I don't think the issue is that non-extremists do not denounce the fringe, rather for most people, the fringe is the only exposure to Muslims they have. I know there are moderate Muslims, but I do not see them, I have not experienced knowing some, just because where I live there is not a sizable Muslim population.It is the same, and it creates the same issue. All Muslims become tainted by the actions of their fringe because too few Muslims speak out against them. Note that this does not mean all Muslims are terrorists, just this doesn't mean you're one of the wing-nut lunatic fringe. But, in both cases, when the fringe elements of one's ideology are not shouted down by the mainstream, the fringe becomes the face associated with the ideology.
For example, I know a lot of conservatives in my life, and they are very kind, respectful, generous people. I have more opportunity to know people in greater depth than what can, for example, be conveyed in a Drudge Report headline.
My initial intent was to offer a simple observation, that by attacking the left instead of the nutter loons embracing this asinine story, you tend to get associated with those loons. That was my $0.02. I fully recognize your right to respond or not respond as you see fit.
Part of it was like reverse psychology. His statement was an equivalence to the original post. I read it more as a joke. You're going to define conservatism based on one random website headline? Fine, I'm going to define liberalism based on your complaint of a random website headline.
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