Yes, exactly. But while that's enough to call him unable to do basic due diligence, it's not really enough to call him a Klansman.
And then there's the "so what" angle. Sure, we think "Keep America American" is jingoistic and vapid and are happy to point to the fact that the Klan used it, but just because the Klan used it doesn't make it "theirs."
But then you get into dog-whistle phrases, and it's all tricky...
Which is why I'm kind of glad that, attention-grabbing headlines notwithstanding, the basic tenor of a lot of articles I'm reading isn't "Romney is a Klansman" but "Romney unintentionally/coincidentally parroted an old Klan rallying cry."
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-14 02:49 pm (UTC)And then there's the "so what" angle. Sure, we think "Keep America American" is jingoistic and vapid and are happy to point to the fact that the Klan used it, but just because the Klan used it doesn't make it "theirs."
But then you get into dog-whistle phrases, and it's all tricky...
Which is why I'm kind of glad that, attention-grabbing headlines notwithstanding, the basic tenor of a lot of articles I'm reading isn't "Romney is a Klansman" but "Romney unintentionally/coincidentally parroted an old Klan rallying cry."