Republican references to 'real Americans' incite division and fear
America is changing in ways Sarah Palin's 'real Americans' don't like. As the US diversifies, to remain relevant, the GOP must abandon divisive language that Michelle Bachmann and others have used recently and instead embrace a more unifying message.
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio participates in a swearing-in ceremony for then-Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) of New York, with his wife Huma Abedin in Washington January 5, 2011. Mr. Boehner called Rep. Michelle Bachmann's recent allegations that Ms. Abedin, aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodhman Clinton, had connections to the Muslim Brotherhood 'dangerous.' Op-ed contributor Bassam Gergi says 'a continued strategy within parts of the Republican Party to vilify those from diverse backgrounds as “un-American” is incredibly shortsighted.'
Charles Dharapak/AP/File
Oxford, England
Rep. Michelle Bachmann and her cohort of right-wing Republicans are using identity, religion, and race as a permanent wedge issue – most recently in their unsubstantiated attack on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Muslim aide Huma Abedin. When Ms. Bachmann was criticized for her suggestion that Ms. Abedin be investigated for potential ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh rushed to her defense.
By tapping into the powerful undercurrents of race and religion, Ms. Bachmann and others are using language to satisfy their immediate political ends, by dividing Americans and thereby America into pro- and anti-American parts.
In a diverse country built by immigrants, why are some Republicans taking this divisive approach?
At its most fundamental level, politics is about the creation of ideological communities where an individual can find a home. These political homes provide a sense of belonging and a safe place for individuals in a political and physical environment that can often seem hostile or confusing.
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