# Repubs have formed an openly racist caucus **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 17, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207 "2021-04-17T12:56:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/101 "2021-04-17T17:10:57Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > What do these folks ask of would-be immigrants other than contributing positively to the country and obeying the law of the land? Is this a real question? They ask for, “demonstrated respect for this nation’s Anglo-Saxon culture,” separate from respect for the rule of law. I don’t know why you insist on ignoring the Anglo-Saxon culture part. It runs throughout the document. It’s their core principle. Economics and the rule of law are window dressing for the racist of heart of the matter. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/102 "2021-04-17T17:12:00Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > That reasoning can be used as a fig leaf to cover supporting truly horrible people. > > > > For example, if a politician were to say: "We must make America Great Again by deporting all of those fucking N$%^# and %^&$, (insert racial epithets), I guess you could say, “Well, I really agree with making America great. I disagree with some of what he says, but hey, I like that first part so…” > > > > In this instance, you are trying to ignore the chunks of white supremacist shit in the sundae. Actually, it’s more like you’re picking bits of ice cream out of the pile of white supremacist shit. > > > > The sundae is tainted. It’s been contaminated with shit. Don’t eat it. > > Fair enough; and if one of them is running against a Democrat who’s offering me a non-shit sundae, then I’ll vote accordingly. **But if I see a Democrat throw in a piece of shit — or two pieces of shit, or three — then I’m going to compare and contrast; I can’t _not_ compare and contrast.** FUCK THAT! And FUCK anyone who thinks it’s a reasonable stance. White supremacist/nationalist shit needs to be a non-negotiable deal-breaker, and anyone who puts it on their sundae must be instantly disqualified from sitting in policy-making bodies. White supremacist/nationalist shit must be eradicated from any “equation” BEFORE any other shit is compared and contrasted. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/103 "2021-04-17T17:12:27Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > In any case, “Anglo-Saxon” has long been used as an ethnic term in the United States that has nothing to do with the political history of Britain. It’s just a slightly-euphemistic synonym for “Aryan”, in the sense that you-know-who used the word in the 1930s. (Not to be confused with the usage of “Aryan” for the ancient Indo-European peoples.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/104 "2021-04-17T17:14:23Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I would say the first critical thinking problem here that you have is taking the statement that “immigrants are being imported en masse” at face value, with absolutely no facts or data to back it up — nothing more than your visceral impression of ( and reactions to) crowds of dark skinned people at the border. Well, (a) how many millions of illegal immigrants do you think we have in this country, and (b) how did they get here? (Also: why the “dark skinned” bit? Don’t you think I’m equally opposed to illegal immigration by folks who are decidedly pale?) > [@](#): > > I would also add that you seem to have preconceptions about immigrants, the kind of false preconceptions held by people that haven’t met many immigrants. I would go so far as to say that if Republicans met most of the immigrants I know, they’d be welcoming them with open arms…in general they are pro-capitalist, anti-welfare and really big on the philosophy of personal responsibility. What preconceptions? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/105 "2021-04-17T17:18:02Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > What do these folks ask of would-be immigrants other than contributing positively to the country and obeying the law of the land? > > Is this a real question? They ask for, “demonstrated respect for this nation’s Anglo-Saxon culture,” separate from respect for the rule of law. The line I’m looking at — and maybe it’s the wrong one? — is that “America’s legal immigration system should be curtailed to those that can contribute not only economically, but have demonstrated respect for this nation’s culture and rule of law. America’s borders must be defended, and illegal immigration must be stopped without exception.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/106 "2021-04-17T17:20:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > > > Hey, next time there’s an election, I’ll tally up the sundaes — and if it shakes out like you say, then you and I may well be in agreement. > > > > You didn’t seem to be able to tell the difference between shit and sundae the last election, and I see little sign of you developing taste buds since then. > > Interesting. So you’re not going to ask how I voted in the last election; you’re just going to make a claim? All right; since it seems so important to you: How did you vote in the last presidential election? Also the last congressional, senate, gubernatorial and state assembly elections, if it’s not too intrusive. