i think by now even the most culturally and politically isolated republican voter is well aware of their party's reputation for producing policy half the country regards as overtly racist, so i think it would be grossly naive to assume that nancy pelosi is performing an admiration for historical Republicanism out of a sincere belief that she is convincing uninformed Republicans that actually their Trump admin's family separation policy is inhumane, as if four years of democratic messaging prior hadn't made them aware of this opinion until they saw nancy pelosi's take on MSNBC's morning joe
rather i think this represents the prevailing ideology of institutional Democratic politics that the only way to ensure the continuity of US institutions in the fashion they can (or care to) imagine them is to continue to appease nostalgic and reactionary sentiments within their electoral coalition
hence appearing on a program only liberal boomers like herself watch to opine about how republican politics ought to conform to a time when things were less desperate and frightening (for white americans) and you could have amicable disagreements with your republican neighbors about the basic humanity of oppressed minorities
if you think every Republican voter is aware of those horrors their party supports, you are wrong. Apparently you've never consumed their media. Everything horrible their party does is spun or dismissed with expert precision. They are soooo much better at this than we are, it's frightening. Most Republicans have not been exposed to the "four years of democratic messaging prior" you refer to, and in fact, they have been specifically programmed to assume such messaging is fraudulent. And I agree with you, they probably aren't watching Morning Joe either, but in the off chance some of them were turned off by that debate and went back to MSNBC the next morning because they are having second thoughts about where Fox News has lead them, what's the harm in trying? Morning Joe is specifically targeting such viewers. It is not targeting you
Nancy used the word "cult" for a reason. People are indoctrinated into politics, much like they are indoctrinated into religion. I know many good people who still cling to "Republican" as a basic part of their identity, and I know you know such people as well. They are lied to constantly by their media bubble. They feel obligated to stay loyal due to some sense of duty to a parent or spouse. They are predisposed to believe the things they are doing are good. Writing these people off as a lost cause just makes our job harder.
And since you conveniently ignored my justification for that paragraph, here it is again, in all of it's glory:
Republican party, even today, is not 100% a white supremacist cult. There are still a lot of good people voting Republican without fully understanding how they are suppressing people. This is precisely what Pelosi's message says. She calls out Pro-Life voters supporting the child separation plan, and she highlights Trumps inability to condemn white supremacism. She does these things because many Republicans think they have the moral high ground without knowing the full picture. They are good but misinformed. Why condemn Pelosi for trying to show them they have been fooled? Particularly when Pelosi compromises nothing while doing so? Particularly when the alternative is chastising them and having them become even more entrenched in their views?
So, for the 2nd time, why condemn Pelosi for trying to show them they have been fooled? Particularly when Pelosi compromises nothing while doing so? Particularly when the alternative is chastising them and having them become even more entrenched in their views, as
you would prefer? Just because
you have already written them off?
Once again, Nancy has served in California for three decades, and the state has trended more and more liberal the entire time. She knows what she's doing. If this can help us win, then so be it. She isn't compromising anything here
If you can find a better way to "ensure the continuity of US institutions" without "appeasing nostalgic and reactionary sentiments within their electoral coalition" I'm all ears. I've listened to your opinions, I'm mostly convinced, heck I voted for Bernie twice.
But the fact of the matter is,
you have nothing. You do not have a better way that will work.
Not while the Electoral Collage exists and right wing media actively brainwashes half of the country. And that is why we are where we are now. So we are stuck with the big tent, and as long as Nancy isn't compromising our ideals while trying to change these minds, what she's attempting is nothing but beneficial.
