As the End of Liberalism Looms, the New York Times Recoils in Fear at the Coming of November

Notice the picture which the New York Times is painting of this week’s primary results:

Republican insurgents from the far right did well in Tuesday’s primaries. What their campaigns lack in logic, compassion and sensible policy seems to be counterbalanced by a fiercely committed voter base…

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This is an attack on voters thinly disguised as a critique of candidates:

Much of the G.O.P’s fervid populist energy has been churned up by playing on some people’s fears of Hispanics and Muslims, by painting the president as a dangerous radical, by distorting the truth about the causes of the recession. Far too many Republican leaders have eagerly fed that destructive anger.

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They make a feint toward the idea that it’s not the voters fault, i.e. it’s the “leaders” who bamboozled them. Of course that only works if the voters are easily bamboozled. The Times‘ arrogance really shines through in a phrase like this one:

Mr. Miller’s possible victory shows…the misguided popularity of his anti-immigrant, pro-gun message.

What exactly is “misguided popularity?” Isn’t this just a clumsy way of saying that voters who believe in border control and the second amendment are wrong? And here again is the suggestion they were guided by someone, sort of like sheep. This is the picture being painted, a heard of simpletons being goaded by base emotions of fear and rage.

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Now, if you’re someone on the left, all of this may sound pretty plausible to you. If so, may I suggest that the view the Times‘ is selling is itself a species of fear-mongering, one which you’ve apparently bought into it.

To help make this clearer, try paraphrasing the Times‘ outburst as…Republicans are threatening to overrun the border this November! Or perhaps…Republicans want to build a conservative power center near the Capitol. There’s no nuance here, just a naked appeal to fear of “the other.” The Times is implying that a new dark ages lies ahead should the Pax Romana of progressive hegemony in Washington come to an end. Hide the women and children! The barbarians are at the gates of Martha’s Vineyard!

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Well, speaking as one of the barbarians, an editorial this arrogant really only deserves a curt Germanic retort. No, not that one. How about this: November kommt.