Among all the \u201cisms\u201d \u2013 sexism, racism, ageism, etc. \u2013 there is one ism that does not get much attention. It is arguably the most dangerous ism of all in terms of national unity. It is the one ism that is considered acceptable by the arbiters of isms \u2013 Democrats. The further left, the more viciously it is advanced by those on the left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is partisan-ism. Just as racism means the denigrating those of another race through stereotyping, partisan-ism \u2013 at least as defined in this commentary \u2013 is the maligning political opponents through negative stereotyping. In the general case of isms, the characterizations are negative and with no basis in fact. Same with partisan-ism<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While virtually all media \u2013 news, entertainment and social platforms \u2013 condemn the prejudicial nature of the negative stereotyping of classes of people.\u00a0 The left-wing media makes an exception for partisan-ism.\u00a0 In fact, they aggressively engage in vicious partisan-ism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, you probably have already guessed that I am referring to the constant attacks on Republicans \u2026 conservatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am not referring to the normal political debate over issues, philosophies or candidates. Rather, I am addressing the broad-brush attacks on the Republican brand and all those who vote Republican. Although they do not use the term, Democrats and the left-wing media constantly characterize the Republican Party \u2013 from top leaders to average voters \u2013 as \u201cthe enemy of the people\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone associated with the GOP \u2013 or supportive in any way \u2013 are said to be \u201cinsurrectionists,\u201d \u201ccoup plotters,\u201d \u201ccultists,\u201d \u201cenemies of democracy.\u201d\u00a0 All those who fall under the label of \u201cRepublican\u201d are described as \u201ccrazy,\u201d \u201cunhinged,\u201d \u201cinsane,\u201d \u201cevil,\u201d etc., etc., etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is first important to understand that all the appellations and characterizations are untrue \u2013 nothing but political propaganda. The attack on the Republican Party by the Democrats and the media is founded on the same techniques and communication strategies employed by authoritarians throughout the world and throughout history. The purpose is to maintain power by making legitimate political opposition into the enemies of the state. It was the rationale used by Hitler to murder millions of Jews in Germany. It was the basis for Mao Zedong\u2019s Cultural Revolution, that killed millions in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While those are dramatic extremes of the technique, making opponents the enemy of the state is found among autocrats everywhere. While they may not engage in extermination policies, they do mount propaganda and phony shame campaigns to create cultural prejudice against the target population. They censor and censure the opposition. They promote public hostility (Congresswoman Waters calling on citizens to harass her \u201cenemies\u201d in public \u2026 protests against conservative speakers on campuses \u2026 blocking conservative opinion from social media \u2026 attacking conservative news outlets).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, the national political dialogue is not like in the past.\u00a0 It has evolved into a one-sided assault on political opposition by the left-wing elitist establishment and the institutions that they control \u2013 academia, news, entertainment, and publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no subtlety in the messaging. Left-wing writers and commentators call for the removal of Republicans from all offices. Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post<\/em> called for the Republican Party to be \u201ccrushed\u201d all across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is no longer a matter of competing for votes on a reasonably level playing field. Democrat leaders talk about the need for national unity, but there can be no unity as long as Democrats and their media allies engage in existential warfare on Republicans as an enemy of the people \u2026 the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is any serious threat to the Republic, it comes from those who believe that only they \u2013 their party \u2014 are fit to rule over the people. One- party rule is, by definition, authoritarianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are inclined to disagree with my analysis, I dare you to watch MSNBC and CNN (and other news platforms) with an objective eye.\u00a0 You will find that the daily programming is filled with prosecutorial-style attacks on all things Republican and conservative.\u00a0 Positive reports about Republican issues, personalities, candidates, and voters are non-existent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the moment Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, Democrats began their resistance movement \u2013 vilifying and threatening to impeach Trump even before he was inaugurated. It is not the attacks on Trump that is the problem. It was broadening the attacks on the Republican brand \u2013 and all those who associate with it, from leaders to voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THAT is what is poisoning the political atmosphere. THAT is what is dividing the nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is good news, however. Left-wing hyper partisan-ism is wearing thin. The public \u2013 at least most of it \u2013 is not buying the left\u2019s propaganda. Republicans are still being elected to office. Folks in the neighborhood \u2013 who know real Republicans \u2013 are not consumed with hatred. Despite the dark description the left applies to Republicans and conservatives, there are indications that the Grand Old Party is on the rise \u2013 much to the chagrin of folks on the far left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, there \u2018tis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n