College Democrats and Republicans in Michigan are in full campaign mode. But while College Dems put together pretty traditional events like a rally with Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, College Republicans do
stuff like this:
The College Republicans have other ideas, some not quite as mainstream as parading popular politicians.
Morgan Wilkins, the intern hired by the Republican National Committee to win the hearts and minds of Michigan 20-somethings, is planning events that some may find odd. To others, they may be offensive.
One such idea is "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day," in which a volunteer would play the part of an illegal immigrant and hide somewhere on campus while others try to find him. The winner would receive a prize.
These are the future leaders of this country. Doesn't that make you feel better? More after the jump.
In a screwed-up sort of way, illegal immigrants got lucky: at least they're only getting caught, unlike white, Eastern liberals, who are getting the Soprano mock-execution treatment:
Her other ideas include an event called "Fun with Guns," in which young Republicans would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
It's a good thing we're the angry, extremist, hateful ones in the political spectrum, huh?
The atmosphere in this country seem positively toxic to me. Racism, misogyny and demagogy are the new black, the new fashion for the fall season. These are just the latest examples. I've seen too many in the news lately to chalk it up to isolated incidents:
- Black students ordered to give up seats to whites
- Sunday school teacher dumped for being female
Mary Lambert, who has taught Sunday School at Watertown's First Baptist Church for 54 years, said she received a letter from church leaders telling her she can no longer teach at the church.
Lambert showed 7 News the letter, which states that church leaders adopted a scriptural approach to Sunday school teachers.
The letter quotes 1 Timothy 2:11 -14 of the New Testament: "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."
- George Felix Allen's 'Macaca' comment (YouTube)
- Conrad Burns' 'little Guatelaman man' comments
- Forbes: Don't Marry Career Women
No wonder the GOP is losing ground fast with former minority stalwarts that Bush and Rove spent years cultivating, like Christian evangelical Hispanics:
"The Far Right is using rhetoric to frame [immigration] in a manner that convinces the majority of Americans that the only alternative is to hunt down and punish these 'drug-dealing people,' " Cortes told National Journal.
FYI, that would be Rev. Luis Cortéz, Jr., president of Ezperanza USA, one of the most powerful Hispanic evangelical organizations.
Republicans are deliberately fanning the flames of racism, misogeny and demagogy to get their people to the polls. If we don't win in November, those flames could get out of control. If the last 6 years have showed us anything, it is that progress (social, economic, etc.) are no inexorable. Conditions can easily slide back to a more primal state. A country that was becoming more equal, democratic and free can become less so in only a few short years. Progress doesn't just happen or maintain itself. It required hard work and constant care.
This November we have a chance to put out the fires of bigotry for good. Let's do it!