"I've been demonized as a racist and an extremist. Now, no matter what I say, I mean, I've served in the military with people of all ethnicities and all races but it doesn't matter what I say, I still get demonized and implied to be a racist. So if anybody has any questions on where I stand on that they can ask my good friend Doug Taft who is sitting here on the side and ask him what he thinks about me being a racist"
About this Quote
The next tactic is the familiar alibi-by-proximity: "I've served in the military with people of all ethnicities and all races". It is designed to sound experiential and unassailable, like lived reality should outrank documented statements or affiliations. The subtext is that racism is only personal animus, not ideology, policy, or the predictable outcomes of political projects. By reducing the charge to interpersonal prejudice, he can offer a sentimental counterexample and treat the case as closed.
Then comes the rhetorical pivot: "it doesn't matter what I say", which simultaneously asserts sincerity and admits a refusal to engage the specifics. He is not disputing particular actions; he is disputing the legitimacy of the forum.
Finally, he outsources his character defense to "my good friend Doug Taft". That is not an argument; it is an appeal to testimonial credibility, the social equivalent of "trust me". It also shifts the exchange from public accountability to buddy verification. The intent is less to persuade skeptics than to reassure allies: the audience is invited to see Shea as unfairly branded, surrounded by reasonable people, and therefore absolved without having to confront the underlying record that produced the branding in the first place.
Quote Details
| Topic | Equality |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Shea, Matt. (2026, February 9). I've been demonized as a racist and an extremist. Now, no matter what I say, I mean, I've served in the military with people of all ethnicities and all races but it doesn't matter what I say, I still get demonized and implied to be a racist. So if anybody has any questions on where I stand on that they can ask my good friend Doug Taft who is sitting here on the side and ask him what he thinks about me being a racist. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-demonized-as-a-racist-and-an-extremist-185010/
Chicago Style
Shea, Matt. "I've been demonized as a racist and an extremist. Now, no matter what I say, I mean, I've served in the military with people of all ethnicities and all races but it doesn't matter what I say, I still get demonized and implied to be a racist. So if anybody has any questions on where I stand on that they can ask my good friend Doug Taft who is sitting here on the side and ask him what he thinks about me being a racist." FixQuotes. February 9, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-demonized-as-a-racist-and-an-extremist-185010/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've been demonized as a racist and an extremist. Now, no matter what I say, I mean, I've served in the military with people of all ethnicities and all races but it doesn't matter what I say, I still get demonized and implied to be a racist. So if anybody has any questions on where I stand on that they can ask my good friend Doug Taft who is sitting here on the side and ask him what he thinks about me being a racist." FixQuotes, 9 Feb. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-been-demonized-as-a-racist-and-an-extremist-185010/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
