Conservative Fanaticism

It's one thing to hate someone's ideas; it's a completely different thing to hate the person. Inside of the conservative movement something dangerous has been growing, something that threatens not only the nation, but the idea of a free and fair democracy: conservative fanaticism. This incredible hazardous movement is preached by people like Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh, but was always thought of as relatively acceptable part of the nation's political discourse. However, recently it has shown its teeth, causing violent and incendiary remarks at McCain campaign rallies, trying to scare America out of voting for Barack Obama, even turning on some of its caretakers such as Kathleen Parker and Christopher Buckley, but what its sights are truly set on are the very values of democracy.

How conservatism created conservative fanaticism is a simple but long process that began with the takeover of Christianity in America by the right. With America's traditional moral leaders in their bed, conservatives were free to label all the stances they opposed, the stances of the left, as "immoral" and "ungodly," which was fine, if they disagreed with certain views they had every right to say so. But then came the nationally broadcast conservative radio and television hosts, voices like that of Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, who changed the game completely. These people brought the message of moral superiority out of the churches and into the streets, but they infused it with anger and outrage. They brought about a new level of polarization, for them the problem was no longer the ideas of the left, but instead the people on the left. They preached the message that the ideas themselves weren't immoral or ungodly, but instead the people on the left were the immoral and ungodly ones and that was just reflected in their ideas. These people created in their followers the idea that leaders from the left are illegitimate, that they have no right to rule the nation. Even now they try to convince America that an Obama presidency should not and cannot be respected, because he is a friend to terrorists and a communist, both completely ridiculous views to the informed voter, but a very serious concern to those who have already devoted themselves to church of conservative fanaticism.

This shift from hating the ideas to hating the person is what created and still creates conservative fanatics. I refer to them as fanatics for two reasons; one, because of their fanatic devotion that causes them to do things like send 12,000 hateful emails to one of their own, Kathleen Parker, as soon as she steps out of line, some of them stating that she should have been aborted, an odd desire for a staunchly pro-life crowd. Two, because of the religious nature of their beliefs, in that they refuse to listen to any reason in favor of faith based arguments, such as the idea that favoring health care makes one a communist, or a Nazi sympathizer, or believing that someone who feels that the state should not discriminate when it comes to marriage rights is a heathen absent of any moral compass, or that a Christian presidential candidate is secretly a Muslim terrorist. These arguments are not logical, they are believed with faith by the people who listen to these fanatics. This is what changes political discussion from "I believe my ideas are the correct ones because of the following reasons," into the much less productive "I am better then you so I don't have to listen to anything you say."

This is incredibly destructive to the democratic process, because it leads to a misinformed and polarized political environment; one that discourages intelligent debate and could become violent. Lately we have seen that the conservative crowds are becoming more militant, and many of the voices of conservative fanaticism fear an Obama presidency. Meanwhile, the voices of their leaders continue to belittle people who think differently from them, associating them with terrorists or Nazis, often yelling in anger at a guest or at the idea of liberal leadership. Their brand of incendiary remarks can be seen in many other places, however, the view that others are morally inferior people who need to be ousted is usually reserved for religious radicals (such as the Islamic radicals that they claim to be against), and has no place in America, it is anti-American. What we need in this country is not this kind of fanaticism, what we need is honest, intelligent political discourse. I hope one day conservative talk and radio show hosts will soon sound like William F. Buckley, and less like Ahmadinejad.

Comments

[Bertg]

Its nice to see that the readers of your column all agree with you and each other. I would like you to cite some examples to support your arguments as it seems that you are just making broad and sweeping conclusions to support your hypothesis without any meat in between. I am a new reader to this site...is disent ok or are only chearleaders allowed?

[Aram Khayatpour - Huffpost Blogger]

This comment kind of bewilders me, considering that if you scroll further down you will see that there is a comment that pretty clearly disagrees, but I digress.

Anyway, I didn"t really add in citations because I assumed that most of it was pretty obvious common-knowledge type stuff. However, if you want specific examples behind some claim I will do my best to give it to you, just let me know what part exactly you are confused about and I will try to clear it up for you.

Also, dissent is fine, after all this isn"t a conservative site (How"s that for a sweeping conclusion!). I for one believe that intelligent discussion is a great thing, especially between opposing points of view, hence my desire that one day conservatives return to the culture of William F. Buckley and abandon the culture of Bill O"Reilly, so we can all engage in more of it.

[mydogshakespeare]

"Conservative radio" talk-show hosts talk "fanaticism" because they are paid to do it. It's a great way to make millions!

