My somewhat conservative white BIL told me this weekend that he is

[The Hope Mobile]

convinced that liberals dislike white males strictly due to gender and race and that if we had a choice based on no other criteria we would prefer a female or "minority". I don't agree at all. I pick candidates based on qualifications/viewpoints. PERIOD. Thoughts on this?? I'd really appreciate it.

ON EDIT: He is extremely bright but often comes up with these (to me) pretty counter-intuitive ideas. Rather than just calling names, I'd like to be able to discuss this with him. He put it like this "if you were to poll a group of liberals and put four faces in front of them (white male, white female, hispanic male, african am male) and ask them to judge on trustworthiness all other things being equal.

My opinion is that since liberals are basically open minded and against stereotyping the survey itself doesn't make sense. I'm trying to get this point across. Anybody have a metaphor or any other salient points?

PS He voted for Obama and has plenty of other redeeming characteristics.

[DavidDvorkin]

1. Your BIL is an idiot

That's my thought on this.

[pleah]

2. That about covers it.

;-)

[Optical.Catalyst]

20. The BIL is paranoid and looking for someone to hate

He probably spends several hours a week listing to Limbaugh on the AM radio.

[The Hope Mobile]

23. No - he did listen to Limbaugh but not anymore.

Realizes its meant to be entertaining not real news. Doesn't think Limbaugh's hateful though.
Doesn't perceive the MSM as being strongly conservative leaning.

[EFerrari]

3. Most of those "liberals" are white women with white kids.

Does he think I discriminate against both of my sons?!

That's more about bigotry than it is in any way about "conservatism".

[valerief]

4. Does BIL stand for Brains in Limbo? (Never mind. I know what it means.) nt

[omega minimo]

7. Budweiser Induced Logic

[valerief]

15. Ah, good one! nt

[rucky]

31. I'm using this one on my BILs.

:thumbsup:

[omega minimo]

41. Bacon Infused Lobes

:hi:

[omega minimo]

5. It must be nice to be oblivious, everything so simple.......

[Flying Dream Blues]

6. It's called projection, and it gets hardcoded into their little brains

by Limbaugh, Beck and their ilk. They dislike/are prejudiced against women and minorities, so therefore, we dislike/are prejudiced against white males. Make sense?

Sad, huh.

[PassingFair]

43. Yup. He figures everyone is like him, and he only trusts white males.

So liberals only trust liberals...

Maybe you could cite some stats on
just how many WHITE MALE LIBERALS
there are....

It would make his statement absurd,
if it's not crazy enough already...

[The Hope Mobile]

54. I really LIKE that!!

[Vickers]

8. I'm a liberal white male.

He's a dumbass.

[Taverner]

9. Um, he's wrong.

Are you telling me all the Kucinich supporters hate white males? Because he is in fact, a white, straight, male.

[The Hope Mobile]

49. right! nt

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. If one bases his/her voting choice on gender and race one is not a liberal.

>>>>liberals dislike white males strictly due to gender and race and that if we had a choice based on no >>>>>>

If one bases it *solely* on that, I should qualify. One is *sonething*... but not a liberal.

It's true of some people who voted DEM. Not many, but some people.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. Tell your B-I-L he's a nut. I LOVE left wing men and have no problem at all having them lead

Why are right wingnuts so defensive and ready to feel discriminated and pounced on, when they are the ones that pounce on others and discriminate against them?

[The Hope Mobile]

58. VERY good question. Distortion of reality is all that comes to mind.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. So true nt

[Kerrytravelers]

12. I guess Mr. kt hates himself.

:shrug:

:eyes:

Oh hell... your bil is just :crazy:

Have fun at family get-togethers! :hi:

[The Hope Mobile]

29. Thanks! He's come a long way in 15 years but he's always

got one or two surprises like this.

[angstlessk]

13. well, though I do not vote by gender or race..I DO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT

WHITE MEN have done thus far as the economy and our standing in the world is...just saying..hey...if blacks or women did 1/10th the harm white men have done..they would be denounced by gender AND race!...only white men get as free ride based on gender and race!

[Believing Is Art]

14. I call BS

Maybe even projection. It got down to Hillary and Obama because Edwards was so ho-hum (and we ended up dodging a bullet). Hillary and Obama had the money, charisma and qualifications to make them stand out - that's how it happens in every primary, regardless of race and gender.

