Calandro--A Right Wing Blog Case Study

Former 99X Morning Show Producer Christopher Calandro is a self described neo-conservative.  His recent blog posting is symptomatic of a phenomenon I see in a lot of right wing blogs:  it's ok to be prejudiced against Muslims.

Calandro writes:

While all Muslims aren't terrorists, according to MY market research, all terrorists are Muslims.  When we refuse to profile at airport security points we look stupid and vulnerable.

And before you cry "racist," or "bigot," know that I'm not alone in this thinking, citizens.

[From NewsMax.com]

U.S. Poll: Large Minority Fear, Mistrust Muslims

Nearly four in 10 Americans admit having feelings of prejudice against Muslims living in the U.S.  -- are in favor of having Muslims carry a special ID, a new Gallup poll reveals.

Also, 22 percent of those surveyed said they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor.

...

When I can't take a GOD-damned bottle of water on my DOMESTIC flight, it feels as if the Islamic fascists have won. 

Makes me want to punch an imam.  Firebomb a mosque.  Burn a turban.

To paraphrase Christopher and NewsMax, don't feel bad about your prejudice against Muslims--you're not alone.  But the NewsMax article doesn't give you the entire picture.  They omit the following from the same Gallup Poll:

12. Next, I'm going to read a list of various groups of people. If I read the name of a group that you would NOT like to have as neighbors, please say so. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

2006 Jul 28-30 (sorted by "would not like")	Would not like as neighbor	Would like/ would be okay/ wouldn't bother	No opinion
	%	%	%
Drug addicts	92	8	*
Heavy drinkers	72	26	2
Homosexuals	27	71	2
Arabs	24	72	3
Muslims	22	75	4
Immigrants or foreign workers	19	76	5
Hindus	14	80	5
Jews	4	94	2
* Less than 0.5%

Last time I checked, unless you count the last season of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, homosexuals, who beat out Arabs, aren't responsible for a lot of terrorism. My guess is that if you subtract the 19% garden variety bigots, who didn't want to live next door to "immigrants or foreign workers" from the 24% who didn't want to live next door to Arabs, then you're left with 5% who share Calandro's thinking.

Our collective outrage against terrorists is legitimate.  It starts to lose its legitimacy when we that outrage against people whose only crime is sharing the religion of terrorists.

Update 8/14/2006 5:10 PM
Calandro has posted a response on his blog.  I'll let him have the last word.