Uncritical American Leftists (and Europeans when they want to look down on America) say that all the time, holding up Europe as the epitome of what America should be. There’s no straw man there. It’s especially bad when you’re talking to somebody spouting that nonsense, and ask them how the Europeans feel about Romanis. Suddenly it’s not racism, it’s realism.

For the record, I lean left on most issues.

Edit: Wow, there’s already someone saying it elsewhere in this very comment section!