I've tried to respond to Tyner's diary, "Help me refute this crap," three times, only to lose the comment through some glitch. (Also I hadn't eaten, and I got real hungry, so I went to the store, then I had to cook, anyhow...) Since it is a well-known Republicrap chain letter that many other Kossacks seem to have encountered, I thought it was worth a diary and am posting it now.
Hey Tyner, believe me, I tried to comment but these political ads kept coming popping up and kicking me out of the comment box. Hope you're still online.
Your request was:
So if one area of this rant calls to your expertise let me know in the comments how to build a response.
You're in luck. Bullshit is my life. To begin with, don't bother to refute BS with facts, it is enough to identify it. This is argument not debate. Facts alone are not enough, when dealing with people who either think the world is flat, or who will not deny it for political gain.
Here's the Repug rantmail you posted and my take on it:
I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers.
So, that's why there are so many one-on-one lynchings in the South?
The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory
Stop right there! I am not responsible for your limitations.
are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America.
How about discrimination itself? double standards, Jim Crow laws, anti-minority voting fraud?
Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.
Him and about ten million other guys.
Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer.
Thanks for the heads up, Einstein. Any five-year-old knows that.
You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.
There are, however laws against shooting your way into the ball game.
I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?
Don't call me Martha.
I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.
Possibly, but it is still a misinformed opinion.
I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.
No you do not. There are laws agains intolerance.
When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability.
So when four times as many black people are incarcerated as white people per capita, that is the law of?
I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!
Does that mean I can count on not seeing you in a Chinese restaurant?
My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.
No, they died in vain because you were born.
I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.
They don't need the right, they'll shoot you anyhow.
I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.
Absolutely! Anyone in America should be able to get as much help as the government can provide.
We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms,
You're probably right about that.
so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document;
It's not dead yet asshole.
and open to their interpretations.
I may have to agree with this one. Foreigners thinking about freedom, kinda gives you the creeps, doesn't it?
I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor.
So you're what? A heartless kiss ass?
I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.
No, but it doesn't mean I vote for them.
I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more.
So does the US government as long as he pays his taxes.
If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.
And if it doesn't tick me off, is it alright to stay at home and drink?
It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right,
Correct, it only takes 93% of a village.
but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"
That's it? Just whack them every now and then and say no? No wonder Republicans are bent.
I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement.
Unless they're like swastikas and that kind of shit.
And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!
So when you were at church and they mentioned Christ kissing the lepers, did you barf all over your pew?
I am sick of "Political Correctness."
Is this an excuse for being so wrong?
I know a lot of black people,
I just bet you do!
and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"?
Because they're not Irish Americans, or Italian Americans, or Mexican Americans?
Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.
Your knowledge of geography is stunning. This Nowhere Else, is it a continent too?
And if you don't like my point of view, tough...
Wait for it...
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
Promises, promises.
"It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having "In God We Trust" on our money and having "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Shut Up and BE QUIET!!!
Here it is: (And I quote)
"If you don't like my point of view, tough."
Well, there it is, my take. The point is, fight fire with fire and bullshit with better bullshit. If you take this crap sincerely, you're only validating their right to spout it. Grant nothing, object to everything no matter how small or seemingly innocuous. If you have a really good fact handy, do not hesitate to belabor them about the head and shoulders with it. Do, however, keep your sense of humor. Piss them off; don't get pissed off. And always make note of the exits if you go into their homes.