my right-wing uncle was over the top yesterday...

[Green_Lantern]

First thing he says was about Obama letting all the Mexicans in.

Then he talked about not using public swimming pools because "black people emit oils white people get sick from."

He was blaming the bad economy on welfare recipients and "overpaid union workers" and said rich people are hurting worse than middle class in this economy.

He always defends Big Business even against his own interests.

The odd thing is he isn't an a-hole typically. I'm disabled and he goes out of his way to make my house wheelchair accessible.

So maybe he is just ignorant as opposed to being a bad guy. He never talks about his parents so maybe they taught him to view the world this way.

[abluelady]

1. You Hit on An Important Point

Right-wingers are good to the people they care about. What they don't care about is the common good. They generally give to charities; they do volunteer work, etc., but only where/when it is important to them. Frankly, I don't think that is enough.

[Orsino]

24. ...and they tend toward the cowardly, toadying behavior mentioned in the OP.

They are eager to justify their exploitation by their masters...as long as someone else has it worse.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Wow.......

He talked about not using public swimming pools because "black people emit oils white people get sick from.

Sounds like a racist fuck to me. Guess he's nice to you cause you're not a Black emiting oil. You must feel fortunate.

[Green_Lantern]

5. I'm not sure he made that theory up...that's actually an old racist myth

I just think he's stuck in the 50s.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Meaning he is a racist.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. You have my complete sympathies...

Not only did your right-wing uncle drink the koolaid; he helped mix it.

My. God.

I don't think there's anything you can do to help the scales fall from his eyes...

[Dappleganger]

4. You can't fix that kind of special stupid.

I'm sorry but that's a kind of ignorance which can't be countered with any kind of logic.

[chrisa]

7. "Then he talked about not using public swimming pools because..."

"Then he talked about not using public swimming pools because "black people emit oils white people get sick from.""

:rofl:

I bet he also thinks Limbaugh is a genius, right?

[Green_Lantern]

11. I'm not sure if he likes Rush Limbaugh or any talk radio...

I bet he watches Fox though.

[TlalocW]

8. If Black people emitted oil white people don't

We would probably be harvesting them.

TlalocW

[BanzaiBonnie]

9. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

not using public swimming pools because "black people emit oils white people get sick from."


I don't know what to say other than - WTF? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

[WhoIsNumberNone]

26. If he ever goes to the hospital I bet he insists on getting "The right color blood"

[Zen Democrat]

10. Rightwingers only get the issues that affect them personally.

Knew a guy a few years ago who was totally homophobic and mean, but changed when his brother was diagnosed with AIDS. And another homophobe who did a 180 when his grandson came out.

I was acquainted with a rabid rightwinger who started working for prison reform after his son was sent to the penitentiary for a drug crime.

I've seen it with mental illness, too.

Bottom line .... Republicans lack the emphathy gene.

[Echo In Light]

12. One can usually hear that lack of it, too ...even within the written/typed word

[Green_Lantern]

14. well I'm all for people becoming progressive after an issue effects

Them personally. Some people just need their eyes open.

I was raised Republican although more the Eisenhower type...my dad thinks the tea partiers are nuts.

[Javaman]

13. A few questions...

Your uncle:

1)Rich?

2)Living in a gated community?

3)Ever a Union member?

4)Never poor

5)Ever a business owner; small or large?

6)over 65?

[Green_Lantern]

17. answers...

No he isn't rich and he lives in a more rural section right outside St. Louis. He was pretty poor growing up, his family is pretty redneck. He is about 50 and did run a business but it was basically just him and his brother.

[Javaman]

22. So basically, like many right wingers...

he rails against his own best interests.

And he obviously has some racist issues.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. You can't reason with stupid. Make a rule with him that when you get

together you don't talk politics. It will save you heartache

[AnArmyVeteran]

16. I'm glad he's nice to you, but your uncle is a RACIST...

But he can't be blamed entirely. Whoever raised him filled his head and heart full of hate. It's a shame what they did to him. He has been burdened with all that hate all of his life. And yes, it is a burden. But he doesn't seem to have any interest in educating himself or becoming aware of reality. He is stuck in the past, replaying the same old racism tapes over and over again.

Since he is spewing his hatred and infecting others, he is part of the problem and not part of the solution. He sounds like a typical viewer of Fox News and an addict to right wing hate radio. They repeat the same evil every day with mentally defective, lazy or blatant racists lapping up every word they hear, without thought and without question.

Does your uncle have any inquisitiveness in him? Does he ponder what if? Does he have an imagination? I have found that right wing, conservative extremist republicans to be more like a cult than a political movement. They have all the signs displayed by cults. But there are therapies to deprogram victims of cults if you could ever get your uncle into therapy. But another trait I've noticed about right wingers is their reluctance to see therapists because they believe themselves to be perfect.

All the best to you and I hope your uncle 'sees the light' someday, before it's too late. It would be sad for him to go to the grave with all that hatred bottled up inside of him. My thoughts are with you, and with him for a full recovery...

If you'd like, read my post about how teaching hate to a child is abuse: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8297072

[Green_Lantern]

18. I think he is projecting his own insecurity because he had some

Pretty major setbacks...medical issues, loss of insurance, his business, etc. Self loathing can really cause people to lose empathy.

[AnArmyVeteran]

20. I wish him well ( and you too ), but... (read on)

But why does he blame Obama? Does he realize who has been in control of our country between 2001 and 2009? Doesn't he realize republicans controlled both houses of congress between 1994 and 2006? And doesn't he realize the entire government, the Supreme Court, the executive branch and the legislative branches were all under republican control from 2001 to 2006? How can he blame anyone but conservatives and republicans? I have great empathy for all the victims of the economic collapse, but I am completely dumbfounded at how right wingers can blame democrats and Obama for the economic disasters caused DIRECTLY by republican deregulations, wars started on lies, republican deficit spending that increased the national debt to one trillion and on and on? It isn't possible for any thinking person to place the blame for all the calamities occurring in our country on the democratic party since the government was ran by republicans.

I feel our country is blessed to FINALLY have an intelligent president who has REAL compassion and all the tools to lead this country back in the right direction. If your uncle needs someone to hate he should direct his wrath against the people who caused his business to fail, his loss of medical insurance and his insecurity with having to deal with a medical issue. The right wing machine says everyone already has first class medical care because all they have to do is go to an emergency room. That is a LIE but right wingers mindlessly believe that nonsense.

Does your uncle listen to right wing hate radio or Fox News? If he does, find a way to get him away from those evil sources and doing something productive. Right wing radio and Fox News market hatred, fear, racism and rage and it looks like your uncle has been infected with all four of these right wing maladies.

[Green_Lantern]

21. I'm really not sure if he is a partisan Republican..

But he just says they aren't "true conservatives." And as I said he just blames the economy on "lazy workers" and people on welfare.

Unfortunately he just denies Reagan and Republicans had anything to do with this derivative mess...it's all "Clinton's fault."

Conservatives just ignore facts they don't like.

[Green_Lantern]

19. the only races I don't like are

NASCAR.

[dembotoz]

23. if blacks would emit oil

the republicans would bring back slavery
drill baby drill

[HughMoran]

25. Haven't heard talk like that for 40 years

i had no idea people were still pedaling 1950's racist attitudes :puke:

[and-justice-for-all]

27. he is all kinds of messed up and confused...

poor guy.

I do however find it rather fun when a puke opens his mouth in my presents, then I get to call them out to their face and show them just how out of touch with reality they are.