I keep seeing conservative republicans being accused of being racist as if there were a significant minority are even majority of conservatives who hate minorities. I'm not a conservative at all (I'm more left leaning libertarian perhaps) but I don't understand this claim. When I was growing up as a conservative in Texas I never once met a single conservative who I could tell was racist. We went to really far-right fundamentalist churches out in the country and they had one or two black and hispanic families in them even.

The closest thing I could see to racism was when I would visit my relatives in Louisiana. They would make jokes about black people a lot but the way they made the jokes it was obvious they didn't hate black people. It was more like men on Reddit making ironic sexist jokes like "go make me a sandwich" where the intent is not to make fun of women but more to mock the stereotypes of men and women. (Not sure if that makes sense but anyhow).

To me racism is hatred towards and discrimination against people simply because of their biological characteristics. Things they can't help at all and things that really only make them different in appearance.

When I see liberals accuse conservatives of being racist, the examples they cite don't seem like real racism to me. Perhaps they're still wrong for doing whatever liberals accuse them of doing -- I'll grant that -- but calling it racist I think really stretches the meaning of the word.

Perhaps some of you can provide modern day examples of cases that you think indicates a significant amount of racism among conservatives?

For a modern-day example, the GOP's immigration policy is almost purely racist, and just because it is easy to disguise that racism in terms of jobs, economy or legality doesn't mean the racism is not there. And, any large Tea Party convention is a great place to find racists out in the open and on parade.

A lot of it is historical, too. Conservatives campaigned vigorously for segregation in the 50s and 60s and fought (literally) to preserve slavery in the Civil War.

When you combine these with the fact that Republicans discriminate against genders, sexual orientations, and income levels with zeal, is it any wonder why nobody takes it seriously when Republicans attempt to be inclusive to different racial demographics?

What exactly is racism nowadays?

Well, its alive and kicking if that's what you mean. Always has been, always will be.

To me, the root of racism is fear and ignorance, which is hardwired into the human race as a whole.

Here in Utah, I don't know that it's so much that the high number of conservatives are actually racist as much as they are simply out of touch with minorities. I think that more than anything gives them that certain ignorant aura. Some may describe their sheltered attitude as racist though.
That's not to say that some are just not flat out racist. I've heard some downright racist shit from good ol' boy conservatives here. Been called a spic more than once. I've never been called anything racist from anyone I'd judge to be a liberal. Those are just my experiences though.

My parents are mildly racist and conservative Republican. The don't think interracial marriages should be legal and rate neighborhoods on "how dark they are". Ugh.

(December 1, 2012 at 5:32 pm)Annik Wrote: My parents are mildly racist and conservative Republican. The don't think interracial marriages should be legal and rate neighborhoods on "how dark they are". Ugh.

I don't want to offend you but where i live that isn't considered mildly.

(December 1, 2012 at 5:48 pm)Kousbroek Wrote:

(December 1, 2012 at 5:32 pm)Annik Wrote: My parents are mildly racist and conservative Republican. The don't think interracial marriages should be legal and rate neighborhoods on "how dark they are". Ugh.

I don't want to offend you but where i live that isn't considered mildly.

I'm not offended. I say mildly because that's where they draw their line or whatever. It's lenient in comparison to some of the horrible, fucked up shit I've heard. It's still an incredible disgusting ideal to hold.

(December 1, 2012 at 5:51 pm)Annik Wrote:

(December 1, 2012 at 5:48 pm)Kousbroek Wrote: I don't want to offend you but where i live that isn't considered mildly.

I'm not offended. I say mildly because that's where they draw their line or whatever. It's lenient in comparison to some of the horrible, fucked up shit I've heard. It's still an incredible disgusting ideal to hold.

Good to hear.

But if you were to come home with a black or Japanese man they would disapprove ?

(December 1, 2012 at 5:58 pm)Kousbroek Wrote: Good to hear.

But if you were to come home with a black or Japanese man they would disapprove ?

Ironically, I don't think they'd mind if I was with an Asian man, but they just hate the idea of a black person with a white person. I don't understand it.

Have you read any of the signs you see at tea party rallies? They're attacking Obama, which should be expected from Republican groups, but they seem to delight in calling him a coon. Or a ni**er. Or a monkey. Or comments about him eating watermelon or fried chicken. Or any one of a dozen other racial stereotypes aimed directly at black people. Now, take this group of people and think about the elected officials they would put in office. Do you see racial sensitivity being a big concern of theirs?

Then there's what I call 'subtle' racism. They aren't being racist when they make English the official language, even though they know it's a law that isn't going to effect white people. They aren't being racist when they attempted to pass the Arizona immigration law, even though nobody is going to cause issue with it to white people.

Lastly, attacks on poverty that involve removal of social programs disproportionatly hit racial minorities. If you're black or hispanic, you're much more likely to be poor than if you're white.

That's the tops of what I can think of. Like I said earlier, it's often vey subtle and they know better than to let the big names in the party say anything directly racist.