Why is “neo-Confederate” treated as synonymous with “racist”?
Because in the original sense of the term (coined by William F Buckley) it was specifically about racist elements in the party. I know some others have taken up the name too but the general term was specifically about them. (Of course many of the racists who use that term proclaim they aren’t really racist- probably like the Terry character in the video.) Reminds me of liberals saying they aren’t really liberal but ‘progressive’.
Because libs have learned that Orwell had it right. When you control the language, you control the argument and ultimately the culture.
The term has no definite meaning I'm aware of. However, it is reasonable to apply it to those who think the Confederacy was in the right.
Now it is theoretically possible for a modern person to think the CSA was right only in its desire for state sovereignty, without bringing along all the white supremacist stuff usually associated with support for the Confederacy. Recognizing that white supremacy was an almost universally held POV by white people in the 1860s. North and South.
Unfortunately that's not really the way it works out. While northern racists (most northerners) didn't want to live around or have anything to do with blacks, the dominant southern ideology was a very definite Master Race ideology, and we all know where that tends to lead over time. IOW, southern racism insisted blacks be forever enslaved for the benefit of their white masters, while northern racism wished blacks would just go away.
While neither POV is admirable or defensible by modern standards, northern racism was at least willing to leave other races alone.
I associate neo confederate with being anti federalist and pro states rights.
I figure it has something to to with the Paleo-Confederates...