MAGA media pushed "great replacement" theory to turn Republicans against their own immigration bill

[marmar]

MAGA media pushed "great replacement" theory to turn Republicans against their own immigration bill
The myth that "Biden won't enforce the law" has its roots in a white nationalist conspiracy theory

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 9, 2024 6:00AM (EST)


(Salon) By any reality-based measure, the collapse of Republican support for the recent immigration bill is bizarre. For years, Republicans have been complaining that the U.S.-Mexican border is in "crisis." In recent months, that narrative has gained traction even among reasonable people, who may harbor no ill will towards refugees, but still understand that it's not great that the immigration system is collapsing under the weight of thousands of people crossing every week, asking for asylum. Having whipped voters into a frenzy over this issue, Republicans finally had a chance to pass a draconian immigration bill that was a veritable wish list of anti-immigrant policies they've been demanding for years. And yet, as any news consumer can tell you, the bill died this week, voted down by the very Republicans who wrote it.

The reason for this isn't mysterious: Donald Trump demanded it because he believes the continuing chaos at the border will help his political chances in November. But that puts Republican leaders and right-wing media in what should be an impossible contradiction. On one hand, they keep telling their base that refugees are an existential threat and a national emergency. On the other hand, they now have to justify doing absolutely nothing to fix the problem. Even for a voting base as nihilistic as the GOP's, it's hard to square the circle between "we're in immediate danger!" and "but we won't do a damn thing to change that."

To sidestep their self-contradiction, Republicans are employing their favorite tool when it comes to justifying their illogical and incoherent views: Conspiracy theory. In this case, a hateful lie that first got its start in neo-Nazi circles, but was mainstreamed by powerful right-wing pundits like Tucker Carlson: The "great replacement" theory. This theory holds that a secret cabal — originally alleged to be Jews, but eventually just more vaguely "Democrats" — is deliberately trying to "replace" white Christians with darker-skinned foreigners. The racists who believe this theory argue that darker-skinned people are less intelligent than white people and easier to manipulate. Fictional conspirators, the far-right contends, are merely using these immigrants as tools to "take over" America.

....(snip)....

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose efforts to conceal his true political opinions have collapsed under their own weight, is going all-in as well. On Tuesday, the white nationalist website VDare pushed the false claim that "4 million whites still in South Africa" need political asylum to the U.S. but are being denied by Biden. Of course, there are no photographs, videos, or other documentation to show that four million white South Africans are trying to escape their country. But Musk replied "True" to this lie on Twitter. Again, this is "great replacement" nonsense, based in the entirely false belief Democrats are deliberately manipulating the asylum system in order to change the complexion of American demographics. ..................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/02/09/maga-media-pushed-great-replacement-theory-to-turn-against-their-own-immigration-bill/

[hildegaard28]

1. These

People need to be replaced. They're worthless and entitled. We should welcome their replacements with open arms.

[lees1975]

2. How possible is it to fast track citizenship for these people?

The Republicans are shrieking and lip flapping over the border issues they won't solve by hollering that this is a Democratic party plot to add more Democrats to the voter rolls.

So how fast can we get that done?

[Firestorm49]

3. Unfortunately at the present time this country is a mess. The two political sides are at war with each other

and as uncomfortable as this situation may be, I only see dark days ahead. I prefer not to, but all signs are pointing to civil unrest. We’re not seeing divided politics coming closer to resolution, rather sinking more into the abyss. Where’s the bottom and what will it look like? Fascism? Food lines? A Putin like figure never surrendering power? Vlad just denied a rival to even appear on a ballot in Russia. Apparently it’s OK for Russia but not for us.

Our SC is languishing in cowardice, unabashed morons are being elected to positions of “responsibility“ in our government and it’s one stupid, baseless, unprovable comment after another coming out of the right.

I’m not one who believes that prayer can answer anything at all, but something or someone needs to find the key that unlocks this door of insanity - peacefully if possible.

Lastly, if the third clause of the fourteenth amendment is unenforceable in the face of blatant definition, then eliminate the damn amendment from the Constitution. The entire point of trying to keep the idiot off the ballot was obscured by cowardice. At this point, perhaps our last vestige will be allowing the fool to be denied executive privilege and actually prosecuted for the numerous crimes that he’s committed. Of course, there’s still the current AG to worry about.

Have a nice day.