Leftist start new Meme: Birchers=TEA party.

[dutch508]

Been seeing this alot this weekend, the Leftists have got their new Meme orders from the DNC: The Tea Party is really the old J. Birch Society which is really... [shock] the KKK!!! 

grasswire (38,142 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023889382

Please start using the "Bircher" identity when talking about Tea Party.
Neo-Birchers

New Birchers

Whatever seems easy to use. "The Tea Party is the old John Birch Society, you know."

The American people repudiated the Birchers the first time around. The moniker means something negative.

And it is true that the Tea Party is the direct offspring.

Heather MC (5,597 posts)
27. Look how easily the Repugs get their branding Mesages out to the public

Why can't we do the same thing to them they do to us
I remember when no one here wanted to refer to the ACA as Obamacare
but look at us now

Gidney N Cloyd (11,090 posts)
62. Repugs have it easy. Messages that resonate with RWers are killed by scrutiny.

They keep it visceral and short enough to fit on a bumper sticker not just because it sells, but because detail will blow a hole in them. On the other hand, liberal messages sometimes go against baser human instincts and require some details and deeper evaluation to get to the buy-in.

Yes, you people are just too stupid to understand I am doing this for your own good!

kestrel91316 (48,235 posts)
21. Know-Nothings, KKK, Birchers, Teabaggers............

same shit, different day.

All ignorant and proud of it, all xenophobic, all christofascists.

[txradioguy]

KKK was Democrat founded and supported...always was...always will be.

John Birch Society types were driven from the Conservative ranks (except for Pat Buchanan) in order to tain credibility and legitimacy.

Teabaggers?  Those are Dem supporters too.




(announcer voice) Coming up next on "Meme Busters"....

[Ralph Wiggum]

How many under 30 year-olds even know what the John Birch Society is/was?

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

How many under 30 year-olds even know what the John Birch Society is/was?

Is this your mole:

Nuclear Unicorn (9,181 posts)

1. That would only have currency with political junkies and older people

NuclearDem (4,480 posts)

4. Could get a few other people onboard by quoting General Ripper
 
And mentioning that the crazy water fluoridation conspiracy was JBS' thing.

Yes, take a now-irrelevant-for-decades group and reference them by an even older movie.

Nuclear Unicorn (9,181 posts)

15. Okay, I'm only 25 and despite being a political junkie
 
I have no idea who General Ripper is supposed to be and I vaguely have an idea of the water fluoridation kerfuffle. Politics, if it is to be successful, should not be steeped in esoteric knowledge.

I suppose I could google these topics but that's the point.

^ See.

ScreamingMeemie (61,692 posts)

18. Well said.
 
And then we get labeled as "elitist liberals" because we gots smarts.

Says you. 'Cuz:

IrishAyes (2,825 posts)

67. No, you label yourselves with narrow and lazy minds, and you DO have awfully long snouts,
 
y'know. Smarts? In your dreams, baby. Grow up first and get your noses out of your belly buttons so you can do something more worthwhile than trying to see how exclusive you can make your little club.

(signed)

Old-Line Liberal and Proud of It
So Sue Me

Got that? Not wanting to google Dr. Strangelove proves you're an Republican!

papa3times (63 posts)

23. Well now
 
you have heard of General Ripper and all the rest so you can google it! You can't google something you've never heard of.

IrishAyes (2,825 posts)

72. True, they can't google something they never heard of.

But the energetic mind seeks out new knowledge on its own w/o having to be led by the hand. There's no excuse at all for anyone with a college degree not already knowing the historical basis of things, especially not when they imagine themselves political junkies. Or maybe they're confusing that with junk food.

This guy's an asshole:

IrishAyes (2,825 posts)

64. Yes, Unicorn, that IS the point.
 
When you come across knowledge new to yourself, google away! Then you won't have to be bothered with us old farts trying to tell you anything at all.

While you're at it, look up Lyndon Larouche. He was worse than any JBS, and that's saying a lot. But don't be fooled by memorial pages, though. Of course nothing an old fart learned is worth a damn unless it's confirmed on the internet, is it? We're sooo last century.

Nuclear Unicorn (9,181 posts)

104. clue-by-four: I couldn't care less about an old black and white movie about the Cold War
 
It's entertainment value is nostalgic, at best. It's political value is non-existent. I'm aware the film is a "classic" to the generation that lived through those times but to me it's just another movie. It will mean even less to my generation that do not share my interests in politics. Effective politics depends on relevance to the audience.