[Aram Khayatpour - Huffpost Blogger]

That could very well be true, but does that make it any less dangerous?

[davism97]

Well said. Is it possible that the conservative fanatics will lash out violently if Obama wins the presidency? These sith lord hate mongerers certainly talk the talk. Let's hope it's just talk.

[Dandelion28]

Thank you! Although I'm glad that Americans have finally woken up to this poisonous influence on our democracy and culture, I'm frankly surprised that it took so long. Limbaugh years ago began demonizing liberals -- not liberal ideas, as you mention, but actual liberals -- then Hannity, Coulter, etc., ratcheted up the ugly persecution. Remember Coulter's famous description of the Democratic National Convention?
"My pretty-girl allies stick out like a sore thumb amongst the corn-fed ... hirsute, somewhat fragrant hippie-chick pie wagons they call 'women' at the Democratic National Convention."
This and other inflammatory rhetoric is what passed for opinion media in 2004, and helped to densensitize the electorate. It may be why the Sacramento GOP seemed truly mystified why people would take offense at "Obama Food Stamps" featuring pictures of watermelon, ribs and fried chicken. The right has occupied this meanspirited cocoon for so long that they don't even recognize how far that cocoon has drifted from mainstream thought.
Americans have a genuine fondness for Barack Obama. We see in him the characteristics we admire in our own real-life role models: dignity, respect, fairness. So now, when the right tries its usual character assassination, it sounds mean and cynical. They're not talking about some abstract "other"; they're talking about a man we've come to admire and respect.
And in trying to demonize him, they haven't weakened their target -- they've weakened their own power.

[iyamchazz]

Your words are sound, your thinking profound, but the likes of Limbaugh and O'Reilly will, because of your name, label it Muslim propaganda.

[Noamolinda]

Mr. Khayatpour: Great piece! The subject is important and vital to the quality of life of each and every one of us here in the US regardless of political affiliation. Actually it is the most critical issue of all. I would like to hope that sane people in both camps pay close attention to the fanatic, all consuming hate and agression shift in the public mood. It's bad, it's ugly, it's dangerous. On November 5th some of it will sink to the bottom, away from the public dicourse,covered by the daily news, but, if not confronted it will fester - there is no doubt about it!

[ianrhett]

I grew up a Reagan kid in a (still) fundamentalist family, peppered with veterans (I even served in the Navy for a couple years). I've gotten upset with the focus of the modern church's focus on evangelism when Jesus' example was to care for the sick, homeless, imprisoned and impoverished. I wrote a song and video about this called "What Kind of Amazing Grace?" . I'm definitely encouraged by the "Emergence" movement of evangelical Christians who believe in environmental stewardship and social justice. A welcome counterpoint to the dominance of right-wing fundamentalism.

[Montanus]

Re: "... With America's traditional moral leaders in their bed ..."

I get so tired of fundamentalist Protestant preachers being mistaken for more than a minority within Christianity. Most mainstream Christian leaders respect the division between church and state. Please don't overstate the numbers or influence of fundamentalists - Christian, Moslem or Jewish. It's deeply misleading.

[apuneet]

I agree. The fact they are loud and noisy doesn't translate to a majority. If America was ruled by fundamentalists, it would be no different than radical nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iran. This election will go a long way in ensuring the restoration of the principles that has made this country the greatest country in the world.

[tm22]

Fundamentalist reject any and all revision of their old moral order--if it's new, it doesn't fit their structure, which mean, they aren't in "control"... and Fundies are all about controlling people.

Certainty is their main, misleading selling point; certainty must not have challenges nor counter evidence.

Fundamentalism only job is to create powerful movements that attempt to re-establish some old moral order that no longer works for human kind. Of that I am certain.

The various ministers over Talk2action.com work day and night to get the word out that their religion has been hijacked...give them support to keep exposing their "evil-twin".

[Aram Khayatpour - Huffpost Blogger]

You are right, and there are many Christians and Christian leaders who do not think this way. However, people like James Dobson, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, the late Jerry Falwell, the American Family Association, etc.; they may not be the majority of Christian leaders or the leaders that you believe in, but the fact of the matter is they have huge influence with many, many churches and churchgoers. So much so that the evangelical community is widely credited for giving Bush his two presidential election victories. The problem is that they are pushing their political agenda under the banner of Christianity unimpeded.

Imagine if the Christians that are opposed to these people and their ideas, who your assert are the majority of Christians, were as active in trying to oppose these so called leaders as the people who follow them are about opposing homosexuals, abortion, and liberals.