Friday, December 30, 2011

GOP = The Know Nothing Party?

 Today's right-wing, for the most part resemble the "Know Nothing Party" of the 1850's. Don't believe it? Well, let's look at what motivated the Know Nothing Party, and see if it looks familiar. The Know Nothings particulary were against immigrants coming from Europe, specifically Irish Catholics, and it sometimes resulted in riots, protests and fights. As their fearmongering got louder, some within already established political factions espoused Know Nothing/American Nativist ideology. The Republican Party had members who took part in that. Part of that ideology was a promise to keep immigrants out of the country. Sound familiar yet? In fact, President Abraham Lincoln wrote this about the Know Nothing Party,


"I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that “all men are created equal.”except negroes.” When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read “all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.” When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty — to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be take pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy."


 Today's "Know Nothings" have not limited their fears to "immigrants"which can be seen on right-wing blogs or on talk radio shows such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or Michael Savage, and it can even be heard from some of the current Republican candidates for President. The hate and fear of "others" has extended to today's American Muslims, African Americans, the LBGT community, free thinking liberals, atheists and non-Christians and any government oversight of the country. Rememebr the chants of "Love it or Leave it!" when opposing views were discussed? Or how about the fight over the "Ground Zero Mosque"? Or gay marriage? Or health care reform, after all it is "socialism" In fact, it was so "socialist", that President Obama was pictured as a "African Witch Doctor" with a bone through his nose. I mean, he was born in Kenya, right?

  The list goes on and on. So, I am suggesting that as we pay attention to the GOP primaries, we now refer to the as the "Know Nothing Primaries".Now, there are some rational Republicans that are still out there, and we can offer them "waivers". But until the time comes when they come forward, they will be "Know Nothings".

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