How to Push Back Against Bully Politics
If they’re trying to “trigger the libs,” believe me, I’m triggered, if only over the damage such vulgar cheap shots do to the respect all Americans should have for our government and political processes.
That’s why I found some hope in the enthusiastic reception that recently turned a tweeted speech by Michigan state Democratic Sen. Mallory McMorrow into a viral sensation. Republican Sen. Lana Theis had targeted her in a fundraising email that accused her of wanting to “groom” and “sexualize” kindergartners and teach that “8-year-olds are responsible for slavery.”
Ridiculous. But instead of trying to maintain the sort of dispassionate civility that too often has left sensible voices sounding weak, McMorrow responded with a forcefully eloquent takedown of the smear.
“I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom,” she said, “who knows that the very notion that learning about slavery or redlining or systemic racism somehow means that children are being taught to feel bad or hate themselves because they are white is absolute nonsense.
“People who are different are not the reason our roads are in bad shape after decades of disinvestment, or health care costs are too high, or teachers are leaving the profession,” she also said. “I want every child in this state to be seen, heard and supported, not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight white and Christian.
“So I want to be very clear right now: Call me whatever you want. I know who I am. I know what faith and service mean, and what it calls for in this moment,” she said in closing. “We will not let hate win.”
The entire speech runs less than five minutes. It’s worth hearing in full, especially by other Democrats, hamstrung with what Democratic consultant James Carville calls “woke” “faculty-lounge” political talk. McMorrow offers a short but informative demonstration in the power of words, concise and direct, to push back against the far-right’s toxic waste.
Bye-bye!
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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)
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