# What is the Republican Party actively doing to discourage racism in their party? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 3, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285 "2012-08-03T12:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/21 "2012-08-03T14:32:08Z")
The same thing that society is general is doing: ostracizing those would evince racist attitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/22 "2012-08-03T14:34:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > It is a hijack. Why don’t you start your own thread? This is why nothing ever gets answered here…as soon as someone asks about one party, people start jumping and yelling that the other party isn’t doing it, so why should they? > > Like it or not, the Republican party has the racist tag attached to it in a way that the Democratic party does not. What is the Democratic party doing to discourage racism? I believe fighting much harder for minority rights. > > As for the Republicans, when I have asked this question before I have been pointed to [Bobby Jindal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jindal). “See, we have an Indian politician! We’re not racist!” > > I’m not sure that this is exactly convincing. By “minority rights,” what do you mean, specifically? Can you give me an example of minority right that the Democrats fight for and the Republicans oppose, or are less enthusiastic about? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/23 "2012-08-03T14:35:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Oh, fine. The Republican Party generally [denounces](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/republicans-denounce-racist-an.html) and [distances itself](http://www.chattanoogan.com/2004/8/6/53820/State-Democrats-Call-On-GOP-To-Denounce.aspx) from expressions of racism by its members and supporters. What do I win? A seat at the table with the grown-ups. I do note however the somewhat mixed message from some Republicans in the first story. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/24 "2012-08-03T14:36:32Z")
Okay, to deal with the side issue, the Democrats have dealt with racism by nominating a black Presidential candidate and a substantial number of other black candidates. So let’s get back to the OP’s question, what are the Republicans doing to discourage racism in their party? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/25 "2012-08-03T14:38:00Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Czarcasm, > > I too viewed this as a “have you stopped beating your wife” thread. Seem snarky from the start to me. > > You’ve been here long enough to know that there is a litany of threads here mainly teed up (IMO) to start another anti-republican feeding frenzy. > > I think you should have spelled this out better from the start if you wanted to separate this thread from those. Well, I think I’ve made it perfectly clear that this _isn’t_ that type of question. Can we move on now? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/26 "2012-08-03T14:39:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The same thing that society is general is doing: ostracizing those would evince racist attitudes. _“Shhh. Don’t say that out loud in public.”_ doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/27 "2012-08-03T14:39:26Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > By “minority rights,” what do you mean, specifically? Can you give me an example of minority right that the Democrats fight for and the Republicans oppose, or are less enthusiastic about? Can we just stick to the OP, at least for the first page or so? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/28 "2012-08-03T14:40:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The same thing that society is general is doing: ostracizing those would evince racist attitudes. Who has been ostracized, in what way, and how effective has it been? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/29 "2012-08-03T14:41:33Z")
In Texas and Arizona, they have taken bigotry as far as wishing death on a US Senator: > [@](#): > > Other Tea Party leaders, such as Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Wes Harris, leader of the Original North Phoenix Tea Party, backed Bachmann’s allegations. In response to Sen. John McCain’s defense of Abedin, Gohmert called him “[Numbnuts.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/louie-gohmert-john-mccain_n_1700448.html?utm_hp_ref=politics)” [Harris](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/wes-harris-arizona-tea-party_n_1697793.html) took Bachmann’s claim to [a more extreme level](http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/07/23/tea-party-leader-says-all-muslims-a-threat-to-u-s-seeks-recall-of-mccain/), declaring that Muslims cannot be good citizens or serve in the government, and that Islam is a religion of extremism. He went on to tell the Arizona Capitol Times that “anyone that is a Muslim is a threat to this country, and that’s a fact” and "Is she a Muslim? Is she an active Muslim?” I rest my case. That’s all she needs to be.” Harris is currently collecting signatures to remove McCain from office, saying in a blog: " **Go to hell, Senator, it’s time for you to take your final dirt nap**.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/30 "2012-08-03T14:45:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In Texas and Arizona, they have taken bigotry as far as wishing death on a US Senator: Could you please take stuff like this to the Republican BBQ Pit thread? This is not, I repeat _not_, a “dump on Republicans” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/31 "2012-08-03T14:49:40Z")
