One of the stars of Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” reboot (now just called “Queer Eye”) is in hot water after suggesting that perhaps not all Republicans are racists, The Wrap reports.
Jonathan Van Ness, who is far from Republican, dared to tell fans in a Twitter explanation of Tuesday’s nights favorable Democratic primary results that they should be “tolerant” of other points of view and not immediately assume everyone who disagrees with them politically is, by definition, evil.
Looking for political compromise, Van Ness noted, can lead to victories.
“Luckily a lot [of] extreme right people won yesterday, meaning that if we can come up w center left candidates we can take back the house & senate, not to mention many state legislatures. It is so important for the left to not go too left or we are done for,” Van Ness tweeted.
“Not all republicans are racist,” he added, in a second Tweet, issued a bit later. “Just like not all democrars [sic] are evil, we have to stop demonizing each other,” he continued. “Unless you’re actually racist then you suck, Trump is Racist – not all his voters are necessarily we gotta remember we are all in this together.”
Not all republicans are racist. Just like not all democrars are evil, we have to stop demonizing eachother. Unless you’re actually racist then you suck, Trump is Racist – not all his voters are necessarily we gotta remember we are all in this together.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 15, 2018
That, it turns out, was the wrong thing to say. Twitter — and Van Ness’ mentions, no doubt — lit up, as leftists took the reality television makeover show star to task for so much as suggesting his political allies come into contact with anyone who might challenge their views.
Ah, yes… “mutual understanding” with racists…. pic.twitter.com/sFkoIZ70hS
— Backwoods Barbie (@LGBTmayo) August 15, 2018
This is the worst political advice ever. Progressive candidates that actually stand for something are how we win. Running towards the center with Clinton just gave us 4 years of Trump – let’s not be silly again. People want universal healthcare… period.
— ಠ_ಠ (@jizzywinks) August 15, 2018
yeah totally, my jewish ass needs to stop demoniz–https://t.co/Ik71RWTvzc
— hannah moskowitz (@hannahmosk) August 15, 2018
Others accused Van Ness of — what else — privilege.
take it from a fellow white gay person; we still have a LOT of privilege here, and there are a lot of people we need to be listening to. and telling your fans, who are largely minorities, that they need to recognize the very fine people on both sides is not the way.
— hannah moskowitz (@hannahmosk) August 15, 2018
And what is there to compromise over? A failing system that serves only the privileged? Gurl bai! pic.twitter.com/7zxYUMXnUB
— crazy sticks to me, like ribs (@OldGenQueer) August 15, 2018
Frankly, Van Ness’ political advice is solid: the majority of voters fall somewhere in the middle, between the two parties, and well between the two political extremes. Centrist Democrats — and, for that matter, centrist Republicans — do tend to do better in statewide elections (though they don’t always do better in Congressional elections).
Fortunately, Van Ness isn’t letting the backlash get to him. In fact, he’s not just taking it in stride; he’s criticizing his critics for taking things just a bit too seriously.
Also if you’re upset at a tweet I made leave gurl bai! Being able to compromise is what’s missing from both sides of the American political situation & the sooner we all get to a place of mutual understanding the sooner we will get out of this mess.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 15, 2018
He even made a video, posted to Twitter where he made a vain attempt to explain his position. Bottom line? “We have to be able to not demonize the right.”
Unlike his makeovers, which thrill a nation, Van Ness’ argument is likely to go without notice.