Bunker Mentality Identity Politics
So, I was reading Eugene Volokh's critique of an LA Times editorial today and wondering why on earth people do this kind of thing (demonize other people whom they would otherwise identify with because they have "non-standard" politics for the group in question. Of course, being more conservative than liberal myself, I'm potentially biased on this subject.
But then I thought of an interesting counterexample. I'm Mormon; Mormons are, by and large, highly conservative; and Mormons have certainly been known to demonize liberal or Democrat Mormons on the basis of their politics. (Viz., no "real" Mormon could ever support a party that is in favor of gay marriage, abortion, drug use, atheism, etc. etc.)
This is incredibly asinine. Being a liberal or a conservative (much less a Democrat or a Republican) has no inherent moral value. To be Republican is not a part of the Mormon religion, and to say otherwise is incredibly damaging to Mormonism, both philosophically and practically.
The parallel isn't perfect; race and religion are themselves two very different things. But I think that insisting that people of a certain skin color hold certain political views is...well, asinine. To insist a black Republican is a "race traitor" exacerbates racial tensions and increases focus on race, rather than alleviating them; for that, if for no other reason, it should be avoided.
But then I thought of an interesting counterexample. I'm Mormon; Mormons are, by and large, highly conservative; and Mormons have certainly been known to demonize liberal or Democrat Mormons on the basis of their politics. (Viz., no "real" Mormon could ever support a party that is in favor of gay marriage, abortion, drug use, atheism, etc. etc.)
This is incredibly asinine. Being a liberal or a conservative (much less a Democrat or a Republican) has no inherent moral value. To be Republican is not a part of the Mormon religion, and to say otherwise is incredibly damaging to Mormonism, both philosophically and practically.
The parallel isn't perfect; race and religion are themselves two very different things. But I think that insisting that people of a certain skin color hold certain political views is...well, asinine. To insist a black Republican is a "race traitor" exacerbates racial tensions and increases focus on race, rather than alleviating them; for that, if for no other reason, it should be avoided.