And A New Line

Gee, a real breakthrough! No, you’re not a stupid racist if you oppose ObamaCare!

You’re just a stupid nag that needs to be ridden across the finish line by an super-educated, adroit, firm and downright masterful hand:

True, fear is partly a confidence issue. A horse that trusts its rider is far less skittish. Over time, we learned to take care of each other. But nothing could keep Rusty calm around anything resembling a whip; I’m sure he had his reasons.

Fear is, of course, largely a confidence issue among human beings, too. Anybody who’s watched flash mobs shouting down Senate and House members over the Obama administration’s health-insurance reforms ought to see that. For every dogmatic tough guy who’s channeling some talk-radio blowhard, there are many citizens who give every outward indication of being scared witless.

….

Conservatives determined to prevent Obama from succeeding understand that their best chance is to frighten poorly informed voters historically susceptible to conspiracy theories – particularly in rural states far from centers of power.

Gee, nice drip of contempt, there, Mr. Lyons.

It couldn’t possibly be that some folks are actually listening to Obama’s own words and getting not scared, but angry. Not frightened but resolved.

Try and ride this particular horse with that particular line, Gene, and I rather suspect you’ll get thrown.

Hard. 

You’re absolutely right in one respect. You will not win this by calling people stupid racists. You also will not win – and are likely to lose even more – by calling them just stupid.