Thou shalt demonize thy foe

[jhetley]

This seems to be the First Commandment of Politics these days. 

It's a useful ploy in actual war, dehumanizing the men (women, children) you have to kill.  If Commies, Injuns, Japs, Krauts, Gooks, or Rag-heads are demons, blowing them to pieces gets a lot easier.  You can sleep at night.

But in politics?  Saw some comments in another discussion thread, relating to the scurrilous rumor that Obama is a secret Muslim.  Someone speculated that the rumor actually came from the Clinton campaign, rather than the Republicans or the Radical Religious Right.  Demons.  If a politician opposes warrantless phone taps, he is supporting terrorists.  Demons.

This even seeps down into the level of "church politics", private and social groups.  If a particular Somebody gets elected chairman or president of a rinky-dink so-called professional organization, it will mean the end of Western Civilization.

Bullshit.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

You've been reading John Scalzi's blog this morning?

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Actually, no. Although that controversy lies among the proximate causes of my post...

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Ah. For some reason this comment didn't yet reach me, though the following one did.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I did go back and read the original source document on that. I think Mr. Scalzi weakens his effect by making it so strong, as it were. Subtract the personal attacks and vitriol, dump the fact that he personally despises the man...

[wcg.livejournal.com]

My thought was that his post was at least partial inspiration for your post. Was it?

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

At the time I made my original post, I hadn't read Mr. Scalzi's screed. I was reacting to other stuff, some reacting to his post and some put up by others about other things. Such as blaming the Clinton Clique for slandering Obama...

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Indeed. These days it seems almost all political campaigns are almost 100% negative. "Who cares about my position on X? Look over there, my opponent just ate a kitten!"

[suzilem.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you've been sitting in on my homeowner's association meetings....

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

"All politics is local."