OpenLeft: Conservative Identity Politics

Conservative Identity Politics
by: Chris Bowers

Wed May 27, 2009 at 10:56


Conservatives are crying "identity politics" over Sotomayor's nomination, as they would have if Obama had nominated anyone except a white male. The lack of self-awareness in these charges is pretty extreme, but also not surprising. Here are just some examples of conservative identity politics:

1. "America is a Christian nation." Arguing that American government should be largely based on a particular religious identity is identity politics.

2. "Democrats are socialists." Calling an opposing political party "socialists," when even the left-wing of that party is proposing directing only 3% more of the economy to public social spending, is pure identity politics rather than a charge with any intellectual merit.

3. "Marriage is between a man and a woman." Given that marriage has taken on numerous forms throughout history, and still takes on numerous forms throughout the world today, this is not an actual historical argument but instead one based on identity preferences.

4. Mocking people because of what they eat, including arugula, is pure identity politics.

5. Calling America "the greatest nation on earth" is also pure identity politics. If such claims were simply quantitative, ie that America has the largest economy, or the largest military, that would be one thing. However, abstract claims about qualitative "greatness" are entirely subjective and identity based.

6. "Traditional values." Oh yeah, that's identity politics, rather than a historical re-enactment. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.openleft.com/diary/13509/conservative-identity-politics