The Republicans thought they figured out the formula (just like your BIL) and picked an unknown who was not qualified for VP. Sounds like labels are more important to them.

[angstlessk]

17. we FUCKING do not need to apologize to the white male for our choices

THEY HAVE NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THEIRS!

[Believing Is Art]

18. I didn't intend to apologize

As I don't think there is anything for which to apologize.

Sorry if it came off that way :shrug:

[angstlessk]

21. it did come off as apologizing that we had no good white men to promote...poor Edwards

actually he was my first pic...I liked him because of his help for the poor and not his skin color or his gender...turned out ... he is just a politican after all...

[Believing Is Art]

22. Didn't mean for it to

I think it's just the way the dice rolled this time.

I didn't have a problem with Edwards during the primaries, but my first pick was Richardson OH GOD I MUST HAVE LIBERAL GUILT BECAUSE I LIKED A MINORITY CANDIDATE!!11! Sarcasm in response to the OP's BIL's views.

[angstlessk]

24. liberal guilt..hell we have guilt..unlike that 'other party' who knows not of compassion nor guilt

this person who posted the OP is one of those hit and run types...I question his authenticity?

[The Hope Mobile]

25. What the heck are you talking about??? BTW I'm female. I'm no

hit and runner. That's ludicrous.

[angstlessk]

34. I too am a female..we have that in common..but your spelling must be

superior to mine..cause I would not try ludicrous..cause even spell check would not know what I was attempting to spell!

[The Hope Mobile]

36. So aside from making random false accusations you aren't familiar with the word ludicrous?

Look it up.
I've NEVER made a hit and run so have something to back up your false accusations, including false spelling accusations.

[angstlessk]

39. honey, if you are not aware of a mea culpa..sans the eating of shit

so sorry for you!

[The Hope Mobile]

44. I didn't hear any mea culpa. If that was the intent - that's fine but I don't

agree with making an overall statement about someone's character based on them not responding to one post for 10-15 minutes, honey. Step back and re-evaluate your own behavior before you state sorrow for someone else. Not needed. Comes across as another accusation based on nothing.

[angstlessk]

51. your charater?? you really think calling one a hit and runner is a character hit???

wow..you live too much on line, really!

[The Hope Mobile]

53. Thanks - another false accusation to "apologize" for other false accusations.

I see a pattern here. You should probably quit while you're behind.

[angstlessk]

56. honey..my only regret in life..is reading your OP and commenting...other than that

have a good life!

[The Hope Mobile]

57. Then again, you need to re-evaluate as I am not the only one who

disagreed with your opinions and approach in this thread alone. I'd say hit and run is projection for you since there's a serious lack of thinking before commenting in your posts.

[The Hope Mobile]

37. I hope I misunderstood and you are familiar with the word. If not,

Here's webster's take on it.

ludicrous
One entry found.
Pronunciation:
\ˈlü-də-krəs\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Latin ludicrus, from ludus play, sport; perhaps akin to Greek loidoros abusive
Date:
1712

1 : amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity 2 : meriting derisive laughter or scorn as absurdly inept, false, or foolish
synonyms see laughable
— lu·di·crous·ly adverb
— lu·di·crous·ness noun

[Believing Is Art]

26. Guilt and liberal guilt aren't the same thing

The first represents a grasp on reality, the second is a characterization of the right to make liberals look like pansies.

The OP responded at least once . . . his/her post count isn't much lower than mine so I'm not in any position to question.

[The Hope Mobile]

27. What would be the point of hitting and running? I spent every night this weekend

till at least 2 am discussing political stuff with him and have every year for 15 years.

[angstlessk]

32. Hope..I just looked for a reply from you...and found none when I posted my comment

it was a question..not 'necessarily' a condemnation...guilt..I feel guilt!

[The Hope Mobile]

40. It comes across as an accusation. At least one other replied to it that

way. I was busy making a late lunch for my kids on spring break. You might want to give me/others a minute before you make statements like that.

[Believing Is Art]

33. With the BIL?

Is he usually that dense?

[The Hope Mobile]

38. He's extremely bright. Eventually gets to the right conclusions.

[omega minimo]

19. yeah its hard to believe some are that ignorant, unless you listen to Limbaugh

[angstlessk]

16. hell a white conservative man can blow up an entire government building

and no one accuses white males of being anything??? THEY ARE THE MOST PROTECTED SPECIES ON THE PLANET!

