I am not the one to play the race card or assume that someone is racist right away. It takes a lot of evidence for me to claim that someone is racist. Even though I am an Obama supporter, I never thought that Bill and Hillay Clinton were racists. Instead I thought they were race baiting to bring out the worst in people to their advantage. While I understood the need to win the primaries, I didn't agree with that strategy. But at no time did I ever think they were being racists.
However, after watching last night's debate, I have to say I have no other way to think about this other than the fact that McCain is in fact racist. I am offering some evidence below and you can decide for yourself.
Last night a few things happened at the debate that convinced me that McCain is a racist.
- His correction of Oliver's, the African American questioner, use of the term bailout versus rescue plan at first sat unwell with me. I said whatever in my head and continued to watch. However, then he went on to assume that Oliver didn't know about Fannie and Freddie which I thought was odd at best and condescending at worst. I didn't think racism there but elitism surely came into my head.
- Then when McCain tried to answer what the bailout might mean for Oliver, he talked about how Americans like Alan, the previous White questioner, can stay in his home with his jaw dropping mortgage bailout proposal.
So this rescue package means that we will stabilize markets, we will shore up these institutions. But it's not enough. That's why we're going to have to go out into the housing market and we're going to have to buy up these bad loans and we're going to have to stabilize home values, and that way, Americans, like Alan, can realize the American dream and stay in their home.
- Then when another African American lady was asking her question McCain turned his back on her while he was pacing up and down. I know he might have been agitated or hyper so I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
- Throughout the night, apart from Oliver, for the most part, McCain didn't refer to any of the African American questioners by name while he referred to many of the white questioners by name. Minor point I thought. Maybe he was caught up in the moment and wanted to focus on the question. Another benefit of doubt that I was willing to extend.
- Then McCain interrupted Obama when he was talking and stating that McCain thinks Obama is green behind his ear with an odd "thank you" which I wasnt sure if it meant that Obama should shut up or he was grateful to Obama for bringing up McCain's talking point. Odd, I thought, willing to let it pass, but thought it was unstatesmanlike and unbecoming of a presidential candidate.
- Then came the now infamous finger jabbing "that one" comment. At about this time I was stunned. While many can argue that this comment was an unfortunate and poorly judged comment on McCain's part, I was unwilling to give him a pass on this one given the smear attacks of the week, given his pacing up and down when Obama was talkiing, his interruption of Obama while he was talking, his assumption about what Oliver may know or not know, and his answering of how Alan can keep his home as "Americans" even though it was Oliver, the OTHER American who asked that question.
- Adding on to more dehumanizing comments, McCain stated about Obama,
This is the most liberal big-spending record in the United States Senate.
The pattern of dismissal was too great for me to ignore by now.
- At the end of the debate, many have noted he refused to shake hands with Obama and I didn't see him interact with Michelle although he might have.
yes, it is a possibility that McCain just exercised bad judgment. However, I think he has clearly expressed his disrespect for Obama and I dont think he would have talked that way to Senator Biden or Clinton. So what is it that Obama brings to the table that makes McCain think that his bad behavior is acceptable?