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Contempt for it on the merits aside, one has to acknowledge the propagandistic genius of exploiting harmless-to-power identity politics as the feel-good cover for perpetuating and even strengthening the neoliberal order and further entrenching corporate and imperial power.
From GCHQ bathing itself in the rainbow flag to CIA celebrating Women's Day to General Dynamics waving the BLM banner, this tactic is now perfectly honed to make liberals swoon and believe they're supporting revolutionary change as they actually cheer for status quo power.
Kamala Harris -- from a policy perspective -- is as conventional a politician as it gets. Wall St, arms manufacturers, neocons & AIPAC are expressly swooning over Biden's choice.
Yet CNN & NYT depict her candidacy as subversive & radical. The propagandistic potency is stunning.
Yet CNN & NYT depict her candidacy as subversive & radical. The propagandistic potency is stunning.
A great explanation of this tactic came when I interviewed @AOC back when she was running against Joe Crowley. She explained: identity politics can be an important factor in shaping one's prism, but is often used to smuggle in "trojan horses" to perpetuate status quo power:
This tactic is not new. It's been cultivated for years. In 2015, I wrote: "Support for institutions of militarism and policies of imperialism is now manufactured by parading them under the emotionally manipulative banners of progressive social causes." https://theintercept.com/2015/05/18/exploitation-social-issues-generate-support-militarism-imperialism/
This brilliant tactic ensures that opposition to corporatism & imperialism is demonized as bigoted (!).
In 2014, I was profiled by GQ & asked about a likely Hillary/Jeb! race in 2016. This is how I described the evolving Dem/corporatist strategy to ensure eternal neoliberalism:
In 2014, I was profiled by GQ & asked about a likely Hillary/Jeb! race in 2016. This is how I described the evolving Dem/corporatist strategy to ensure eternal neoliberalism:
