“First of all, I’m a black guy and I know [he] is not a white supremacist,” proclaims Herman Cain.
Meanwhile,Elizabeth Warren argues that “people didn’t vote for Trump so he could bring a white supremacist into the White House.”
Rand Paul doesn’t believe Bannon is a racist or “caricature of any of these horrible things the left is bringing out about him.” Yet, Harry Reid urges Trump to rescind his appointment and “show America that racism, bullying and bigotry have no place in the White House.”
Most mainstream media outlets are saying Bannon is “known to promote white nationalist, anti-Semitic, racist and misogynist viewpoints” and exclaiming “a white nationalist is the new White House chief strategist.” What is the evidence to support such a claim? The best proof is found in a statement his ex-wife made ten years ago during a contentious divorce; she claimed Bannon didn’t like Jews and the way they raise their kids (Bannon denies this).
Moreover, even though it’s unreasonable to believe top execs at media outlets read or endorse every article their firm publishes, many are pointing to a few articles that appeared in Breitbart while Bannon served as executive chairman – articles they deem to be promoting white supremacy or racism.
Accusers also reference the fact that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) says Bannon promotes white supremacy, yet the SPLC’s credibility is in question. Indeed, just last month SPLC published a list of anti-Muslim extremists that fraudulently included Maajid Nawaz and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. For those unfamiliar with this case, allow me to quickly explain.
Nawaz, a former recruiter for an Islamist group who spent nearly five years in an Egyptian prison, now dedicates his life to challenging the Islamist narrative. He co-founded the world’s first counter-extremism think tank, the Quilliam Foundation.
Hirsi Ali, a former Dutch Member of Parliament and human rights activist, is a champion of women’s rights and spirited critic of several practices extant throughout the Muslim world such as honor killings and female genital mutilation (which she personally endured).
Hirsi Ali was even named as one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.
The decision to add these heroes who defend liberal values to an “extremist” list sparked widespread outrage and a petition that was created urging them to be removed has received thousands of signatures. Are the folks at SPLC unfamiliar with Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf?
I overheard a conversation yesterday where a young man admitted that while no one currently knows the truth about Bannon, he’d assume it was true until proven otherwise. So much for the most cherished principle of our criminal justice system – innocent until proven guilty
Moreover, even as a liberal, I’m quickly (and unfairly) attacked by those on the left as being racist when I oppose Sharia law (nothing to do with race). Too many on the left blithely throw around these labels that stifle debate and take away from the fact that racism, anti-Muslim bigotry, etc. are all very real problems that need to be addressed.
But white nationalist groups have come out in support of Bannon’s appointment. Right, but as Harvard Professor and esteemed civil liberties lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, said, “If Keith Ellison, who’s a decent, good person, were to become the head of the DNC, Hamas would support it, would cheer and yell. Because he’s had some association with (Louis) Farrakhan in the past.
Look, I don’t know whether [Bannon] is an Anti-Semite or not. I just don’t think you should toss that phrase around casually.”
Precisely; it’s still unclear whether Bannon really is a racist/anti-Semite. In the meantime, Bannon would do well to publicly denounce hate speech/racism while those on the left should exercise restraint before making such an indictment.
If Bannon proves to live up to any of the labels hurled his way, I have no doubt that countless Trump supporters (most of whom are not racist) will join those on the left in demanding that President Trump tell Bannon those two famous words, “You’re fired.”
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.