[ColbertWatcher]

28. Maybe the best way to counter these types of "arguments" is to ...

... ask him for proof.

[The Hope Mobile]

35. That's a thought. It doesn't help that its almost always late at night and

accompanied by alcohol. He presents these things as being fact which is infuriating because some form of confrontation is required and, of course, liberals don't think like this. Its reverse stereotyping. If we're against stereotyping in the first place its like asking a vegetarian to eat the meats he/she likes least to most in order. Does that make sense?

[rucky]

30. Liberals represent a pretty good cross-section of the population.

Conservatives - not so much.

[CoffeeCat]

42. You and I had similar weekends...

I spent the weekend, cornered by a Fundie relative, who said the following things:

--Obama inserted wording into the stimulus package that prevents any soldier hurt in Iraq from getting medical care.

--Obama is going to change the Constitution. All by himself.

--Obama is going to declare martial law and that will be the end of Christianity.

--The only thing saving this country is the fact that we support Israel. The Bible say that those who support Israel are blessed, and
this is the only thing holding our country together.

--The government is going to tax people who have gardens.

--Soon, the government is going to make laws against hoarding food, so no one can survive the coming chaos.

--Obama is not a good Christian.

--It is horrible that children can't hand out religious materials to other children at recess, and this is evidence of Christian
persecution.

--There is no way that evolution is true. We are too wonderful and amazing to have been "not designed by God".

--The line in the Bible about punishing Christians who wear blends of fibers is valid and important--because it shows that
God cared for those who crossed the desert. He didn't want them to get overheated in wool and cotton blends. These lines in the
Bible are valid, and demonstrate God's love for his people.

Should I go on??????

The point is---these people are whacked. Don't try to reason with them. You are sitting in crazy land and playing by their rules, when
you allow them to frame the debate. There is no logic with these people. Logic will only anger them. These people are lost and
probably mentally ill. Don't try to argue or reason with them. What's in their head isn't based on logic or reason...it's based on
layers and layers of denial, wrapped in dysfunction and steeped in narcissism, fear and in many cases--sociopathic tendencies.

Just accept that you and your BIL do not exist in the same intellectual or psychological universe.

Do what I do...nod and smile.

[The Hope Mobile]

47. "Holy" shit!!

Yours was definitely worse. He and I used to butt heads on this stuff all day long. He's come a long way since then. He's also not a Christian so . . . that helps?!? We only have minor blips on the radar screen. I wouldn't have been able to even tolerate your situation. You're a much more patient person than I am, at least at this point in my life. You deserve a weekend at a spa for this!!

[CoffeeCat]

50. LOL!

Oh, that's hilarious. I guess I do feel as if I just spent the weekend on the crazy train. Spa weekend sounds good... :)

Your BIL sounds like he has some Limbaughesqe-type stuff going on. Some people like this aren't totally gone...just misguided.

Good luck with this.

Maybe you can successfully frame an argument, but in general, their beliefs don't do well in rational conversations. Most of their
points and arguments are ill-informed opinion or stuff they heard on Fox news.

Best of luck to you...and to both of us!

[The Hope Mobile]

52. I think that's exactly what's going on! Best of luck to you too!!

[JerseygirlCT]

45. He's not suffering from Persecuted White Male syndrome, is he?

Yes, of course, last go round it was a sure bet by the middle of the campaign that we would vote for either a woman or a black man.

But I'd say to him that since so very few women and African Americans get so far as to run for higher offices, statistics are pretty thin on his theory. When women and minorities are equally represented in every race, and the Dems consistently choose one of them, then maybe he can continue to explore his hypothesis.

[The Hope Mobile]

48. I strongly believe he is. I like your suggestions! Thanks!

[BR_Parkway]

46. my same sex partner is a white male, same as me - I'd have to say I'm

not biased the way he claims

On candidates, I vote for the person who I think will do the least damage (sorry, after all these years I'm a bit cynical)

[csziggy]

55. White males pretty much have run the country for over 200 years

Now we're ready to give some other people a chance to do the job. :sarcasm: Sort of.

[aikoaiko]

60. Liberals aren't immune to biases and prejudice.

but I don't see any evidence that we are worse than anyone else.