People say the most ASTONISHING things

[zvi_likes_tv]

So, I generally don't pay any attention to the speech of nationally prominent Republicans, because the Republican Party hates me - black, lesbian, poor, atheist, with socialist tendencies.

Well, tonight I was listening to NPR while cleaning the kitchen, and Sam Brownback said in primetime, on at least one television channel, that he believes in

Comments

[mecurtin]

I, for instance, was astonished that a congressman would publicly and on purpose say something like he believed in American Exceptionalism

Are you kidding? Dude, they do that *all* the time. I don't know if any national-level politician could get away with saying that American *isn't* the absolutely greatest country in the history of the world & time & space.

Andrew Bacevich's new book is all about how American Exceptionalism has poisoned policies across the political spectrum. I'm looking forward to it, but it's something that a lot of Americans want to hear.

[zvi_likes_tv]

No, no, no, I expect politicians to say that America is awesome, YAY! I even believe that there are things about America which warrant saying yay about it. I am even willing to go so far as to say that the political ideals upon which this country were founded have the potential to render us the greatest country since the founding of the nation-state.

But he specifically said, "I believe in American Exceptionalism." It was a little like hearing George Bush say, "I'm an ultranationalist. Those Christian Dominionists are right on guys."

It isn't the shock so much that he espoused the ideas inherent in American Exceptionalism, as that he claimed the ideology by name.

[mecurtin]

That's one of the things Brownback is *for* -- moving the Overton Window.

I am not watching the RNC because destroying electronic equipment in rage is bad for me.

[sholio]

Oh god! I thought you meant that he expressed the sentiment, not that he actually said that. *boggles*

[arallara]

I've been pretty blown away by the way people with those beliefs have been made to feel so empowered by the Bush presidency. So that they will say things like that, things so blatant and unapologetic in their racism, sexism, homophobia, religious fundamentalism, creepy fascist nationalism, etc., that it's hard to believe they can get away with saying them in public.

The Bush administration made those wingnuts feel so at home and so firmly in power for long enough that they don't expect to experience any repercussions, I think. And, sadly, they pretty much don't. It's pretty freaky to hear something like that stated so baldly by someone who is a "respectable" public figure, though.

Specifically and unsurprisingly, the media chronically under-analyzes and under-reports (as in NOT AT ALL) the white supremacist belief systems and ties to actual white supremacist organizations that are connected with so many far-right religious and patriotic groups.

[zvi_likes_tv]

*nod nod* I don't pay attention to them, because, 90% of the time, I know that's what they mean. Their code is about as opague as saying 'bad' in a very excited voice to mean 'good.' But when did they stop speaking in code, dude?

[arallara]

I don't know, since "winning" all three branches of government made them feel they were being rewarded by God for the righteousness of their political goals?? Yeah. :)

I feel like I've heard things like this here and there for at least the second half of the Bush presidency. Actually using the words "American exceptionalism" (or whatever other equivalently specific terminology that reveals the underlying ultra-right belief) is still pretty rare, though, it's true. As you say above, it's kind of like if Bush were to identify himself with the term "Dominionist" that explicitly. Crazy.

[kaethe]

I would like to vote for "stupid" re: the current president.