Heritage Foundation Cuts Ties to Jason Richwine – from The Atlantic Wire

What do barbie dolls and the Heritage Foundation have in common?  Barbie dolls are to sexism as the heritage foundation is to racism —  they both used to be bastions of each ideology but today they appear increasingly useless and irrelevant.

The Atlantic Wire reports that the Heritage Foundation is running for cover as the facts come out about one Jason Richwine, a former Harvard student who wrote his Ph.D. thesis exploring the presumed intellectual inferiority of Hispanics in America.  The Heritage Foundation used the controversial Harvard former student to publish a recent report arguing about the so called costs of immigration for America.

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank born in the aftermath of the Nixon era when America saw itself through the eyes of a popular media, government and academia largely of European ancestry and xenophobia towards all things not “White” or of European origin.  This world view was forged at a time when civil rights at home and Vietnam abroad crushed the former American dream which was forged in a 1950s America which was being torn asunder by hippie kids and non-White civil rights marchers.

Today the modern expression of these reactionary movements are anti immigration, states rights and anti affirmative action diatribes that fly in the face of the facts of an America that needs every once of talent and muscle from its growing “brown majority.”

Recent demographic reports show that Rodriguez is now the most numerous last name held by new born babies in our country.  Tomorrow is here and the Heritage Foundation seems to be trying to cover the overwhelming historical truth with an increasingly ineffective ideological argument about the size of a broken barbie doll umbrella.

 

“Jason Richwine, co-author of a controversial report from the Heritage Foundation that criticized the potential cost of immigration reform, has resigned from the organization. The resignation follows revelations that Richwine’s college dissertation argued that …”

via Heritage Foundation Cuts Ties to Jason Richwine – Philip Bump – The Atlantic Wire.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Discrimination, ethnicity in politics, ideology, Immigration, Intolerance, Latinos, New Electorate, News, propaganda and spin, symbolic uses of politics, symbols as swords, WeSeeReason, Heritage Foundation, ideology, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, Racism

Malden woman attacked by man accusing Muslims of Marathon bombings – Metro – The Boston Globe

No one ever talks about it.  It is taboo.  Or perhaps, it is not important in our mostly Western European culture.

As we have developed a culture of fear, xenophobia, and antipathy towards foreigners, we have begun to kill our American Dream.  We dislike people who look poorly dressed, “dark,” or otherwise not like “us.”  We forget, or perhaps our history books don’t explain and our grandparents did not share, that most people who came through Elis Island came here with few  belongings, lived in very modest quarters and felt as isolated and alienated as today’s monolingual and “lost in America” recent immigrant population.

Mexicans, Haitians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Puerto Ricans, many, many, groups are portrayed as “less than American” and continue to be seen as different from the mainstream ideal.  An ideal that may now be shattered after the savages who attacked innocent people in Boston.  The facts are developing at this time.  But the monsters in the two FBI photos are nothing like the “dark guy” ridiculously and irresponsibly described by CNN’s John King with Wolf Blitzer supporting.

“I want to be very careful about this, because people get very sensitive when you say these things,” King said Wednesday. “I was told by one of these sources who is a law enforcement official that this is a dark-skinned male.”

America is now more diverse than ever.  It’s mainstream leadership is woefully out of touch with the silent growing segment of the population that is destined to inherit our tomorrow.

The Boston Globe reported a story that confirms the damage mainstream media does to our fabric when they echo the fears and phobias suffered by less educated Americans…  By less educated we don’t mean did not go to College–we mean people who were raised and educated by parents and schools that failed.  Some of these people have high degrees and are millionaires who lead our nightly broadcasts…

“Every day, Heba Abolaban of Malden checks on her family in war-strafed Syria, where water, bread and electricity are in short supply. She was far more worried about them than about herself on Wednesday morning when she put her baby daughter in a stroller and headed into the sunshine to a play group with a friend.But as they strolled down Commercial Street, an angry-faced man charged toward the petite woman, his hand balled into a fist. He punched her hard in the shoulder and screamed curses inches from her face. Then he pointed at her and …”

More via Malden woman attacked by man accusing Muslims of Marathon bombings – Metro – The Boston Globe.

Filed under: Africa, Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, Community Tragedy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Discrimination, ethnicity in politics, ideology, Immigration, Intolerance, Maternal and Child Health, News, Parenting, Political Violence, propaganda and spin, Pundits, Racism, Religion, Religious freedom, The Western Imagination, WeSeeReason, Women's rights, Islam and the media; muslims on TV; portrayal of Islam in American media;, Muslims, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, racist language; the race card; bigotry; propaganda; the play book; manipulating the masses; race; racism; Barak Obama; national decency; political discourse

Rubio and the Zombies – NYTimes.com The Policy ThinkShop comments: Marco loco, Marco, loco, Marco loco… In search of a rising star to peddle tired Republican ideas…

In a sad game of hide and seek, hide economic reason and seek Latino votes, Marc Rubio is being paraded out of the Republican political stables to get the attention of Latino voters …  It’s not working…

“In case you’re wondering, a zombie idea is a proposition that has been thoroughly refuted by analysis and evidence, and should be dead — but won’t stay dead because it serves a political purpose, appeals to prejudices, or both.”

via Rubio and the Zombies – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, ideology, Latinos, News, Policy ThinkShop Comments on other media platforms, Political Economy, Political Facts and Fiction, propaganda and spin, Pundits, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, Political Facts and Fiction

A Culture-War Waterloo on Immigration : The New Yorker

The New Yorker magazine makes a statement about a “backlash” to the Republican playbook strategy of dividing Americans by race, socioeconomic status and gender …

“Finally, of course, nativism has proved to be a big, ugly, catastrophic loser for the Republican Party. I’ll skip the details. You already know them. ¡Basta!”

