Matthew Dallek

Birchers by Matthew Dallak highlights the influence the extreme right has always had on the so-called mainstream right, in this case focusing on the John Birch Society.

This well researched work connects many of the dots that together make up the shift from a general right-wing way of thinking to an extremist sort of radical right which has now taken over the right in general and the Republican party in particular.

This is one of several books I've read over the past couple of years that trace the influence of fringe ideas on the trending of right wing thought toward exclusionary and hateful. The only subtle differences in these assessments seems to be how much resistance the writer wants to attribute the "traditional" or establishment conservatives. In other words, did the gradual shift occur grudgingly because the establishment needed some of the extremist vote, or did the establishment gradually work the ideas into their body of thought because to accept all of the rhetoric at once would alienate too many of their centrist voters? I lean toward the latter, but it is impossible to know with certainty what anyone, especially politicians, actually believe versus what they accept as part of compromise. But they seem to have consistently accepted these "compromises" with gusto, weaponizing them almost immediately upon inclusion.

This book, by using the Birchers as the focal point, offers a wonderful narrative to the more recent shifts in the political discourse from the right. While the reader will learn a lot, what will also be interesting is seeing things you knew about from a different perspective and within a very specific narrative. Very few of the events that might have seemed like isolated and unusual occurrences are really so isolated.

This is such a good read that even those who don't usually read political nonfiction will enjoy it. Granted, if you think all people are valuable and not just the ones who look or worship like you, you will like the book better. Those with misplaced and unjustified feelings of superiority and exceptionalism won't enjoy it so much, these people hate looking in the mirror, at least a mirror without a lot of distortion.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mere)