Robert Reich: Maybe US mainstream media should begin using the term 'fascism'

[marmar]

Maybe US mainstream media should begin using the term ‘fascism’
Robert Reich

My tweet about Ron DeSantis provoked outrage in rightwing media – perhaps it hit the nerve of the fascism now taking root in the Republican party?


(Guardian UK) I’ve been watching the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, for some time. Last Tuesday I tweeted: “Just wondering if ‘DeSantis’ is now officially a synonym for ‘fascist’.”

I was surprised at the outrage my little tweet provoked in rightwing media.

The Washington Examiner, for example, called me an “ultra-leftwing elitist” who wrote an “insulting slur”, which is “what leftwing ideologues do when they discuss Republican politicians who pose any threat to the existence of their political ideology … Anyone the Democrats don’t like or disagree with is a fascist.”

This was among the kindest responses.

After a half-century in and around politics, I’ve got a thick skin. But the size of the blowback on my little tweet makes me think I struck a nerve.

DeSantis is the most likely rival to Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024. The Harvard and Yale educated DeSantis (what do they teach at Harvard and Yale?) has been called “Trump with a brain”. ..............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/31/ron-desantis-republican-party-fascism

[Wounded Bear]

1. It takes a little time. Pres Biden has started to use the term, as have others...

the more public figures and politicians use it in interviews, the more it gets out there.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. Hmmm. They used to say that any GOPer we didn't like we called racist.

Maybe the radicalized Republican party needs to hire better propagandists, since Pootie is bogged down at the moment.

[roamer65]

3. Robert Reich for the win!

[MagickMuffin]

4. When the Fascist cancel elected officials and replace with your own loyalist, THAT'S FASCISM!

Ron DeSatanist is doing just this, kicking duly ELECTED officials out of their positions and replacing with his loyal Toadies, that IS FASCISM.

[Poiuyt]

6. I use the term "neo-fascism" or "American fascism" to differentiate from

the Italian fascism from the 1930s. There are enough similarities however, especially after Jan 6, to refer to the current Republican party as fascist.

[crickets]

7. Reich is wondering if this is just a struck nerve

and the reaction is one of, "Oh no! How dare you tell the truth about what is happening!" or if this is damage control on DeSantis' behalf given he's all but anointed as the 2024 Repub candidate.

It's a heaping helping of both. It's also way past time the f-word was used by US media to describe the situation. If anyone on the RW thinks the faux pearl clutching response will make the word "fascism" go away, they are in for some disappointment. Tough.

No paywall: https://archive.ph/w5Hms

[appalachiablue]

8. Well done. Glad you got this, I was ready to post it.