We can fight about the fine points of what Barack Obama needs to do to make all Democrats happy and still get the votes from the "too busy for information" middle that he needs to win the election. But while we are verbally sparing with that, the right-wing hate just keeps coming.
Now I will admit I’m a white woman; my skin’s so pale it’s scary without makeup. So I can’t begin to fully catch on to all the subtleties of racism, I haven’t experienced that. But I know how to read, even between the lines.
We are used to the very direct anti-Obama email foolishness. But there is a more subtle approach taking root. I got an email this morning that didn’t take much mental facility to read the screaming racism that poured out onto my computer screen. Even to my, sometimes malfunctioning, mind the message against African American people was quite clear.
Email:
Just wondering...
Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa/Illinois and helping the folks affected by the floods?
Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago ?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines ?
Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa , because that's the way God wants it?
Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa/Illinois flooding ever again?
It is obvious to me that the email pretends to be promoting support for the people who have been devastated in the recent Midwestern flooding. No one could be against wanting help for any of our fellow citizens who have been through something like this. But it doesn’t even remind the reader to donate to the Red Cross!
What this piece of crap floating around in cyberspace is intended to say, by its use of names of celebs who have publicly opposed the Neo-cons, is that Democrats and the media favor African Americans over white people, that African American people behave terribly during disasters and AA elected leaders are unfit to govern, and by default YOU CAN’T TRUST THAT BARACK OBAMA, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.
I actually had a Republican throw all the so-called points up to me verbally a couple of weeks ago, he had admittedly heard it on the Rush Limbaugh show. Amazing that it is now making its way through the in-boxes of the country isn’t it? I guess the true believers got a taste of it first, to ensure they were familiar with the content and wouldn’t have to spend much time reading it before sending it around. Just a theory.
This sickening thing is meant to make white folks think that in a disaster they will be on their own in a Democratic administration, especially Obama’s. It is appealing to the "us vs. them" mentality. It is sad that the "us" is all of us out here trying to survive in this country, whether through this terrible economy, no or limited health insurance, or through a horrific disaster. I am sick of the ongoing efforts of these nasty people trying to divide ordinary Americans, all in the same leaking boat, by race. But it is all they have left, racism and fear-mongering.
I don’t know how to combat this, it is subtle, but I replied to the friend who sent it. I tried to gently point out its racist overtones, I also told her Rush Limbaugh said exactly the same thing on his show. She hates Limbaugh as much as I do, but she didn’t pick up on the overtones of this particular message.
I am only now starting to figure out how we have been completely bombarded by right-wing rhetoric for so long (years and years) and in so many ways. In my opinion, the hate rhetoric machine is one of the greatest obstacles to our Democracy. Progressives must find ways to counteract this machine. If not, then the hate radio, emails, and soundbites, ranging from extreme to subtle but so very carefully framed, will block any real changes for decades to come.