I wandered over to the Conjecturer where Joshua was lamenting the decline of Andrew Sullivan, and so of course I had to go over and take a look since I hadn’t been to Andrew’s in a few days. I came across this post. Go on over and watch the video.
Are you back? Good. Now I am asking, and I would like it explained to me without any bashing, because sometimes we all miss something, so please indulge me if I am being clueless. What is “all but racist” about the ad? Is it that opposing immigration is automatically racist? Is it that the measures being implicitly endorsed are automatically racist? Is it the juxtaposition of the illegal immigrants with a white family? Would substituting a black or Hispanic family make the ad not “all but racist?” How exactly are illegal immigrants supposed to be portrayed that is not “all but racist?” Should the producer of the ad have cast a bunch of Irish immigrants climbing over the fence? Uh, I think that would have caused a row from all quarters, but I don’t think that is what he means.
What exactly does “all but racist” mean anyway? Is it that it is not really racist, but that we know it would appeal to racists so therefore it is inappropriate anyway? Is it just a smear without any real thought put into it in the first place? Thanks for helping me out on this.
For something really offensive I give you the self aggrandizing schtick of Robert Byrd as he brags about his prowess in gathering pork. Thanks to Instapundit.
[tags] Andrew Sullivan, illegal immigration, Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, Robert Byrd, Pork[/tags]
About Lance
I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com.
I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college.
I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting.
I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us.
I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere.
Lance
It’s all but racist because it’s by the Republicans. Also, don’t expect to get a trackback on his site; Sully only allows trackbacks that lick the ground he walks on.
I have noticed one or two of mine disappear in the past.
That’s because he dislikes contrasting views. No matter what he says about “the media” (of which he a major part), he is just a hypocrite.
I suppose one could argue that opposing all immigration is racist, and there may be truth to the meme that opposing immigration from a racially homogenous country is racist (doubtful on both accounts), but the ad itself does not say anything about immigration in toto. It specifically addresses “illegal immigration.”
I am not an immigration hardliner, though I understand it and am therefore quite willing to not be upset if we crack down on the border. I would actually like to see immigration expanded if we do that. Still, I am always non-plussed by smears of those you disagree with, and this strikes me as one, but as I said, maybe I am missing something.
This is like the Steve Lyons “racist” comment. It says more about the person offended than anything else.
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