Conservatives, Here Is the Real Reason Why Progressives Call You Racist
Radio talk show host Dennis Prager recently penned a column in which he discussed the far-left’s penchant for smearing those with whom they disagree as racists. In the piece, he accurately described the reasons for the left’s use of this political tactic.
However, while the reasons he gave are spot on, there is an even more insidious reason why the progressive left favors this political strategy – and it is something that the conservative movement should be focusing on in the battle of ideas. In the article, Prager points out two instances in which he was falsely labeled as a racist for purely political purposes.
When describing the reasons why progressives love to call conservatives bigots, he pointed out that “destroying opponents by destroying their reputations is a left-wing value.” By successfully labeling an opponent as a racist, they limit the person’s ability to make their true ideas known. It’s why they pretend that conservatives oppose illegal immigration because we hate brown people.
Prager then outlined the second reason why progressives resort to false accusations of bigotry in their political discourse:
“Second, smearing opponents is not only a left-wing value; it is the left’s modus operandi. And the reason for that is: The left does not win through argument. It wins through smear. If you differ with the left, you are, by definition, sexist, racist, bigoted, intolerant, homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic, fascist and/or a hater. The proof? You cannot name a single opponent of the left who has not been so labeled.”
He’s right on both counts. But I would posit that there is a third reason why the left relies on false bigotry allegations, and this one is the most deceptive and – though I hate to admit it – brilliant motivations behind the strategy. It can be summed up by a famous quote that has been repeated by many in the world of politics: “Always accuse your enemy of that which you are guilty”
In other words, the progressive left accuses conservatives of racism to distract from the bigotry inherent in the policies they champion. Indeed, several of the far-left’s favorite government policies have had a disproportionately devastating impact on minority communities run by Democratic officials.
Let’s start with immigration. It has been shown on numerous occasions that illegal – and even legal – immigration has adversely impacted black American workers. Labor Lawyer Peter Kirsanow, a member of the Center for Immigration Studies pointed this out during a speech. He noted that “Forty percent of the decline in labor participation rates among black workers over three decades was attributable to competition from illegal immigration.”
Even The Washington Post published an article by Henry Olson arguing that illegal immigration has caused great harm to the black community. In the piece, he references black workers in Mississippi who were displaced by illegal immigrants who were willing to work for far lesser wages than their American counterparts. Nevertheless, the progressive left continues to advocate for open borders policies.
Next, we have gun control, which has made it disproportionately difficult for black Americans living in dangerous cities (governed by Democrats) to obtain the means to defend themselves. I had a conversation with activist Maj Toure, who stated that in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and others, the fees and red tape involved in carrying a firearm are so cumbersome that it is far more challenging for blacks to purchase a weapon legally.
This means that many carry illegally, and are punished by the law for doing so. When I asked him why these officials would enact such policies, he said: “Because they are either stupid or racist.”
Of course, we can’t forget abortion. Groups like Planned Parenthood have been shown to be marketing their baby-killing services primarily to cities which are predominantly populated by blacks and Hispanics. Rather than considering policies that could make it easier for black mothers to provide for their children, they are simply urging them to destroy their babies, which has had a deleterious impact on the black population in places like New York City.
Lastly, there is the issue of school choice. Progressives are zealously fighting to ensure that parents will not be allowed to choose the schools that their children attend. This has had horrific consequences for minorities living in the inner city, whose schools are severely lacking in the ability to provide quality education.
Studies have shown that the majority of black parents support school choice, but the left does not respect their wishes. In fact, the Democrats go out of their way to ignore them. This can be seen in a recent Elizabeth Warren rally in which she brushed off the pleas of a group of black mothers shouting their desire for school choice. Put simply, progressives do not want black and Hispanic children to receive a quality education because it might help them rise out of poverty.
These are only a few of the progressive policies that have had a specifically pernicious effect on minority communities all over the nation. Even a cursory look at this issue reveals the true reason why progressives rant daily about racism in the conservative movement. It is why the corporate media has run a decades-long campaign to label Republicans as the party of racial bigotry. They are simply distracting from the racism they themselves have perpetrated.
Instead of constantly being on the defense when it comes to the issue of racism, perhaps the time has come for conservatives to give the left a taste of their own medicine. We don’t need to engage in mindless race-baiting to further our agenda. Instead, we must focus relentlessly on the very real racist impact of the Democrats’ favorite policies. After all, don’t they deserve to be on defense for a change?
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