a pretty insightful article

and as i've said loads of times before, i believe MOST of the birther types are racist asswipes. sure they'll deny it and perhaps they'll even convince themselves they're not racist, but they are. they think because they talk to a person of color at work, they are cool with all races. oh no they're not. just let that person of color become their boss

Birthers and Birchers: Hiding Behind Stars and Stripes

by Loretta J. Ross

Sustaining a progressive movement based on shared politics requires not only unification on positive values, but an understanding of the opposition and their tactics. Analysis of the various elements of opposition can do much to improve our own eyesight and path forward.

“Birthers" may be the newest manifestation of right-leaning conspiracy theorists. It is unlikely that most of the “birthers" who believe that President Barack Obama is not a U.S. citizen belong to the John Birch Society (JBS). But I believe they are at least sympathizers with the nativist, racist tendencies of the John Birch Society, which has been stirring animosity and paranoia, often with coded language and convoluted theories, for over 50 years.

What unites the “birthers” and the Birchers on a single trajectory is well worth understanding. Progressives should not ignore the people who share this particular worldview: it’s easy to dismiss them as nutters and whackos enlarging the far right. Yes, they are the “angry white people” who foment trouble at townhalls and seek to torpedo all efforts to achieve full human rights in the United States, including health care reform................

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