Yesterday, in "The Birther Disgrace," he wrote (my emphasis):
How did this poisonous and not very subtly racist allegation get such a grip on our conservative movement and our Republican party?
I know there will be Republican writers and conservative publicists who will now deny that birtherism ever did get a grip. Sorry, that’s just wrong. Not only did Trump surge ahead in Republican polls by flaming racial fires – not only did conservative media outlets from Fox to Drudge to the Breitbart sites indulge the birthers – but so also did every Republican candidate who said, “I take the president at his word.” Birthers did not doubt the president’s “word.” They were doubting the official records of the state of Hawaii.
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I wish it were otherwise, but it does seem that these racialized attacks on Obama have exacted a toll on him. But they also have exacted a toll on the opposition to Obama. The too-faint repudiation of birtherism by regular Republicans has shaped not only the Obama brand, but also the Republican brand.
Clearly, some Republicans, like John Boehner and Eric Cantor -- in the words of Ricky Ricardo -- have some 'splainin' to do.
1 comment:
Unfortunately, Republicans in 2011 are more racist than ever before. The "Southern Strategy" is in full force - also picking up Racists in the East, West and North.
Ironically, Obama's policy positions put him traditionally as a moderate Republican. Obama is certainly to the right of Nixon, for example. But the Republican base has moved so far to the right, they are just crazy.
There is really no place for moderates in the Republican party - they are all crazy. The problem is a compromise between sanity and insanity is still insanity.
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