Rush is to the Republicanism of the 2000s what Jesse Jackson was to the Democratic party in the 1980s. He plays an important role in our coalition, and of course he and his supporters have to be treated with respect. But he cannot be allowed to be the public face of the enterprise—and we have to find ways of assuring the public that he is just one Republican voice among many, and very far from the most important….
~David Frum, Newsweek
"Questions in the Dark." Mathew_Dutile, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdutile/3289061063/
Jesse Jackson = Rush Limbaugh? I’ll have to think on that for a while…
More conversation on the question of Mr. Limbaugh in the comment section of this BlogHer post. (Thanks, Vérité Parlant!)
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I happen to agree with Frum, as I said here, but not automatically with what he said about Jesse because Frum needs to elaborate on that one.
If he means Jesse Jackson is the same kind of canker-mouthed miserable, hatemonger that Rush Limbaugh is, then that’s wrong, wrong, wrong.
However, if he means Republicans used Jackson as the black boogie man to scare white folk away from the Democrats during the 80s, then he’s right.
In the 80s, Jackson was caught making the “hymietown” statement and lost credibility with some whites who up to that point had sort of supported him. After that, conservatives scored points almost anytime Jesse spoke out about social/racial injustice. All they had to do was say “Jesse Jackson is a racist pushing a liberal agenda.”
You still see that view of him pop up in places.
Interestingly with one statement made in a private conversation a black man can be declared “racist” or “bigot” and every good thing he does be scrutinized, but a drug-addicted white guy can spout racial insults daily on Federal airwaves, see his followers increase, and have some white people defend him repeatedly no matter how horrific his commentary, as you see white conservatives doing at BlogHer even as white progressives tell them they’re insane to support Limbaugh.
I was surprised Frum and I agreed on anything given his association with George Bush. But he’s a communications professional and so can see when a comm plan’s working or hurting.
Thank you for the link, PPR_Scribe.
Saw it in my reader this morning.
Comment by Verite Parlant — March 11, 2009 @ 10:35 am