I thought long and hard about even commenting on this new viral video that the wingnuts are screaming about...but it has made its way to the MSM. I might as well my views on what's being seen in the youtube clip.
Crosspost on my blog.
McCain and Palin have spent the last few days fueling hate by insinuating that Obama is friends with a domestic terrorist. Their desperate attempt to reverse the course of the Presidential race has incited their supporters to shout "Terrorists!", "Kill Him", and other racial inflammatory comments about Obama during these rallies. After receiving some negative feedback, the right has jumped on a youtube video to continually frighten white people about having a black President.
The video shows a group of middle school black males showing how positively Obama has affected their life. During the video, the young men shout that one will become a doctor because of Obama, and others go on to list their occupational aspirations which have resulted from Obama's campaign. The boys also recite information about Obama health care plan and speak about (black) families taking responsibilities for their children. Many black people know that the routines are based on "step" routines (similar to athletic drill/dance routines) performed by black sororities and fraternities and featured in such films as School Daze, Drumline, and Stomp the Yard. However, after viewing some conservative websites, it is easier and more interesting for them to see these young men as militant.
But a group of young, mostly white kids (some with military-looking face paint), praying to a cardboard cut out of Bush and speaking in tongues...that is OK! The old double standard. The same reason why Obama has to be so careful in how he appears...regardless of the fact that McCain can come off as a raging lunatic (thanks SNL), Obama can never be too angry otherwise he would automatically become the leader of the Black Panthers.
Which reminds me to another double standard perpetrated by some in the media. I watched most of Anderson360 on CNN last night, and they spent much of the program SHOWING long segments of McCain and Palin hurling attacks at Obama (which was the intent of the McCain camp). They did not spend anytime (or very little) SHOWING or discussing Obama's Keating response, until it was panel time. At that point, they lumped McCain and Obama together and said "they" were being negative, as to soften McCain role (or at least equate it to Obama's) in the mudslinging. They DID NOT spend lots of time explaining McCain role in the Keating 5 and certainly did not touch on the G. Gordon Libby aspect, Alaskan Independence Party, or Troopergate. Even when the story is detrimental, the McCain camp still gets the enormous benefit of television coverage and an explanation of their POV even though they initiated the negative campaigning.
Another day, another uproar, I can't wait for this election to be over and to see Obama become President. (I better look out for the wingnuts...I'm sure they think my last comment was a result of "indoctrination.")
The site of young black men yelling is soooo scary!!!! (I guess it is too much to ask viewers to LISTEN to what the young men are saying!)
But face paint, speaking in tongues, and praying to a cardboard Bush: NO PROBLEM!