Editorial: Calling out those who pander to bigotry
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 -- The nation and state's political system cannot survive when bases of support have binding messages of discrimination, suspicion, repudiated myth and fear. Enough is enough. The leaders of North Carolina's Republican party need to stop their not-so-discrete winking and nodding to the fear-mongers and intolerance-peddlers.
Posted — UpdatedWhen did it become an article of faith that being a Republican or adhering to “conservative” political principles meant embracing bigotry and intolerance? Is that where things are today?
In North Carolina, it arrived when the party’s leadership decided to solidify a political base on a foundation of fear. Their unequivocal message is that some people -- because of the color of their skin, how they identify themselves, those they choose to love, the houses of worship they attend or faiths they follow, or their disabilities – are inferior.
People who are poor, unable to access health care, adequate nutrition, education and employment opportunities, are in that state by choice. They are to be loathed for it and left to their own devices.
It makes no matter the race, gender or physical condition of those delivering that message. It is bigotry nonetheless.
The nation and state’s political system cannot survive when bases of support have binding messages of discrimination, suspicion, repudiated myth and fear.
Enough is enough. The leaders of North Carolina’s Republican party need to stop their not-so-discrete winking and nodding to the fear-mongers and intolerance-peddlers.
Sen. Richard Burr, a lifelong standard-bearer of the state’s Republican Party knows all too well the price paid for the party’s descent. He should speak up and demand his fellow North Carolina Republicans repudiate bigotry. He knows it is not synonymous with true conservative values.
Sen. Thom Tillis, who as a state legislator was a driving force behind compensating the state’s victims of decades of eugenics, knows better. He should speak up.
North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley; state Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore – where do you stand?
Have you come to so fear the GOP base that you pandered to out of expedience and now can’t control?
Face up to the truth. Your ranks are filling up with insurrectionist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
Do you really want to be leaders of those who don’t believe that the Declaration of Independence’s promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and the Constitution’s pledge to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” applies to everyone?
Tolerating discrimination, baseless fear and intolerance is not a political philosophy or ideological position. It is not Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower or Ronald Reagan. It is expedience.
Failure to denounce it means embracing it.
Phil Berger, Tim Moore, Thom Tillis, Richard Burr, Michael Whatley: It is time for your answer.
Where do you stand?
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