The "alt-right" is much stronger in the Republican Party than many would think.

[kentuck]

The groups that make up the "alt-right" make up a larger proportion of the Republican Party than some may guess. The actual numbers that are members of the groups may be small in numbers but they have many, many sympathizers within the Republican Party.

Simply because they have been programmed by the right-wing media to hate certain groups of people over the last 25 to 30 years. They despised "liberals", women-libbers, homosexuals, mainstream media, environmentalists, foreigners, and Democrats. For everyone they hated, they had a support group that made them feel welcome.

These "alt-right" groups are not a small fringe of the Republican Party. They are now the majority within the Republican Party. They have taken over. Donald Trump understands the strength of these people and has played to their sympathies. These are our political opponents.

[CousinIT]

1. IMO, the radical right ARE the Republican Party. They own that shit. n/t

[Raster]

2. This is why I laugh every time a Rethug breaks out: "We are the Party of Lincoln"...

...NO YOU"RE NOT, you haven't been the Party of Lincoln for decades. Any party that embraces racism and considers disenfranchising voters of color DOES NOT get to call themselves "the Party of Lincoln."

[MurrayDelph]

15. The only Lincoln they believe in now

is George Lincoln Rockwell.

[Raster]

17. No kidding. It truly is both AMAZING AND APPALLING just how far the Republican Party...

...is and was willing to lower itself for power absolute. They are openly allying themselves with traitorous individuals and countries that mean to do the United States harm. I find this hard to fathom at times.

[sagesnow]

3. Living in the middle of Klan Country

I have to agree with you. We have an uphill battle to win.

[Solly Mack]

4. I know I keep repeating myself but the GOP has long used racism as a way to get votes.

Of course the "alt-right" is strong within the republican party.

Some republicans in Congress think because they use dog whistles and don't use the n-word that means they aren't racist - but they are.

They think they aren't sexist if they believe women should dress a certain way, act a certain way, and stay home - they believe that's being protective of women - when it's sexist and insulting.

But that's how their minds work.

The see their racism and sexism as being something else because they don't use obvious racial slurs and sexist slurs.

But they are lying to themselves and everyone else.

[vlyons]

5. You can blame a big part of it on private voucher schools

Funded by our tax dollars taken away from public schools. Private voucher schools and home schooling enable white racist parents to prevent their children the humiliation of having to sit next to an AA or Hispanic kid. Where white kids might form friendships with kids of other races, and discover those kids are smart, funny, caring, fun to play with and likable. It's just the old segregation BS that keeps people ignorant, divided, and fearful.

[BigmanPigman]

19. Good point.

[Gothmog]

6. The base of the GOP is full of racists and neo-nazis

[Squinch]

7. NO. Nazis and white supremacists are much stronger in the Republican Party.

That is who the "alt right" is, and the term "alt right" is something they came up with to seem more mainstream.

They are Nazis and white supremacists.

[kentuck]

8. Those Republicans that criticize any of these "groups" will pay a high political price.

They will not support any Republican that speaks out against their agenda.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

9. I'd guess 75-80% You mean higher than that? n/m

[kentuck]

10. Sounds about right.

Definitely more than 50%.

[Oneironaut]

11. It's to the point that they're an existential threat to the United States.

They want Fascism, and they aren't shy about admitting it.

[kentuck]

12. They have been captured by a negative force...

promulgated by right-wing propagandists. They are anti-intellectuals. They have been programmed to hate.

[sharedvalues]

13. Anyone who thinks the GOP doesn't encourage them isn't thinking well.

Those paying attention have seen for 40 years the GOP pander to racists. Reagan pandered to racists to pursue political power. So did Nixon. GWB. Any GOP who has ever said "States' Rights". (As soon as states' rights helps the cause of tolerance, they're against it. It's a dogwhistle for racism.)

I'm not sure why the media wants to pretend otherwise.

[broadcaster90210]

14. It IS the Republican Party. Period.

nt

[Bladewire]

16. The alt-right has one weakness that will take them down

... ok, two

[Raster]

18. OMG! That's an image I cannot unsee.

[AlexSFCA]

20. you have to understand the context too

white supremacist groups were largerly a fringe before 2012;
What happened in 2012? Obama won reelection but, more importantly, Magnitsky Act was signed into law which froze assets of putin and his accomplices worldwide. We are taking about decade or so of accumulating wealth (upward $200B).
Putin went ballistic by funding all kinds of extremists groups and lobbying efforts in the US and subsequently in Europe using islamophobia as a bait which is a gate to the alt right.

Crimea was a test for a new kind of war that is based on a large scale (and very clever) propaganda and mass gas lighting. His regime will stop at nothing includng full blown world war to 'change' the truth and be in control of the 'truth' now supported by enablers from the west such as trump.