Palin Rallies Ignite Widespread Talk of 'Fascism'
Because I published a book recently on the harm done to U.S. democracy by violent rhetoric, I get lots of calls for comment on whichever right-wing shock jock uttered the most menacing words on air in any given week. Lately, however, those questions have shifted in a very noticeable way. Whereas the public concern used to be focused on violent terms and phrases used in broadcast media, nowadays all the talk is about Sarah Palin's speeches and fear of 'fascism.' And even if 'fascist' is not a very accurate description of Sarah Palin -- neither sociologically nor historically -- public concern in response to her campaign events is a social fact well worth noting, if only for the sheer scale of it.
Palin Events Evoke Image of 'Rallies' Seen in History Museums
The most common point brought to my attention in this new concern for Palin is that her events remind people of the kind of 'rallies' people have seen in old newsreels and exhibition photographs in history museums about the fascist period.
Many people have said to me, in so many words, 'I went to a Holocaust museum, recently, and the kinds of rallies they had in the 1930s are exactly what we are seeing now at these Palin events.'
What is it that makes people see events from 1930s Europe and Sarah Palin's campaign stops in Florida (e.g.) as similar? People repeatedly mention three things:
(1) Palin's claim that Sen. Obama has covert ties to 'domestic terrorism'
(2) Palin's claim that Sen. Obama wants to see the U.S. military defeated in war
(3) Shouts from attendees calling for physical harm against Sen. Obama
Interestingly, I have heard these observations from Democrats and Republicans. The logic is that it is not just one feature of the Palin events that leads people see them as 'rallies' of the sort they have learned about in history museums, but three elements combining together: claims of Obama's covert terrorist ties and desire to see the military fail, combined with voiced calls for harm to Sen. Obama.
Palin Events Elicit Talk of Attendee 'Mentality''
After talk of historical references, the most common concern I hear is about the 'mentality' or 'psychology' of the attendees at Palin events. When put to me, the question is often phrased as:
Is there some reason why the people at these events -- and not other people -- are susceptible to the kind of political rhetoric Palin uses?
The psychology questions are most often posed in response to several observations made about the attendees:
(1) Since Sen. Obama has no ties to terrorism, why do some people believe it?
(2) Why are these people susceptible to right-wing propaganda while other people are not?
(3) Why do people continue to accept the 'terrorism' and 'treason' smears even when presented with facts about Sen. Obama?
Nobody who has presented me with these questions has claimed any kind of expertise in psychological theory. Rather, they seem to be looking for a scientific sounding answer for what they observe as an irrational 'anger' at Palin rallies and, in general, a 'mentality' departing from 'normal.'
We find these same kinds of questions about 'anger' and 'mentality' in the writings from observers of the rise of fascism in the 1930s and 1940s -- such as Dialectic of Enlightenment by Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno. What I hear in these questions about the 'mentality' of the Palin attendees is not a return to social psychological theories of the postwar period, but a voiced concern for what people view as behavior in the public sphere that strikes them as a departure from normal, healthy behavior.
Palin Events Provoke Talk of Acting Before 'Too Late' to Stop Fascism
The third most common kind of chatter in response to Sarah Palin's events focus on the idea of 'proto-fascism' or the process of becoming fascist. These discussions often reference certain lists or books that describe the emergence of fascist totalitarianism in terms of a series of elements that emerge over a given period of time.
The people who ask these kinds of question all express a very similar concern about identifying fascism 'before it is too late to stop.' These arguments emerge from people who have gone out and read books and articles that talk about fascism emerging in small steps that nobody notices until it is 'too late,' to stop -- a common argument made in polemical writing about fascism.
Of note, this kind of concern is often the most fear-filled -- the most advanced. Often, the people who ask me if it is too late to stop the 'fascism' Palin brings to our system had voiced concerns about 'fascism' prior to Palin's nomination.
Conclusion: Palin Not Fascist, But She Sparks Talk of Threats to Democracy
To call someone a 'fascist' is a very serious charge. Despite all these questions and concerns, I have not concluded that Sarah Palin's past or recent campaign events represent the emergence of fascism in American politics. In particular, Sarah Palin does not bring anything even closely approaching a comprehensive totalitarian nationalist ideology to the campaign trail. Instead, Palin merely thumps the war drums of George Bush's 'robber baron' style Republicanism.
What she does bring is a noteworthy skill with extreme, often violent populism. As a result, she has succeeded at creating intense loyalty to her personally, and deep antipathy for Sen. Obama -- also on a personal level. And while this populism has succeeded only amongst small core of the Republican base, the fervency of Palin's supporters has been amplified a thousand times over by the obsessive media coverage that she enjoys.