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/107 "2021-04-17T17:26:02Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@RickJay](#): > > > > The reason it’s all bullshit it that literally no one is calling for borders to be done away with, or > > Wait: _literally_ no one? Are you just exaggerating for effect, or is this your point? Run away, **RickJay** , as fast as you can, Or this’ll turn into another **The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper** show, like the last one! Well, it kinda already is, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/108 "2021-04-17T17:27:26Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > All right; since it seems so important to you: How did you vote in the last presidential election? _Since it seems so important to me?_ Someone else tosses that bit out there instead of asking a question, and you don’t mention how important it seems to _them,_ but instead feel the need to preface your remark to me with that? I voted for the Democrat. > [@](#): > > Also the last congressional, senate, gubernatorial and state assembly elections, if it’s not too intrusive. Republican, Democrat, Democrat, Republican. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/109 "2021-04-17T17:33:29Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > > > Do you favor the existence of such a path, without a ten or twenty year waiting list to get on it? > > > > > > Of course! If they can benefit us, then I want them to be able to make that case. > > > > You do realize that’s not what exists now, right? > > Yeah, the current system isn’t my ideal; if you’d like, we can discuss how you think it should be changed, and how I think it should be changed — and we can even cover your criteria as well as mine for the following: Not trying to junior mod here, but yeah, that likely has the makings of a real good discussion _in a different thread_. _This_ thread is about how fucking awful the putative America First caucus is. If you’re not interested in talking about that, why are you here? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/110 "2021-04-17T17:35:32Z")
Because the question is, presumably, how awful they are _compared to whom?_ I’d evaluate their position on any given issue in terms of whether it’s better or worse than X. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/111 "2021-04-17T17:36:41Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > The line I’m looking at — and maybe it’s the wrong one? — is that “America’s legal immigration system should be curtailed to those that can contribute not only economically, but have demonstrated respect for this nation’s culture and rule of law. America’s borders must be defended, and illegal immigration must be stopped without exception.” The part I take exception to is “respect for this nation’s culture”. Particularly when earlier in the document it was framed as “Anglo-Saxon culture”. I see no reason why a productive and American-loving immigrant needs to respect “Anglo-Saxon culture”. In fact, I don’t really think there is such a thing as “Anglo-Saxon culture”. I’ve been told that means “white culture”, which at least makes more sense than “Anglo-Saxon” culture but is, of course, rather more offensive. Sadly, what is all to common is the belief that the “wrong” people are coming not because they aren’t hard-working or don’t love American, but because they have the wrong culture. Many people equate that to things like “language”, “religion”, “respect for military/police/etc”, “priority towards individualism vs. social welfare”, and, yes, “whiteness”. Our immigration system should most definitely not take any of those factors into account when determining who should be allowed to immigrate, IMO. This caucus, or at least parts of their statement, very clearly state that only those that respect “Anglo-Saxon culture” should be allowed to immigrate. That is historical nonsense, economic nonsense, and pretty damn racist. It’s the same thing as anti-immigrant groups in the past being pissed too many Catholics were coming to ruin this Protestant country. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/112 "2021-04-17T17:36:47Z")
Hey, look! It’s the Anglo-Saxon political tradition! > **[Anglo-Saxon Woman Mutilated as Punishment](https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/10/anglo-saxon-woman-mutilated-as-punishment/135723)** > > Archaeologists conducting research at Oakridge in Basingstoke, England have revealed that the remains of an Anglo-Saxon woman excavated during the 1960’s was severely mutilated, which most likely resulted in her death. - HeritageDaily - Archaeology... ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/113 "2021-04-17T17:45:32Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > (Quoting the America First group) The America First Caucus will work towards an infrastructure that reflects the architectural, engineering and aesthetic value that befits the progeny of European architecture, That sounded better in the original German. > **[Germania (city)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germania_(city))** > > .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}52°31′00″N 13°23′20″E / 52.51667°N 13.38889°E / 52.51667; 13.38889 > Welthauptstadt Germania (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-out... ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/114 "2021-04-17T17:51:11Z")
