Article
The dehumanisation of conservatives
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
THIS week’s column was inspired by journalist Mario Nawfal’s X post highlighting the mainstream dehumanisation and demonisation of conservatives. It was a disheartening post that compelled me to write about this issue. Mario’s post underscored a well-known trend: the vilification of conservatives by mainstream media and left-leaning people.
Left-wing comedian Bill Maher, for instance, has noted this and has spent recent years calling for greater tolerance toward conservatives, pointing out the media’s bias against Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
For a decade, global media outlets and left-leaning politicians have branded Trump as a fascist or compared him to Hitler. American late-night comedy hosts, from Stephen Colbert, to Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon, turned their shows into platforms for anti-conservative rhetoric. This hyper-partisanship has been disheartening.
Corporate news outlets like CNN, BBC, and PBS, and many others, have also shown clear bias against conservatives over the years. Some of their anchors unfairly accused Elon Musk of performing a Nazi salute.
In his X post, Nawfal wrote, “Studies show half of left-leaning Americans see assassinating Trump or Elon as “somewhat justified.” Disturbing!
I watch Fareed Zakaria’s GPS (Global Public Square) every week and have admired Fareed since my undergraduate days at Rhodes University in Grahamstown (now Makhanda). In my observation, Fareed rarely invites Trump supporters to his show, opting instead to feature leftist guests who analyze global politics through an anti-Trump lens 95% of the time.
Hosting his GPS show from Ukraine during the week Charlie was assassinated, Fareed skipped Charlie’s assassination story. The big story of the week, and Fareed skipped it. Yet, when Jimmy Kimmel was suspended for insensitive comments about this heart-wrenching event, Fareed interviewed loser Hillary Clinton on “state censorship” in America.
This selective coverage—ignoring the major story of the assassination of Charlie Kirk while spotlighting a comedian’s suspension—reeks of bias from Zakaria.
On Kimmel’s alleged suspension, I align with Senator Rand Paul. It’s not a free speech issue. Sinclair, a private company that airs Kimmel’s show, has the right to demand an apology from Kimmel or remove him from the air. Private companies can set their own standards, regardless of perceived government involvement.
Personally, I don’t believe Kimmel’s show should return. Kimmel is less a comedian and more an anti-Trump TV personality who uses his platform to demonise Republicans.
Media’s coverage of the White House remains as politically charged and biased as it was during Trump’s first term, doing a disservice to America and the world. The media is struggling to accept that Democrats lost the election last year.
The practice of branding white conservatives as racists and black conservatives as “Uncle Toms” is not new but has been amplified by social media over the years.
Conservatives generally advocate for free markets, strong families, law and order, and traditional values—core principles they’ve upheld for decades. Yet, they face relentless attacks for these views.
On South Africa’s media
South Africa’s media is no better. Outlets like Daily Maverick and News24 are openly anti-Trump and have become a mouthpiece for South Africa’s government. For example, amid tensions between the US and South Africa, no mainstream outlet has pressed President Cyril Ramaphosa on his government’s role in the diplomatic fallout. Why are they not holding President Ramaphosa to account? Baffling!
When a SABC journalist challenged Dr. Mamphela Ramphele on her claim that there’s a Holocaust in Gaza, the journalist was taken off air. This suggests public figures can be allowed to make inflammatory claims on national TV without scrutiny— that’s dangerous for our democratic South Africa.
Now returning to America
The great thing is that Democrats currently control nothing in American governance and face record-low approval ratings. They don’t control the House, they don’t control the Supreme Court, they don’t control the Senate. They are leaderless. Media bias against Trump hasn’t helped Democrats.
Ezra Klein, a leftist New York Times columnist, earned my respect with his analysis of Charlie Kirk’s legacy, praising Charlie’s approach to politics despite their differences.
Klein’s recent interview with Ben Shapiro, a leading conservative from the right, was a refreshing example of civil discourse between opposing viewpoints. We need more of this globally.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk should be a wake-up call. Political hatred serves no one. In democracies worldwide, we should address challenges through cooperation, not division. Violence is not free speech.
If someone holds a different political view, engage them respectfully, even if you disagree. Don’t resort to labels like “racist” or “genocide supporter” when their arguments are grounded in facts and logic. Strong families are critical for economic prosperity, as statistics show. No need to demonise anybody promoting marriage and the family institution.
Lively, respectful debate strengthens democracy. Tolerance for differing views is essential. No one should fear for their safety over their political beliefs.
As for social media’s role in promoting violence, private social media companies should take action, though I’m unsure what form that should take. I’m unsure. PM
This article was first published on Politicsweb.co.za. Buy Phumlani’s book Lessons from Past Heroes here, and subscribe to his YouTube channel here.
© PHUMLANI M. MAJOZI