Reply #366: Yes, I am Slackmaster, wearing a different hat!! :-D [View All]

I don't think Slackmaster was promoting a "pro-Republican meme," although if you think characterizing his view in that way is to offer an argument against it, you're sadly mistaken.

prejudice (n.)
c.1290, from O.Fr. prejudice (13c.), from M.L. prejudicium "injustice," from L. præjudicium "prior judgment," from præ- "before" + judicium "judgment," from judex (gen. judicis) "judge." The notion is of "preconceived opinion;" the verb meaning "to affect or fill with prejudice" is from 1610.

From the Online Etymology Dictionary. Now, in what way do I think you're prejudging (notice, I said you had a prejudice, not that you're "prejudiced.") Your argument, such that it is, seems to be that no matter what a Republican says, he's making a racist statement -- that, indeed, no Republican could say what Brownback said, without having malicious, racist intent.

"If a Republican says it, there should be a million bells and whistles going off in your head."

"Republicans are repulsive. I realize I work with them and live near them." They're all repulsive? Every last one of 'em? Even Slackmaster's parents? Do you really know enough to make such generalizations?

Such is the nature of your prejudice: you've already decided, with apparently absolute certainty, that Republicans are wicked people, incapable of stating a fact without contaminating it with their evil. You've pre-judged an entire class of people, and a substantial portion of the American population.

I also suggest you read about the Poisoning the Well fallacy: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/poisoning-the-well.html