Republican Anti-Woke Culture War Agenda is a Loser

 Woke Doesn't Mean What You Think it Does

A Conservative Case for Why The Church Should Lead the Way in Being Woke

When did "Woke" Become a Four Letter Word 

Some of the more shrill voices among the Republican extremist right have been putting their anti-woke, culture war agenda right out in front of their news media appearances and getting plenty of attention.  If the strategy of the news media was to put it there for the purpose of exposing its flaws, and betting that once people see that the full extent of the whole agenda is nothing more than a distraction that keeps Republicans from focusing on, and handling, the real problems government should be handling, then the strategy is working like a charm.  

Florida's governor has received the most attention for his abrasive, "anti-woke" crusade, tearing through the civil rights of Floridians like one of the hurricanes that shred the peninsula's cities and towns in the summer.  He's running for President and is trying to get traction by doing things that he thinks will please enough of the base to gain some traction and get the nomination.  It doesn't appear to be working very well.  And it seems the biggest culprit putting a dent in his intentions is his identification with the term, "anti-woke."  

According to Roger Lovette, the author of the first article at the top, and a retired pastor and author from Clemson, South Carolina, woke means "being alert to social and racial discrimination and injustice."  People can see the racism and bigotry in Desantis and his approach to Florida politics.  And the fact of the matter is that while there will always be some Americans who are steeped in that kind of ignorance, there are far more Americans who are genuinely "woke" by definition and are willing to elect politicians who will, along with their own efforts, work to achieve justice.  

Though the news media has been caught up in reporting about the possible candidates for the GOP nomination in 2024, because they can't seem to bring themselves to talk about a growing economy, the fact that there's no recession, inflation is abating, unemployment is at record low points and the dollar is strong, it hasn't helped the Republican candidates who are getting all the attention.  The polling data shows people moving away from the MAGA party and its politics, in numbers too big to ignore.  It's not catching on.  

Nor has there been a groundswell of support in Florida for the Desantis de-facto presidential campaign.  Lawsuits are beginning to hit the courts, and my guess is that most of what the news media reports about the various parts of Desantis' agenda will be ruled unconstitutional by the time the first ballots are cast in the primaries.  Protesters have been numerous, there has been some outright rejection and defiance, refusal to cooperate and protection of the rights of private citizens. 

Why the Whole Anti-Woke Agenda is Going Nowhere

There's one main reason why this whole anti-woke approach is failing.  It is anti-American.  

That's it.  

It gets a lot of media attention, and that's really been the whole point of just about everything Ron Desantis, and Donald Trump, have done over these past few months.  Trump declared he would be arrested on Tuesday, and anyone who knows his record of accuracy for making such predictions knows that had no chance of happening.  But it got him several days of feverish news coverage and kept the GOP race for the party nomination in the news cycle.  It covers up the good stuff that the Biden Administration is doing.  

I have not heard one thing, in the whole time that the media has been focusing on the Republican 2024 nomination, that is an actual plan for the benefit of the American people, or that anything they are doing will help, or will demonstrate leadership and governing ability.  Nothing.  Zero.  Nada.  It's all about trying to use the government to force a particular worldview on the country.  The Republicans are proposing an oppressive, ideological tyranny.  

And there are more than enough Americans willing to set aside partisan loyalty and see how dangerous this is to their freedom.  More than enough, if we all use our minds and get our bodies to the polling places.