The talking heads say the Tea Party is full of racists. The liberals believe it because they want to believe it. I have family members who started calling me a Tea Party racist and I’ve never been to a Tea Party rally. Because of their slander, I wouldn’t spit on them if they were on fire.
Yep, some of the Wife’s Family think my Politics are “hateful” because I’m a Conservative. Otherwise I’m the nicest guy they have ever met.
They have swallowed that “Compassion, thy name is Liberal” crap hook line and sinker.
I barely talk to any of them.
One can tell right away who the “enemy” might be if you have ears to the ground - noticed an esp. visceral response from libbie friends about the “tea party”; and a decided sense that they particularly need some sort of scapegoat du jour to feel justified. Typically, if one brings facts, logic, or reason to a discussion or debate, it rapidly devolves into namecalling - watch for it - and is part of the strategy utilized (when people aren’t buying what they are selling) pick a target, isolate it, polarize it, demonize it, ridicule, etc. The problem is decent, hardworking everday folks are just that - decent people! So, they are susceptible to what are known as “thought ending cliches” - words or phrases that are so emotionally loaded or have the purported ability to end the debate.
In years past the demarcation line was clearly evident when, having lost any rational discussion or debate, “Well, you just listen to Rush Limbaugh...” as if that is the end of the discussion on any subject, and more importantly, by conflating things that aren’t part of the discussion.
The important thing isn’t whether the person being attacked listens to Rush or watches “Faux News”, rather it’s clear to me that it’s the person making ad hominems doesn’t listen to Rush, only what they have been told about Rush. What is happenin’ here is pretty dang clear, setting up “straw man” acceptable designated objects of derision and utilizing the power of the press and bully pulpit to work over everyone’s guilt gland.