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Tag Archives: racism

Too stupid to remember to breathe

23 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Josh Hawley, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Asshole, blowhard, demagogue, ignoranimus, Josh Hawley, maroon, missouri, racism, right wingnut, U.S. Constitution, U.S. Senate

It’s there. In ink.

The first page of the United States Constitution [1787] – National Archives

The first page of the United States Constitution [1787] – National Archives – detail

[….]
Article. I.
[….]
Section. 2.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
[….]

Yesterday:

The Recount @therecount
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): “I’m worried that President Biden is nominating for federal office individuals … who believe that this is a country founded in racism …”
[….]
12:57 PM · Jun 22, 2021

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

Maroon.

Previously:

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

What passes for a flatbed truck at “…Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…” (August 16, 2018)

Josh Hawley (r): throwing shit against the wall to see if anything sticks (December 30, 2020)

Josh Hawley (r): ladders and rakes (December 30, 2020)

Ladder Climbing 101: by the book (December 31, 2020)

Burning bridges (December 31, 2020)

Sedition, sedition…sedition (January 2, 2021)

What it is, is sedition… (January 3, 2021)

If you can’t stand the heat, trample people on your way to a live mic (January 3, 2021)

Nothing much going on. Why do you ask? (January 3, 2021)

The third Senator from Virginia (January 5, 2021)

Fascist pig (January 6, 2021)

What hath Josh Hawley (r) wrought? (January 6, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): Dumbass (January 7, 2021)

Sedition is bad for business (January 11, 2021)

HCR 10 and HCR 11 (January 12, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): “I no mye misoori constitutents our reely stoopit.” (January 14, 2021)

Ignite (January 15, 2021)

Campaign Finance: Dayam (January 16, 2021)

Penrose on Politics: Taps Closed to Insurrectionists (January 17, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): Why not add “obstructionist asshole” to the list, it’s just one more thing, right? (January 21, 2021)

Penrose on Politics: Hawley’s Hallmark Moment (January 23, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): looking ahead to 2024 (January 23, 2021)

After 17 days of silence (January 24, 2021)

Yeah, but those seven Senators didn’t pump their fists at insurrectionists immediately before the breach of the Capitol (January 25, 2021)

A shooting star elbow drop from the ropes (January 28, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): you got your wish (January 31, 2021)

If Josh Hawley (r) steps in front of a microphone today we get six more weeks of sedition. (February 2, 2021)

On the wrong side of everything (February 3, 2021)

Penrose On Politics: Hawley’s Crybaby Tour (February 6, 2021)

You got that one right (February 8, 2021)

Senator “Raise My Fist in Sedition” (r) has an opinion (February 10, 2021)

Working on the galley proofs for that right wingnut welfare vanity press book? (February 10, 2021)

Penrose On Politics: Hawley’s Indifference (February 13, 2021)

Eric Greitens (r) is on line one… (February 13, 2021)

Penrose On Politics: Hawley’s Mail (February 20, 2021)

What is Josh Hawley’s (r) favorite whine? (February 23, 2021)

Again, we already knew that (February 26, 2021)

Offered without comment (March 2, 2021)

The people you pay $174,000.00 a year believe that all billionaires are in desperate need of their help and that you haven’t suffered enough (March 6, 2021)

Home every night (March 7, 2021)

Penrose On Politics: Huckster Hawley (March 13, 2021)

“They could never do more damage than you have already done.” (March 17, 2021)

Anybody see Josh Hawley (r)? (March 17, 2021)

SB 528: Wolverines! (March 24, 2021)

Long term memory loss (March 30, 2021)

A voice in the wilderness (March 31, 2021)

Secretly wants to join the “minutemen of the state” so he can wear a brown shirt (April 8, 2021)

Calling out ALEC? (April 12, 2021)

Slam dunk (April 13, 2021)

He forgot to raise a fist (April 15, 2021)

Offered without comment (April 15, 2021)

Uh… (April 20, 2021)

A low Bar (April 22, 2021)

Just because (April 22, 2021)

One of those fancy prosecutors (April 23, 2021)

The Gallagher of American politics, only without any of the humor, intelligence, or sophistication (April 26, 2021)

A grifter is only interested in taking your money, not at all in making any sense (May 1, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): “As seen on TV!” (May 6, 2021)

Participation trophy (May 7, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): an attempt at performance art (May 9, 2021)

“It read better in the original German.” (May 14, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): This you? (May 22, 2021)

The Reverend Al Sharpton

19 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Al Sharpton, Donald Trump, racism

The Reverend Al Sharpton is living inside Donald Trump’s (r) head these days, rent free.

