Commentary

...But If You Can't, Opt Instead for Mockery

by / Oct. 19, 2018 6am EST

Under no circumstances should we give Michael Caputo and David DiPietro and Chris Collins what they want — a big angry mob that’s just a more diverse and inclusive version of the 2009-era Tea Party rallies. To that end, I agree wholeheartedly with what Aaron Lowinger recommend in his column — leave the rote chants and the angry righteousness (never mind the trash talk) at home. 

As Aaron pointed out my tweet last night, 

But I know people are going to want to protest the likes of ruddy multi-shirted fascist Steve Bannon coming here to stump for alt-right absentee Assemblyman DiPietro and Chris Collins (R-Innate Immunotherapeutics  & Cell Block C).

So, if you’re going to do it, don’t get angry — mock them. Think Mel Brooks. 

Think “Springtime for Hitler”. Brooks says

“You have to bring him down with ridicule, because if you stand on a soapbox and you match him with rhetoric, you’re just as bad as he is, but if you can make people laugh at him, then you’re one up on him,” he tells Wallace. “It’s been one of my lifelong jobs — to make the world laugh at Adolf Hitler.”

Bannon isn’t funny — he’s a white nationalist proto-fascist propagandist. He was drummed out of the White House and wanted to start an alt-right anti-immigrant uprising in Europe, but was basically drummed the fuck out. That’s funny

Bannon isn’t funny — he’s a horror. He’s a guy who embodies the central tenet of white nationalism, which is to use the accident of race as a substitute for talent, merit, and hard work. Guys like Bannon and his ilk are fundamentally pathetic, perennial failures. The whole thing is boiled down to, “I’m white — the only reason why my life is a failure is because of the [insert historically marginalized group here].” In 1938, Nazis put “Jews” in that preceding bracket. In 2018 America, these people wear red hats, claim not to be racist, and then blame women, black people, immigrants, etc. for their own Unglück

I would take 100,000 immigrants over one Steve Bannon. Mock the shit out of him. Out of them. Think Sacha Baron Cohen. Here’s an example. 

There will be morons at this Bannon pity party who will want to provoke counter-protesters into violence. They’re pathetic. Make fun of them. Mock them. 

Listen, Aaron is right — don’t go. Don’t give them what they want. But if you’re going to go, I’m not clever enought to figure out the best ways to mock these proud boys, but let us know your ideas at #MockBannon. Don’t be an angry mob. Be a comedy flash mob. 

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