The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #123889   Message #2732135
Posted By: Emma B
26-Sep-09 - 07:58 PM
Thread Name: BS: The BNP conundrum
Subject: BS: The BNP conundrum
I'm not normally a fan of Fraser Nelson, the current editor of The Spectator magazine; but, although I disagree with many of his views and conclusions based on a traditional Tory perspective I nevertheless feel that he raises some valid issues too in the Coffee House

"....ask why I'm so keen to trash the BNP and Griffin – and ask if I'm guilty of the same kneejerk liberal reaction that I accuse others of.

A fair point: 'racist' can seem like a playground chant, and any rebuttal of the BNP needs more detail to be credible.

Yet I oppose them for the racism reason. The party incubates and legitimises genuine racism
The BNP has cleverly learned to bury these racist sentiments beneath legitimate concerns about immigration.

When Hitler started National Socialism in Germany it started off with 2 percent of the vote. So I don't think you can write the BNP off on account of its small support

Simon Stephenson says it's time to explain better why we hate the BNP. I totally agree.
The lobotomized left (which I distinguish from New Labour at its peak) are characterized by debating via two main tools: hysteria and name-calling.
A look at the opinion polls shows how successful this tactic is. But the voters repelled by this are not all coming to the Tories. It's a reminder just how counter-productive namecalling is."

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