When isolated incidents become a trend.

[MostlyLurks]

When exactly will the rank-and-file, non-racist Republicans (yes, I believe they are out there) wake up and realize that their party is definitively racist at the core?

If it was just Bill Bennett, I could see them saying "well, it's just an isolated incident". But this is only the latest in a series of high-profile racially charged remarks made by the leading Republicans:
-Limbaugh's remarks re: Donovan McNabb.
-Trent Lott's remarks re: Strom Thurmond
-Jesse Helms' remarks about making a black female Representative cry (though maybe I've conflated that one - was she black? I can't remember).

When is that head-smacking "Son of a..." moment going to happen to the good conservatives (yes, I believe they are out there) who suddenly realize they're backing a party of racist crackers?

I fear it never will and I lose little slivers of hope daily.

Mostly(a cracker)Lurks

[cassiepriam]

1. Duh, racism is why they belong to the party....

greed and racism are at the core of the party.
That's why they are repugs....

[Vincardog]

3. That and homosexual self loathing

[cassiepriam]

5. Yes that too.....

[MostlyLurks]

6. As I said, I think there are Republicans who aren't racist.

Certainly, there's a large bloc that vote Rep due to racism, as LBJ knew when he said we had lost the South for a generation after signing the Civil Rights act (would that it had been only a generation; I fear it may be more like a century).

But I believe that there are *good hearted* and *good intentioned* conservatives (these are mostly the old-style, pre-Reagan fiscal cons). I believe that because I know several who are not racists in any form or fashion. They are Republicans primarily out of their own fiscal beliefs and beliefs about capitalism and free markets. While I disagree with many of their views, I know that they come by them "honestly", not out of some subterfuge designed to hide a racist core. At the same time, I think the Republicans leadership has done an uncanny job of hiding the racist undertones from these particular Republicans, to a point where they are often blind to its presence.

So let me make the somewhat controversial statement, at least controversial on DU, that I believe conservatism CAN be a good thing, just as I believe liberalism can be a good thing.

Ideologically, I'm liberal to a rather large extent, except where gun rights are concerned. But pragmatically, I believe that societies are best served by moderation that comes from representation of all views. That's why I believe the Clinton era was so prosperous - there was a lot more balance in the US and state governments than there is now. That's also why I believe the current state is so dangerous - absolute power and all that (paradoxically, I believe a liberal government would be mostly for the greater good - how's that for self-centered blinders?).

If you want to argue that there are absolutely NO "good" Republicans, that's certainly your right, I simply disagree based on anecdotal evidence.

Therefore, I refer to my OP - when will these types of Republicans have that flash of insight? As I said, I fear that the Republican powerbrokers (like Rove, et al) have played the linguistics and language game so well for the past X number of years that I wonder if it ever will. The only hope is that these occassional bubbles of verbal diarrhea will puncture the shroud at some point.

Mostly

[grrl62]

2. re: jesse helms

yes, i believe she was black. is this the incident where he whistled the tune of "dem old cotton fields" (or something quite like it) in front of her?

there are just so many incidents... which one to pick?!? :sarcasm:

you might find this interesting: http://indyweek.com/durham/2005-09-07/index.html

it's a link to our local independent weekly newspaper, aptly titled the independent. they had a great article on helms the other week.

[ananda]

4. add today's remarks by HUD chief..

.. that NOLA will never again be majority Black.

Mission accomplished?

Sue