We pretend it doesn't exist, so we substitute other terms for it like "racism". All they have to point to is one of their Uncle Toms to sleaze their way out of that charge. Its like saying that because we have women CEOs and millionaires there must obviously be no sexism.

We need a new term, one that doesn't rely on cliches and generalizations like "southerner", or "racist", or even "rightist" to specify this class. Because that's what it is, a historically recognized social and economic class, a subset of society that sees itself as distinct and separate (even superior!) from the rest because of shared values and interests. We need a technical term with no built-in values, connotations or stereotypes loading it.

I propose we use the traditional term that has been in use since the 18th century to denote the semi-prosperous, moving-on-up, terrified of the poor, simultaneously emulating and envying the elite, always threatened and continuously whining middle class.

(From Wikipedia)

Bourgeoisie (Eng.: /bʊərʒwɑːˈziː/; French pronunciation: ​[buʁʒwazi]) is a word from the French language, used in the fields of political economy, political philosophy, sociology, and history, which originally denoted the wealthy stratum of the middle class that originated during the latter part of the Middle Ages (AD 500–1500). The utilization and specific application of the word is from the realm of the social sciences. In sociology and in political science, the noun bourgeoisie and the adjective bourgeois are terms that describe a historical range of socio-economic classes. As such, in the Western world, since the late 18th century, the bourgeoisie describes a social class “characterized by their ownership of capital, and their related culture”; hence, the personal terms bourgeois (masculine) and bourgeoise (feminine) culturally identify the man or woman who is a member of the wealthiest social class of a given society, and their materialistic worldview (Weltanschauung). In Marxist philosophy, the term bourgeoisie denotes the social class who owns the means of production and whose societal concerns are the value of property and the preservation of capital, in order to ensure the perdurance of their economic supremacy in society.

Don't worry, Conservatives. Just because the commies used this word, doesn't mean they invented it. Its OK to utter it without fear of being labeled a Communist. Besides, whether we like it or not, you and I both belong to this class. The difference between you and me is that I know that, and you don't.

You will note that even though he is satirically (and perhaps unfairly) depicted by the artist as an ineffectual, effeminate fop, he is still armed, not necessarily for a duel with one of his own class, but primarily against the rabble that might want to loot his well-lined purse (note it hanging right below his sword). He is not just narcissistic, he's paranoid, too.

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose