I had a back-and-forth with the founder of our local Tea Party movement today. I've always seen him as a reasonable guy, and he has been a defender of the president, but not blindly so. He has said that those of us who have been critical of the president are responsible for his fervid support because we have made folks like him (my friend) angry with the accusations of racism. My response is that if one doesn't want to be tarred with a racist tag, stop associating with racists.
This is the decades-long GOP strategy come home to roost. Just as one who plays with matches will eventually get burned, so will one who consorts with racists eventually be identified as one. Most of us who were members, supporters or activists in the GOP knew that there was an ugly underbelly that we sought to keep under wraps, much like we try to keep the racist uncle from betraying his thoughts at family gatherings. Bob Dole addressed this cohort - what became known as Hillary's deplorables - when he told 1996 RNC attendees where the exits were if they refused to subscribe to the original ideals of the party of Lincoln. We've always known it's there, but we could finesse admitting its existence. Donald Trump put an end to that, forcing each of us to make a decision. Some chose to disassociate from the party completely. Others chose to stay. But instead of distancing themselves from that ugly underbelly, either by casting them off or calling them out, they ended up embracing them by embracing that term "Deplorable."
Now they want to cleanse themselves of any stain by association. Well, I'm sorry, I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. Actions, not words, are what matter. You make them leave the party, or you do. You cannot simultaneously hold the racists' hands and maintain your distance. But if you try, understand you will be judged. That judgment, I assure you, will be just as harsh as you fear it might be. That choice is yours.
Sorry for the rant.
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