Several conservative conspiracy theorists are giving journalists a good name. In their attempts to pile on Cruz Bustamante through intimations that he's a closet racist who secretly desires to return California (aka Aztlan) to the 'la raza', they have self-righteously demonized the LATimes and other media for not snowballing their dirty hollow pebble.
Consider this gem from Hewitt:
There is an article on opposition research in today's paper, for example, that begins with two dozen paragraphs on AS and how his past life that might yield negative stories. In paragraph 25 we discover that Cruz Taxalotte was once a member of MEChA, but there is no discussion of the significance of that membership. The paper runs a lengthy story on Cruz that relegates the MEChA angle to the last few paragraphs, and also contains a story by Matea Gold on page A26 that is a magnificent example of terrible journalism --a piece designed to kill the MEChA issue by in effect declaring that membership in the group is hardly worth talking about. Whether MEChA is or is not a radical group, and Cruz's membership in it a quarter century ago any cause for concern, I don't know. But I know I can't trust the Los Angeles Times to report the issue fairly, and I doubt that the three favorable quotes about MEChA in the article or the one negative quote will decide the issue for readers. Clearly if the organization is the equivalent of the KKK, as State Senator Tom McClintock has asserted..
Tagorda warns ever so timidly:
In this light, conservatives may want to be somewhat cautious about pushing the issue. There's potential for backlash, despite the extremism of MEChA.
A cursory overview of the MEChA's philosophy reveals them to be radical nutcases. But it must be noted that these are radical nutcases who exist wholly in undergrad cliques.
The presumption that the only appeal that Bustamante can have to latino voters is one of a shared racist ideology is not only farcical, it legitimizes arguments that Arnold must account for his relationship with Kurt Waldheim - that racist sympathies work like some associative principle. Klansmen like lemonade, klansmen are racist therefore if you like lemonade you are racist.
Let us be clear here. The most important question is not whether MEChA is now or ever has been chockablock with racist radicals. It is more properly whether there is reason to suspect that Bustamante is himself racist or sympathetic to racist aims.
In the first place, the dubious research of ideologues who have certainly never heard of MEChA before demonstrates a clear lack of perspective. Has the any MEChA member been convicted of murder? Has any Republican? So which is more dangerous to the health of the public?
Requiring that Bustamante disown MEChA as a litmus test for his acceptability doesn't help anyone. It begs the question of MEChA's own racist culpability and influence on California politics. It lowers the ethical level of the debate. It offers Bustamante an easy way out - MEChA can instantly become Bustamante's 'Sistah Souljah'. It is a false accusation masquerading as racial concern.
This simpleminded matter differs substantially from questions like that of Trent Lott and Bob Barr and the CCC. In those cases, it was public statements by the individuals in question which were the cause of investigations into racist influence and support. In this case it is just muckraking in an attempt to paint Bustamante as racist in the absence of anything dishonorable he has said or advocated as a legislative agenda.
There are many reasons to object to identity politics, just as there are good reasons to object to demography politics and politics by polling. Primary among these is that it is foolish to assume that one's ethnic identity, or one's religion or zipcode is deterministic of one's political stances or one's intent as a public servant or government official. It is even more foolish to believe that such variables should be. But this is precisely the foolishness our blogger friends are asserting.
Why should Bustamante, a public figure already known to have used a racial epithet in the past (he infamously used the word "nigger" while addressing a Black History Month event two years ago) get a pass? Or, for that matter, former California State Assembly Speaker and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, State Assemblyman Gil Cadillo, State Sen. Joe Baca, and Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva -- all unapologetic Mechistas?
As for the infamous use, a little context is in order.
It's only because I am so disgusted at this blatant backhanded bigotry that I've taken this much time. I hope this bogus issue dies quickly. Show me the money or shut up.
UPDATE:
Ted Barlow Debunks
Rudy Acuna's Letter
Orcinus Explains at Length
That makes sense and I don't really consider you particularly partisan in this fight. Nevertheless I take exception to your categorization of Malkin's questionable questions as fair to ask of major media. From my perspective that is just giving license for a free-for-all that is unprincipled from the start.
Sure it is fair to question Bustamante directly whether he is racist or supports a racist agenda, but it is not fair to make a tar-baby out of MEChA and try to stain him by association as a way of interrogating what his inclinations might be as governor. It neither gets to the bottom of his biases nor improves the quality of information upon people can make logical choices.
I think you should have weighed in, as a California resident as to the marginality of MEChA in latino politics. CISPES would have made a much better target. FWIW, when I was at Cal State Northridge, they were an order of magnitude more vocal than Mechistas, who seemed more interested in boycotting table grapes and painting Aztec murals all over everything. Your entry leaves me with the feeling that you agree that MEChA is Klan equivalent, which is easily debunked. You simply elide the point.
Posted by: Cobb at August 31, 2003 08:29 PMMy dearest Cobb,
First you teach disrespect of the other. Once that catches on you ostacize them. Then you confiscate their property. Then you collect or concentrate in jails or ghettos. Finally you kill.
It takes a whole. Depending on the people and the culture decades to centuries.
It all starts with the disrespect.
MEChA is a step on the road to murder. Just because it is not murder does not mean it is not a danger.
These tactics have been used over and over again against the Jews.
It is covered quite well in "Drug Warriors and Their Prey" by Miller.
Arab Islamics are using it against all non-Islamics.
It is a very "new" old tactic.
It all starts with teaching sepratism and hate.
La Raza?
Posted by: M. Simon at September 3, 2003 12:34 PMI am not convinced that MEChA is a threat or a menace. By dint of my personal experience with members of MEChA, by the writings of members of MEChA in response to this controversy, and by the administrators of Universities which fund MEChA with public funds I have yet to see anything which convinces me that the organization in whole or in part is either capable of or intent on furthering a seperatist agenda through political activism.
The complete lack of on-campus controversies involving MEChA is a startling proof that they are particularly harmless.
Here is what I think of when I think of La Raza. Plaza de La Raza, a long time standing cultural organization here in Los Angeles.
Posted by: Cobb at September 3, 2003 01:02 PM
As I explained on more than one occasion, my post was meant to analyze the political ramifications of linking Bustamante to MEChA, not to say whether Bustamante is or is not racist (nor even whether conservatives should attack Bustamante on this front). As for the extremism of MEChA, see Kaus. MEChA may no longer be attempting to push a segregationist agenda, but members' charters still certainly acknowledge it. That means it's fair game to question Bustamante about his ties. In any event, if the group weren't suspect to begin with, why would Bustamante hesitate to embrace MEChA fully and assert that he's proud to have connections -- period?
BTW, I should probably point out that most readers consider my "timid" warning to be a sign of fairmindedness. I'm no ideologue, which is why I've never regarded the MEChA issue a "Latino litmus test." But as a resident of California and in the interest of full disclosure, I do want Bustamante, Schwarzenegger, and every other politician to answer questions.
Posted by: Robert Tagorda at August 31, 2003 07:58 PM