# What's the evidence that Bannon is a white supremacist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571 "2017-01-30T07:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/41 "2017-01-30T19:24:14Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Nationalism by its very nature is exclusionary in effect, no matter how high minded and civic centered its proponents may be. And its often defined in opposition to another entity. So, basically all nationalism is racist by that standard. So why should American style White Nationalism be thought of as anything less valid than the others? I think the great majority of people in this country would not define the United States as a “white nation.” There are certainly quite a few Americans who would call themselves nationalists, in that they believe the United States, as a country, is superior to all other countries. That’s in contrast to most Americans, who probably consider themselves patriotic, and NOT nationalists, in that they have pride in their country without seeking to denigrate other countries. That’s all just talking about nationalism/patriotism with respect to the United States. White nationalism is, by definition, taking all that debate to a whole new level by asserting that there is one particular culture and race in the United States that makes the country great, and people who don’t fit into that paradigm are threatening to make America worse. You can’t wordsmith your way out of making white nationalism into a cute little harmless puppy that we should all be fine with. Although, if you wrote that up into a 1,000 word “think” piece, Breitbart would probably pay you for it. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/42 "2017-01-30T19:50:03Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > . Although, if you wrote that up into a 1,000 word “think” piece, Breitbart would probably pay you for it. :rolleyes: I am too brown, too Muslim and too Pakistani to be accepted by Breitbart. Plus, I usually try to make sense. That would be a disqualifier for Bannon’s successor. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/43 "2017-01-30T19:52:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the great majority of people in this country would not define the United States as a “white nation.” There are certainly quite a few Americans who would call themselves nationalists, in that they believe the United States, as a country, is superior to all other countries. > > That’s in contrast to most Americans, who probably consider themselves patriotic, and NOT nationalists, in that they have pride in their country without seeking to denigrate other countries. > > That’s all just talking about nationalism/patriotism with respect to the United States. White nationalism is, by definition, taking all that debate to a whole new level by asserting that there is one particular culture and race in the United States that makes the country great, and people who don’t fit into that paradigm are threatening to make America worse. Well then. If you say Nationalism is the problem as opposed to its flavour, then I agree. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/44 "2017-01-31T01:01:19Z")
Interview with Bannon from last year. [Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon suggests having too many Asian tech CEOs undermines ‘civic society’](http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/16/13653490/steve-bannon-trump-presidency-chief-strategist-breitbart-tech-visa) > [@](#): > > …Bannon alluded to the idea that foreign students should return to their respective countries after attending school in the US, instead of sticking around and working at or starting tech companies. > > Trump voiced concern over these students attending Ivy League schools and then going home: “We have to be careful of that, Steve. You know, we have to keep our talented people in this country,” Trump said. > > When asked if he agreed, Bannon responded: “When two-thirds or three-quarters of the CEOs in Silicon Valley are from South Asia or from Asia, I think . . . ” he didn’t finish his sentence. “A country is more than an economy. We’re a civic society.”… ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/45 "2017-01-31T01:11:42Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Well then. If you say Nationalism is the problem as opposed to its flavour, then I agree. Nationalism plus racialism is worse than nationalism alone. Do you agree? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/46 "2017-01-31T04:54:51Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Well then. If you say Nationalism is the problem as opposed to its flavour, then I agree. Flavour? I don’t understand what you mean here. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/47 "2017-01-31T06:43:48Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > So; White nationalism is going to always lead to: genocide of Non white people? It’s s bit of a stretch. White nationalism requires establishing a nation that is composed solely of white people. To my knowledge, there is no such nation on Earth at this time - non-white people are mixed in pretty thoroughly with white people, just about everywhere. Therefore, the realization of a white nationalist ideal would necessarily require a campaign of ethnic cleansing. It’s worth noting here that alt-right luminary and [literal internet punching bag](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/5q129a/list_of_richard_spencer_getting_punched_remixes/) Richard Spenser has advocated for a campaign of “peaceful ethnic cleansing” in North America. It’s also worth noting here that there is no record in history of anything like “peaceful ethnic cleansing.” It always involves a whole lot of dead people. But hey! Maybe Richard Spenser’ll be the first one to get it right! I say we give him a chance! What’s the worst that could happen? Oh, right. A whole lot of dead people. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/48 "2017-01-31T06:44:35Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Flavour? I don’t understand what you mean here. I can help! It’s how British people spell “flavor.” ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/49 "2017-01-31T07:59:32Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > What exactly is wrong with being a " white nationalist"? He **is** white as far as I can tell. As opposed to “white supremacist”? The author who encouraged Dylann Roof to commit a terroristic attack and then said those murders were ‘a preview of coming attractions’ just tweeted this about the Montreal shootings. > [@](#): > > “Guys, if we MUST engage in these counterproductive hissy fits, could we have a rule? NO CHURCHES or mosques? Very bad optics. Very bad!” To translate, he called it a “counterproductive hissy fits” because he wants a race war, and note that he only seems to care that it looks bad for the cause. Harold Covington is way more vocal but the language is similar if you can deal with their propaganda. Richard Bertrand Spencer’s claims but “peaceful ethnic cleansing” is typically only peaceful for the ones doing the cleansing. Think the trail of tears, or the Nazi trains to Poland. > [@](#): > > “Immigration is a kind a proxy war—and maybe a last stand—for White Americans, who are undergoing a painful recognition that, unless dramatic action is taken, their grandchildren will live in a country that is alien and hostile.” > > – National Policy Institute column, February 2014 He is recruiting, and you can’t drag the masses in to irrational positions by being as loud as Harold Covington. Richard Girnt Butler who was the head of the Aryan Nations was very good at this. Sovereign Citizen grew out of the Aryan Nations Church of Jesus Christ - Christian, the Phineas Priesthood was original intended to be his security guard until it was turned into a recruiting tool through a book written by Richard Kelly Hoskins. Hoskins and Richard Butler and a man named Richard Kelly Hoskins finalized an ideology that is now called “Christian Identity” too. They built off the work of Wesley Swift, who was publicly a KKK member and who was the first to create the “Church of Jesus Christ - Christian”. Swift was also one of the leaders that lead to the creation of groups like California Rangers and the Posse Comitatus, the parents of the current militia movement. Due to deaths, internal power struggles and general offshoots this grew into many more “main stream” forms particularly being influential to individuals that were only exposed to the early parts of the grooming procedure. I have personally met and talked with Richard Butler on many occasions, and My college roommate was the first to recognize him when were were at a Dennys and we let him give his sales pitch for quite a while before my roommate broke ranks and admitted that he was Jewish, but I also debated the man dozens of times and actually was put in cuffs for blocking his parade route. Due to that history and the fact that his financial end was caused by one of his thugs shooting at a good friends mothers car when it backfired while driving past their compound I am far from an unbiased source. That said just like how Scientologists don’t start out with telling Xenu is a galactic ruler who stacked humans around volcanos…they start out with the soft sell. They start out with a sales pitch that is exactly the talking points espoused by the “alt-right” and how they don’t “dislike” anyone but that they want to protect their heritage. They test you to see how you respond and then they dig in deeper. The problem is that it doesn’t matter if Bannon is a white supremacist himself, as the grooming is already done. People blindly believe the core ideals to attract them to the next step as absolute dogma. While there may not be a coordinated effort or conspiracy to end in a Race War by these individuals they have primed the cannons. If you have ever read “The True Believer” it is useful to think as these “victims” of “white genocide” have “total surrender of a distinct self.” “a member of a certain tribe or family” They are primed and ready for united action and self sacrifice If you notice how Trump idealize the past and glorify the future, and say that everything is “Bad” today they have their call to action. If the movement continues to build persuasion and proselytization will start to sputter out and they will move on to coercion and force. I hope that it stops way before that but this is purely normal mass movement and their hatred unifies the true believers, and the ideal devil is a foreigner… It is all pretty much letter for letter from “The True Believer: Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movements” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/50 "2017-01-31T08:32:55Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > A nation is always a manufactured construct. Serbs and Croats have little differences, did not stop the wars in the 1990’s. Black Americans share language, religion and culture with white Americans, yet are differentiated. In your own homeland, you have ethnically identical peoples fighting long wars over different views of nationhood and identity. Yes, we had that. Once. Most of us don’t want to go through that again. It was really nasty business. And if there was a new civil war, based entirely on race, well, you can imagine it would be even nastier. No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/51 "2017-01-31T09:49:05Z")
