Matt Yglesias

26 Responses to “Does the RNC Support Slavery?”

1. Jeffrey Davis Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 am

   Dead and in Hell or Not? YOU BE THE JUDGE!

2. kim Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 am

   He finds a ‘fundamental’ flaw in the superstructure? Please, never turn him loose near a drawing board. Omigod, what is he doing over there?
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3. Moral Panicker Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 8:49 am

   The computer I’m using doesn’t have sound so I can’t check on the exact words Obama used, but yeah, as much as I disdain liberalism the conservative understanding of patriotism leaves something to be desired.

4. Den Valdron Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am

   Business as usual for the RNC. I suppose that their argument is that they aren’t actually racists. They just really hate one particular black man, they’re not very bright, and they don’t think things through.

5. Joel Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am

   Shorter kim: “Slavery wasn’t a constitutional bug, it was a feature!”

6. Alex Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 9:08 am

   Matthew – Do you read the comments on your posts? Turn off that damn autoplay on the video about renewable energy. It is unbelievably obnoxious. This isn’t fucking myspace here.

7. Rich in PA Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 am

   It’s not called “slavery” any more: it’s the Black Unemployment Reduction Program (BURP). I think Sen. Shelby has inserted an appropriation for it in next year’s budget.

8. Mr. Confederate Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 am

   States rights! Etc. I’m not a racist, but…. Welfare, boot straps. Heritage. My immigrant ancestors. Etc.

9. DTM Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 am

   Aside from the obvious stupidity of this gambit in light of the context, I’d also like to point out that the general notion of worshipping our Constitution as a perfectly conceived and executed document is a really bad idea. Accepting the Constitution as the supreme law of the United States doesn’t mean we should not contemplate how it could lawfully be improved through the Amendment process, as in fact has already happened many times. Accordingly, it should be fine for everyone, including federal officials who have sworn to defend the Constitution, to offer constructive criticisms of the current Constitution.

10. kim Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Joel, 5. Obviously a defect in the engineering. Or maybe a cliche, like your lame, er, crippled one.
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11. Duvall Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Accordingly, it should be fine for everyone, including federal officials who have sworn to defend the Constitution, to offer constructive criticisms of the current Constitution.

    Including, it seems, the Republican Party.

    Morons.

12. Led Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 am

    The problem with this twitter post isn’t that Republicans are pro-slavery, which they obviously aren’t, it’s that they are intellectually dishonest, opportunistic and sleazy. Any weapon to hand in the creation of anti-Obama propoganda. We’d be better off if all politicians (including Dems) were called to the carpet for this kind of bad faith.

13. Tyro Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 am

    We’d be better off if all politicians (including Dems) were called to the carpet for this kind of bad faith.

    No kidding. The Republicans are working off of a flawed incentive structure: if they use a stupid, disingenuous argument and it catches on, they “win.” If it fails to catch on, they pay no consequence… so they have an incentive simply to throw whatever rotten spaghetti they have at the wall and see what sticks, rather than choosing their battles carefully.

14. Stefan Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 am

    It’s not called “slavery” any more: it’s the Black Unemployment Reduction Program (BURP).

    Actually, shouldn’t slavery be Enhanced Employment Techniques?

15. DTM Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 am

    If it fails to catch on, they pay no consequence . . .

    They obviously believe this, but I happen to think they are wrong. Sure, the complicit media plays along with this game, but I think recent events have vindicated one of Obama’s key political strategies: if Obama and his allies provide a steady contrast to this behavior, eventually the public will prefer their approach, regardless of which side the media deems to be “winning” any given news cycles.

16. cleek Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Stefan wins.

17. neff Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 10:21 am

    I guess there’ll be no more efforts to pass anti-abortion amendments or anti-gay-marriage amendments now that the party has recognized the Constitution as being perfectly flawless as-is.

18. Al Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 am

    I was beginning to get concerned about Matthew. It was at least a week since Matthew last called someone a racist. Whew, now we’re back on track.

19. wj Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 am

    I think that the Republican Party should hold a publicity event wherein Shelby Steele spends a week as the house slave at Rush Limbaugh’s palatial estate in Florida.

20. Njorl Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 11:37 am

    I was beginning to get concerned about Matthew. It was at least a week since Matthew last called someone a racist. Whew, now we’re back on track.

    He did not call anyone a racist. He merely asked if the RNC supported slavery. In general, such a question would be considered insulting, but the RNC rendered it appropriate.

    If I make a hobby of wearing a ski mask and climbing out of my house through a window while carrying expensive consumer electronics, I can’t very well take accusations that I am a thief as insults.

21. Billare Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    I wish more people were exposed to Matt’s kind of writing. By all means, shout your opinions on racism from the rooftops! Let those Republicans know how utterly bigoted they are!

22. AHR Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    The problem with this twitter post isn’t that Republicans are pro-slavery, which they obviously aren’t

    citation needed

23. DJ Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    REPUBLICANS SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WILL GET THEM VOTES. RANK HYPOCRITES THAT THEY ARE…..

24. dim Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm

    Wow, my party is so fucked. Slavery? We object to people denouncing SLAVERY now?

    Maybe if I make a couple lame jokes about engineering…

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25. joe from Lowell Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Thank you, Al, for demonstrating that conservatives don’t limit themselves to objecting to perfectly accurate accusations of racism, but that they throw this particularly pity party even when no one has been accused of racism.

26. hostreviewgeeks Says:
    May 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Couldn’t agree more.

    That’s really a good move.