I hate these “Oh man, Sarah Palin’s supporters are so dumb!” videos that have been making the rounds lately. It’s the easiest thing in the world to find the dullest, least media-savvy members of a group, shove a microphone in their face, and allow them to make themselves look foolish. You could do the same thing at the Westminster Dog Show or the U.S. Open if you wanted — I’m sure there are plenty of nuts there too — but you wouldn’t prove anything about dog breeding or tennis by doing so.
Ultimately, the only purpose these videos serve is to pat you on the back for being wiser and smarter than those you disagree with, and to confirm and justify your contempt for them. It’s a form of ideological masturbation, and a habit well worth kicking. We’d all do much better to get off of YouTube, go find a smart Republican, and have our ideas challenged for a change.