Moved to Elections from Great Debates. While there’s nothing wrong with commenting on how these issues relate to Democrats, I’ll issue a general suggesting that posters focus on the original question before expanding to comments about other parties and/or general snark. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/32 "2012-08-03T14:50:16Z")
Actual examples I can think of: John McCain correcting crazy old lady at campaign rally who thought Obama was an Arab. John McCain and John Boehner calling out Michele Bachmann for her anti-Muslim attack against a State Dept employee. If you go too far off the rails, some of the more reasonable Republicans will admonish you. Other than that, it’s hard to see where they’ve tried and even harder to see where it’s in their interest to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/33 "2012-08-03T14:56:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, to deal with the side issue, the Democrats have dealt with racism by nominating a black Presidential candidate and a substantial number of other black candidates. A better answer would be that they have supported civil rights legislation for decades to the point that members who were against those types of laws left the party. The fact that they’ve nominated greater numbers of black and other minority candidates that the Republicans have is a function of that stance. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Actual examples I can think of: > John McCain correcting crazy old lady at campaign rally who thought Obama was an Arab. > > John McCain and John Boehner calling out Michele Bachmann for her anti-Muslim attack against a State Dept employee. At least some other Republicans (Newt Gingrich) have backed Bachmann in this bizarre argument, but yes, most seem to have agreed that Bachmann is crackers. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/34 "2012-08-03T14:59:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > At least some other Republicans (Newt Gingrich) have backed Bachmann in this bizarre argument, but yes, most seem to have agreed that Bachmann is crackers. Is there a official Republican Party response to Bachmann’s antics? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/35 "2012-08-03T15:09:58Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > By “minority rights,” what do you mean, specifically? Can you give me an example of minority right that the Democrats fight for and the Republicans oppose, or are less enthusiastic about? Clean air and clean water? Basically, most of what the EPA does. The poor (and minorities) are disproportionately affected by pollution because the more affluent citizens have the money and the contacts to win the NIMBY fight. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/36 "2012-08-03T15:13:55Z")
Please remember that the OP is asking what the Republican Party is _actively doing_ to discourage racism in their party. Not just individual after-the-fact reactions to specific instances of racism by individual Republicans, but also official preemptive(and effective) strikes against racism in general. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/37 "2012-08-03T15:17:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In what way is the Republican Party letting it be known that racists are not welcome there? Why do they need to do this? Seriously, does any party let it “be known” that “x” type of people are not welcome? I’m sure I can find statements from senior members of the GOP denouncing racism. Do they need to put a big banner headline on their official web page? What do you think they should do that they aren’t doing and why? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/38 "2012-08-03T15:18:20Z")
Republicans are encouraging racism. It’s a large part of their base, and has been for 40+ years. The Democratic party discouraged racism big time in the 50s, and the racist wing of that party started switching to the Republican party. If the Republicans start to discourage racism, they will cease to exist as the major opposition to the Democrats. The grossly irresponsible actions of the GOP in the first decade of this century has come close to doing that already. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/39 "2012-08-03T15:24:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is there a official Republican Party response to Bachmann’s antics? What would qualify as an “official” response, beyond what is in the platform of the Republican Party? Individual Republicans apparently don’t speak for the party. Would it have to come from the RNC? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285/40 "2012-08-03T15:27:46Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What would qualify as an “official” response, beyond what is in the platform of the Republican Party? Individual Republicans apparently don’t speak for the party. Would it have to come from the RNC? How about responses from the highest ranking members of the Party? Are they pretty much unified in their negative opinion of her antics? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-republican-party-actively-doing-to-discourage-racism-in-their-party/630285.md?page=3)