Framing: Refer to Fristians, in mixed company, as "the far right"

[BurtWorm]

or "the extreme right."

Of course Nazis might more accurately be called "the extreme right." But right wingers claim Nazis are leftists, so as far as they are concerned, no one's further rightward than they are anyway.

It's time to move the middle back toward the left.

[carnie_sf]

1. And instead of calling them conservative

could we please start referring to them as reactionary?

[Eloriel]

2. Not good enough -- what's wrong with "RADICAL right" or

"rightwing extremists" and "radical RELIGIOUS right" when that applies?

[BurtWorm]

3. It's sneakier to refer to them matter-of-factly as "the far right"

over and over and over again, so that they become, in everyone's mind, the *far right*. It sounds innocuous, but it doesn't sound derogatory, as "extremists" does. But "radical right" could have a similar effect.

The point is to put these extremists, as we all *know* they really are, back on the fringe where they belong. Rather than think "Republican" or "conservative" when they see Frist or DeLay, Americans should think "radical" or "right wing." Who knows: maybe "extremist" would work too?

[Cooley Hurd]

4. The American Taliban

...because, in truth, that's what they REALLY are!:thumbsup:

[mcscajun]

5. I just cut to the chase and call 'em Religious Extremists.

Our own homegrown strain.

[librechik]

6. personally, I just cut to the chase and call them Nazis

it gets people's attention, allows me to expalin WHY they are best called that ( by me) and is more accurate and eloquent than vaguer terms like "the far right."

That's just me, tho! If the jackboots fit, they must be Nazi shit!

[BurtWorm]

9. I just read Deborah Lipstadt's "History on Trial" about the David Irving

libel case against her, so I've been sensitized to be very specific with the word Nazi. Fascists they may be. Nazis are something else entirely.

But the point of calling them "far right" rather than "Nazi" or something harsher is to get the term into general use. Among ourselves we can call them anything we want. We all know how extreme they are. But in mixed company, among non-politicals or Republicans, terms like "Nazi" and "wingnut" don't work. But "far right" is the kind of phrase you toss off without reflexively spitting three times over your shoulder to demonstrate your "bias." You can define the terms: "McCain is right wing, but Frist is far right." Or "I'm not talking about old school conservatives, I'm talking about the extreme right, like Frist and DeLay."

It's actually more accurate to call them far or extreme right. That's what they've always been (as long as the distinction between left and right has been made). Thirty years ago, Birchers were part of the "lunatic fringe." These people are basically Birchers, but they've tricked the media into calling them "conservatives." They're as far right on the spectrum as you can go without actually being Nazis.

[proud patriot]

7. country club corperate jet elitist power grabbers

:D

[Swamp Rat]

8. Lunatics and lizards