The book “White Rural Rage: The Threat To American Democracy” was discussed on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” with authors Paul Waldman and Tom Schaller.
Schaller labeled white rural voters as racist, conspiracist, and anti-democratic, accusing them of supporting QAnon, election denialism, and excusing violence.
“Why are white rural voters a threat to democracy at this point? You would think, looking at Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s background, that the opposite would be true,” Mika Brzezinski asked.
He highlighted their views on free speech, the press, and belief in unchecked presidential power as threats to democracy.
“They’re the most racist, xenophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, geodemographic group in the country. Second, they’re the most conspiracist group. QAnon support and subscribers, election denialism, COVID denialism and scientific skepticism, Obama birtherism,” Schaller said.
“Third, anti-democratic sentiments. They don’t believe in an independent press, free speech. They’re most likely to say the president should be able to act unilaterally without any checks from Congress or the courts or the bureaucracy,” he said.
This demographic is the most likely to “excuse or justify violence as an acceptable alternative to peaceful public discussion,” he claimed.
