Just to be clear, being a Republican does not make you a racist. Apparently some people think that’s the case, even when the GOP backer’s only twelve: “… Ashleigh Jones is feeling the heat of this election year. That’s because the seventh grader at New Smyrna Beach Middle School was called a racist by classmates for wearing a pro-Sarah Palin t-shirt. Jones is volunteering at the Republican Headquarters in New Smyrna Beach. The Palin t-shirt was a gift from her fellow volunteers.” Poor girl. [Fox 35]
This Is Not Racism.
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Key
Kids call kids names. I don’t think it’s anymore than a misconception that a few opportunistic bullies used to call the kid a new name that they thought they might get away with.
Tim
Is this news? Fox News ticker crawl is pushing this story on us. No evidence whatsoever has been given that any teacher, administrator or school employee had any comment whatsoever re: the kid’s shirt. A kid getting criticized about what they wear to school is not news. Lame.
daniel kemp
I am not a Republican, but I agree being one does not make you a racist. Bush destroyed the party and McCain/Palin have stirred the pot by desperately pandering to fear and the crackpots with the hopes of bolstering sagging poll numbers. When you set out to divide America, this is what you get. I wonder if Fox would have covered this if she lived in CA and wore a vote no on Prop 8 shirt…
John
Not all Republicans are racist. However, many racists are Republican.
Racism is largely about maintaining the status quo for white male dominance. And conservative movements are largely receptive to that message. Even Pat Buchanan admitted as much in “State of Emergency: The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America.”
Demographically, it is hardly surprising then that the GOP derives much of its electoral support from white males. They’re the group that has the most to lose from change. And by extension, they’re also the group that has the most to gain from a continuation of the racial classification system.
Landon Bryce
Palin is using racism to sell herself.
Anyone wearing a shirt promoting her is promoting racism.
Even a kid.
Darth Paul
Well put, John.
Daniel Kemp’s points are important- Bush & Co made the GOP the party of fear-and-faith with regard to the muslim/darkie threat (and to hell with every thing else, including the economy); essentially the racist fire and brimstone of political parties. It’s entirely understandable, though not agreeable, that many would have knee-jerk reactions to the party in light of how it’s plunged our country into the dismal state it’s in.
But I have to ask- WTF is a middleschooler doing promoting ANY sort of politics? I’m guessing the irresponsible parents are all about making their kid a martyr, since that’s a very fashionably specious role conservatives in this country love to adopt.
Tara
@ Daniel, if that were the case Bill “I hate all bullies except me and my loofa” O’Reilly would have called the parents pinheads and blamed them for using their child like that.
Hypocrites.
JJJJ
Kids can be awful bullies.
mark
Whatever their political persuasion or their parents political loyalty…attacking a kid is just OUT OF BOUNDS. Even the pathetic Fred Phelp’s grandkids holding GOD HATES FAGS signs, or AIDS is the answer sign.
We can find their parents detestable, but the kid is just following their lead.
mark
I would suggest Repigs PURGE their party of their putrid maggots who preach Japanese Internment CAMPS were great(malkin), and photos of Obama with a NOOSE, or calling Michele a BABY MOMMA on FOX crawl, or altering Michele Obama’s face to an ape, or OBAMA WAFFLES hannity and lou dobbs were at the “values voter cesspool”
how does Michael Steel and Condi Rice feel when they witness this sh*t?
JJJJ
And the worst thing about it is that the kids don’t know what they’re talking about. They were probably just taught to bully like that by their Democrat parents.
fredo777
Speaking of bullies, did you read about the McPalin supporter at one of Palin’s rallies that assaulted a reporter for laughing when some college kids blasted pro-Obama music + waved Obama signs nearby (which the McPalinites were none too pleased over)?
Bullies, indeed.
Mike
Lie down with dogs….
MyCheapTwoCents
If the Republicans don’t want to be associated with racism and bigotry then they ought to stop pandering to racists and bigots.