If she hadn’t passed away last year, they could have gotten Carol Arthur, who played the school ma’rm in “Blazing Saddles”, to do a public reading of their manifesto. We the white, God-fearing members of the Know-Nothing caucus… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/115 "2021-04-17T18:04:25Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > All right; since it seems so important to you: How did you vote in the last presidential election? > > _Since it seems so important to me?_ Someone else tosses that bit out there instead of asking a question, and you don’t mention how important it seems to _them,_ but instead feel the need to preface your remark to me with that? > > I voted for the Democrat. I suppose I could have been less ambiguous; my apologies. What I should have said was, _since it seems so important to you that you be be asked directly, rather than simply volunteering the data…_ > [@](#): > > Also the last congressional, senate, gubernatorial and state assembly elections, if it’s not too intrusive. Republican, Democrat, Democrat, Republican. [/quote] Thank you for your candor. I note two Republicans in that litany, though, which suggests that you hate America just as much as MTG and the America-hating fuckstick. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/116 "2021-04-17T18:07:24Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Because the question is, presumably, how awful they are _compared to whom?_ I’d evaluate their position on any given issue in terms of whether it’s better or worse than X. There IS NO _compared to whom_! They are _absolutely_ awful, and the only acceptable response to their existence is eradication. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/117 "2021-04-17T18:20:12Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > _Illegal_ immigrants. I thought the whole point was, Republicans and Democrats would both pitch their proposals in terms of what’s in the best interests of immigrants who’ve obtained citizenship legally, or second-generation citizens who are here legally, or third- or fourth- or fifth- or sixth-generation citizens who are here legally, and so on — and not on what’s best for others, except insofar as you can bring that back around to arguing that, _no, see, here’s why I believe that helping them out will help us out._ But that isn’t what the document is arguing, and why it represents a shocking new low for the Republican party. Up until now the Republican party line has felt it necessary to cover their racism behind the thin fig leaf of pretending that they are only concerned about _Illegal_ immigration. That if everyone would just follow the rules and wait their turn everything would be fine (while at the same time making sure that the rules are impossible to follow and the turn never comes). This document is straight up [know-nothing](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/immigrants-conspiracies-and-secret-society-launched-american-nativism-180961915/) xenophobia. Instead of hemming and hawing about the rule of law, and things being unfair to those who followed the rules, we have this: An important distinction between post-1965 immigrants and previous waves of settlers is that previous cohorts were more educated, earned higher wages, and did not have an expansive welfare state to fall back on when they could not make it in America and thus did not stay in the country at the expense of the native-born. Another important point of note is the many pauses in immigration that have taken place in this country following a large intake of immigrants. These pauses have been absolutely essential in assimilating the new arrivals and weeding out those who could not or refused to abandon their old loyalties and plunge head-first into mainstream American society. Also, aside from the non-existence of welfare every statement in that paragraph is factually false. About 90% of the immigrants from Latin America literate as compared to 10% of Irish immigrants Even adjusting for inflation they are earning higher wages relative to the turn of the century piece work and sweat shops. If immigrant couldn’t hack it in America they didn’t go home, since they were unlikely to be able to afford passage, the more likely just died (thank you non-existence of welfare). As for loyalty, that has always been a go to accusation, with people speculating that immigrants had more loyalty to the pope than to the president. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/118 "2021-04-17T18:25:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > There IS NO _compared to whom_ ! They are _absolutely_ awful, and the only acceptable response to their existence is eradication. Look, all I’m saying is that Hitler likes dogs. I like dogs, too. So, maybe we should listen to what else he has to say. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/119 "2021-04-17T18:31:09Z")
That’s weird, because dogs fucking hated Hitler. But then, dogs are honest that way. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207/120 "2021-04-17T18:31:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If you’re not interested in talking about that, why are you here? It would appear that he’s wanting to shift the conversation away from the white supremacist language in the statement, and move it to a general discussion about immigration policy. I guess if we pretend the white supremacist language does not exist, then we need not worry about. it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repubs-have-formed-an-openly-racist-caucus/940207.md?page=7)