Because I’ve been a little busy the past few days, I haven’t read The New Republic‘s 22 pages on Scott Walker.

Others have, including Ann Althouse:

I live in Wisconsin, and I’ve been following Scott Walker since the 2010 election here, and I have no idea what the “toxic strain of racial politics” refers to. But congratulations to TNR for its eye-catching and weird sexualization of Walker:“Scott Walker Is So Hot Right Now” and for having the nerve to sub-head with “too bad” as you smear him with the accusation of “toxic strain of racial politics.” That “too bad” belongs in the annals of self-refuting statements. Anyone can within one second perceive that The New Republic isn’t the slightest bit sad that there’s this dirt to throw at Walker… this invented dirt for all I can tell. …

I have now read the long article, and the closest thing to anything racial coming directly from Scott Walker is his support over the years for voter ID laws. Much of the article is about the demographics of Milwaukee and the suburban counties around it, including the history — going back into the early 20th century — of how black people migrated to the city and did not — as white people did — relocate into the suburbs.

Milwaukee is an extreme example of this historical pattern, but Scott Walker didn’t make this happen, and given that Scott Walker built his political career in the Milwaukee area, it’s actually impressive that TNR could not find racial incidents and slips to pin on him.

The article also focuses on 2 talk radio hosts — Mark Belling and Charlie Sykes — who have big audiences in Milwaukee. TNR has little direct racial material on them, but it forefronts the one truly ugly thing it has: Belling mocking a specific black person, Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Mostly, TNR accuses Belling and Sykes of indulging in dog-whistle politics about crime and dependence on welfare.

I suspect that Alec MacGillis wrote a more balanced and sane draft but that TNR editors punched it up, trying to make it racial so they could justify that ridiculous sub-heading on the cover and the title and sub-head at the article. The Unelectable Whiteness of Scott Walker! Terrible. MacGillis provides some material about Scott Walker’s early life, mostly about how he’s the son of a Baptist preacher who took religion and politics very seriously from an early age. Some of that is sympathetic, though it’s dotted with quotes from individuals who have reason to want to block Walker’s ascent.

The Power Line Blog adds:

This is completely insane. I have followed Walker’s career for a long time, and there is nothing in his record that can plausibly be given a racial tinge. What does TNR have on him? He supports voter ID legislation. That’s it. Of course, every Republican politician supports voter ID, as do a lot of Democratic pols. As for voters, I believe most polls show around 70% support. All of which is to say that the New Republic’s smear is pathetic, made up out of whole cloth.

What we see here is one more attempt to convince voters that it is “racist” to be a conservative. Governor Walker has turned a state deficit into a surplus, lowered taxes, reformed education, and returned power to the people rather than corrupt, coercive public sector unions. What on Earth is “racist” about that? Nothing, of course. People of all races benefit from clean, efficient government and lower taxes.

I often hear it said that people are intimidated because they are afraid of being called “racists.” Can this possibly be true? One wouldn’t think so. At least 99% of the time, the Democrats’ charges of “racism” relate to matters that have nothing whatever to do with race. That being the case, the Democrats’ claims should be met with scorn, derision, contempt, laughter. Their huffing and puffing about race is obviously a symptom of a party that is intellectually bankrupt and morally depraved. It is time to punch back twice as hard.

See, according to Democrats and liberals, if you criticize Barack Obama, you’re a racist. If you criticize Hillary Clinton, you’re sexist. If you criticize U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) or state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), you’re a racist and sexist. If you criticize U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), you are a sexist homophobe.

What is really racist is asserting that Milwaukee minority families’ children should be stuck in the disaster area that is Milwaukee Public Schools without any better options. What is really racist is the belief that Milwaukee minority families don’t care, or shouldn’t care, about the rampant crime in inner-city Milwaukee. (Know who the most popular victim of black criminals is? Other blacks. The nine-year-old girl shot in a crossfire between two black men is, yes, black.) What is really racist is assuming that someone’s skin color should determine for which party they vote, particularly since the Democrats have done such a horrible job for minorities. (Check out the non-white unemployment rate.)

American Thinker concludes: