The conservative reaction to @KamalaHarris, including questions about whether she's Black enough, is both fascinating and revealing. Here's a way to understand it (THREAD). /1

It's almost impossible to overstate how consumed conservatives - both media figures and regular people - are with the idea that liberals constantly accuse them, unfairly, of being racist. They talk about this ALL THE TIME. /2

"The experience of being perceived as racist loomed large in the minds of conservative fans. In fact, every conservative respondent asked how he or she feels about talking politics raised the issue of being called racist without even being asked." /3

That's from "The Outrage Industry: Political Opinion Media and the New Incivility" by @JeffreyMBerry and @sobieraj. It's also a constant theme in conservative media: No matter what you do, liberals will call you a racist. /4

I know some of you are saying "That's because it's true." My point is that it's something conservatives think about a lot. If you're wondering why Tucker Carlson freaked out and said "I love the idea that she's immune from criticism!" when a guest politely asked.../5

...him to pronounce Harris' first name correctly, that's why. He's on a hair-trigger, ready to shout HOW DARE YOU CALL ME RACIST. To many on the right the Harris pick looks like a provocation, like Biden is baiting them to say things that liberals will use to call them racist. /6

Those programs are built on white grievance. You can see the hosts being simultaneously angry at the elevation of a woman of color and angry in advance that someone will call them racist when they inevitably say racist things about her. /7

Their ruminations on whether she's Black enough may be a way of preemptively justifying their attacks on her - "You can't call me racist for saying that about Harris, she isn't even Black." /8

This is all a noxious brew, and in the end conservatives will feel like the whole election validated all their rage and resentment. So: Good times ahead! /end