I admit, I have been too taken aback by the deliberate incitement of hatred by McCain, Fox, and the cultish relay of racist anger between talk-radio, blogs, and pundits in the past two weeks to think clearly about its motivation. But its been going on for a while now -- so maybe it's time to examine it a little more reflectively. Exactly what the f(ck is going on...
It is no secret that every campaign reaches a new nadir of sleaze in the home-stretch. Negative attacks inflict the most damage on the target when there is least time to reflect, the highest proportion of low-information voters, and the least chance of blow-back when the attack is exposed as false. Moreover, losing campaigns get desperate and take risks. Which side is losing again? Right, so in other circumstances, I think we could chalk up the change in rhetoric coming directly from the McCain campaign as ordinary electoral strategy. Extraordinary in its overt racism, but perhaps predictable given the odds.
The expressions of outrage and the use of intimidation and violence by McCain supporters can probably also be explained as a spontaneous, non-strategic reaction to incendiary rhetoric, electoral desperation, and a financial implosion likely to cost them their jobs and 401k's.
But there is something else going on here -- the uptick in outrage, racism, and violence cannot be explained simply as a dialogue between candidate and supporters. The McCain/Palin crowds are coming to the rallies ready to hate, bearing the signs, emboldened to call Obama a terrorist and invoke images of racial hatred well before the candidate speaks, and beyond even where the candidates had hoped they would go. A more complete explanation requires an analysis of what I will call "right wing mediating agents" -- talk radio, right wing blogs, email smears, "community leaders", and field directors. Of course, all of these agents tend to propagate intolerance and foment racial stereotypes in ordinary times -- but what we are seeing now is so far above the base-line that it is necessarily the result of (intentional or unintentional) concerted action. The question is, is it strategic?
I can think of five possible explanations.
First, we might explain the uptick in hatred by observing that right wing mediating agents simply share McCain's goal of winning the election, and are trying to help spread his attacks. I dont think this is a complete explanation, not the least because most of them know he can't win. The attacks on ACORN, moreover, strongly suggest that all of these institutions are in some sense preparing a narrative to explain their loss.
Second, we might explain the toxic environment of the last two weeks by observing that right mediating agents, inspite of their relative sophistication, are acting just like the people who show up at the rallies --they are human beings and succumb to the same passions they propagate. There is much to be said for this explanation, and I think we underestimate the power of human beings to believe their own bullshit at our peril.
Third, they might want violence. There might be some short-term strategic, political goal accomplished if they succeed in generating outbreaks of violence against minorities and Obama supporters. I never lived through the Voting Rights revolution, but those who did, like Rep Lewis, can probably share some insights here. It might be that they want to tag Obama with images of "disorder" or that they anticipate that they can spin whatever happens as more like "riots" than "pogroms." Or it might be that they want to create bad memories of political participation to prevent those associated with this extraordinary movement from cementing their habits of political participation.
Fourth, they might have strategic interests that are independent of the success of the conservative policy agenda. Right wing media outlets probably want business more than they want conservative policies. The two weeks before the election are an excuse to go well-beyond the pale of ordinary racism and hatred -- they could be testing limits of public discourse and reassuring consumers that the dog whistles they hear the rest of the year are in fact exactly what they appear to be. Hate sells, and the spectacle of a "moderate" republican inflaming it has suspended the ordinary limits on hatred in right wing media.
Fifth, they might be preparing for political minority status and seeking to minimize democratic gains. Outrage, racism, and a siege mentality keep people engaged and ready to attack reform as it progresses.
What do you think? And where can I get another Obama sticker, someone stole mine and keyed my car.