The right wing IS a movement based upon racism

[Clintonista2]

But no, I don't believe that racism is the motivating factor behind every single thing they say or do. I think greed, ignorance, and fear are sometimes just greed, ignorance, and fear. In my opinion, trying to claim that "you lie" or "shakedown" etc are racist terms contribute negatively to the debate in two ways. First, it desensitizes people to real instances of racism. Second, it takes the focus away from legitimate criticisms of the right wing. For example, claiming that Joe Barton's "shakedown" comment is racist shifts the focus away from legitimate concerns about how congressional republicans would have reacted to the oil spill.

I've tried to put this as delicately as I can. I believe that the vast majority of republicans are racist, and it is certainly a movement with deeply entrenched racist views. However, sometimes a spade is just a spade. Republicans calling the escrow fund a "shakedown" is typical RW greed and apathy. To claim otherwise is letting them off the hook.

[alp227]

1. Yep it's the "I've got mine F everybody else" mentality

Also it's the "I've got mine, keep others in their place" mentality too.

Don't try getting me started on all the countless examples of RW backwards thinking. Forreals.

[niceypoo]

2. The right needs an enemy

When the Soviet Union collapsed, the GOP turned it's gun sites inward. The GOP uses racism to lure morons into voting for them, but their main motivation is greed.

[ladjf]

3. Maybe not "solely" based upon racism but most definitely , racism

is a major component of their philosophy.

[ecstatic]

4. It's a whistle. Accept it and move on

The whole concept of a dog whistle is that it is so silent and subtle that only certain people will get it--the intended audience and the group it is used against. The word shakedown when used in reference to Obama IS a whistle. I live in a city with majority black politicians so I'm very familiar with the term and how it's used and who it's used against. Whistles can be used against any community--be it women, blacks, gays, hispanics.

[Gordan Shumway]

5. It's a Whistle