Andrea Tarantos Missing in Action at Fox; Chatter of National Review Conspiracies

This is what I call the Social Justice Warriorfication of the right.

Social Justice Warrioring -- identity politics -- posits as a central tenet that the tribe is pure and, more importantly, the other tribes are wicked and full of deceit and evil.

There is always some conspiracy by the other tribes afoot; their sorcerers are always working their dark magic.

Islamists are very sure that Muslim economies would be potent, if not for Jewish machinations and their strange magic of argentomancy. Black radicals are very certain that the CIA is smuggling crack into Compton and every black failure is rooted in "white supremacy." Feminists know the Patriarchy is powerful, terrifying, and full of rape.

And in some quarters on the right, this very same The Other Tribes Are All Scheming Against me thinking is not only indulged, but encouraged as the properly righteous mode of thought.

No, Andrea Tantaros, Charles Cooke was not trying to get you fired, and other people were not goofing on you because you're a "girl."

Embarrassing.

The National Review Cabal -- who of course has outsized (Jew-sized) influence at FoxNews-- must be trying to get her fired for being Too Right or "a girl."

This isn't just about Tarantos' claim -- I know some very, um, energetic Trump supporters are pushing this "Charles Cooke schemed to get Andrea Tarantos fired" line.

While not cited by FNC as a reason for her extended vacation, Tantaros recently claimed during a taping of Outnumbered that certain GOP Establishment-types were coming down hard on her for supporting Donald Trump; "They have been doing this. Specifically, Charles Cooke, who is a writer for National Review, he tweeted out that I should give my job to somebody else. Also, I saw a tweet, it was a meme by Kevin Williamson of National Review trying to make me seem stupid. There’s a girl talking about biorhythms, or something. So I’ve gotten my fair share as well from folks on the right and the left and in the media calling me stupid and Trump supporters as well… Exactly I should give up my job according to men in the Republican Party."

That's a left-wing feminist type of line -- the boys are out to get me because I'm "a girl"! -- and like most things left-wing feminists claim, it's bonkers.

Charles Cooke didn't try to get her fired or suggest she should lose her job in earnest. He replied to her claim that the entire structure of the conservative movement had accomplished absolutely nothing; to which Cooke replied, basically, well if that's true, and you're a part of that failed structure, you should probably do something else, huh?

He wasn't trying to get her fired or even suggest she should actually quit: He was trying to get her to examine her own over-statement, and think about the implications of so broad a claim.

I have no idea what the Wiliamson thing is about, but as it has the same pedigree as the Cooke lunacy, I tend to doubt it.

I notice this a lot in people, and frankly, in a lot of "conservative" women -- the grasping at these idiotic left-wing feminist tropes -- boys out to get me; they fear a strong woman, etc. -- when it's useful in an argument.

It's unprincipled, it's stupid, it's looney-tunes conspiracy thinking, and it's certainly not conservative.

This sort of conspiracy theory appeals to the weak and powerless, or at least those who don't have as much power as they think they ought to have. People who have a sense that their own world is beyond their control tend to find a conspiracy theory explaining the secret hands that work the gears and levers of the world empowering, in a sad way. People who feel more personal control over their own world know the world doesn't work like that.

"The Establishment" is a real thing, and it does have far too much power, and it must be chastened, but it is now an all-purpose left-wing identity-politics scare-figure and Conspiracy Theory Boogeyman to explain away every event that happens in the world.

Here's what I know about Charles Cooke (and all of National Review for that matter):

1. They don't have any particular power at Fox. They are occasional guests. They have the same power over Fox that, say, Scottie Nell Hughes has.

2. Charles Cooke does not give a shit about Andrea Tanataros' contract with Fox or any disputes that might be ongoing.

3. Stupid people leap to stupid reasons to explain things they don't have answers for, instead of just saying 'I don't know" like an intelligent person.

I don't know what's going on with Tantaros' contract or her book -- and neither do the leftwing/rightwing identity-politics race-powerists who think they pretty much know it all.

Note: I am indebted to Christina Hoff Sommers for pointing out that every identity politics cult is just a conspiracy theory with a racial (or gender) edge.

posted by Ace at 02:25 PM

| Access Comments