Fear, Rethug Style

It's certain that demographic trends don't favor the Rethuglican / New Confederate Party.  The minority population is growing more rapidly than the white population, and they are voting overwhelmingly Democratic, thanks to hostile policies and attitudes promoted by Rethug wingnuts, the most prominent example of which is uber-hater Rep. Steve "Not Martin Luther" King.

Josh Marshall has a piece on the fear being felt by the 20% to 25% of the population which sees their "America" slipping away, and becoming more diverse.   The Rethuglican / New Confederate Party is in the grip of that segment, which represents the majority of their voters.  Here's the situation:

"Yes, [Rep. Steve] King is more intemperate and perhaps more hateful than most. But he speaks for the relatively small slice of the electorate which makes up a pretty big slice of the GOP electorate and keeps the GOP anchored in opposition to immigration reform and to policies which put most of the non-white population off-limits to the party indefinitely. That’s why the whole plan to ‘double down’ on the ‘whites only’ strategy now increasingly favored by Republicans isn’t so much of a strategy as a recognition that it can’t break free or discipline that mammoth part of its voter base."

(emphasis added)

Sunday Funnies

(click to enlarge)

As Rethugs attempt to poison the immigration reform bill in the Senate, the demographics are unmistakable:  in another generation, what are now minority populations will become the majority, and most likely a Democratic one at that.  That's the bottom line for Rethugs.  They know their base is shrinking, and instead of offering appealing policies to the growing demographic, they build fences, change voting rules, and block legislation.

BONUS:  South Carolina Senator Huckleberry Closetcase agrees, saying the Rethugs are in a "demographic death spiral."  Enjoy the ride.

(cartoon:  Mike Luckovich via GoComics.com)