Are McCain and Palin inciting hate? Or just playing dirty?
"Bomb Obama!"
"kill him!"
"Hussein!"
Palin, as she warned us, took off the gloves and put on the heels and came out swinging. For the past week she has been riling up crowds at Republican rallies with one fearful question "Who is the real Obama?" The crowds have ate up this question like New York cheesecake. But the responses being yelled from the crowd has become filled with racial hatred, religious bigotry, and pure blood thirsty hate of those that are "different." Palin has looked exuberant as she spews not so subtle attacks at Obama's name, race, and supposed desire to overthrow the government. The crowds have laughed, cheered and seemed so happy to finally be able to release their hatred in a legitimate public forum. There have even been ballots sent out in upstate New York with Obama's name spelled 'Osama.' But in a country with the history of racial hatred and assassinations these kind of attacks are downright dangerous.
Here is one headline regarding this situation that captures the dark side of the McCain attacks perfectly:
Desperate McCain gives beat to the dark heart of conservatism - The Guardian
After planing the seeds of hate, today even McCain was appalled in two separate occasions during his rally today, appalled enough to speak out at last. The first was when a man stood up and discussed the fear he feels for his unborn child being born in an "Obama run America." McCain seemed to for the first time understand where things were heading and said, "First of all, I want to be president of the United States and obviously I do not want Senator Obama to be. But I have to tell you, I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as president of the United States." (This is when the booing begins). "Now I just, now look (said over booing), If I didn't think I'd be a heck of a lot better president I wouldn't be running. Now that's the point." Then later during the same rally a woman stood up and said she was afraid of Obama because she read he was "an Arab." (Note: some chuckling from the crowd could be heard after she said this). McCain looked fedup and quickly responded by saying, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man and citizen." The audience then booed him again.
Even Republicans are responding negatively to these dangerous attacks. Today writer Frank Schaeffer (Baltimore Sun) wrote a scathing article imploring McCain to stop encouraging this hatred. Here are some quotes from his piece.
John McCain: If your campaign does not stop equating Sen. Barack Obama with terrorism, questioning his patriotism and portraying Mr. Obama as "not one of us," I accuse you of deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate, and therefore of potentially instigating violence.
After discussing Palin he continues by saying, John McCain: In 2000, as a lifelong Republican, I worked to get you elected instead of George W. Bush. In return, you wrote an endorsement of one of my books about military service. You seemed to be a man who put principle ahead of mere political gain.
You have changed. You have a choice: Go down in history as a decent senator and an honorable military man with many successes, or go down in history as the latest abettor of right-wing extremist hate.
John McCain, you are no fool, and you understand the depths of hatred that surround the issue of race in this country. You also know that, post-9/11, to call someone a friend of a terrorist is a very serious matter. You also know we are a bitterly divided country on many other issues. You know that, sadly, in America, violence is always just a moment away. You know that there are plenty of crazy people out there...Stop! Think! Your rallies are beginning to look, sound, feel and smell like lynch mobs...stop stirring up the lunatic fringe of haters, or risk suffering the judgment of history and the loathing of the American people - forever.
We will hold you responsible.
Read full article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.mccain10oct10,0,7557571.story
It is a very powerful sincere and much needed article. Even Christopher Buckley, son of conservative icon William F. Buckley, is backing Obama. He wrote today, "This campaign has changed John McCain," Buckley wrote. "It has made him inauthentic. A once-first class temperament has become irascible and snarly; his positions change, and lack coherence; he makes unrealistic promises, such as balancing the federal budget 'by the end of my first term.' Who, really, believes that?..."Then there was the self-dramatizing and feckless suspension of his campaign over the financial crisis," Buckley added. "His ninth-inning attack ads are mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, not to belabor it, there was the Palin nomination. What on earth can he have been thinking?"
What we can gather from McCain and Palin's attacks this week is that they have not interested in the minority vote or vote of anyone who is not like them. If they win will they be running a two-tiered government one for first class citizens, White, upper-class citizens, and Soccer moms and a second class system for minorities? I wonder what all the honest hardworking family men who just happened to be named Hussein are feeling right now? What kind of harassment are they dealing with? Why would McCain and Palin believe igniting racial hatred is a positive way to win the White House? How will they protect the rights of the diverse citizens of the United States if they are basically telling them, "We don't give a shit about you. You are an invader, a terrorist."
I am sadden by what I am witnessing. I just hope bigotry doesn't win.
p.s. BREAKING NEWS - As of an hour ago a bipartisan committee found vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin guilty of abusing her powers as Alaska governor...can't wait for the final debate.
Hubbell Gardiner: People are more important than their principles