In a perfect democracy, voters are attentive and well informed, and politicians discuss issues and debate the merits of policies like adults.
We’re not there yet, especially on the Republican side of the aisle.
The latest sickening example of Republicans acting like unruly children involves Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC), who told a GOP state convention audience, “I look forward to the day that Democrats are so rare, we have to hunt them with dogs.”
This particular occurrence happened on Saturday, May 20, 2023, but McMaster (photo, left) has made similar remarks before (see story here). Equally sickening, when Democrats took offense, the governor’s spokesman replied they can’t take “a light-hearted joke.”
It’s fine to have differences of opinion, but this is as far removed from legitimate political discourse as it’s possible to get. It’s also typical of Republicans, who prefer demonizing opponents to debating issues.
In recent years, their rhetoric has employed increasingly violent symbolism and imagery (e.g., superimposing crosshairs on pictures of Democratic politicians). There’s nothing “light-hearted” about encouraging political violence.
But McMaster’s “hunting” rhetoric doesn’t just imply violence; it’s also racist and profoundly insulting to the state’s black Democrats, because South Carolina is a former slave state where white men once used dogs to run down runaway slaves.
Why does it matter? Well, do you want to live in a civilized society, or one ruled by violence? Would you vote for childish, racist, uncivilized behavior? Because that’s what this is.
A final note: McMasters is a lawyer. So was Alex Murdaugh. I’m a lawyer, too, and I don’t appreciate how these South Carolina lawyers are dragging the legal profession into disrepute. Murdaugh was disbarred, and McMasters should be, too. Our profession should reject violence in all its forms, not only physical but verbal as well.