The Republican "Demonization Committee" is Meeting Regularly


There is no "Demonization Committee."  However, there are committees, consultants and strategy groups who meet to discuss who to demonize next. We all know it started with slavery. Within the Southern part of the Democratic Party demonization of black, brown and Asian people was the go-to way to win elections. It was the Republican Party, largely run by big city, anti-taxation and anti-union which treated demonization of black people with indifference or even distain. When the parts of the Southern Democratic Party began to flirt with leading Republicans about switching parties, I recall Senator Bob Dole saying, "We Republicans welcome people of all persuasions." What he meant, of course, was Republicans wanted more anti-tax/regulation voters and it would nod politely and ignore the demonization part of converted Southern Democrats. The guests were invited into the house. Then the guests kicked out the owners.

An author in the NY Times regrets her remark in a women's public rest room a few years back. She was standing at the sink next to another woman washing her hands. Out of one of the stalls came a large person with what appeared a male body type wearing a wig. The person did a quick wash and hurried out.

The lady standing next to the author said, "Why do we have to put up with that?" The author was taken aback by the comment and replied, "I guess no harm was done." Today the author wished she would have said, "That person in a human being. We need to make a space for all humans." The author is trans. 

The regularity of naming groups to demonize is so predictable it makes one wonder if there might be a list of potential candidates and each has a line drawn through the Republican Party has milked it long enough to raise money or win an election. Some decades ago, the demons in the abortion arena were doctors and clinics who performed abortions. Women, who made the actual decisions to have abortions, were tip toed around. They only had abortions, the political B.S. said, after they were persuaded by abortion doctor, or, "women's lib." The doctors and clinics as demons has finally been replaced by careless and promiscuous women. The upcoming Biden campaign features an ad with Trump saying specifically women must be held legally accountable for abortions.

We've cycled through demonization of black and Asian Americans. For a long time it was gays. Now trans are being demonized. There has been test marketing of demonizing librarians. "Hollywood" is always there. Oh, and Hunter Biden. 

Grab some popcorn and watch the next demonization parade.   

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