by Eyck Freymann
I always knew this day would come, the moment when the Republicans resorted to the lowest level of hatemongering to go after Obama. We've seen bits and pieces of it before; John McCain was on the butt end of it eight years ago in South Carolina. But rather than applying his mavericity, if you will, to run a clean campaign, he has pulled on board the same operatives who slandered him in 2000. Now they are stirring the hatred brew, raising suspicions that Obama is a Muslim and a terrorist.
Although I shy away from ascribing anti-Obama attacks to racism, there is no doubt that this recent onslaught of negativity is entirely racially oriented. Generally I believe that crying racism at every convenient movement hurts the credibility of people who actually do suffer from racism. However, there is no doubt that the right wing is engaging in a massive smear campaign to scare Americans into voting for the GOP.
In 2004, we were told that to criticize the President was to not be patriotic. They rode that horse as far it could take them, but now the situation calls for much more morally questionable tactics.
Whenever McCain speaks about Obama, people throughout the crowd shout "Terrorist", "Muslim", and "Kill him!". The "McCain-Palin Team" can deny that they are behind this racist fervor, but they are the ones who began to spout these lies about Ayers and the Weathermen.
It's difficult to explain this any other way than as racism by another name. This is not to say that all McCain supporters are racists. But it seems beyond doubt to me right now that the Republicans are using the new Southern Strategy, whereby they beat the battle drums and chant onward Christian soldiers to wage this "crusade" against the A-Rabs. The time has come for America to reject this new direction in our politics. Our body politic has taken a dramatic turn for the worst. The moment has become more important than ever; it has transcended the election to become a struggle between the forces of bigotry and the forces of tolerance.
Let's hope America picks the latter.
Yes we can.
3 comments:
And how long did the media say that John McCain was going to die in office? 4 weeks? Please.
When I went to the rally, there was simple booing when Obama's name was mentioned; no "Terrorist!" or "Muslim!". You assume the entire republican party thinks Obama is a terrorist. Don't stir this brew of lies.
McCain/Palin 2008
Look: I've talked with a number of people who have been infected by this sentiment. I've seen the videos. I've seen what the McCain people are saying. I'm convinced. We're just going to have to disagree.
True conservatism, when John McCain asked, "Who is the real Barack Obama?", someone screamed "A TERRORIST!" immediately. "Little Hussein" and "Barack Osama" jokes that we're all familiar with are not hidden, but in plain view. Imagine - if this doesn't end, violence could break out. Attack Obama on experience, foreign policy, or anything else. But don't generalize, and don't try to find patterns where none exist.
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