For years, conservatives have been complaining about the liberal bias on late night shows and Saturday Night Live. “They always attack Republicans and never go after Democrats,” the criticism goes. But this week brought forth the possibility that maybe it’s not bias, maybe it’s something else. It’s possible, judging by what we’ve just witnessed, that comedy writers don’t mock liberals because they have already become a parody, and it’s difficult, if not impossible, to parody a parody.
Make no mistake, that’s what the Gang of Four, who call themselves “The Squad,” are: a parody. They’re like a Pavlovian experiment gone wrong – whenever anyone challenges them or their assertions, or does not immediately capitulate to their every demand, “RACISM!” is cried. For the first time in my life I have some pity for Saturday Night Live writers because how do you mock that?
You could have them act rationally in a skit, but that wouldn’t work. For comedy to be truly funny it has to be based in reality. And the Gang of Four don’t live in reality.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley are the de facto leaders of the Democratic Party now. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi tried to retain control by being mildly critical of their temper tantrums and condemning the anti-Semitism of Omar, something echoed and cheered by the other members, but switched this week to full Neville Chamberlain mode after a brief skirmish over whether or not the Speaker was a racist.
This charge, which used to be serious and taken seriously by serious people, has become as common as exhaling. It holds no power, outside of progressive drum circles and college campuses. Yet the Gang of Four throw it around like it’s an Olympic event and they’re going for the gold.
The favorite phrase of the Gang is “women of color,” which is usually proceeded with some variation of the word “especially.” The subject of the discussion is irrelevant, everything comes back to race with the Gang.
Rashida Tlaib, one of the Gang members with a history of close relationships with people deeply marinated in anti-Semitism and terrorist sympathies, was asked by CBS News whether or not she’d sit down to talk with Pelosi. Her answer, naturally, went to race.
“The fact of the knowledge is, and I’ve done racial justice work in our country for a long time, acknowledge the fact that we are women of color,” Tlaib said, “so when you do single us out, be aware of that, and what you’re doing. Especially because some of us are getting death threats. Because some of us are being singled out in many ways because of our backgrounds, because of our experiences and so forth.” (Emphasis added.)
What does their skin color have to do with criticism from the Speaker? Pelosi’s remarks, which led to this latest “outrage,” had nothing to do with race, they were about the failure of the Gang to garner any support to stop a border funding bill. Ocasio-Cortez had accused the Speaker of “the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.” On what planet is the pointing out someone’s inability to get votes opposing a bill about their skin color?
But to the Gang, everything is about skin color. Wrapping themselves in the “especially women of color” blanket insulated them from having to explain themselves. White liberals would immediately cower and drop any challenge when it was unveiled, and conservatives immediately got defensive because they lived in fear of the liberal mob’s rage. Not Donald Trump. And not anyone else anymore.
The accusation of racism was an effective weapon against having to explain yourself or your policies. All liberals used it. But like a heroin addict who constantly needs to up their dose because they’ve built up an immunity, overuse has rendered the charge a joke.
“AOC actually thinks the unemployment rate is low because people have multiple jobs!” “You’re only saying that because I’m a woman of color.”
“Omar said Jews have ‘dual loyalties’ and control people with money.” “How dare you smear an immigrant, especially a woman of color, and a Muslim. You’re a hatemonger.”
Where do you go with that?
Pressley told NetRoots Nation, the annual progressive conference that has become the modern Nuremberg rallies, that if you are from a “marginalized community” and toe the progressive line, shut up and go away. “If you’re not prepared to come to that table and represent that voice, don’t come,” Pressley said, “because we don’t need any more brown faces that don’t want to be a brown voice. We don’t need black faces that don’t want to be a black voice. We don’t need Muslims that don’t want to be a Muslim voice. We don’t need queers that don’t want to be a queer voice. If you’re worried about being marginalized and stereotyped, please don’t even show up because we need you to represent that voice.”
She’s calling everyone who happens to be “a person of no color” and straight, and who is not a radical leftist, the equivalent of an Uncle Tom. Based on their skin tone, their religion, or sexual orientation, you have to think like a leftist or you are not welcome in progressive America. Ask Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas, or Tim Scott about how tolerant progressives are of free-thinking individuals.
It’s unclear how this is a winning electoral strategy. “You’re a racist, now vote for me,” doesn’t seem like an effective campaign slogan. But that’s where the Democrats are.
The original Gang of Four enforced the Cultural Revolution in communist China, which led to untold horrors and countless deaths. The current Gang of Four fight for many of the same ideals, and demand the same absolute loyalty. Pelosi now plans to meet with AOC soon to discuss their issues, but it might as well be a passing of the torch. This is AOC’s party now; this is the Gang’s party. You can’t rationalize with an irrational person.
The Gang truly believes the American public is with them because their world is so insulated against different opinions that they don’t know they exist. Pelosi can’t talk sense into that. She can’t instill patience in a group of Veruca Salts, they want their golden goose and they want it now! If you were trying to destroy the Democratic Party I’m not sure how you could do it more effectively. The Gang of Four is on a suicide mission, only they don’t know it. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Derek is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!) and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses.