By John Johnson II
Rogue Republicans are weaponizing racism in a brazen attempt to further divide the Nation and maintain a legacy of white supremacy. Their tactics aren’t new, and they’ve managed to infiltrate every level of society. In order to fully understand the dangers imposed by these rogue Republicans and to develop strategies to nullify them, one must examine the historical, social, economic and political implications.
Historically, George Washington, America’s first president and the Founding Fathers brought with them from England their beliefs in white supremacy. However, their first weaponization of racism began with their purchase of 20 Black slaves in 1619 from a band of Portuguese slave traders.
Our very own Constitution once recognized and upheld slavery in three places:
- Article 1, section 2 – Slaves will count as three-fifth of a person.
- Article 1, section 9 – The importation of slaves cannot be outlawed by any state before 1808.
- Article IV, section 2 – Runaway slaves must be returned to their masters.
It must further be noted that President George Washington, slave owner, is responsible for establishing the Supreme Court in 1789. This supposedly noble body consisted of six Justices, four of whom were slave owners. The very evilness of the early weaponization of racism was unveiled by their decision in the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857). Dred Scott was a runaway slave who sued for his freedom.
This less than noble body ruled, in essence against Dred Scott stating that, “since no slave is a citizen and so far, inferior, that they had no right and privileges which the white man was bound to respect.” Up until the Supreme Court’s decision in 2013, to gut the Voters Right’s Act, Section 5, I agree with the historians who stated that, “Scott’s decision had been considered the most infamous, incorrect and nefarious ruling in the history of the Supreme Court.
Now that we are operating with a common set of precepts, let’s review some of the weaponizing racist’s tactics the ousted 45th president used to ignite social unrest and launch his rise to power. Remember, he started with his salacious denigration of the following: Obama’s birthplace, immigrants media/press, Black activism, etc.
The 45th president’s most egregious racist’s actions and lies may have been responsible for some of our Nation’s staggering deaths and mayhem. His racists rhetoric caused an insurrection at the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, and over 3,800, separate attacks against Asians. His continued labeling of COVID-19, as the China or Kung Fu virus may have sparked the most recent attack resulting with 8 people being killed, of which 6 were Asians.
Amazingly, rogue Republicans, have launched their own weaponizing racists political strategies. They’ve already passed well over 200 voter suppression bills at the state level. Senator McConnell and every Republican in the Senate voted against the $1.9, trillion stimulus bills. This is as though they’re assuming their constituents would rather suffer and lose everything if it prevented wasteful spending and kept the deficit from increasing. Their followers can’t be this insane. Are they? Sadly, racism is as mind altering and deadly as COVID-19.
Have the actions of rogue Republicans, such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, been so successful at weaponizing racism such that it’s only democrats who are contracting COVID-19, dying and losing all hope? The answer is simply, no! But why are they merely functioning as obstructionists?
Rogue Republicans are desperate, dangerous, unpatriotic, and thus, constitute a consequential threat to our democracy. History has shown that past great empires as Rome and Persia fell because of collapsed social structures, weak rulers, and dysfunctional governments.
Voters having elected President Biden and V.P. Harris, are assured America is on the right path to avoiding mistakes of past empires. Any barriers erected to hinder voters will be laid bare by engaged citizens/voters, chambers of commerce, and powerful corporate stakeholders. No sane CEOs would contemplate running their corporation anywhere other than in a capitalistic democracy.
The social, economic, legal, and political battles that must be waged against rogue Republicans and their democratic sympathizers will be difficult but can and must be won. President Biden is battle tough and combat ready. At the same time Americans can find strength and comfort provided by the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”