This article summarises a talk that Bannon gave in 2014, the video of it is available it is indisputably his words: > **[Steve Bannon's worldview of Marx, religion, and capitalism is much more...](https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-bannon-worldview-isis-crony-capitalism-judeo-christian-west-2016-11)** > > "The second form of capitalism that I feel is almost as disturbing, is what I call the Ayn Rand or the Objectivist School of libertarian capitalism." Seems to me he’s slightly more subtle than a “white supremacist”, he seems to believe in the superiority of “judeo christian ideals” and that a global war with Islam is not just inevitable, but necessary. The article also implies that he regards the racist element of the alt-right as a useful tool, to attract people to his cause, but ultimately they’re just a means to an end rather than a goal in itself. And frankly from the transcript, he’s much much worse and more dangerous than a white supremacist, you really should read the entire transcript, it’s the best insight into his mind that I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/52 "2017-01-31T10:45:50Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > This article summarises a talk that Bannon gave in 2014, the video of it is available it is indisputably his words: > [http://uk.businessinsider.com/stephen-bannon-worldview-isis-crony-capitalism-judeo-christian-west-2016-11](http://uk.businessinsider.com/stephen-bannon-worldview-isis-crony-capitalism-judeo-christian-west-2016-11) > > Seems to me he’s slightly more subtle than a “white supremacist”, he seems to believe in the superiority of “judeo christian ideals” and that a global war with Islam is not just inevitable, but necessary. The article also implies that he regards the racist element of the alt-right as a useful tool, to attract people to his cause, but ultimately they’re just a means to an end rather than a goal in itself. > > And frankly from the transcript, he’s much much worse and more dangerous than a white supremacist, you really should read the entire transcript, it’s the best insight into his mind that I’ve seen. And this is the guy–chosen by Trump-- who has his hand up Trump’s backside and is moving his mouth and making the words come out. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/53 "2017-01-31T11:19:58Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > So… prove “us” right. Where’s the actual evidence that Bannon is a white supremacist, white nationalist, racist, or anti-semite? With a page of posts to draw upon, have you found the evidence you sought? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/54 "2017-01-31T11:49:42Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And this is the guy–chosen by Trump-- who has his hand up Trump’s backside and is moving his mouth and making the words come out. :mad: Or like [this](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3csy1LWEAAdegt.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/55 "2017-01-31T11:56:31Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > This article summarises a talk that Bannon gave in 2014, the video of it is available it is indisputably his words: > [http://uk.businessinsider.com/stephen-bannon-worldview-isis-crony-capitalism-judeo-christian-west-2016-11](http://uk.businessinsider.com/stephen-bannon-worldview-isis-crony-capitalism-judeo-christian-west-2016-11) > > Seems to me he’s slightly more subtle than a “white supremacist”, he seems to believe in the superiority of “judeo christian ideals” and that a global war with Islam is not just inevitable, but necessary. The article also implies that he regards the racist element of the alt-right as a useful tool, to attract people to his cause, but ultimately they’re just a means to an end rather than a goal in itself. > > And frankly from the transcript, he’s much much worse and more dangerous than a white supremacist, you really should read the entire transcript, it’s the best insight into his mind that I’ve seen. This makes my point, whether Bannon is a white supremacist, or someone who is willing to pander to white supremacists and use racism to achieve his political goals is a meaningless distinction. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/56 "2017-01-31T12:12:12Z")
Yes and not only that but other quotes of his indicate he’s a real life “littlefinger” that believes “chaos is a ladder”. He wants to destroy our current system of western liberal democracy so that his authoritarian “Judeo Christian” centric nation can be built from the ashes. All the Trump outrageous behaviour is the distraction, bannon is the real danger. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/57 "2017-01-31T20:05:02Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > With a page of posts to draw upon, have you found the evidence you sought? I certainly haven’t seen a smoking gun, although there’s a lot of circumstantial evidence that, at the very least, he’s willing to collaborate with, encourage, and promote white supremacy if it furthers his own aims. What’s your opinion on the topic? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/58 "2017-01-31T20:44:38Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I certainly haven’t seen a smoking gun, although there’s a lot of circumstantial evidence that, at the very least, he’s willing to collaborate with, encourage, and promote white supremacy if it furthers his own aims. > > What’s your opinion on the topic? What would constitute a smoking gun in your opinion? Bannon in a white robe and hood with a rope in one hand and an actual smoking gun in the other? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/59 "2017-01-31T20:48:51Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I certainly haven’t seen a smoking gun, although there’s a lot of circumstantial evidence that, at the very least, he’s willing to collaborate with, encourage, and promote white supremacy if it furthers his own aims. > > What’s your opinion on the topic? I think he’s willing to hint he’s in favor of white supremacy when talking to white supremacists and hint he’s in favor of chlorophyll if he’s talking to trees. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571/60 "2017-01-31T21:00:33Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think he’s willing to hint he’s in favor of white supremacy when talking to white supremacists and hint he’s in favor of chlorophyll if he’s talking to trees. I tell you what, I like trees, a politician wants to hint at a pro-chlorophyll position, I don’t give a rat’s ass. Somehow I don’t feel the same about white supremacy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-evidence-that-bannon-is-a-white-supremacist/778571.md?page=4)