Jesse Jackson, Benjamin Todd Jealous, Al Sharpton – NAACP National Convention – Kansas City, Missouri – July 14, 2010

Ten years ago I was issued a press credential to cover the 101st NAACP National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. While waiting for one of the press press conferences to start I got a lucky (for me) sequence of images using a Canon XT camera with an 18-55 mm kit lens mounted on a tripod – right before the press conference started.

In case anyone is wondering, the subjects for discussion today are almost exactly the same as the were a decade ago. America needs to do better. Much better.

Previously:

NAACP in Kansas City: Representative Sheila Jackson Lee on the tea party and human rights (July 13, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Rev. Al Sharpton – “There clearly is some racial leaves in their tea bag…” (July 15, 2010)

The jerk

12 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, incompetence, jerk, pandemic, racism, snowflake, White House

Yesterday:

Remarks by President Trump in a Press Briefing on COVID-19 Testing
Issued on: May 11, 2020
Rose Garden
4:15 P.M. EDT

[….]

Yeah, go ahead, please.

Q [Weijia Jiang, CBS] Thank you, Mr. President. You said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q [Weijia Jiang, CBS] Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if, every day, Americans are still losing their lives and we’re still seeing more cases every day?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me; ask China that question, okay? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer.

Yes. Behind you, please.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] Do you want to follow up?

Q [Weijia Jiang, CBS] Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically? That I should ask China?

THE PRESIDENT: I’m telling you. I’m not saying it specifically to anybody. I’m saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that.

Q [Weijia Jiang, CBS] That’s not a nasty question. Why does it matter, when —

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Anybody else? Please, go ahead. In the back. Please.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] I have two –- I have two questions.

THE PRESIDENT: No, it’s okay. We’ll go over here.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] But you pointed to me. I have two questions, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Next. Next, please.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] But you didn’t — you called on me.

THE PRESIDENT: I did, and you didn’t respond, and now I’m calling on —

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] Sir, I just wanted to let –-

THE PRESIDENT: — the young lady in the back. Please.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] I just wanted to let me colleague finish.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay –-

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] But can I ask you a question, please?

THE PRESIDENT: — ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Q [Kaitlan Collins, CNN] But you called on me.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

END 5:16 P.M. EDT

Snowflake.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): Shall we all take a tour around the 21st Senate District?

28 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

21st Senate District, Baltimore, Denny Hoskins, Donald Trump, Elijah Cummings, gaslighting, missouri, racism, social media, Twitter

From Donald Trump, yesterday:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
….As proven last week during a Congressional tour, the Border is clean, efficient & well run, just very crowded. Cumming District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess. If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place
4:14 AM · Jul 27, 2019

Well, look at that, openly racist. Not that anyone is surprised.

His consistent behavior gets normalized.

The reality:

More about Elijah Cummings’ 7th congressional district in Maryland

…Using data from the “Biggest US Cities” website, Nate Sliver…point[ed] out that Cummings’ district has “above-average college education rates and home prices, along with a pretty good mix of urban and suburban area (even some rural), and well-off, working-class and middle-class areas”

Silver also pointed out the district is the second-wealthiest majority-black district in the country, with a $58,000 median household income, trailing Maryland’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. Cummings’ district is also the second-most-well-educated majority-black district because 37% of the residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, trailing Georgia’s 4th District, Silver added…

Senator Denny Hoskins (r) just couldn’t resist retweeting republican propaganda:

So, shall we compare?

Shall we take a photographic tour around Missouri’s 21st Senate District? Just asking.

Denny Hoskins (r) [2017 file photo].

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Have you talked to Mitch McConnell (r) lately?

19 Friday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, Congress, Donald Trump, missouri, racism, Representative Ilhan Omar, Vicky Hartzler

So, does Representative Ilhan Omar (D) “hate America”? Should she be sent back where she came from?

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2018 file photo].

From Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Hartzler Statement on House Resolution Condemning President
July 16, 2019 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) made the following statement regarding House consideration of H.R. 489, the Democrat House resolution condemning President Trump:

“With four weeks of congressional session remaining before our government faces yet another government shutdown, the House of Representatives should focus on the job it was elected to do, not political theater.

“Instead of wasting time passing resolutions condemning the President, House Democrats should focus on the basic fundamental responsibilities of governing, like passing a budget and keeping the government functioning as well as addressing the challenges of illegal immigration, the flow of illegal drugs over our border, and the need for affordable health care. These are the issues I am working on and the American people are pleading with Congress to deal with – not efforts to impeach the President as called for by a growing number of Democrats in the House.

“There is little doubt that we have a loss of political civility on both sides of the aisle, and we are better than this. However, the political theatrics behind this resolution fail to address the urgent problems that the American people are passionately asking us to solve.”

-30-

Gaslighting? Check. In May 2019:

Democrats in Congress are getting things done. Trump and Republicans are just ignoring them.
[….]
Here’s a list of bills and resolutions the House has passed so far.

Health care
HR 259 — Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019
House Resolution 271 — Condemning the Trump Administration’s Legal Campaign to Take Away Americans’ Health Care
HR 986 — Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
HR 987 — Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act
HR 1520, the Purple Book Continuity Act (bill aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs)
HR 1503, the Orange Book Transparency Act of 2019 (bill aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs)

Civil rights
HR 1 — For the People Act of 2019
HR 5 — Equality Act
HR 7 — Paycheck Fairness Act
HR 124 — Expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed Forces by openly transgender individuals

Gun control
HR 8 — Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
HR 1112 — Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019

Environment
HR 9 — Climate Action Now Act
HR 1331 — Local Water Protection Act
S 47 — National Resources Management Act
HR 2578 — National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2019
Military/foreign affairs
HR 840 — Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act
HJ Res. 37 — Directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress
SJ Res. 7 — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress
HR 31 — Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019
HJ Res. 30 — Disapproving the President’s proposal to take an action relating to the application of certain sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation

Mueller report
H.Con.Res. 24 — Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress.

Other legislation
HR 1585 — Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019
HR 1500 — Consumers First Act
HR 1994 — SECURE Act
HR 1644 — Save the Internet Act of 2019
HR 2157 — Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019
HR 269 — Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019
HR 251 — Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act
S 24 — Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019
HR 430 — TANF Extension Act of 2019
Concurring in the Senate Amendments to HR 251 — Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard Program Extension Act
HR 790 — Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019
HJ Res. 46 — Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019
H Res. 183 — Condemning anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values and aspirations that define the people of the United States and condemning anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against minorities as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contrary to the values and aspirations of the United States, as amended
H Res. 194 — Rule Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1644 and H.R. 2021
HR 2480 — Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
HR 375 — To amend the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes (also known as the “Carcieri Fix”)

Votes to end the government shutdown
HR 21 — Making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes
HJ Res. 1 — Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes
HR 265 — Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
HR 267 — Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
HR 266 — Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
HR 268 — Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Disaster Supplemental and short-term continuing resolution through Feb. 8)
HR 264 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
HJ Res. 28 — Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019 (Short-term continuing resolution through Feb. 28)
HR 648 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Six conferenced bills minibus)
HJ Res. 31 — Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019 (Short-term homeland continuing resolution through Feb. 28)
Conference Report to Accompany HJ Res 31 – Making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes

“…House Democrats should focus on the basic fundamental responsibilities of governing, like passing a budget and keeping the government functioning as well as addressing the challenges of illegal immigration, the flow of illegal drugs over our border, and the need for affordable health care…”

Ask Mitch McConnell (r), the Majority Leader in the Senate who won’t allow legislation to come to a vote.

Both siderism? Check.

“…There is little doubt that we have a loss of political civility on both sides of the aisle…”

Representative Hartzler (r) thinks her constituents are stupid. That’s reason enough to vote for someone else in 2020.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): owning it (July 16, 2017)

I did Nazi that coming…

18 Thursday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bigot, Donald Trump, Fascist, Nazi, racism, Representative Ilhan Omar, Resist, social media, Twitter

Donald Trump (r), after yesterday’s Nuremberg rally where he incited the crowd:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Just returned to the White House from the Great State of North Carolina. What a crowd, and what great people. The enthusiasm blows away our rivals on the Radical Left. #2020 will be a big year for the Republican Party!
10:51 PM · Jul 17, 2019

Actually, we did see it coming. Which side are you on?

