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Conservative activist Christopher Rufo, who is a close ally of Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, hosted a social media debate in which one participant argued that conservatives should cooperate with a hypothetical white nationalist dictator “in order to destroy the power of the left”.

Rufo, a Manhattan Institute fellow who has been a hugely influential figure in DeSantis’ culture war policies in Florida, did not disagree with the sentiments. Instead he commended speakers for their “thoughtful points” and presenting the discussion as a model fo

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 33 points 1 year ago

In closing the discussion, Rufo credited speakers with raising “some provocative points on all sides, some thoughtful points on all sides”, and told listeners: “I think there is a room for engaging the dissident right and the establishment right. I think we need to have a bridge between the two and engage in thoughtful dialogue.”

What a piece of shit. His wishy-washiness is as bad as the other guy's blatant Nazism.

[-] unoriginalsin@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

He's not being wishy-washy. He agrees with Haywood. He's trying to pull the conservative core into a white-nationalist-based class war and bring about the full-blown Nazification of America.

[-] Ubermeisters@lemmy.zip 31 points 1 year ago

So this is what Germany felt like back then.

I don't like it.

[-] unoriginalsin@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

The days of dog whistles are over folks.

Make no mistake about it. Ron DeSantis is a right-wing extremist. He has appointed a right-wing extremist to the New College of Florida's board of trustees who advocates "cooperating" politically with a potential white nationalist dictator. The man opposes CRT and LGBTQ discussion. His basic thesis of reality is that compassion is ruining America.

[-] TurboDiesel@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Opposes? Christopher Rufo is responsible for creating the panic over CRT. He's an active threat to democracy.

[-] unoriginalsin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Why does it feel like you're disagreeing with me when you clearly aren't saying anything that I'm not? #nosnark

[-] TurboDiesel@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Sorry if it seems that way! I was emphasizing how much of a shitheel Rufo is

[-] unoriginalsin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That's what I thought. I can't even explain why it seemed hostile.

[-] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

This article refers to the same guy DeSantis appointed to New College of Florida's board. From the linked article...

DeSantis appointed Rufo to the board of trustees of Florida’s New College in January. New College was a traditionally liberal college, but under Rufo is now transforming into a more conservative institution.

Rufo and DeSantis seem to really like gargling each other's balls.

[-] Digital_man@lemmy.one 16 points 1 year ago

Can we stop calling this a “culture war”. It is straight up a War on the left.

We must stop sugar coating or pretending it is not real. Continuing to do so will lead to more loss of life.

[-] Pratai@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 year ago

Why is everyone so surprised to find out that conservatives are cowardly racist immoral pieces of shit. It’s like everyone collectively forgets yesterday’s news- where they did/said cowardly racist and immoral shit, and suddenly everyone is shocked all over again the next day.

They’re cowardly racist immoral pieces of shit. It’s isn’t going to change tomorrow. It’s their nature. It’s who they are.

[-] wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

I mean, this has been America's SOP all over the world since basically for ever. He ain't wrong.

Sounds scary, but Florida has proven to be completely unpopular anywhere outside of Florida.

Not considering he may not be THAT popular in Florida anymore 🥴

So if this is the guy that put Desantis in that position, I hope he continues to listen to him 🤡

[-] TechyDad@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

If you want a white nationalist dictator to run America, then you are an enemy of democracy and America. I'd encourage anyone who really wants that over electing leaders to just move to Russia.

Then again, I'll admit my own bias. A white nationalist dictator would surely come after me because white nationalists tend to hate Jews. An America run by a white nationalist dictator is an America I'd need to flee. The fact that one of the two major parties seems to think that this is totally reasonable is scary.

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

They wouldn't come after me* but I don't care. I don't want them coming after anyone, because everyone deserves to live in safety, not fearing a knock at the door.

*At first

[-] TechyDad@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

That "at first" is a very important qualifier. Even if the white supremacists got their fondest wish and kicked anyone out that wasn't "white enough," they wouldn't be satisfied. They'd simply redefine what was "white enough." If you didn't meet their latest metric - even if you were a die hard white supremacist - you'd find yourself targeted.

"Us vs Them" mentalities don't just stop when "Them" is gone.

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

There is always another "them".

[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 0 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


He has been credited with mobilizing conservatives against communities of color, first with a distorted version of critical race theory; then by linking LGBTQ-inclusive education practices to pedophilic “grooming”.

António de Oliveira Salazar was the head of Portugal’s authoritarian, one-party state from 1932 until 1968; his regime repressed domestic opposition and oversaw brutal colonial policies in Africa that permitted forced labor and other abuses.

Beirich also wrote: “Conservative cowardice on white supremacy is the road to losing a democracy and possibly much worse in terms of hate-driven political violence and autocracy.”

Hannah Gais, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence project, said: “There’s sizable segments of the right that want the best of both worlds, namely the energy and the vigor of reactionary far-right movements but without any of the baggage.”

In July Mark Granza, Italian-born editor of far-right online magazine IM-1776, hosted a Twitter space to celebrate the launch of Rufo’s latest book, America’s Cultural Revolution.

The Guardian also previously reported that Haywood is a featured speaker at a “natalist” conference planned for December in Austin, Texas, where he is scheduled to appear alongside other far-right figures and advocates of eugenics.


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this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2023
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