The Political Benefits of Bigotry
by tdaxp ~ June 1st, 2008
One way that Barack Obama’s synching of the Democratic nomination helps Republicans is that it gives control of the Democratic Party in ‘08 to a rather ugly collection of know-nothings. Republican know-nothings seriously hurt the party’s in-roads with Mexicans and latinos, as they publicly and effectively attacked George Bush and John McCain for their comprehensive immigration reform program. It now looks like Barack Obama’s supporters on the left will steal some of that thunder. While Obama offers lukewarm support for comprehensive immigration reform, his advocacy of laws & regulations that discrimination against asians, his opposition to free trade with Asian countries, and Hillary’s (as opposed to Obama’s) high profile work with the Indian American Congress threaten to alienate him from yet another racial group. (Having already written on how white folks green runs a world in need and belonging to a racist church for two decades, he has long since alienated himself from most whites.)
And now, Obama supporters like Jeffrey indicate that hostility toward immigration folkways may be widespread on the left:
At least Barack, unlike a certain Piyush what’s-his-face, can promote himself without having to adopt an Angle sounding nickname for the sole purpose of not scaring his base away.
What a perfect combination of ignorance, bigotry, and multiculturalism.
I really don’t want Obama and his supporters to introduce more hate to this campaign: they have already done enough. But if they (and their supporters) continue in this direction, it will be good for the GOP.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Thanks for putting me on the crucifix. It is an honor.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Do you have a substantive comment?
June 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I save my substantive comments for topics that warrant one. You are welcome to delete this and the above comment if they add indignity to your blog.
Either way, I am anxious to hear from other readers, because I am curious as to who is perplex towards your assertions as I am, as well as those who agree with you so I can examine their mind set.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
“…as well as those who agree with you so I can examine their mind set.”
Sorry, I should say empathize with their mind set.
June 1st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
My first thought, upon reading the “Piyush” comment, is that Jindal must have his opponents really worried already, if they’re trying to scare the Republican base by pointing out the nefarious factoid that … he … goes … by … a …. nickname. That bumps him up a level in my mind.
Great blog, BTW, tdaxp. Loved the OODA analysis, to the level I could understand it. I discovered you through Tom Barnett’s site, and as you can tell by the nickname, we have an institution / team in common — though, after today’s baseball regional results, it looks like we won’t have any teams to cheer for until the dawn of the Pelini Era.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:37 am
“And now, Obama supporters like Jeffrey indicate that hostility toward immigration folkways may be widespread on the left”
How do you know for sure that his nickname came about by a niche immigration folkway?
I guess I really doesn’t matter as long as Dan can make his stickman argument and humiliate someone that disagrees with him but none-the-less looks up to him.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 am
straw man*
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
it*
June 4th, 2008 at 5:30 am
GoHskrs,
Agreed.
Though football is the only sport (Nebraskan or otherwise) that matters, anyway.
Jeffrey,
Are you denying that many immigrants (and their children) go by English names?
Or have you reverted back to asserting that Jindal politically chose his nickname in kindergarten?
June 4th, 2008 at 7:11 am
“Or have you reverted back to asserting that Jindal politically chose his nickname in kindergarten?”
“Are you denying that many immigrants (and their children) go by English names?”
No
“Or have you reverted back to asserting that Jindal politically chose his nickname in kindergarten?”
No, I have a hunch as to why he stuck with it. The Brady Bunch thing is family folklore. In other words, the story could potentially be made up.
I’m also perplexed as to why you think my comments are out of hate. I really don’t have anything against Jindal personally, and I don’t blame him that Bobby is a more marketable name, regardless of how it came about. I personally think Obama strategically chose his Christian faith because of this nations nonacceptance of non-theist, and I don’t blame him either.
You still need to answer as to why you put me front and center and why you are declaring Obama guilty by association with the military equivalent of a private in his campaign. I could assume it comes with the territory of being a unofficial amateur political assassin for the McCain campaign, but I have known you to be an analyst that is too fair and objective to even consider that.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Jeffrey,
June 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
“I never did. Casually tossing around xenophobic slurs isn’t a sign of hate, but rather a sign one is trying to score cheap political points.”
“I really don’t want Obama and his supporters to introduce more ‘hate’ to this campaign: they have already done enough. But if they (and their supporters) continue in this direction, it will be good for the GOP.”
So, the hate comment wasn’t directed at me?
Speaking of cheap political points: I intended my original comment to be a
friendly jape towards your (I presume) friendly jape about experience from being in the senate since 2004. Just because I raised the possibility that the name Bobby is strategical doesn’t mean I am making a for fact statement.
“Do you think that Obama is a believing Christian now?”
Is or isn’t? I was asserting that he identifies himself as Christian because it is next to impossible to openly identify with the non-theist beliefs that he grown up with and make it in the public arena.
“I don’t understand your last paragraph.”
It is about you declaring Obama guilty by association with a peon campaign volunteer. If I was a McCain supporter and made the same comment I doubt you would point out the fact that I am a McCain supporter.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Jeffrey,
Good point.
Hate of course is a psychological orientation. Perhaps hate-speech is better, but as the term can be confusing, feel free to substitute “xenophobic and other slurs” for “hate” in the original post.
I really don’t see how sluring immigrants is friendly.
Given your previously expressed disdain for talking in specifics, and your now expressed enthusasism for inuendo, perhaps you would find DailyKos a better home for your comments?
I wish you would answer my questions.
Not guilt by association, but rather a consistent pattern of the campaign, from Obama himself (c.f. his awful speech on race [1]) to informal bloggers.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/03/19/obamas-awful-speech-on-race.html
June 6th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
“I wish you would answer my questions.”
I did.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Jeffrey,
No, you didn’t.
I asked a question about the present situation. You responded with an analysis of the situation 20 years ago.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
“I asked a question about the present situation. You responded with an analysis of the situation 20 years ago.”
As to what he believes now? If so, I thought I made it clear that I think he is a closet non-theist.
June 7th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for the clarification!