as well

[reddread]

45. I prefer overt racists

to those who think they can hide it, and those who do.
far more dangerous.

[Bosonic]

16. Some do certainly

[Raine]

17. so did I, they sure make no secret of it. nt

[treestar]

23. some do

which helps enable those who are still decent enough to be embarrassed by it.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. I used to be part of a political FB group

And whenever the issue of race came up the conservatives would start crying about the "race card" and defending themselves as "not being racists" long long before anyone accused them of anything.

They are completely PARANOID about being called a racist. Every single time, THEY would be the first to bring it up and we would just roll our eyes and reply:

"Thou doth protest too much" or "if you are getting accused of being a racist so much, the issue JUST MIGHT not be the other people..."

I called the birther movement racist and they tried to turn it around on me calling me a racist. Not only was I EASILY able to refute their assertion (something conservatives for SOME reason are not able to do ), but it was at that point we realized that the conservatives in our group did not understand what the term racism itself meant.

Never underestimate the ignorance of right wingers. They will always rise to the task of showing you how utterly stupid they really are...

[gopiscrap]

11. fucking asshole can't take the truth.

[napkinz]

12. The Treason Party

[Hoyt]

13. Two things Republicans hate: 1) being called a racist; . . . . . . 2) Black people. B Maher.

[applegrove]

19. I recall that I think.

[noiretextatique]

33. lmao

[Southside]

53. My laugh of the day

Thank you for that.

[summerschild]

14. As I see how this President is treated (and has been since his election) I have

thought about how history would record his treatment by the GOP. If it is an accurate depiction, it will surely not be flattering to the GOP. I've wondered if it ever bothers them to think about how history will paint their mean spirited and racist attitudes and actions.

[Marrah_G]

18. Easily solved: Don't say or do racist things.

[tblue37]

20. Of course the other option would never occur to them--

If they get called racist when conversing with normal people, then perhaps they should stop talking and acting like racists so that they won't be at risk of being called racist.

But they would rather retreat to a social bubble where everyone feels comfortable spouting racism, but without acknowledging how racist they are being.

[Initech]

21. Not all conservatives are racist, but *ALL* racists are conservative.

[sigmasix]

22. republican gangs

not all republicans are racist, but every racist is a republican.

[kydo]

25. When they are called out as racist the retort is usually this

"I am not a racist! All those black people are racist because they are all going to vote for Obama because he is black. That is racism and blacks are racist because they won't for the white guy. So I am no more a racist the black guy."

That is what I hear when I point out their racism. I still tell them "Sorry wrong answer and you are still a racist, stop watching Fox and listening to Rush it might help you see how you have been race baited." And then I always walk away while they yell things.

[MarchemintotheSea]

26. I personally enjoy hearing You’re a bigot because you won’t let me voice my bigoted view!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. They seem to have few qualms

about calling minorities and people on the left "racist" every chance they get. They love to call President Obama a racist too.

[underpants]

28. Dashboard believers

Last edited Mon Oct 7, 2013, 06:18 PM - Edit history (1)

great read applegrove

Right wing talk radio targets angry white males sitting in their car going home from work where they hate their boss or their lot in life on their way home to a wife/family that hasn't met their expectations. It gives them an outlet for their rage that could be vented in, say, exercise or simply accepting things as they are. It is a bit of a fantasy world where everything that they have failed to do or do well is not their fault. Liberals control their life they are told and that gives them some relief or an excuse.

The tri-leveled structure of talk radio (and Fox News with hot chicks in heels reading it to them) is:
Victimization
Follow me out of the wilderness
WE WIN!!! ....because of righteousness, "ideals", manliness, or they are right/can't be wrong/it has always been so (re-written history)

repeat on the next fake issue



I listen to RW radio just to keep tabs on the latest nonsense so I know of what I speak.

[Populist_Prole]

36. Super accurate analysis on the RW noise machine and its fans

I have been among that crowd for decades, listened to that garbage for as long, and in the past was even part of it to some degree ( or at least I dealt with them with enough tact that they thought I was a solid member their team ) and what you say about them and their reasoning is 100 percent spot-on. The ignorant self righteousness and indignation they feel is not unlike what an angry drunk would feel during a fire-in-the-belly rant, and any time you try to speak logically to them ( and thus deny them that righteous "fire in the belly" feeling ) they get defensive and indignant. In fact, the more coolly and soothing you try to be; the madder they get.

[underpants]

43. Thanks pop_prole

Another thing I have observed is that they have no sense of irony or sarcasm.
It just doesn't register with them. This allows the voice from the dashboard to say something and then laugh.... the listener doesn't understand the joke (on them). Rush sounds like swallows his tough fro time to time when he says things anyone would realize is nonsense.

[Populist_Prole]

46. You're more than welcome, and yes yes so true about the irony thing

I've noticed where Limbaugh would do some over-the-top parody or make a tongue-in-cheek slam on whoever he's slamming that uses excessive hyperbole or exaggeration; so much so you notice even he knows he's using hyperbole...and I've seen people react to it positively, cheering him on, not realizing the sarcasm. 'Poe's Law' in action. When I would point this out to conservatives in reference to it, they get all defensive as though realizing or admitting his hyperbole is somehow giving aid and comfort to the enemy ( in their eyes )

Had another discussion ( ahem...angry argument ) with my rabid tea party father a few years back. I made a crack about the hypocrisy of the teabaggers by using one of their own wag's talking points: "Get government hands off my medicare!" and how ironic it was. Believe me it went right over his head. He actually took my words at face value by focusing on certain "trigger words" and using his own canned response to each of them.