REBUTTAL: I'm old, I'm smart. Love me and my movie-e-e-e-e!!!

IrishAyes (2,825 posts)

105. Fortunately for you, not everyone takes such a shortsighted and self indulgent attitude.
 
I don't really care how much you don't care about what any other generation has done, since we did a lot of things right and continue in that vein even today. The political impact of that film extends far deeper and wider than you seem able to grasp.

For completeness of record I include the remainder of the sub-thread:

Nuclear Unicorn (9,181 posts)

107. It was relevant in its day.
 
Meanwhile, the 2014 mid-term elections are just over a year away. Due to redistricting there are more Democratic senators vulnerable than there are House GOPers and -- as shocking as this may be to you -- the Cold War is not on the list of our electoral priorities.

Most of my generation is more worried about getting a job, paying down our student loans and wondering if SS will be bled dry before we will ever get to use what we're expected to pay for. Sorry, but a generation as selfish as mine isn't interested in Googling old films we aren't going to watch because they're about subjects that have no bearing on our own issues. We're just self-centered that way.

Feel free to continue to lecture about how we're lazy and we suck while you're out on your next GOTV drive. And be sure to include all that condescending snark you're so awesome at. We like that.

IrishAyes (2,825 posts)

109. It's shortsighted and self destructive not to look beyond yourself to the whole big wide world
 
out there. Every generation and culture has something to offer and something to learn. I do not disparage your entire generation at all. In fact I admire many young people and sympathize with their struggles. Just pointing out that when we find ourselves in a hole, it might be time to stop digging and figure out a few things before proceeding. Blind rage is a trap. There are always people around ready to use it against you.

Nuclear Unicorn (9,181 posts)

110. And? I'm still not seeing the relevance to political campaigning
 
which is what the thread is about: framing our message. The frame has to fit the picture. The Cold War isn't in the picture.

[Bad Dog]

Never trust anyone over 30. 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Never trust anyone over 30. 

"You're only as old as the woman you feel." -- Groucho Marx

[Gina]

I have never even heard of Bircher.  Why didn't I know this?    

Anyone else ever heard of it?  I mean I don't do a lot of research on the KKK    Who does?  I don't believe in their message so why would anyone even know the founder?

[txradioguy]

I have never even heard of Bircher.  Why didn't I know this?    

Anyone else ever heard of it?  I mean I don't do a lot of research on the KKK    Who does?  I don't believe in their message so why would anyone even know the founder?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society

Bookmark.

I've referred to some of the 100'ers as Birch Society members here in the past.  Now you'll know why.

[wasp69]

Be careful, fascist DUmmies, or I'll happily show you how deep the other side of that blade cuts.

[Bad Dog]

Impeach Earl Warren!!!

[Wineslob]

[Gina]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society

Bookmark.

I've referred to some of the 100'ers as Birch Society members here in the past.  Now you'll know why.

Thank you, Sir.

Is this a bad thing?

Characterizations[edit]The society has been described as "ultraconservative",[20] "far right",[21] and "extremist".[22] The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the society as a "'Patriot' Group".[23] Other sources consider the society as part of the patriot movement.[24][25]

I kinda understand what they said about the Civil Rights movement, I don't really read that it was kkk though. Am I missing something?

[GOBUCKS]

Poor addled grasswipe Judy Smith!

The John Birch Society was an issue in the 1964 election, but not much of one.

As a trained hysterian, nadin could tell you that President Johnson's landslide win against Barry Goldwater was so clearly inevitable it was hard for anything to cause much of a kerfunkle.

Since 1964, the Birch Society has been about as invisible as can be imagined.

The DU Activist Corps, DUAC, DUAC has been more in the public eye than the Birch Society.

Poor addled grasswipe Judy Smith must be suffering from a flashback, a price she continues to pay for trying the brown acid during her days of putting out in VW buses. 

[franksolich]

Poor addled grasswipe Judy Smith!

Poor addled grasswipe Judy Smith must be suffering from a flashback, a price she continues to pay for trying the brown acid during her days of putting out in VW buses.

I saw this campfire yesterday, and was going to go and sit at it, until I noticed it was the pie-and-jam primitive who'd lit it.

The cooking and baking forum is languishing, withering, dying; the pie-and-jam primitive needs to get over there to help keep it alive, and let people who know something about things talk about things like this.

