Cliven Bundy reminds the conservative press the dangers of touting extremist cranks as national hero

[phantom power]

(Bundy's) argument, of course, is boilerplate blame-the-victim nonsense from Republicans who are trying to blame black people themselves for racial disparities instead of systemic racism. But he failed to employ their standard code words and euphemisms, so he’s an embarrassment now. The Sean Hannity routine of pretending to be “reporting” on this story while rallying the troops to support this mooching motherfucker who is openly stealing from the taxpayers will probably be over as of now. Or, at least if he’s smart. The smart thing to do right now would be to pretend none of this ever happened and simply refuse to acknowledge the hours of coverage that Fox handed over to Bundy to trot out his bizarre and self-evidently racist belief that he is uniquely privileged to reject any laws that inconvenience him.

However, Hannity did dig his heels in and throw a fit when Jon Stewart made fun of him. I give it 50/50 odds he tries to salvage this. Perhaps Sarah Palin will get involved, with her patented argument that a conservative’s freedom of speech is imperiled if liberals use their freedom of speech to criticize or mock conservative speech.

Bundy is clearly beneath contempt, but his arguments deserve a rejoinder anyway, if only because they are far more widely believed than most conservative leaders let on. So here is a good piece to read. I will add to this that there is no surprise, on any side of the aisle, that Bundy, who has argued that he’s being oppressed by having to pay federal grazing fees, nonetheless seems to think actual slavery was good for black people. Something to remember when looking back over all this. Most conservatives who rushed to support Bundy knew that he probably was this odious of a racist—anti-government cranks almost always are—but they also knew they could coast on the benefit of the doubt that is extended as a matter of course to angry white right wing nuts on this issue, even when they’re spouting barely coded racist arguments. And he blew it by opening his big mouth and confirming what everyone, and I mean everyone, already knew was likely true.

Nor should be particularly surprised that Bundy felt free to be so open about his opinions. This guy has successfully been robbing the taxpayers and he’s getting widespread support for it! He must have felt invincible.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/24/cliven-bundy-reminds-the-conservative-press-the-dangers-of-touting-extremist-cranks-as-national-heroes/

[tridim]

1. The GOP ELECTS extemist cranks these days.

Many are just as bad or worse than Bundy.

[underpants]

2. What Bundy said is standard RW radio speech about the war in poverty

What you posted is correct - he didn't use their code words

[phantom power]

3. we see a lot of this lately -- conservatives forgetting to use their dog-whistles...

My own pet theory is that this is because the Southern Strategy has been working so fucking well for them for the last 40 years. They've finally started to lose their discipline and gotten cocky. Why wouldn't they? Their coded racism has allowed them to dominate so consistently that you could forgive them for screwing up and concluding that their bigotry represents an actual majority.

[LonePirate]

4. Many Repubs probably agree with Bundy but they cannot admit it or support him publicly now

Privately, they probably support him more than ever now.

[myrna minx]

5. The article is right, this creep is used to *hearing* the dog whistles from politicians

and not having to employ them himself. He hasn't had to couch his hate. Instead he gave a window of what they say freely in private. His views are on par the the tea baggers - that's why these creeps feel so emboldened to spew whatever nasty, racist thoughts slither into their heads.

[2naSalit]

6. "He must have felt invincible."

And thus feels free to wave his weenie in public in front of the cameras for all to see what a dick he really is.