More via A Culture-War Waterloo on Immigration : The New Yorker.

Filed under: Blogosphere, The Audacity of Reason:, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, popular culture, Racism, Real Americans, The Audacity of Reason, white power

Mitt Romney’s economics: Work in progress | The Economist

The coolness was understandable. Mr Ryan’s budget was political dynamite. It proposed to slash income-tax rates, especially for the rich and businesses, and replace traditional Medicare with …

MORE via Mitt Romney’s economics: Work in progress | The Economist.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Election 2012, News, Public Policy, economic policy, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney economics, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters

Ron Paul’s Hostility to Government : The New Yorker

For the past six months or so, the Republican-primary electorate has had a polite, patient, reliable, steadily employed suitor chatting with Mom and Dad in the parlor, while a series of more exciting but less appropriate rivals have come knocking at the …

MORE via Ron Paul’s Hostility to Government : The New Yorker.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Culture Think, Election 2012, Government Works?, ideology, Intolerance, Mass Media and Public Opinion, News, political corruption, political plots, propaganda and spin, Public Policy, Pundits, symbolic uses of politics, Vote, WeSeeReason, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, Republican Primary, Ron Paul

Focus on Electability as Caucuses Near – NYTimes.com

Rick Santorum and Ron Paul defended themselves on Sunday against claims that they could not win in November, as a new poll suggested that they were now the primary threat to …

MORE via Focus on Electability as Caucuses Near – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, Election 2012, faith-based, ideology, Mass Media and Public Opinion, News, propaganda and spin, Public Policy, symbolic uses of politics, Vote, WeSeeReason, Maine Primary, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, Primary Politics, Republican Primary, tea party

Republican Presidential Candidates on the Issues – Election 2012 – NYTimes.com

Abortion

The candidates all profess opposition to abortion rights, but there are distinctions. Several have signed a pledge that requires

via Republican Presidential Candidates on the Issues – Election 2012 – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, Culture Think, Election 2012, News, Public Policy, Vote, WeSeeReason, Federal Budget; Federal Deficit; balancing the budget; National Debt; Medicare; cutting healthcare; limiting Medicare; Republicans;, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, racist language; the race card; bigotry; propaganda; the play book; manipulating the masses; race; racism; Barak Obama; national decency; political discourse, Republican Primary

Gingrich’s Phony War : The New Yorker

If the 2012 Presidential campaign were analogous to the Second World War—and, for the record, it’s really, really not—what stage would we have reached? And who would even think about it in those terms? The answer to the second question is Newt Gingrich, whose dark …

MORE via Comment: Gingrich’s Phony War : The New Yorker.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Discrimination, Election 2012, ethics, ethnicity in politics, ideology, Intolerance, lobbying, Mass Media and Public Opinion, News, political corruption, Political Economy, propaganda and spin, Public Policy, Pundits, Racism, social protests, symbolic uses of politics, symbols as swords, The Western Imagination, Vote, WeSeeReason, Gingrich for President; Nothing Newt; Newt Gingrich runs; Running for leader of the free world; Election 2012; Newt Gingrich in 2012; Back to the future with Newt Gingrich;, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, newt, racist language; the race card; bigotry; propaganda; the play book; manipulating the masses; race; racism; Barak Obama; national decency; political discourse, symbolic politics; political rhetoric; playing the race card; blaming the other; stigmatization; the Republican Play Book

Newt’s War on Poor Children – NYTimes.com

Newt Gingrich has reached a new low, and that is hard for him to …

MORE via Newt’s War on Poor Children – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Child Abuse, Children and Poverty, Culture Think, Election 2012, ethics, ideology, Job Sector, Mass Media and Public Opinion, News, Parenting, propaganda and spin, Public Policy, Racism, symbolic uses of politics, Unemployment, Vote, WeSeeReason, Gingrich for President; Nothing Newt; Newt Gingrich runs; Running for leader of the free world; Election 2012; Newt Gingrich in 2012; Back to the future with Newt Gingrich;, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, symbolic politics; political rhetoric; playing the race card; blaming the other; stigmatization; the Republican Play Book

The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines – The Washington Post

The latest Republican presidential contender to put forward an economic blueprint is onetime-frontrunner Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who gave a full embrace to a number of longstanding and far-reaching conservative …

MORE via The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines – The Washington Post.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Economic Recession, Election 2012, Government Works?, Political Economy, symbolic uses of politics, Unemployment, WeSeeReason, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters

Muammar Qaddafi’s Death and Republican Politics : The New Yorker

In his salad days, Muammar Qaddafi was a professorial friend and vigilant protector of his colleagues in tyranny. At the World Revolutionary Center, in Benghazi, a desert Deerfield for dictators, Qaddafi trained …

MORE via Muammar Qaddafi’s Death and Republican Politics : The New Yorker.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Election 2012, geopolitical, Mass Media and Public Opinion, Middle East Freedom, News, Political Economy, symbolic uses of politics, symbols as swords, waging war, WeSeeReason, Election 2012: Operation Next?, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, symbolic politics; political rhetoric; playing the race card; blaming the other; stigmatization; the Republican Play Book