What's so frustrating is that they're so easy to lick in an argument; but they don't know they're licked. They think they got in the all-time comeback zinger.

[Johnny Ready]

29. Have Fun!

You can't blame them for not wanting to be called racist, because the majority are not imo. Naturally people like Rush Limbaugh have perpetuated a stereotype that has left the door wide open for this type of conclusion, that they are all racist. Obviously this cannot be true.
On the other hand I would say statements like "it's time for a bigot pride parade" and the fact most, not ALL Rep. cannot make a post or statement without mentioning the word "racism, or racist" actually convinced me I am in no way to be affiliated with their side. Truth hurts but that is a fact.
I lost some VERY good friends due to this decision, but it had to be done.

I think it's important to mention we cannot judge the whole by the actions of a few or even more than a few. It's a shame the squeaky wheels are heard the most.

[BlueToTheBone]

31. My rep (Womack-r-AR) definitely is.

He hates women, Hispanics and definitely blacks. His father has a hate speech radio station and spews hatred daily. Living in the south, I have an intimate view of the poor whites...they are desperate to have someone "less than" themselves.

[noiretextatique]

34. racism is and has been a GOP strategy

To capture votes and win elections. If the vast majority of the people who vote for them are not racists, why does that strategy continue to work?

[Johnny Ready]

48. Please - When did the "strategy" work?

A. Is it a fact or your opinion, that racism is a GOP strategy?

B. When was this "strategy" ever successful?

C. You only make our side look bad by claiming a vast majority of the GOP are racist. The "us versus them" mentality is a failure, and only further divides the country. imo.

I'm not trying to defend their idiocy but I also hope to make the point we cannot judge the whole by the actions of Rush Limbaugh and his insane followers.

[bullwinkle428]

51. Dear Johnny - please read more about Nixon's "Southern Strategy" and see

exactly how effective it was for him.

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/the-truth-about-republican-racism-and-the-southern-strategy/

"In 2005, Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman acknowledged the Southern strategy and formally apologized to the NAACP for ignoring the black vote in the previous century."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy

Let's look at comments from the famed GOP strategist Lee Atwater, from an interview back in 1981:

You start out in 1954 by saying, “Nigger, nigger, nigger.” By 1968 you can’t say “nigger”—that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites.… “We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, uh, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “Nigger, nigger.”

http://www.thenation.com/article/170841/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy#sthash.TszsRImL.dpuf

[noiretextatique]

56. too bad

trolls are not even challenging these days

[noiretextatique]

55. you are not well-versed enough to continue this

Clue: Lee Atwater. When you know who he is, get back to me

[BlueToTheBone]

30. That's what I called Womack (puke-AR) when I called his office

last week. They tried to tell me he wasn't but when I reminded them of his father's hate speech radio, they were silent.

[alarimer]

35. They're more concerned about being called racists than actually being racists?

That's weird.

[Rex]

42. In the Republican world, perception is more important than reality.

Why do you think they are so far detached from reality?

[AtomicKitten]

39. The GOP should worry more about being racist than being called racist. nt

[Jamaal510]

40. In a way, this is progress;

many modern Republicans and conservatives are at least afraid of being seen as racist. But back in the '50s and well before then, it was a universal badge of honor for their side. Even President Lincoln (despite going on to make slavery illegal) was not shy about his contempt for Black folks. He (openly) admitted to believing that we were inferior to White people. Nowadays, Republicans and conservatives mostly either stick to dog whistles, or they say flamboyantly racist stuff behind closed doors out of fear of either being seen as racist, or getting their asses kicked on the street.

[Rex]

41. Water is wet, Repukes are racist.

nt.

[rlegro]

47. Missed something

Kevin Drum is a solid writer and observer of matters sociopolitical, but I think he may have overlooked something here, namely: One way conservatism has tried to take the edge off the problem of being labeled racist is by conjuring illegitimate accusations of racism against liberals. This serves not just the purpose of reflecting racism charges against themselves, but also allows conservatives to marginalize the value itself, in the same way they try to get voters to accept that virtually everyone in both major parties are equally cynical and incompetent. The tea party, after all, was no more than a beard for doing and saying things that mainstream conservatives increasingly have been reluctant to risk saying.

This racist projection onto civil rights advocates arguably is also why conservative Supreme Court majorities have more or less gutted affirmative action -- on the telling basis that such action discriminates against non-minorities. That, of course, is a huge tautology. Of course affirmative action sets up a form of favoritism, but only in the same way an antibiotic medicine favors the patient over the bacteria -- the patient in this case being our society and racism the infection.

[B Calm]

49. The ones I know proudly wear it as a badge of honor.

[yuiyoshida]

50. I have seen many who wear it as a Badge of Honor....

Not long ago, here on DU there was some photos of guys selling Tee shirts saying "Proud Racist". I do not understand how someone can be proud to be a HATER. I have come across many like that on line, responding to news articles, in Chat rooms, on Facebook and Twitter. Usually those people can be banned, if the information is proved and shown to the owner of a website. But while banning is good, it still allows them to pop up else where injecting their hateful poison into society, perhaps thinking if they can say it often enough, it may become accepted. It will never be... unless people like Rush Limbaugh or other far right commentators find a way to
implement it on their radio programs.

[redstatebluegirl]

52. If The Shoe Fits!

[mnmoderatedem]

54. well here's a tip. Next time you're at your town hall meeting with tea party constitutients

and one of them blathers about Obama being a Kenyan Muslim, feel free to correct them rather than looking the other way and tacitly approving the underlying institutional racism. That may help your image rather than hurt it.

Until things like that are corrected, you will reap what you sow...