Republican protesters openly admit using racist imagry

[Valmy]

Si, puedo leer, Chancho.  Did it say the organizers were the ones who made the posters?

You are nuts dude.  Any logical fair person would conclude that is racist.

I am not one to jump up and say everything is racist...well ok but I would be just kidding around...but that is pretty blatant.  What do you have to do to be racist to you Spicey?  Hang black men in effigy with a sign saying 'kill all subhumans'?

[MadImmortalMan]

I think it's supposed to mean that our health care will devolve to the level of the witch doctor. Maybe it wasn't intended at first to be overtly racist, but holy crap. How many people would have to see such a thing before somebody thinks "hey, this might be construed as racist..."?

[Malthus]

It's racist all right. It would be surprising if a protest against the policies of a Black President didn't attract racist imagry. This is a "dog bites man" story.

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

Way I read the quote, the organizers of the protest are claiming that the racism is just an expression of anger, not the cause. Of course they may well be bullshitting. 

[Jacob]

It's racist all right. It would be surprising if a protest against the policies of a Black President didn't attract racist imagry. This is a "dog bites man" story.

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

Way I read the quote, the organizers of the protest are claiming that the racism is just an expression of anger, not the cause. Of course they may well be bullshitting.

I'm surprised at your line Malthus.  Would you be as phlegmatic about this "dog bites man" story if people were protesting against a Jewish president with anti-semitic imagery?  I think if someone was to argue that anti-semitic signs and slogans were "just an expression of anger" you wouldn't consider it an open question whether they were bullshitting or not; I expect you would hold them responsible, or at the very least, expect a condemnation.

[Malthus]

It's racist all right. It would be surprising if a protest against the policies of a Black President didn't attract racist imagry. This is a "dog bites man" story.

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

Way I read the quote, the organizers of the protest are claiming that the racism is just an expression of anger, not the cause. Of course they may well be bullshitting.

I'm surprised at your line Malthus.  Would you be as phlegmatic about this "dog bites man" story if people were protesting against a Jewish president with anti-semitic imagery?  I think if someone was to argue that anti-semitic signs and slogans were "just an expression of anger" you wouldn't consider it an open question whether they were bullshitting or not; I expect you would hold them responsible, or at the very least, expect a condemnation.

Sure, I'd expect a Jewish President to attract anti-Semitic types to protests against him. Probably many of the same people now holding up posters of Obama photoshopped onto a witch-doctor. Why would that come as a surprise to anyone?

The "story" would be the extent to which those organizing the protests are, in fact, deliberately manipulating public opinion by coyly encouraging anti-Semitism (while of course denying that they are anti-semitic themselves).

I see no discernable difference, except this: America has a long & tortured history with racism, and not nearly so much with anti-semitism. 

Again, dog bites man. I'd be surprised (and of course pleased) if a Jewish President aroused *no* Jew-hating protesters.

[Jaron]

It's racist all right. It would be surprising if a protest against the policies of a Black President didn't attract racist imagry. This is a "dog bites man" story.

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

Way I read the quote, the organizers of the protest are claiming that the racism is just an expression of anger, not the cause. Of course they may well be bullshitting.

I'm surprised at your line Malthus.  Would you be as phlegmatic about this "dog bites man" story if people were protesting against a Jewish president with anti-semitic imagery?  I think if someone was to argue that anti-semitic signs and slogans were "just an expression of anger" you wouldn't consider it an open question whether they were bullshitting or not; I expect you would hold them responsible, or at the very least, expect a condemnation.

Sure, I'd expect a Jewish President to attract anti-Semitic types to protests against him. Probably many of the same people now holding up posters of Obama photoshopped onto a witch-doctor. Why would that come as a surprise to anyone?

The "story" would be the extent to which those organizing the protests are, in fact, deliberately manipulating public opinion by coyly encouraging anti-Semitism (while of course denying that they are anti-semitic themselves).

I see no discernable difference, except this: America has a long & tortured history with racism, and not nearly so much with anti-semitism. 

Again, dog bites man. I'd be surprised (and of course pleased) if a Jewish President aroused *no* Jew-hating protesters.

Anti semitism is as American as apple pie and baseball.

[DisturbedPervert]

Sure, I'd expect a Jewish President to attract anti-Semitic types to protests against him.

Or, a Jewish Senator.  It's not like some haven't been openly anti semetic towards Israeli Senator Leiberman.

[Malthus]

Anti semitism is as American as apple pie and baseball.

Against Irish Jews, certainly. No-one likes them. 

[Savonarola]

Against Irish Jews, certainly. No-one likes them. 

James Joyce did.   

[The Minsky Moment]

Anti semitism is as American as apple pie and baseball.

It gives you indigestion and charges too much for tickets?

[derspiess]

I think it's supposed to mean that our health care will devolve to the level of the witch doctor. Maybe it wasn't intended at first to be overtly racist, but holy crap. How many people would have to see such a thing before somebody thinks "hey, this might be construed as racist..."?

Agree.

[derspiess]

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

I think this would scare off more people than it would attract.

[Malthus]

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

I think this would scare off more people than it would attract.

Depends. Certainly breaking out the White hoods and burning crosses would, but it is possible to work on racist resentments and sentiment more subtley - assuming that such resentments are in fact widely shared.

[Razgovory]

Seeing the town hall meetings with the daily shrieking white woman screaming "I want my country back" I'd say it's fairly widespread.

[Berkut]

The only issue is the extent to which the organizers of such protests are deliberately stirring up the racist pot in order to advance their aims.

I think this would scare off more people than it would attract.

Depends. Certainly breaking out the White hoods and burning crosses would, but it is possible to work on racist resentments and sentiment more subtley - assuming that such resentments are in fact widely shared.

I think this assumption is the key to this entire "issue".

There is this assumption that the Evil Right is full of racists, so of course the left is ultra-quick to level the accusation, regardless of whether or not there is any basis for it beyond their own certainty that it MUST be true.

A black man is president, so of course the Dems are going to use that as a political bludgeon as much as they can. If Hillary had been elected, we would be seeing this same "issue" over the rampant (yet strangely well hidden) sexism that permeates all non-true liberals.

What I find amazing about it is the ease of which otherwise pretty rational posters embrace this tactic.