Reality-Based Conservatives
Reality-Based Conservatives
4 Ways to Reach the Racists, Qanon Quacks, and Critical Race Cowards (Public)
Bob from the comments section (below) asks how my suggestion of engaging with rightist opponents works against “actual Nazis.”
First of all, this proves Godwin’s Law, that all internet debate is eventually shortcircuited by someone bringing up Hitler or the Nazis.
I saw an actual Nazi at a Proud Boys protest once—a young guy in a full Wermarcht uniform. “He’s not with us,” the speakers insisted—even though he was. But there were actual, hammer-and-sickle communists at the Portland protests I attended in 2020; does that make me a Khmer Rouge Maoist?
No, we are not talking about “actual” Nazis but things with other names. White supremacists. Conspiracy-fueled vigilantes. Phony patriot authoritarians. Christian Confederates. Fascist wannabes. Calling them Nazis is blinding.
And yes, peaceful resistance and open engagement works to isolate, undermine and change such people. The 2020 protests in Portland were overwhelmingly peaceful and you’ll notice, the Proud Boys and federal troops went away.
Here are some recent examples of how engagement and strong patriotic stands can moderate extremism:
If you missed it, watch the highest soldier in America explain to panicked conservatives why Critical Race Theory—teaching accurate history—matters. This is a delicious, bold rebuttal to Rep. Matt Gaetz, in a little over one minute.
Nicholas Kristoff on how a black man convinced some 200 racists to quit the Klan and similar movements. “One of Davis’s methods — and there’s research from social psychology to confirm the effectiveness of this approach — is not to confront antagonists and denounce their bigotry but rather to start in listening mode. Once people feel they are being listened to, he says, it is easier to plant a seed of doubt.” THEN you deliver reality.
Led by the Republicans, the Oregon house just expelled Mike Newman, the extreme-right member who conspired (in advance, on video) to help militia members and radical racists breach the Capitol in Salem. The vote was 59-1, every single Democrat and Republican (except Newman himself) voting to protect our democratic process. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/06/10/oregon-house-of-representatives-vote-mike-nearman-expulsion-state-capitol-incursion/
Michigan Republicans also just roundly rejected the baseless Trump lies about election fraud there. They investigated the real facts in Michigan, and even disproved similar Big Lie claims about Georgia. These are reality-based conservatives. (Even if the report’s lead author, Ed McBroom, represents Vulcan. Literally.) https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/23/michigan-senate-investigation-election-trump/5035244001/
Now, before somebody accuses me of being a GOP fanboy who won’t punch Nazis, let me point out the ongoing problems. The same Oregon Republicans walked out of the chamber in previous years, and went into hiding, to prevent a quorum and stop votes for the Democratic agenda I support. The leading Michigan Republicans who called Trump on his bullshit then used their same report to endorse bills that make it harder or more intimidating to vote.
That’s ok. You don’t have to agree with them on everything, just one thing. This is about what my U Michigan professor Robert Mickey called “short-term, cross-cutting political coalitions” in order to win specific victories. Those coalitions have to be made with your opponents.
My goal is to stop armed insurgents from occupying the state Capitol in Oregon. In Michigan, where that already happened, my goal is to expose the lying-for-profit about election fraud.
And then tomorrow we get up and do it all over again.