Dog Whistling and Racism in US Politics

The Daily Caller has a good piece on the American left’s obsession with finding racism everywhere.

Last night, Ann Romney sought to dispel the notion that somehow she and Mitt have had a “storybook marriage.” So she pointed out that their life together included struggles, such as her MS and breast cancer. And then she concluded: “What Mitt Romney and I have is a real marriage.”

It was a good point. No matter who you are or how much money you have, you can’t stay married to someone for any length of time without things getting real. It’s not all romance.

But although Romney’s line about “real marriage” was clearly delivered in this context, I noticed some Tweets suggesting that Romney’s reference to “real marriage” was actually code language used to attack gay marriage.

Really!

Really.

For their own good, though, this paranoia has to stop. Maybe I can help their mental sanity by explaining something?: The whole point a dog whistle is for your adversaries to not hear it.

It should go over their heads, and straight into the ears of your base (who nod approvingly.)

On the contrary, with these recent supposed examples, Democrats are the only ones who seem to hear them. Which means they’re not dog whistles at all.

If you want an example of a real, modern day cipher, here it is. As I noted at Politics Daily, “During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama used the terms ‘bamboozled’ and ‘hoodwinked,’ which to most reporters meant nothing. But to those who had seen the film, the lines were an obvious reference to ‘Malcolm X.’”

(The people who might have been offended by Obama furtively paying homage to Malcolm X would never know; the people who would “get” the joke would be inclined to like it.)

A good example.

There is no doubt that politicians have, in the past — and still sometimes do — use code language. But the phenomenon we’re witnessing today is quite different. Republican politicians say something, which their base takes at face value. And then later, the left assigns a cynical interpretation to it.

But that’s not how code language works.

Why is it that liberals are the only people who hear the conservative dog whistles?

Paranoia is not new with the left. But it does seem to be getting more problematic for them, and more mainstream at the same time.

But to be fair, what alternative do you have when you are faced with a massive grass roots movement like the tea party?

Here’s a funnier take.

As is well known, Republican politicians and pundits frequently use words like “European,” “Chicago,” “golf,” “skinny,” “angry,” and “welfare” to subtly remind voters that President Obama is black.

Yes, seriously. I noted another example of this here.

This leads people who would otherwise support President Obama to oppose him. Perhaps the best example came during the Republican presidential primary, when Rick Perry described the national debt as a “big black cloud” hanging over America. More recently, a Romney aide called attention to the president’s race by referencing America’s “Anglo-Saxon heritage.”

So the analysis begins.

“Mr. Chairman”: This is a reference to RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. Just two years ago, Priebus replaced Michael Steele, an African-American, as RNC chairman. By mentioning the current RNC chairman, Romney is reminding voters that Priebus is not Steele, and therefore not black, which reminds voters that Romney is not Obama, and therefore not black.

“delegates”: Next, Romney mentions the convention delegates, a reminder that most of the delegates are white (unlike Obama).

“I”: The word “I” reminds people of themselves. Racists, upon hearing the word “I,” are reminded of who they are — which reminds them that they are white, which reminds them that Obama is not. Critics may claim that Romney is talking about himself here rather than about the listeners — but Romney, too, is white, so a word like “I,” urging voters to focus on Romney, also reminds them that he is white and Obama is black. The shape of the word “I” also recalls a tall, thin person, and, as mentioned earlier, “skinny” is a well-established racist dog whistle.

“accept”: This word sounds just like the word “except,” which evokes the idea of exclusivity. Blacks are excluded from white-only country clubs.

Sometimes the best response to stupid is to point and laugh.