How "marginalized" are the freepers? Do we take them too seriously?

[expatriot]

A lot of people here (myself including) pretty much have the idea that the voices of FR are the voices of that 25% that still strongly approves of Bush but judging by the 150 that showed up at their rally today (by press reports) and the extremist, racist, and completely delusional rhetoric that has reached a new low (or high) over there as Bush' #'s tumble and post-Katrina... I am starting to think they are just a cult with a very small number of followers. I mean if you compare traffic on DU to traffic on FR, they have more traffic but DU is NOT the progressive activist universe on the Net, there are many other hubs, etc. whereas FR is THE quintessential conservative activist center online. So do you think we give them too much credit? Are they still a force to be reckoned with? Are the voice of American conservatives or are they members of a Bush cult?

[Skittles]

1. they get more pitiful and sadder by the day

watching them still defend their incompetent, lying piece of shit Boy George is just painful now.

[CarbonDate]

2. Think of the Nazis.

If we let them go unchecked, they'll eventually become an unstoppable force.

[win_in_06]

3. They represent the fringe.

[benburch]

4. The only good freeper...

you know the rest.

[expatriot]

6. ...is a freeper who posts comments that are so revealing of their true

natures that their ignorance is shown undeniably to the world. Oh, wait.. that is like all of them.

[Laelth]

5. Other.

Freepers are, generally, a combination of two groups: fundamentalist Christians and angry white men. Whether they know it or not, these folks are fighting the rapid changes that we've witnessed in American culture over the past 50 years (specifically, (1) the increasing power of women, as expressed by the birth control pill and Roe v. Wade, i.e. the power to choose not to have children, and (2) the increasing visibility of minorities, as seen in sports, on television, in movies, and, heaven forbid, even in politics).

Are Freepers the people who really benefit from Republican policies? No. Only the rich and the morally bankrupt benefit from Republican policies. Freepers, generally, are voting against their own best interests. People like those who post on Free Republic provide the votes Republicans need to win a few elections, but in the end the Republican elites do no more than pay them lip service. The Republican leadership knows, as we do, that you can't change culture at the ballot box.

So, be nice to a Freeper today. Republicans don't listen to them. If we do, perhaps we can get them to vote for their best interests.

-Laelth

[TheVirginian]

7. I know several Republicans

Who view Free Republic with as much disdain as they view this site. I've never met a Republican who is in favor of FR.

[Ksec]

8. They are extremists fringe

Out of touch with America.

America and God hating Nazis.

They were fringe for 50 yrs and theyre heading back to where they came from

[Vektor]

9. They're a bunch of crazy extremists.

I know real Republicans, and not one of them would laugh over the deaths of Andy Stephenson, Marla Ruzicka, or take part in any of the sick racist bullshit that goes on over at FR. I may not agree with the politics of the Repubs I know, but they are not as wacko as the Freepers, not by a long shot.