Posted on 01/16/2021 9:16:49 AM PST by george76
“Whataboutism is the last refuge for someone who can’t admit they’re wrong,” says journalist Tod Perry, who demands that we “stop equating Trump’s Capitol insurrection to Black Lives Matter protests.” The Atlantic’s David A. Graham likewise declares that conservatives’ “complaints about double standards are mostly whataboutism.” Jeremy W. Peters of The New York Times scolded the right for responses that were “full of whataboutism.”
What’s going on here? The left has come to embrace whataboutism as an all-purpose shield against any attempt to put events in a social, moral and historical context.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “whataboutism” as “the practice of raising a supposedly analogous issue in response to a perceived hypocrisy or inconsistency.” The term came into use in the 20th century, often describing a Soviet rhetorical gambit where any criticism of the USSR’s rights record elicited an objection about the West’s sins.
Are conservatives’ complaints about rioting double standards — lenient for Antifa, severe for MAGA — whataboutism? Graham dismisses the “superficial parallels” and Peters disparages “false equivalencies.”
We should, of course, reject false equivalencies, because they’re false. But to complain about false equivalencies necessarily means that there are true equivalencies.
...
Rioting was “understandable but regrettable,” Jesse Jackson said
...
The whataboutism accusations mean that the people holding the megaphone can deliver crazy, dangerous pronouncements during one historical circumstance, then later use that power to decree that the earlier pronouncements are irrelevant. No decent person would even mention them. This message to conservatives resembles Eric Stratton’s admonition in “Animal House”: You f - - ked up. You took us seriously. The moral of that story? Don’t take them seriously in the first place.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Because all they are interested in is power and how to get it. All else be damned.
Crying whataboutism is aimed at the RINOs / fence-sitters.
Whatabout treating antifa dressed as MAGA worse than they treat antifa dressed as antifa?
Analogy and precedent matter.
>>>“stop equating Trump’s Capitol insurrection to Black Lives Matter protests.” The Atlantic’s David A. Graham likewise declares that conservatives’ “complaints about double standards are mostly whataboutism.” Jeremy W. Peters of The New York Times scolded the right for responses that were “full of whataboutism.”
jmo, but the RESPONSE, of our LAW GIVERS AND ENFORCEMENT, to the protests is what concerns me.
Just a little difference in the law keepers re-actions?
blm DESTRUCTION was lauded and the capital ‘riot’ was the worst thing in history.
Whataboutism: Definition— a rant to belittle debate.
Wanna bet?
What else have they got? Plus, the left controls the megaphones and the Congress.
All the unaccceptable violence is by the right. Heck, the right even says violence is unacceptable, no matter what.
Not > capital ‘riot’ < should be
capitol ‘riot’............
Half awake now after half cup of coffee.
“Whataboutism”, I hate that term, it’s how hypocrites get away with stuff.
The Rats typically choose to acknowledge one group's dissatisfaction while ignoring the other. Neglecting aspects can lead to serious consequences.
“Whataboutism”, I hate that term, it’s how hypocrites get away with stuff.”
Exactly 100% correct!!
The ulimate “whataboutism” is the fact nobody ever mentioned the 1954 attack on Congress that wounded 5 Congressmen.
Compared to what recently happened, that would be a pretty big deal, wouldn’t you say.
But what happened to the people who commited that act of terror?
Jimmy Carter orders them released, they get hero’s welcomes at the UN, and upon their return to Puerto Rico.
And The Smithsonian has a section dedicated to them referring to them as “Freedom Fighters”.
And the Left still considers them heroes!
What about that!?!?!?!
Whataboutism - a weak excuse for having double standards. Created by libtards to use against us
Are conservatives’ complaints about rioting double standards — lenient for Antifa, severe for MAGA …So-called “MAGA” does not riot, Mr. Voegeli.
Precisely...And many other examples....The Rats have for the most part an emotionally stupid, low-information constituency that makes neglecting troublesome aspects a Rat specialty.
Everything the Left says and does is tactical. In this case, the jerk wants to move GROSS HYPOCRICY off the table, thus plugging an obvious weak spot in their fake outrage game. “Equating” the small Capitol Mob Incident with the massive Antifa/BLM riots/looting/arson is folly. Other than that both were sparked by small cadres of organized, trained Leftists, the events have little in common.
Scale:
Capitol Incident: extremely small-scale, caused very little damage, one execution by the police, and some regrettable deaths due to medical emergencies. The Summer of Shove riots involved thousands of organized criminals, caused millions in damage, many businesses destroyed, government buildings heavily damaged, governments cowed into inaction, and many assaults and deaths. Capitol Incident amounted to about 1/10,000th of the riots.
Who Was Harmed
Summer Riots: Widespread, indiscriminate harm to “the Little People” — Business & Property owners, local residents.
Capitol Incursion: The 535 Special People, plus their phalanxes of staffers, and armed guards were skeered by <400 unarmed citizens spread around a vast complex. None lost their livelihoods or personal property. But this is the Biggest Threat In World History, because Special People were discomfitted. Special Lives Matter; yours do not.
Similarities: In both sets of incidents, far left agitators infiltrated crowds of political protesters, and kicked off the violence.
Some 400 took part in the Capitol Incident, versus some 1.5 million in the area to demonstrate support for Trump/protest election theft. That’s 1 out of 3,750.
What about so called “conservatives” winking at antifa’s rioting when they dress up as Trump supporters but not when they dress as the antifa thugs they are? Rioters of all creeds and colors should be prosecuted and I shed no tears when one of them gets an acute case of lead poisoning.
“Whataboutitism” = is how Leftists say, “how dare you hold me to my own standards?”
It’s not about whataboutisms-whatever-that is. It’s about logical consistency and proportion.
If you’re all pissy-splayed about the riots at the capital but not at the attack on the White House on May 31, then you have neither logical consistency nor a sense of proportion.
Saying “whataboutisms” makes it seem like the fallacy is a playground insult.
But that’s what they want.
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