Lincoln Project Admits it Sent Fake White Nationalists to Republican Rally

[Subduction Zone]

So many live in a world of total demonization of the 'other'.
Is inability / refusal to see any humanity in them something
to be proud of?

No, but one has to be a realist too. Not all Republicans went over to the dark side. But it appears that most of them did.

 

[metis]

Sadly some think that a dictatorship would not be all that bad, if it was their sort of dictatorship.

To go along with what you say, a poll taken last year found that 40% of people who consider themselves to be Republicans have more faith in Trump than in the Constitution of the United States of America.

But we brought this on ourselves to a large extent by ignoring the advice of our FF against having political parties, and this even we made worse by the fact that our electoral college system makes it very difficult for 3rd parties to be successful. This is why I wish we had a parliamentary system that is more conducive to having multiple parties although, admittedly, there can be and often are problems with them as well.

 

[Subduction Zone]

To go along with what you say, a poll taken last year found that 40% of people who consider themselves to be Republicans have more faith in Trump than in the Constitution of the United States of America.

But we brought this on ourselves to a large extent by ignoring the advice of our FF against having political parties, and this even we made worse by the fact that our electoral college system makes it very difficult for 3rd parties to be successful. This is why I wish we had a parliamentary system that is more conducive to having multiple parties although, admittedly, there can be and often are problems with them as well.

That is more than a bit frightening.

 

[Revoltingest]

No, but one has to be a realist too. Not all Republicans went over to the dark side. But it appears that most of them did.

Tis one thing to disagree criticize wrongdoings.
But it is vastly different to condemn them as
utterly & completely evil. This would be to shut
one's mind down.

 

[SomeRandom]

Tis one thing to disagree criticize wrongdoings.
But it is vastly different to condemn them as
utterly & completely evil. This would be to shut
one's mind down.

If some politician were reading NAZI propaganda unironically or for any other purpose than a thought exercise, I don’t care if they’re on my side or not. I’d be very quick to condemn them.
Many politicians defended Hitler when he rose to power as “oh well, at least he’s whipping the Germans into shape. We shouldn’t condemn the man.”
Yeah that strategy worked well.
I’m all for decorum and politeness in politics. But one has to still draw a line in the sand

 

[Revoltingest]

If some politician were reading NAZI propaganda unironically or for any other purpose than a thought exercise, I don’t care if they’re on my side or not. I’d be very quick to condemn them.

That's fine....so long as there's no bleeding, internal or external.

Many politicians defended Hitler when he rose to power as “oh well, at least he’s whipping the Germans into shape. We shouldn’t condemn the man.”
Yeah that strategy worked well.
I’m all for decorum and politeness in politics. But one has to still draw a line in the sand

Draw the line at drawing blood.
FWIW, I oppose Hitler, Nazis, serial killers, ordinary murderers, & socialists.

 

[SomeRandom]

That's fine....so long as there's no bleeding, internal or external.

I try not to extract blood during a political “debate.” It’s most unhygienic.

Draw the line at drawing blood.

My line is before that actually. I do think there are many folks that can be reasoned with. Regardless of political views. I have seen the, for lack of a better word, “rehabilitation” of many young folks who were on their way to becoming fascist supporters. Hell in high school they even showed us a documentary of a similar phenomenon. Reformed Neo Nazis, KKK members and skinheads. So I do think that people can be lead down dark paths but still can come around and change. Fundamentally speaking. That doesn’t mean I will use kiddie gloves. Because that solves nothing. Unless the “opponent” is literally a kid. Then I will probably be a lot gentler.

 

[Revoltingest]

My line is before that actually. I do think there are many folks that can be reasoned with. Regardless of political views. I have seen the, for lack of a better word, “rehabilitation” of many young folks who were on their way to becoming fascist supporters. Hell in high school they even showed us a documentary of a similar phenomenon. Reformed Neo Nazis, KKK members and skinheads. So I do think that people can be lead down dark paths but still can come around and change. Fundamentally speaking. That doesn’t mean I will use kiddie gloves. Because that solves nothing. Unless the “opponent” is literally a kid. Then I will probably be a lot gentler.

Kid gloves can be most effective.
Daryl Davis - Wikipedia

 

[SomeRandom]

Kid gloves can be most effective.
Daryl Davis - Wikipedia

It can be. Killing with kindness has its place, certainly. But I’ve worked with the public too long to have any kindness left.
Sometimes showing compassion is called for. Other times it will “show your weakness” and get you beat up. It depends on who you’re dealing with
*cough* Proud Boys *cough*

 

[Revoltingest]

It can be. Killing with kindness has its place, certainly. But I’ve worked with the public too long to have any kindness left.
Sometimes showing compassion is called for. Other times it will “show your weakness” and get you beat up. It depends on who you’re dealing with
*cough* Proud Boys *cough*

I've never had a bad reaction befriending those with
opposing views & values. They're more receptive
than if I'd lectured, criticized, belittled, etc.

BTW, the secret to avoiding burn out is to have low
expectations for their change.

 

[SomeRandom]

I've never had a bad reaction befriending those with
opposing views & values. They're more receptive
than if I'd lectured, criticized, belittled, etc.

BTW, the secret to avoiding burn out is to have low
expectations for their change.

Indeed many of my closest friends and family have opposite views of my own. In fact many of my older uncles (usually those with the background of educators or mental health workers, just an observation) encouraged me to not only argue and form my own opinions. But sympathise with those which oppose mine. Ie play devil’s advocate. And I have family from all political walks of life and we can still enjoy a good bourbon and have a laugh.
People who want to see myself or my friends dead simply because our existence is “too political” is something I can’t tolerate. Bigotry disguised as just “having a political opinion” is still bigotry. If reasoning fails then I have no choice but to oppose them.

 

[Stevicus]

Considering all the supposed "White supremacists" that are around every corner, under every bed nibbling at ones toes, and coming for your children one would not think it necessary to invent them. This playacting with social and political fire is disingenuous, divisive, and undermines democracy, shame on them.

"The anti-Republican political action committee The Lincoln Project claimed responsibility Friday for a stunt in which activists dressed up as tiki torch-carrying white nationalists in a bid to link Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin to racist views."

Lincoln Project claims responsibility for fake ‘white supremacists’ at Glenn Youngkin event

As a political strategy, it appears to have backfired on them.

Of course, America has a time-honored tradition of deception and dirty tricks in politics, so this is nothing new.

But it's just a further indication that it's time to get back to basics in U.S. politics. Pundits and politicians have become more like entertainers, focusing more on how clever and witty they are. There are no more philosophers or statesmen anymore. And then people wonder why politics has gone awry.