Yesterday, NY Times reporters Jeremy Peters and David Kuhn were busy defending Trump voters by insisting they’re not all racists. OK, they’re not all racists and let's forget that Carl Paladino was a Trump campaign co-chair. Did anyone ever say they all were? Some are and some aren’t. But they were all willing to overlook racism, xenophobia, homophobia and right-wing extremist, that’s for damn sure. But don’t dare upset the poor widdle snowflakes by calling them out for it. Fascists need a hug too, amirite?What about the anti-Semitism? Are we allowed to talk about that… yet, Jer? A couple weeks ago we looked at a neo-Nazi, explicitly anti-Semitic storm brewing in backwater Montana, state that gave Herr Trumpf a massive 274,120 (56.5%) to 174,521 (36.0%) win over Clinton. Trump won all but 6 of the state’s 56 counties. Flathead County is the 4th biggest, in terms of population, in the state. How white is Flathead County? 0.15% of the population is black… that white. Trump got 30,079 votes county-wide and Hillary supporters numbered less than half— only 13,233. The two “biggest” towns are Kalispell and Whitefish. Does Whitefish— ironically something New York Jews eat for breakfast on Sundays if they’re not in a lachs mood— sound familiar? It should. Trumpist Neo-Nazis have some plans for Whitefish.Ugly Hitlerite wants to run for Congress in MontanaThe Flathead Beacon is covering the biggest story to hit their county in years, reprinting the bipartisan letter signed by the state’s most prominent Democratic and Republican leaders:
An open letter from Montana’s elected leadersDecember 27, 2016Dear Fellow Americans,As we close out this year and look toward the future, we as Montana’s elected leaders are focused on the values that reflect our true character. Therefore, we condemn attacks on our religious freedom manifesting in a group of anti-Semites. We stand firmly together to send a clear message that ignorance, hatred and threats of violence are unacceptable and have no place in the town of Whitefish, or in any other community in Montana or across this nation. We say to those few who seek to publicize anti-Semitic views that they shall find no safe haven here.We offer our full support to the Jewish community, Montana families, businesses, faith organizations and law enforcement officers as they ensure the security of all our communities. We will address these threats directly and forcefully, putting our political differences aside to stand up for what’s right. That’s the Montana way, and the American way.Rest assured, any demonstration or threat of intimidation against any Montanan’s religious liberty will not be tolerated. It takes all Montanans working together to eradicate religious intolerance.We are encouraged that so many Montanans from a variety of religious backgrounds have joined us in condemning this extreme ideology.God bless the great state of Montana and the United States of America. U.S. Senator Jon TesterU.S. Senator Steve DainesU.S. Representative Ryan ZinkeGovernor Steve BullockAttorney General Tim Fox
No one wants to see Trump neo-Nazi supporter Richard Spencer run for the Republican congressional nomination in the special election to replace Ryan Zinke, who is likely to be confirmed as Trump’s Interior Secretary. But it isn’t just high-ranking Republicans and Democrats that want to distance themselves from the anti-Semitism.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes also joined in condemning “hatred and bigotry.” The tribes issued a statement saying they stand with Montana’s elected leaders in sending a clear message that “ignorance, hatred and threats of violence are unacceptable and have no place in the town of Whitefish, or in any other community in Montana or across this nation.”The messages come on the heels of a recent proposal by a white supremacist website to organize an armed march in Whitefish next month. The publisher of The Daily Stormer, Andrew Anglin, said he planned to organize a march for the second week of January. The march would be “against Jews, Jewish businesses and everyone who supports either,” Anglin wrote, though he has since said he could call off the march.The website, which is a neo-Nazi platform that features images of Hitler and the Auschwitz death camp, has also posted a call to “take action” against the community’s Jewish residents and local businesses, posting personal contact information and slurs in an effort to launch an Internet “troll storm.”The website says the troll storm is in response to local residents harming the business interests of the mother of Richard Spencer, a part-time Whitefish resident who is a vocal leader of the so-called alt-right movement, which blends racism and white nationalism. The Daily Stormer is not affiliated with Spencer.Anglin has accused a local realtor and nonprofit Love Lives Here of trying to sabotage a Whitefish real estate venture owned by Sherry Spencer. The chairman of Love Lives Here denies organizing any pressure or protests against Sherry Spencer’s office building.According to Love Lives Here, the Daily Stormer posts have unleashed a torrent of harassment against local businesses and community members, including threats of violence via social media, phone calls and emails.Officials with the Whitefish Police Department are monitoring the situation. The communication is mostly coming from Internet accounts on the East Coast and nothing illegal has occurred locally, according to authorities.Police Chief Bill Dial said his department has received a significant amount of inquiries about the potential march in Whitefish along with residents expressing concern and anxiety.“I can empathize with people. It’s not a comfortable situation,” he said.Dial said his department is working with federal and county law enforcement authorities to devise a plan if the armed march does occur.“I’m hoping for the best, planning for the worst,” he said.“If they do come, we’re just hoping it’s a peaceful march. I’m sure there will be those protesting at the same time.”He added, “It’s our job to make sure we keep the community safe and that’s what we’re going to do.”Love Lives Here and the Montana Human Rights Network are co-sponsoring an event on Jan. 7 in Depot Park in Whitefish. Organizers of the event are calling it a community gathering to celebrate diversity and take a stand against racism and other forms of oppression. The event will include speakers and live music.Earlier this month, the city of Whitefish signed a proclamation firmly declaring Spencer’s views and those of the alt-right are “a direct affront to our community’s core values and principles.”
Societal divisiveness, including racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, extreme nationalism have always been tied up with conservatism and, of course, fascism. Without them candidates running on economic platforms like Trump's-- entirely serving the exclusive interests of the 1%-- would have no chance of winning elections.