#resist

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): owning it

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, Donald Trump, HR 489, racism, social media, Twitter, Vicky Hartzler

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

All in with Donald Trump (r):

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 482
H RES 489 RECORDED VOTE 16-Jul-2019 6:49 PM
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution
BILL TITLE: Condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress
—- AYES 240 —
Clay
Cleaver
—- NOES 187 —
Graves (MO)
Hartzler
Long
Luetkemeyer
Smith (MO)
Wagner
—- NOT VOTING 6 —

[emphasis added]

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) on Donald Trump’s (r) Racism

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, Emanuel Cleaver, missouri, racism, social media

“Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) [2018 file photo].

Yesterday afternoon on Facebook, from Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D):

Emanuel Cleaver II
After reading President Trump’s remarkably racist tweets about four of my colleagues, my most agonizing pain results from the seamy silence and notorious neutrality of those whom I believe to be principled people. When the President of the United States says something so racially vulgar, carte blanche, and then doubles down on such rhetoric, then great and widespread is their sin. Although I have a public and political record of not calling individuals racist, even when they are, right now I am being tested like never before.

Some of the responses:

Congressman, respectfully, it’s time. He needs to be called exactly what he is… Liar, racist, etc.

This is one of those times history is going to remember.

After the Holocaust, it was “Never Again…” except “Never Again” is right now and we can NOT let racism and hatred win. We can not let a man like this, and his followers, destroy the fabric of this country.

Emanuel Cleaver II, the majority of us need you to start calling it like it is, here. Your voice is louder since it’s ours collectively. Trump has crossed line after line. ENOUGH! Call him out!

Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. – Elie Wiesel

Perhaps you are being “tested,” but not to remain silent, but to remain vigilant to the cause of justice. Perhaps you are to “test” the “seamy silence” that called your name so loudly. Perhaps it is your voice, Mr. Cleaver in a coalition with others needed to “test” Trump!

Please speak out. Our country needs to hear the voice of reason.

The silence is deafening. Thank you for speaking up. I’m so disappointed in those who say nothing!

Please go ahead and say it.

Scream it from the roof tops. It is the truth.

Could not agree more. How I’m the name of decency can they remain silent?

Dr King said, “Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way.” The racist-in-chief needs to be chastised loudly and long for the hateful rhetoric he spews which gives courage to the very worst in our society.

The “Silent Majority” of Americans which believes that diversity is what makes our country strong need to be shouting it from the rooftops! Please, be my voice in Washington, Rev. Cleaver!!

time to say it. way past time.

I’m so sorry. I’ll say it for you. They’re racists.

Congressman Cleaver, it is the Declaration of Independence which places the urgency in your soul. Whomsoever wantonly attacks the equality of citizens does not respect the ideal of our United States. We beseech you to not let the gravity of this attack go unanswered.

If this is not a sterile form of lynching then I don’t know what is.
I urge you to take a page out of the playbook of our beloved friends Daniel and Plillip Berrigan and made your voice indelibly heard.
We elected you to speak for us.
Feel our prayers and support as you go forth.

I can carry that load for you brother. Donald J Trump is a racist.

The latest news coverage of the “Caravan”

10 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in media criticism, Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, bullshit, Donald Trump, fear, GOP propaganda, media criticism, racism

After the November 6th election:

Just what we thought.

Old media, trumped once again. You’d think they’d learn at some point.

Who’s the phoney, Farm Bureau? Hawley or McCaskill – or is it just plain old racism?

12 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Claire McCasill, Donald Trump, immigration, Josh Hawley, Missoouri Farm Bureau, racism, Tariffs, Trade War

I was surprised by the decision of the Missouri Farm Bureau to endorse our lackadaisical Attorney General Josh Hawley in his run for the U.S. Senate. You might be surprised by my attitude since the Farm Bureau has for some time been reliably Republican, a position practically dictated by the perceived competition between out-state (GOP) and urban (Democratic) interests. But it’s true.

Remember when our Attorney General and GOP senatorial contender Hawley first tried out a little lame trash talk trash about Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill? He called the down-to-earth Missouri Democrat, one of the few Missouri pols to hold town halls – even during the height of the raucous Tea Party anti-Obamacare frenzy – a phony who was out of touch with Missouri voters. Rich B.S. indeed, as we have shown in an earlier post, coming from an elite Washington lawyer who, according to emails to colleagues, only returned to Missouri in 2011 to enter politics.