So, Sarah Palin is not 'fascist,' but that does not mean her language and her events have not had a dangerous impact on our democracy.
Beyond adding populism to the campaign trail, Palin has also done something else: she has re-framed the McCain campaign in violent terms -- terms that had been used predominantly by right-wing shock pundits on TV and radio.
Whereas politicians like John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Newt Gingrich had occasionally used violent rhetoric in stump speeches, Sarah Palin's use of it has resulted in a complete repackaging of the Republican presidential campaign. And thhat use of violent rhetoric has threatened to clogged up any attempt by the American public to have serious, pragmatic conversation about the problems we face and the solutions necessary to solve them.
In our gut, Americans feel that the violent rhetoric in Sarah Palin's campaign events poisons the productive pragmatism of American Democracy. In response to that gut feeling, some people reach for the word 'fascism,' most likely, because that is the word used in popular culture most frequently over the past ten years to describe threats to democracy.
Even if 'fascist' is not an accurate description of Sarah Palin, the scale of the public concern in response to her campaign events is a social fact all by itself. And as we head into the final weeks of the campaign, the scope of that social fact grows by the hour.
Crossposted from Frameshop
Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman
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"Even if 'fascist' is not a very accurate description of Sarah Palin -- neither sociologically nor historically ..."
When put in context that a Palin WH will be a continuation of GW Bush policies and then add her hate speech, 'fascist' is quite accurate.
The Palins are un-American and unpatriotic. They represent narrow mindedness which is why it gets confused with fascism--it too is a narrow minded philosophy. Any idea that gets narrowed to the point of being absolutist is dangerous. We are suppose to think in this country; instead, we want to be affirmed rather than informed.
I wonder if she is getting her talking points from the conservatives or from the Alaskan Separatist movement, I can’t tell?
Good article. You didn't answer the question as to why people believe the lies in the face of irrefutable counter-evidence.
Four years ago my brother believed the "swift boat" smears against Kerry, and this time around, the smears against Obama. In all other respects he seems like a resonable person.
My theory is that it is more painful for some people to change an opinion which they believe will also change their identity. It goes like this: "I am a republican, period. Now give me some evidence, and I don't care what kind it is, that proves I am right to be a republican. I can't change being a republican because I have always been one, It would blow my mind".
Good theory and certainly worth noting. Ever see "A Time to Kill"?
Unfortunately every person needs to believe that they are right. You will not change their mind, you must change their perspective on the issues one at a time. Ask him what he believes the answers are to fixing this economic crisis. Most people don't know but Obama's ideas are more reasonable. Then go to the next issue, Iraq. Don't you think we need to bring our military home. Without some idea of when, it will never happen. Military minds do not want to fight never ending wars.
THE MOB, by any other name, would still stink as bad...
The Pharisees used the same fickle, fractuous, fanatic mob to bully Pilate.
Bad enough she does it with a cocky grin and dropped-g's, Palin's obviously excited by the crowd's anger, so she makes them even more angry. Watch her eyes when the raving starts, she seems overtly aroused whenever things get ugly.
McCain just looks shell-shocked by it all, his desperate campaign decisions (such as picking Palin) are coming around to bite him on the backside.
She is speaking to a crowd that are hurting.. She is speaking to a crowd that has prejudice in their feelings like we all have.. They do not like it or want to admit it. This is a basically uneducated crowd in the sense that they may get their news from only one source, or only from sources that sing the tune they want to hear, as from some web-sites, talk radio, Fox News, in that they may be no different from the rest of us.. They are also hyper patriotic, in the America is never wrong sense... They are suseptable to buzz words like "terrorist
Sounds like Nazi Germany.
We in Canada have hate laws and they are enforced. It is appalling to hear and see what is going on at McCain/Palin rallies. McCain would not stop these slurs as Palin is spewing but condones them. I have never watched American political rallies but have really had my eyes opened. Wouldn't these slurs be looked upon as slander. Obama does not need to retaliate in any way as McCain/Palin are digging their own pokitical graves.
I am from Canada too originally (tho I have been here for 6 yrs). I too wonder about this - but from what I have heard, there is no such thing as slander or libel protections for political candidates. So apparently, your opponent can just make sh*t up out of whole cloth and broadcast it to millions and it is "fair game".
Yes and just as you are watching from Canada, all the world is watching. What an embarrassment to the United States.
