Xenophobic Fearmongering is not "Talking About Immigration"
It's interesting that the recent hysteria is being treated as simply mainstream politics
Apparently, there is a method to the madness.
All this talk about tens of thousands of illegal Haitians scampering around chasing after cats and dogs and geese is part of a brilliant strategy by the Trump campaign.
You see, by talking about that stuff, the average Amercian will have immigration on the mind. And immigration is a real issue to be considered. Immigration policy has been very important throughout our history, greatly affecting our country’s economic and sociological well-being. This is kitchen table stuff, similar to balancing the family budget or what slogans to put on the signs for the protest of the upcoming local drag queen story hour.
These aren’t my sentiments; rather, it is the milquetoast analysis of election pundits, designed to normalize the grotesque and appalling xenophobic demonization of certain types of immigrants (dark-skinned, not light-skinned).
They are conflating two very different things: racist fearmongering and immigration policy.
Here’s an example:
So Harris shouldn’t try to counter the idea of “mass deportations”, because “talking about immigration” is better for Trump? Is it then more politically wise to just allow Trump’s barbaric rhetoric about immigrants sit with no counterpoints? Apparently so.
In fact, the Trump campaign, supposedly now run by relatively competent people, has made the political calculation that outrageous and unbelievable claims about immigrants is fine, because it “keeps immigration in the news”.
Consider the following news story:
Take a moment to consider this: A major American presidential campaign is making a political calculation to suffer through the consequences of their own promotion of cat eating.
Cat Eating!!
In what way could this possibly be a good thing to talk about? Cat eating is not exactly a popular issue. Incessantly talking about cat eating would actually be considered a sign of mental illness, not political astuteness. Except for in the world of our current corporate media, that is.
The Trump campaign at least seems to agree that there’s a “hit” to be taken, or, in other words, some kind of political price to pay. But apparently, they believe this will be counteracted by the larger hit to Harris that will result from her refuting the eating of domestic animals and talking about normal immigration policy.
This would be analogous to Democrats talking about instituting a 100% income tax on everyone while mandating and distributing a soylent green-only diet to all households. Suddenly, low tax rates for billionaires seems normal and desirable.
The reality is that this isn’t about immigration. If it was, we would be talking about things like border law enforcement, surveillance technology, asylum rules, border agent levels and pay, visa regulations, etc.
If it was purely about immigration, it would in fact be a net benefit to Harris and Democrats. This is because they called Republicans’ bluff on immigration recently and negotiated a bipartisan bill to help solve immigration problems, which Donald Trump helped kill. And because border encounters have now plummeted to levels below even what Trump oversaw during his administration. So, technically, the Biden/Harris administration has achieved more border success than Trump ever did.
No, this isn’t about immigration. It’s about animalistic emotion. It’s about base racism. Fear. Viciousness. For lack of a more convenient term: it’s fascism. Let’s at least call it what it is.
It’s a winner with the white nationalist crowd. If they are trying to energize this bloc of voters, it makes sense. In fact, that’s probably exactly what they are trying to do. This is a play for support of fascism. And generally, fascism isn’t a recipe for success in American politics.
Therefore, what they are doing is going all-in on fascism, hoping that they’ll either get out the Nazi vote or rile up enough Nazi energy to create an atmosphere of intimidation and violence and throw the election into a chaotic mess.
This isn’t talking about an issue that the American people care about. It’s forcing an American election to be called into mass question.
Can the corporate media and its tangential pundits please stop acting like this is just normal politics?
It’s grotesque, detestable fascism. Just call it that, and let’s move on with an honest, meaningful discussion.
Trump’s closest acolytes should think about the fates of Hitler’s buddies, Himmler, Goering, Goebbels and the rest of the nasty crew.
I’m not suggesting that Vance, Haber, Giuliani, et al be executed but their support of naked fascism is (or should be) career ending.
Fascism sows the seeds of its own destruction and all of those most closely associated with it.
Too right. A lot of people are too scared of the f-word or they think you are only a fascist if you are literally Hitler.
I was totally incensed by Vance saying that he needs to make up stories "to make US media care about the suffering of American people." Is that those idiots driving around with massive Trump flags driving around in their huge pick-ups? They are not suffering. But they should be, miserable bastards....