Well, the political discussions between me and my PUMA friend never cease to amaze me. I posted this video from the recommended diary up top to my MySpace in a bulletin:
If you haven't seen the video yet It is amazingly scary. I posted this text with the video in my bulletin:
This is what John McCain has been reduced to. Stoking peoples racist fears about Obama, in the hopes that there are enough racists out there to turn the election his way.
He has gone from representing something to being the anti-Obama for these people.
What a sad state of affairs for a man I once admired. Too bad it won't work. He just comes off as crotchety, old, and angry.
I should have known this video would envoke a violent reaction from my PUMA friend. ANd what do you know? I was right. He is so predictable:
This is not helpful to America. The filmmakers and you by reposting this are trying to paint McCain/Palin supporters as a monolithic group comprised of stupid, hateful, and uninformed right-wing nuts. When in reality, this is just a handful of people. Even though I'd agree that there are, unfortunately, a large number of people like this in the US....there are plenty in the Obama camp as well. I saw another independent video like this where a bunch of Obama supporters (mostly black) were asked if they supported certain Obama policies while it was actually McCain policies that were being quoted. It was intended to show that the supporters were uniformed and only voting for Obama because he is black. Now you don't see me reposting something like that....whY? because it isn't helpful to the political dialogue we should be having in america right now. It is not John McCain stoking racism in America right now. It is YOU! By reposting this video when you know the intention. Just as it would be ME if I had reposted that other stupid video. You should be ashamed.
Wow. Just look at the logic he is using there. I am a race-baiter simply for posting the video. I am the reason this campaign has gotten so ugly. All because I post a video on MySpace that shows the caliber of people who attend McCain-Palin rallies. Here is my response to him:
Reality must hurt, but McCain IS stoking racism by allowing Palin to say that Obama "is palling around with terrorists." By letting speakers at his rallies call him "Barack Hussein Obama." Does that help further this dialogue that you speak of? John McCain's campaign has said that they want to "turn the page on the economy" and focus on smearing Obama. John McCain brought this atmosphere of hatred to his campaign. He alone did it, not me. So stop trying to blame me for these peoples despicable behavior. If you want to direct your righteous indignation at someone, aim it at the man who leads this campaign of distractions. If you don't like it, you don't have to watch. These people are out there and they exist. I wonder what they think about homosexuals getting married in California? This is the campaign you support. Deal with it.
I mentioned gay marriage in California to him, because he is gay and lives there. He is constantly posting bulletins to defeat Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage law on the ballot there in November. It never ceases to blow my mind how he can continue to support McCain when this issue is so important to him. I wonder what would happen if he went to one of the McCain-Palin rallies with a sign that said "Gays 4 McCAIN!." Well, I would never actually suggest he do that, because his life would be in danger. Here is his second response to me:
Then, at best, you are no better. Gonna leave it at that.. b/c a rational rebuttal to ridiculous statements never culminates in any understanding from you. It's disgusting.
Aww, that's sad. He is taking his toys and going home, because he can't talk any sense into me. HA! Him talking sense to me? Oh, the irony is too rich. Here is my final response to him:
Don't run away, Tim! I would love to see you perform the mental contortion that one would need to prove that this behavior by these people is not a direct result of the campaign McCain has been running for the past week. He cannot win on the issues, so he relies on smears and character assassinations. Defend it. I dare you. Also, stop comparing me to these people, it is a cheap logistical ploy to lessen the impact of these peoples behavior in your own mind. It might work on you, but it sure doesn't work on me.
Sadly, Tim decided not to respond to my call for him to defend the way McCain has been running his campaign for the last week. Unfortunately, Tim decided not to rise to the challeng.
I wonder why? Probably because McCain and his campaign's behavior is indefensible.