Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: Statues and statutes in the spotlight
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NY Times on race, statues and the VA gubernatorial race: Charlottesville and Trump’s Response Reshape Virginia Gubernatorial Race Many in the political middle here fault Mr. Trump for effectively weaponizing the conversation. “We need a rational debaAbbreviated Pundit Round-up: Statues and statutes in the spotlight
NY Times on race, statues and the VA gubernatorial race: Charlottesville and Trump’s Response Reshape Virginia Gubernatorial Race Many in the political middle here fault Mr. Trump for effectively weaponizing the conversation. “We need a rational debate, but I’m afraid the emotion of the moment after what Trump did just destroyed the opportunity for that discussion,” said Mr. Deeds, who did not criticize Mr. Northam but made clear he thinks localities should be free to decide the monument issue. Yet much like the aftermath of the 2015 rampage by a white supremacist in a South Carolina black church, there is an impulse in Virginia to take a tangible step toward healing. “This state is no longer a history lesson suspended in animation,” Mr. Sabato said. “This was a disaster for Virginia, and people want to put a period on it.” xPlainly: historically, anything that looks like street brawls helps fascists consolidate power. "Many sides" is their core tactic. Works. +— Zeynep Tufekci (@zeynep) August 20, 2017 Conservatives are convinced statue and monument discussions are a win for them. Don’t be so sure. Context matters, and as many begin to come down (and many already have), watch the VA Gov. race for a better sense of where we are at. It’s a moment the way the S.C. flag was, and things may be politically possible that weren’t a week ago. There’s a plus and a minus side to anything Trump champions, but remember, the discussion is about Nazis and white supremacists. Not Antifa, not statues. Nazis. And if Nazis love those statues, that tells you what you need to know. Read more