The Palins are radicals for sure. It will lead to Farcists in the long run, the hate will feed itself. Read "Meet Palins' radical right-wing pals": http://www
and "The Palins' un-american activities": http://www
For me, Fascism is when:
Things are bad, or are made to appear bad, you are given someone to blame and hate that is not responsible - the classic "others", and then you are told to give up all your liberty and rights and give it to the Dictator/C
We are a long way from having propaganda targeted at children; Palin Youth Brigades have yet to be formed or to turn in their parents for progressive ideal to the Brown Shirts.
We are a long way from "ordinary" citizens disappearing in the night - though it is possible under the Patriot Act, and the new President and VP will have the power to 'disappear' people almost at will.
We are a long way from having mass rallies of 100,000+ people boiling with fear, hate, nationalism and believing every word that the leader is saying.
We are a long way from rounding up all Muslims, siezing their property, relocating them to live in one area, and forcing them to wear a badge in public.
I feel that we have too many thinking people in the country to let true nationalized fascism take hold.
But: we have given away right after right - The Patriot Act is a stepping-stone to totalitarianism without a Constitution. And the rallies of Palin and McCain do scare me. Thank god that for now their hate is concentrated and limited. Let's all work to halt its spread.
While your polemics are persuasive, I find your conclusion off the mark. If you dissect a definition of fascism, you must concede the following:
§ Palin advocates a strong executive branch with vast powers even exceeding those to which Bush now adheres.
§ She sees in the Constitution through woeful ignorance she embues the Vice President with management rights to that body.
§ Palin has preached a constant stream of vitriol about the opposition and the necessity of controlling such dissent.
§ She also adheres to the Neo-Conservative position that industry and commerce is paramount and should be elevated above all other interests.
§ She believes that government must control social norms and mores.
§ Palin elevates the United States above all other nations in that it is correct in all actions and that other nations have failed to provide leadership and direction.
§ She speaks not so veiled comments about Obama’s inferior position in society.
§ She advocates that the United States adopt Christianity as the only religion and not tolerate any other form of worship.
For the sake of this argument, then, call Palin a neo-Fascist in lipstick. I appreciate your books. I agree with your position on American politics. I just hope that you will see Palin and thus by association and resultant rhetoric McCain as indeed those Neo-Fascists we must fear, resist, and criticize.
The author of this article did a good job dissecting the "psychology" of those asking questions, but he completely forgot or ignored these glaring events:
During the debate she said that the constitution can be stretched to accommodate more power for the Executive branch.
Asmayor she requested (asked in "what if" format) that local librarian censor books (in a town of only 6,000, its doubtful there was even a remote threat that would justify this.)
Palin fired the city staff,11 days after becoming mayor, as a "loyalty test". Full story here: http://was
Palinhas been found-by a bipartisan, independent investigator-that she abused power for personal gain. This including letting her husband using Palin's position as governor to hastle state workers to get them to divulge restricted information.
Palinwas found to be illegally using personal emails to escape legal regulations and oversight. This is directly related the abuse of power charges.
Considering that she has done all this...aft
Google the "12 defining characteristics of a fascist state"....
Whatever the terms used, the unity required to face a time of crisis can either be built upon hope and empathy or fear and hatred of 'the other'. A clear moral choice for political leaders.
Fueled by a sense of desperation, Republican presidential rallies have been peppered with shouts of “terrorist,” “Arab,” “bomb,” “alien” and “kill him” directed at Senator Obama.
It became so bad at a GOP rally yesterday that Senator McCain got fed-up with the amount of hatred and ignorance his base is spewing that he spoke out against it, calling Senator Obama, “a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with”. Apparently, it has become quite clear to Senator McCain that his campaign is spiraling out of control. It is this writer’s opinion that the McCain Campaign manager, Rick Davis, is directing this presidential campaign in an effort to divert our attention from the economic crisis at hand and Governor Sarah Palin becoming a drag on the campaign as a result of a bipartisan Alaska legislative committee finding her in violation of the public trust.
The Republican presidential candidate, in the eleventh hour of this political cycle, is trying to salvage what self-respect he has and love for this nation by rejecting the stoking of hatred for Senator Obama, instigated by the far-right fringe elements of our society.
Strapped by a political “perfect storm” of two on-going ground wars, the worst international financial disaster seen in years, the worst sitting president, declining poll numbers and an erratic campaign: Senator McCain’s efforts are, perhaps, too little…too late.
Fascism? You're soaking in it!
"Palin merely thumps the war drums of George Bush's 'robber baron' style Republicanism".
What is Bush's 'robber baron' style Republicanism if not fascism? I'm sorry but populism it ain't.
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