Losing An Argument? Use Racism

If you throw a divisive issue at me, I can generally keep my cool and let the rules of Socratic debate take over. On the other hand, if you want to see my patience pushed to the brink, then tell me my political views are rooted in racism. Few other topics can compete with the maddening use of racism by the left to pigeonhole their opposition.

We could naturally expect the typical progressive with a copy of Saul Alinskys "Rules for Radicals" on their bookshelf to use such an isolation tactic but it has reached a point of absurdity. Politicians, editorial columns and roundtable debates are now regularly leveling charges of racism against anyone critical of President Obama. Could it be that they are simply opposed to his policies and ideology?

I have my own charge for those who make such heavy accusations. You have the right to say whatever you want, but when you are asked to make your case, you had better be able to do it. If you claim opposition to President Obama or Attorney General Eric Holder is solely based in racism, then quantify it by substance. To date, the concept of calling conservatives racist has been utterly and totally baseless. Not one single mainstream reporter, journalist or politician has offered evidence of a trend of racially derogatory comments or actions by conservatives. We instead have received a steady diet of divisive politics to pit one group against another.

This is not to say that racism does not exist. It is alive and well all around the world and has been since the beginning of varied people groups. The United States was indelibly scarred by the Slavery of the South and its aftermath perpetuated racial tensions well into the twentieth century. By shear ignorance and re-writing of history, we have been quick to forget that many of these atrocities have been challenged, fought against and eventually claimed victory over. It was a republican president that issued the emancipation proclamation and we cannot forget the 600,000 lives lost in the Civil War that paved a path to freedom for slaves. A larger majority of republicans voted for passage of the civil rights act than did Democrats and most conservatives to this day will claim the ideals of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. The repeating cry of racism just doesn't line up with the narrative the left continues to perpetuate.

So why is it so pervasive? Well first, democrats are finding themselves with little defense for the failure of so many of their initiatives. The merits of their ideas are not holding up to the scrutiny of reality. Issues from health care to foreign policy to the economy are simply not working out as advertised. Yelling "racist" is classic misdirection. It is an attempt to change the focus of the audience to get a negative emotional reaction. Of course, they can then claim to be the protectors of equality.

Secondly, racist labels have become the easiest method for liberal progressives to employ what I have called the "D" Strategy. The order is as follows. Define your opposition to isolate them. Demean them by using mockery and moral imperatives. Disseminate persistent false narratives via the media and culture. These will eventually Divide the electorate. By breaking people into sub-groups, it creates grievances which produce Disenfranchisement, and that allows politicians to portray themselves as the only ones who care for their special interests. Once they have a majority, this becomes the very foundation of political power which eventually leads to the end goal of Dependence. Once the people believe the awful things they have been coaxed to believe, then politicians have control.

Some might say this sounds like a conspiracy theory but it is not. Human nature drifts to many of these tactics when we exalt winning elections and pushing ideology as a means to win some kind of philosophical battle, particularly when we disdain those who oppose us. Whatever the root causes, the use of race to divide must be challenged intellectually at every opportunity.