How has ignoring the LaRouche people and the 9/11 Truthers worked out? And moon landing conspiracy theorists? Birthers are winning sympathizers because their crypto-racist message appeals to people who are looking for a pseudo-rational outlet for the discomfort and cognitive dissonance they feel about having a black president, or even just a president they didn't vote for. If nothing else, treating it as kind of goofy and harmless makes it more acceptable for people to associate with, defend and give audience to them. If nothing else, treating it as kind of goofy and harmless allows people to go along with it "for fun" without being confronted for the racist rhetoric that they are mindlessly spewing.
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