But more important to the question at hand, are farmers likely to get anything out of Hawley that’s good for them? Consider the question of Trump’s mindlessly escalating trade war which has triggered massive agricultural tariffs: Not good for Missouri Farmers, especially in the long run since Trump doesn’t seem to know how to find a way out now that he’s escalated the hostilities.

McCaskill has the backbone to call Trump out on an an impulsive and sloppy approach to the issue. Hawley, on the other hand, resolutely sticks to vague GOP talking-around-the-issue-points. Despite the looming potential for disaster for many Missouri farmers – if not this year, next – Hawley will just “trust” that the attention-addled reality TV-star and failed construction mogul Trump knows what he’s doing when it comes to economic theory and all will work out before there are too many bankruptcies in that out-state Missouri that loves to hear GOPers tell it like (they think) it is.

Nor do these highly flexible folks, such as our prim little Josh Hawley seem to want to stand up for the principles that they espoused so fervently during the Obama years: you know, that stuff about bailouts – bailouts that, incidentally saved our auto industry and which were repaid. But hey, a $12 billion in one-year farm bailouts to be  handed out right after a budget-busting, deficit-building tax cut for the wealthy – no big deal to folks like Hawley – who doesn’t seem to care about much more than fighting the far-right religious wars and pushing conservative evangelical orthodoxy down the throats of the rest of us. How’s that for phony?

So why has the Farm Bureau decided to go with Republican comfort food? even though it could end up killing them? Don’t despair. I think I may understand just what the real appeal of GOP – and Josh Hawley – right or wrong, weak or strong, might be.

In an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch today on why so many Trump supporters voted against the anti-union Proposition A,  a union man – after praising the ways his union gave  him a good life – and apparently unaware of Trump’s bad history with unions –  justified his support for Trump and, presumably, anti-union Trump supporters like Hawley, by appealing to the demographic fears that the “good old days” of white privilege will disappear if too many of those brown folks make it over the southern border:

“I like what Trump is doing for the country, though I don’t agree on all of his policies,” [ Scott] Long said. “If you want to be a citizen, you shouldn’t just walk across the Southern California border. … I like how Trump wants to close the border down.”

And, even more explicitly:

Dennis Brinkler, a union electrician who voted against the legislation, also cited immigration as a reason he’s supporting Trump and state Attorney General Josh Hawley, an anti-union Republican who is challenging Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, in November.

If you doubt that there’s an underlying racist theme there, the same article cited some union leaders who attributed union support for Republicans like Trump and Hawley explicitly to “protests of police shootings of unarmed black men” and fear of black protest against a repressive status quo:

“Some of the guys I represent in their 50s, it’s hard for them to grasp shutting down a highway because of an incident that may have happened with the police, and often that’s people on our side of the party,” White said, referring to protests in Ferguson after Michael Brown was killed by a police officer four years ago. “That’s hard for a lot of the old white guys to grasp.”

There you  have it. Trump’s calling card: playing on white resentment and the old folks’ racial fears.

And you can bet that the oh-so-educated and refined  Hawley is going along with it, helping to demagogue the thinly disguised racism of Trump’s immigration policies. As the St. Louis American put it after Hawley defended Trump’s cruel and ill-considered immigration policies, particularly the forcible separation of children from parents seeking asylum in the U.S., an undeniable human rights violation carried out so incompetently that many of the children cannot be reunited with the parents:

[…] Hawley backed and defended Trump’s political play of using the forcible separation of children from their families to force Democrats to support the construction of his absurd border wall and pursuit of more punitive immigration policies. Hawley should return to whatever rock he crawled out from under and leave it to actual human beings with blood in their veins to enact public policy. Hawley is a representation of a new generation of Republicans willing to accede the party and its values to the disaster of the Trump administration.

I expect Hawley’s – probably more timid – dog whistles will increase over the next couple of months as Big Daddy Trump gets even more explicit about  his overt racism. Sadly, it looks like lots of Missourians are inclined to be responsive

* 1st word in title changed from “whose” to “who’s” (8/18, 4:35). Thanks to comment noting the original error.

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