ER,
If I am reading you correctly, you feel that Mutz's argument is a wedge that serves the real villains- that attributing bigotry to those that supported Trump is a simplistic approach that serves the agenda of those that wish to further divide.

I disagree- I believe Dr. Mutz is identifying the wedge, not creating it.

The political right in this nation- and other nations- succeeds by stoking the fears of the middle class - coaxing them to blame the most vulnerable in society- those with the least political power - for their ills. Ills that have, in large part, been inflicted on them by the very people manipulating them.

The fact that the Trump voters were manipulated does not absolve them of their guilt, nor does it indicate that common-cause could be found with them "if only we could find a way to reach them"... THAT is the kind of thinking that has led far too many on the left to treat the situation far too lightly. The far right is going to war on our democracy, and all too often the left acts as if its a simple question to be settled by rational debate.

Yes, those that supported Trump were manipulated, but they were eager 'victims'- they worked hard to allow themselves to be used. They knew they were being lied to, they knew the words of their candidate were antithetical to the foundational principles of our nation but they went along with it- reveling not in how much their candidate inspired them, but in how much their candidate horrified the left.

The manipulation only worked because they were predisposed to embrace the bigotry, the misogyny and fascism openly espoused by their candidate. There never was, nor will there ever be, common ground between us and the nihilistic bigots. There never can be - they have demonstrated their primary motivation is outraging the liberals... just google "liberal tears"...

They are not 'misled', they are not victims- they are the enemy, the barbarians at our gates- they cannot be reasoned with, they can only be driven back. They are a loud minority with no ideals- Good people with character define themselves by the ideals they stand for, these creatures only define themselves by the people they stand against.

Yes, the right has exploited them and used them to enrich the wealthy, but these sheep eagerly dragged the entire flock to the slaughter simply because it gave them pleasure to watch the others suffer- happy to pay with their own suffering in order to relish the suffering of others.

They are not to be pitied, they should be treated as the enemy- and beaten down in with every tool available to us within the rules of our democracy. They have been humiliated before, and if our nation is to survive they must be crushed again.

They have risen up before, but never have they been so desperate- they have openly positioned themselves on the side of treason... they have never before been so exposed, so vulnerable. They have always been, and always will be, a chronic disease of the human condition- never eradicated, but managed. If this current outbreak can be driven into remission when it has exposed itself so carelessly, then it will be a long time before it can flare up again.

And they know it...

If they fail now they will become the subject of scorn, and ridicule- “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”
They will be silenced once again by social norms, and be afraid to spew their venom.

If not then it is the abyss for us all- fascism does not offer you a second chance to get it right... And no forgiveness should be offered to those that are dragging us to that abyss.

Take note of those that have supported this atrocity, and make sure they own it for the rest of their miserable lives- never let them forget that they sold their souls to a mendacious narcissist, they abetted treason for no other reason than it pissed off liberals. Its not vengeance, it is self preservation- only by making an example of the bastards can we put off the next outbreak of their disease as long as possible.