Local GOP Dog Whistling to Racists?
Does anyone here get the feeling that the GOP is “dog whistling” to voters in Monroe County? What am I talking about? Check out “Dog-whistle politics” in the wikipedia:
The term originated in Australian politics in the mid 1990s. One notable example was its use to describe the Howard Government’s policy crack down on illegal immigration. The Australian Government took a strong stand against illegal immigration, which was highly popular amongst a segment of voters on both sides of the usual political divide, and which contributed to the winning of the 2001 Australian Federal Election. As a reaction to this political success, some commentators have argued that the stand was playing to racist segments of the community, despite the Government’s avoidance of overtly racist terminology. The Howard Government has used dog whistling as a technique to send a message of support to voters with racist leanings while avoiding criticism from those opposed to prejudice. The key to its use is to maintain the option of “plausible deniability”[1]
And that’s what we’re seeing in Monroe County, today: thinly-veiled racism, with right-wingers winking and nodding at each other across the room. Look at the “soft hate” on local right-wing blogs and forums. What do you see?
- People calling for David Gantt’s head, because he made an ill-considered remark after being provoked and oppressed.
- People using the traditional city vs. suburb divide to conceal their rascism.
- Using the typical conservative “blame the victim” rhetoric to justify denying minorities their rights.
Here’s some plum examples from a recent D&C StoryChat about the Public Defender selection railroading:
David Gantt, Ray Scott and Franklin Florence…
Playin’ the race card….
Next time, just tase ‘em…. please…
Because, you know, that’s not coarsening our culture any. And how about:
Gantt’s just mad this zero-tolerance thing has locked up all his voters!
Of course he wants a “Dream Team” in the public defenders office, his continued employment is at risk otherwise!
Nice. Must be one of those “compassionate conservatives”. Oh wait, that’s an oxymoron. Here’s more:
Whats up with the purple hat? C’mon man when you know your going to get arrested, at least wear something that aint gonna clash with your green sweater. It’s too bad Renais. Sq. forced Dixie Wigs to shut down–Gant could have sported a new coif for his mug shot!
Classy. See the subtle racism all over? Here’s one not so subtle:
Looks like any other crime article in the metro section.
Nuthin’ new here. Could be shootin’ craps, fightin’ dogs, robbin’ banks, stuppin’ girls, sellin’ food stamps. These guys have been a weight around our city’s neck since the 60’s. Gosh, they are an embarrassment to civilized people everywhere.
And don’t expect this to end here. Minarik’s hate-filled, racist mailer from the 2007 election worked well enough. If he can continue to distract people from the constant power grabs of the local GOP, by using racist smoke-screens, who knows where he’ll stop. I don’t know for sure, but I have an idea. Check out this last comment from that D&C story chat:
by the way we may be seeing this same phenomena nationally very soon. his name is Obama. I’m sure that no one will be voting for him(or admitting to it) strictly on th basis of skin color. righhhhhhht….. keep up the good work…
It’s an embarrassment to Rochester, long a progressive front-runner in the anti-slavery and women’s rights movements, among others.
Now. What do we do about it? The first step is being aware of it, which you now are, so we can cross that off the list. Ideas?
Not sure this is even dog whistling. It’s more obvious than that.
The GOP motives are VERY clear - that combined with the newest poll results:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8535.html
Get the picture now? Destroy us from within our party, destroy us from within our community, and have it spread on a national level to promote racism and fear about the potential for a black man to be elected President.
Leave it to Steve Minarik to carry the torch for the GOP nationally, while using good old Rochester as his testing ground.
Rainbow Push - New York
rainbowpush.org
212-425-7874
Andrew Carr
National Action Network - NY
nationalactionnetwork.net
212-690-3070
Call - Speak - Be Heard - Stop GOP Racism and Hate - NOW
Addendum addition: We already know how the GOP feels nationally. We only have to remember Katrina to know how they truly feel…maybe it’s been a while since you have seen those photos - dark days for certain in our countries history…
Revisit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2elYnsqG-MM
And for an additional treat, read some of the comments under that video. Yes, racism is alive and living well in this country…
OK - I’ve been insulted enough! Not sure what is going on in Rochester but to imply that Republicans are racist is just a crock. Read this article about President Bush:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_on_re_af/bush_africa
Do people of color in Africa not matter? There were a lot of mistakes made in New Orleans by both black and white political leaders.
I am not a Bush supporter and will vote for Obama in the general election if he is the nominee. I will vote for McCain if he is not. Heck, if it weren’t for the GOP, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed.
So please stop smearing all Republicans as racist and, believe it or not, I am sure the Democrats have enough of their own racists to worry about.
Elmer — no one here thinks all republicans are racist. And certainly no one thinks you’re a racist.
The bottom line is that higher ups in the Republican party has used racist tactics for political gain since Nixon put in the southern strategy in the 1960s. And that Minarik does the same around here — something republicans I speak to criticize him for.
I agree that Bush’s support for the fight against HIV AIDS in Africa is commendable. _Very_ commendable. For the record, I think his support for immigration reform is also very commendable. And also the opposite of racist.
Agreed - and as I stated here over a week ago, 70+ year old lifetime republican voters are disgusted by what they say in the legislature.
Right a trip to Africa and all is well with the world. Come on Elmer
Racism is a tool to suppress a population. There are or can be political advantages in suppressing a population.
And what does this mean?
The GOP of back them is different than the GOP of today and surely you aren’t giving the GOP of back the complete credit.
Don’t even get me started with that 1964 comment…
jiminybizbo - speak your peace - I’d be interested in hearing
I haven’t got time for the entire lesson now Elmer, but the 4 key points of the discussion regarding the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are:
- John F. Kennedy
- Martin Luther King
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- A torn nation in pain and mourning…
more later if you need it.
“The bottom line is that higher ups in the Republican party has used racist tactics for political gain since Nixon put in the southern strategy in the 1960s.”
Not sure if they are being racist or just a typical politician looking for any way to win - even Bill Clinton is trying to use it this election.
Like I said it is a tool to suppress a population. It is wrong and sort of puts that all men are created equal thing (since interpreted to also include woman as well it should) on its head.
So this is an end justifies the means discussion? That is what I get from your comment. Oh gosh maybe they are just trying to win an election.
Again a suppression tool and it is wrong regardless of the reason.
I doubt they’re racist people — it’s a racist tactic.
While I didn’t like what BIll Clinton said about Obama and Jesse Jackson, I think what Lee Atwater did in the 80s was much worse.
I don’t think race plays much of a role in NYS politics in general. But it does in Monroe County, unfortunately.
What Clinton said goes down the same road as Atwater did, just not as far. The thing I like about Obama is that he does not appear to be a typical politician. I could care less if he is black or white.
Question - it will be assumed that many white people will vote for McCain against Obama because they are racist. Is it fair to say that many black people will vote for Obama over McCain because they are racist?
How so Elmer? By convincing people of color that “shes” their man? Or by convincing people of color that Obama isn’t?
Maybe that’s the bigger problem. My generation, and most of the people I personally know don’t see color as a excuse or as a reason - I see this nation as one, and what upset so many during Katrina, and other incidents, is that the segregation and discriminatory practice of selective sensationalism of one color, one religion, or one nationality or group for the purposes of political manipulation and the manifestation of hate and violence is not acceptable.
When the heart of our nation is ripped out and held up for all to see in fear, that’s not government. That’s not human. And it’s damned well not going to be accepted.
It’s in spite of those very principles of the GOP Party and their platform that I am proud to be a Progressive Democrat. A party that has already made history in it’s selection of candidates for office of the President of the United States.
True leadership isn’t spoken. It isn’t printed and mailed to selective neighborhoods touting fear. It is lived. Spoken. Cherished. Prospered. Encouraged. And most of all - Protected.
I’ll give you a lesson on the 1960’s and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 another day if that’s necessary. There are only 3 real names you need to remember about that time period in general, none of which were “Republican”…
John F. Kennedy
Martin Luther King
Lyndon B. Johnson
stlo7 - never said it was right, but the motivation is winning an election, not hatred of minorities.
Bush did a lot more for Africa than just visit. He also appointed a black supreme court justice, a black secretary of state, a black female secretary of state and a black female National Security Adviser. Give him some credit.
Credit? First off, giving credit means that you earn it. Most leaders do some positive things but ultimately it is their record, their entire record, from which they earn credit.
Doing more for black people is more than simply appointing a Supreme or appointing the same person the SecState or National Security Advisor.
What policies has his administration enabled that have helped African Americans? I suspect that the Republican policies have disproportionally hurt blacks and minorites.
Why - because there is an assumption - that everyone starts on an even social, economic and political playing field which in my opinion isn’t true.
That whole bootstraps thing - got to have bootstraps in order to pull yourself up.
Elmer…
Africa is a country. America is country.
Condolezza Rice, Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell are Americans. Going to Africa on a relief mission does not mean that one earns the respect of Americans because he makes a trip, and appoints Americans to positions in government. It’s an individuals QUALIFICATIONS that warrant attention, not the color of their skin.
There is no CREDIT - there is no SCORE…it’s doing what’s right and realizing that each and every person in this country, regardless of their race, creed or religion is EQUAL. Do you see that?
Every American has a family history that relates back to another country. But I don’t hear you touting a trip to England means that all those with English ancestors should cheer. Bush went to Vietman too. Are we to expect that because he didn’t put an Vietnamese American on his cabinet that there is a hidden message?
It’s ONE country Elmer - ONE people. Allowing yourself to segregate allows you to discriminate - and THAT is what Minarik is counting on. The silent push for racism which breeds hate.
Sorry about the Supreme Court remark - I know that it was Bush Sr. who appointed Clarence Thomas
Bush Sr. gets no credit for appointing Thomas, who was manifestly unqualified to be on the court. I do agree that Bush II, for all his faults, has not used race-baiting in his campaigns. In fact, his support for immigration reform made him the target of race baiters.
But the bottom line is that the Republican party did use race baiting to capture the white southern vote. Nixon’s (successful) attempts to capture the white southern vote, Reagan’s decision to begin his 2000 campaign in Philadelphia, Mississipi with a call for “states’ rights” (coded anti-civil rights language in that context), and Lee Atwater’s use of the Willie Horton ads i 1988….all of this adds up to a shameful legacy. And what Minarik does today is shameful as well.
Lay with dogs get fleas.
What was that ad/poll (too lazy to look it up) in the South Carolina 2000 primary about McCain?
this is a tactic - a tactic that is used to divide and control the population and it is wrong.
it was a push poll asking if people would be more or less likely to vote for McCain if they knew he had a illegitimate black child.
(he has an adopted daughter from Bangladesh)
You’re right. I forgot about that.
And I see the point about dogs and fleas as well.
But I also think that Minarik has surpassed the national GOP in his use of overtly racist tactics. One can debate what Bush has or hasn’t done on race, but there is no debating that Minarik’s use of the license issue was a disgrace.
it’s the
economyphilosophy stupid…Meaning it comes down to choosing governing vs ruling. The person is immaterial. Doing what you think is necessary to ensure you stay in power as opposed actually governing.
Modern Republicans seem to be about ensuring they remain in power - via whatever tactic necessary (operatives purging voter roles, vicious attack ads, block phone banks etc). Modern Democrats seem to be concerned about governing.
Trouble is, it is difficult to govern if you are not elected.
Now it is a wide paint brush I just used. Someone show me some modern Democrat election fraud, jamming phone banks, purging voter roles etc. (and if it exists - it is wrong too)
The irony is if you do a good job governing - you should get relected (at least one would think).
You’re partially right in this quote:
Reagan may have been using anti-civil-rights dog whistling there, but he actually announced his candidacy in New York City on 11/13/79.
I’m having trouble posting…3 posts in a row went AWOL
spam filter. I retrieved them
[...] GOP reader Elmer saw a straw man in my article about racist tactics being used by the local GOP. He assumed that I was broad-brushing all GOPers as racists. [...]
[...] documented the ways in which the Monroe County GOP uses racism, homophobia, and xenophobia as political tools. The Politico is reporting that the national GOP [...]
[...] not the first to notice that the D&C Storychats (forums, whatever) are completely intolerable. I [...]
[...] to see lots of distractions from the GOP. Expect to see more racism and homophobia, via mailers and whisper campaigns. Lord knows, the national GOP has been using those angles for years and [...]