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bigtree

(94,589 posts)
28. it's a political dog whistle
Sun May 3, 2026, 01:04 AM
Sunday

...it just is; no matter how well understood it is to you; how inept; or how obvious or overt you feel it is.

A political dog whistle can be overt. In fact, there are instances where dog whistles are used in a way that is more explicit than subtle. For example, during the Civil Rights Movement, politicians like George Wallace and Richard Nixon used coded language to appeal to white voters who were resistant to racial integration and social change. Terms like "law and order" were used to subtly convey anti-black sentiments without being overtly racist. This strategy allowed them to mobilize their base without alienating moderate voters.

In 1981, former Republican Party strategist Lee Atwater, when giving an anonymous interview discussing former president Richard Nixon's Southern strategy, speculated that terms like "states' rights" were used for dog-whistling. Atwater was contrasting this with then-President Ronald Reagan's campaign, which he felt "was devoid of any kind of racism, any kind of reference". However, Ian Haney López, an American law professor and author of the 2014 book Dog Whistle Politics, described Reagan as "blowing a dog whistle" when the candidate told stories about "Cadillac-driving 'welfare queens' and 'strapping young bucks' buying T-bone steaks with food stamps" while he was campaigning for the presidency.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_whistle_(politics)

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Says the likely under 100 IQ President... wcmagumba May 2 #1
More than that, it's a revelation of B.See May 2 #2
Is it a dog whistle if everyone understands he's racist? EdmondDantes_ May 2 #3
yes bigtree May 2 #4
It's like keeping in the atmosphere, so to speak... electric_blue68 May 2 #11
You miss the point. A dog whistle isn't heard by people EdmondDantes_ May 2 #23
whoosh! bigtree Sunday #25
Oh and the biggest tell??? WHEN HE ONLY WILL ALLOW WHITE AFRICANS INTO THE COUNTRY!!!!! a kennedy May 2 #5
Ditto with "thug" (Excuse me. I should have typed THUG) Midnight Writer May 2 #6
This. It's only expressing political disagreement if racism is part of your platform. Ilikepurple May 2 #7
Dog whistle? FalloutShelter May 2 #8
Dog whistle? malaise May 2 #9
it's meant to identify with a certain segment of society bigtree Sunday #30
Yep malaise Sunday #33
It's not a dog whistle. It's just racism. Azathoth1 May 2 #10
And each and every one of them is superior to him. Intellectually, morally, you name it. n/t Mister Ed May 2 #12
It's born out of jealousy and envy. Buddyzbuddy May 2 #13
Take another cognitive test, piggy Aviation Pro May 2 #14
It is the epitome of racism. xuplate May 2 #15
Please Do The World A Favor And Die Donald Joinfortmill May 2 #16
Dear Leader, catbyte May 2 #17
The Stupid is strong in with this one. Ford_Prefect May 2 #18
We have installed in the White House the racist, no-filter Uncle... 70sEraVet May 2 #19
Not even the worst slur in the post. carpetbagger May 2 #20
Again, no one has called it out Mr. Jinx May 2 #21
Says the guy that wears his IQ range on his hat. 45-47 SeattleVet May 2 #22
It's not a dog whistle; it's a euphemism MurrayDelph Sunday #24
not quite a euphemism, I think bigtree Sunday #29
False. It is no dog whistle. It's certainly racist, though, absolutely. But dog whistle? Nope. RockRaven Sunday #26
it's a political dog whistle bigtree Sunday #28
Thought to ponder The Wizard Sunday #27
The use of the word "thug" is also racist. So a "low-IQ thug" is ten times more racist IMO. nt BWdem4life Sunday #31
And they accuse democrats of identity politics Keepthesoulalive Sunday #32
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