The Motivations of Bigotry

In politics, bigotry isn't always connected to ideology; sometimes it simply stems from opportunism.

Last week, in a year in review segment, a hearty laugh was shared among a group of comedic commentators over a family photo of the Romney's in which one of Romney's grandchildren is an adopted African American child. Taunts of "One of these things is not like the other..." and "Look, it's a Republican convention and you have to find the one black person." Melissa Harris-Perry did take time from her show weekend yesterday to apologize for the insensitivity of the remarks, and Gov. Romney has accepted the apology. This instance of poor judgement when it comes to addressing race is closed, but it once again spurs the discussion of how political commentary addresses race in today's political climate.

During the 2012 election, and even in 2008, I tried to veer away from the issue of race when discussing politics with friends and family. I thought it shouldn't make a difference the color of skin for a candidate to public office. There is no color in the words a candidate speaks. Today, however, it is getting harder and harder to not address the issue of race in American politics. The reason that we seem to be forced into acknowledging the color of someones skin is simple: the Republican Party is getting more diverse, and liberal and democrat's are gaining more and more by mocking it.

Commentary is becoming less and less to do with stances on issues or personal integrity when it comes to political leaders of color. Individuals are so often branded simply based on this attribute that it can be frustratingly difficult to hold a serious discussion. Especially when it comes to riddicule of members of the Democratic Party. Now, the Republican party has is duly electing people who are members of minorities. An African-American senator from South Carolina, Cuban-American senators from Florida and Texas, Indian-American governors in South Carolina and Louisiana, and Mexican-American governors in Nevada and New Mexico. A whole generation of prominent conservatives is also forming with the likes of Rep. Allen West, Herman Cain, Rep. Arthur Davis, Thomas Sowell, and Micheal Steel.

In the early sixties of America, southern white voters who opposed the Civil Rights act voted strongly in favor of Democrats, not because their views coincided with a large central government and progressive tax system that was favored by the national democratic party, but because democrats from the south, frequently referred to as 'Dixie-crats' were the strongest voting block against Civil Rights. It is because of these Democrats that Civil Rights passed with a larger margin of Republican support (80%) then Democrat support (63%). Republicans saw an opportunity to gain the votes of disenfranchised voters not because they wanted to repeal the Civil Rights act (though listening to left wing commentators today you would think that), but by appealing to them with a personal liberty and states rights-centric view that was the ideological core of the Republican party, that also appealed to these citizens.

Today, faced with increasing GOP diversity, the Democratic Party will be tempted by bigotry for the same reason Republicans sought out their support in the post 'Dixie-Crat' era, because bigots have votes too. In 2012, for instance, the Obama campaign never directly attacked Mitt Romney’s Mormonism. Still, Montana’s Democratic governor, Brian Schweitzer,suggested that women would not back Romney because his father was “born on a polygamy commune in Mexico.” A group named Catholics for Obama was accused of calling Pennsylvania voters asking, “How can you support a Mormon who does not believe in Jesus Christ?”. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has also had to deal with comments from state Democratic Chairman Dick Harpootlian about both her origins and she had been compared to Adolf Hitler's mistress, she also had to field questions about tipping Sikh taxi drivers better. Try picturing a reporter asking President Obama if he tips African-American waiters more.

Given the increasing diversity of the American political scene, future race, religion, and ethnicity based baiting may come in unusual forms. Imagine, for instance, a Democrat linking Marco Rubio’s lack of support for programs that benefit African-Americans to white Cuban prejudice against their darker skinned co-islanders. Or a group of South Asian Americans slamming Bobby Jindal for abandoning his Hindu heritage. Or, as in my opening to this post, the belated attack on a Mormon for having an adopted African-American grandchild.

The point is that progressives and liberals need to realize that Democrats aren't immune from racism. In politics, bigotry isn't always connected to ideology, and is not limited to one demographic's oppression of another. Sometimes, it stems simply from an opportunity that is too good to pass up. Melissa Harris-Perry is in a constant ratings foray, putting up a picture of a Republican's family and mocking it appeals to people that she is trying to court for an audience. This is not to say that Melissa is targeting people who think Mormons adopting black kids is funny specifically, just that there are similarities in the audience she is courting, and people who do find it funny. Not unlike politicians who are trying to score political points in certain demographics in hopes that it translates to votes. It's an attention-getter. And, with more minority Republicans seeking high office, Democrats will have more opportunities to get people's attention using this method in the years to come.

Melissa Harris-Perry admitted she crossed a line, her apology was sincere and Gov. Romney accepted it. However, until we delve more into the motivations behind the segment in the first place, this is a mistake we are doomed to see repeated again.