[NHSparky]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society

Bookmark.

I've referred to some of the 100'ers as Birch Society members here in the past.  Now you'll know why.

When I lived in ID, a family up the road were hard-core Birchers, including having a HUGE "US OUT! of the UN" billboard they paid for with their own money.

It was the most expensive thing on that property, including the house, cars, or anything in them.

[98ZJUSMC]

grasswire (38,142 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023889382

Please start using the "Bircher" identity when talking about Tea Party.
Neo-Birchers

New Birchers

Whatever seems easy to use. "The Tea Party is the old John Birch Society, you know."

The American people repudiated the Birchers the first time around. The moniker means something negative.

And it is true that the Tea Party is the direct offspring.

 

[98ZJUSMC]

How many under 30 year-olds even know what the John Birch Society is/was?

That's the question I would ask.

[ChuckJ]

ScreamingMeemie (61,692 posts)

18. Well said.
 
And then we get labeled as "elitist liberals" because we gots smarts.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...

[98ZJUSMC]

ScreamingMeemie (61,692 posts)

18. Well said.
 
And then we get labeled as "elitist liberals" because we gots smarts.

No worries there, cupcake.

[Dori]

I have never even heard of Bircher.  Why didn't I know this?    

Anyone else ever heard of it?  I mean I don't do a lot of research on the KKK    Who does?  I don't believe in their message so why would anyone even know the founder?

I don't anything about them either. 

[franksolich]

I don't anything about them either. 

"Little old ladies in tennis shoes."

I could never figure out why that was a slam, but it was, back then.

[Dori]

"Little old ladies in tennis shoes."

I could never figure out why that was a slam, but it was, back then.

I looked that up.  It's a quote by a Stanley Mosk NYT 1961

THE cadre of the John Birch Society seems to be formed primarily of wealthy business men, retired military officers and little old ladies in tennis shoes. They are bound together by an obsessive fear of "communism,"

So the left thought the dangers of communism was something to snear at?  We fought several wars over it. 

[zeitgeist]

When I lived in ID, a family up the road were hard-core Birchers, including having a HUGE "US OUT! of the UN" billboard they paid for with their own money.

It was the most expensive thing on that property, including the house, cars, or anything in them.

I ran across them years ago at the Sandwich Fair.  I believe it was about '63 or 4.  Pretty much an anti communist group as I recall them.  I believe mother may have picked up a copy of "None Dare Call It Treason" at their display.  The smear of Barry Goldwater by Landslide Lyndon was classic machine politics.  

For the younger set who have never heard of Barry Goldwater:

Acceptance Speech as the 1964 Republican Presidential candidate. Variants and derivatives of this that are often quoted include:

 Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue.
 Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
 Moderation in the protection of liberty is no virtue; extremism in the defense of freedom is no vice

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater

If you missed "None Dare Call It Treason"  here is a review from Amazon:

35 of 59 people found the following review helpful
One of the most important books you could read about Communism
 By  Seth Forster   on January 16, 2008
Format: Hardcover
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better book on how the Communists influenced the West and how our leaders like Ike, Kennedy and especially FDR sold us out to their goals. Stormer gives detail after detail. This is NOT speculation. These issues are a matter of public record which Stormer references continually. His research is thorough.

He covers a variety of approaches instead of pointing to some shady conspiracy, effectively showing how some choose to fight this battle of totalitarianism v. liberty in different ways. From the political manuevering of our troops, financial and military backing of socialist governments, concepts of containment, development of the CFR (which now even the mainstream media has been forced to acknowledge!!), to the numerous traitors (Alger Hiss, John Stewart Service, Lauchlin Curry), Earl Warren's anti-Constitution, power usurping Supreme Ct.

There are many details here that you are probably not aware of. That doesn't mean thesethings didn't happen. It tends to mean only that you were misled. I personally don't think it's an accident. It sounds cynical to view it this way, but everyone knows the adage that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton was right, and when we accept this we can change the situation. I can't say enough good about this book. The only issue I have with it involves somewhat insulting treatment of the actions of the POW's in the Korean War.

http://www.amazon.com/None-Dare-Call-It-Treason/dp/0899667252

[jukin]

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...

Yep, those that think they are smart are the very easiest to fool.

[obumazombie]

Yep, those that think they are smart are the very easiest to fool.

They fell for investing in AlGore's CCX, and his Al Jazeera television.