Over the past several weeks, politicians such as Sarah Palin, Congresswoman Bachman, and John McCain have sought to divide the country into "Real" and "Fake" America. Those who live in more Republican-leaning parts of the country compose "Real" America, and according to Palin, are more patriotic and more "pro-America."
In contrast, those who do not reside in "real" America are dismissed as "elitists." Indeed, when asked to define the elitists, John McCain has repeatedly listed NEW YORK CITY and WASHINGTON, D.C. A McCain spokeswoman similarly cast Northern Virginia aside as not part of "real" Virginia.
What do the lessons of 9/11 teach us about "real" and "fake" America?
As everyone is aware, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 hit New York City, and the Pentagon, in Arlington, VA, and it is widely acknowledged that the plane that crashed in PA was intended to hit another target in Washington, DC.
In the wake of 9/11, the country came together in response to that terrible tragedy. During that period of unity, New York City was America's city. The mayor of that City was called "America's mayor." As Barack Obama and others have commented, George Bush squandered a real opportunity to embrace the unity of the country and ask America to sacrifice. Instead, he improperly took advantage of the threat of terrorism to scare the country, and abused his authority, and the fear his administration inspired, to limit civil liberties and commit the country to a disastrous war under false pretenses. It was not only an opportunity wasted, but an abuse of a national tragedy for political purposes.
Seven years later, the Republican party has done it agaiin. Predictably, the McCain campaign has used the threat of terrorism to scare people. "America's mayor" - - Mr. Giuliani - - dismissed Obama as a "community organizer", and employed words like "cosmopolitan" in his speech at the Republican convention to describe Obama. He clearly tried to portay Obama as not part of "real" America. At the same time, Giuliani implied that Obama would not protect the country from terrorism (ironic from someone whose single biggest claim to political fame is presiding over a city that suffered the worst terrorist attack in the country's history). He is "America's mayor" no more.
Sarah Palin's convention speech also was high on divisive rhetoric that sought to divide the country into "real" and "fake" America - - although her language was not yet that direct. She dismissed community organizing, played up her roots in "small town" America, took maximum advantage of "bittergate", and characterized Obama as the liberal figure who speaks to "us" one way in Pennsylania, and talks about us another way when in San Francisco.
Let us not forget that the McCain campaign inappropriately played images and video from the 9/11 terrorist attacks to further instill fear among Americans, and exacerbate division in the country.
Now, as the election approaches, the Republicans have stopped disguising their efforts to divide the country. Bachmann alleged that Obama had "anti-american" views. Palin characterized some parts of the country as more "pro-America" than others. The McCain campaign dismissed northern Virginia as not part of "real" Virginia. When asked to identify the "elitists" that have become the scourge of the Republican party, McCain identified New York City, and Washington, D.C.
It is tragic that the Republican party and McCain campaign seek to take advantage of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but at the same time dismiss those people who live and work in the towns that were directly attacked as "elitists" regions of the country that are not part of the "real" "pro-America" parts of America. It is truly disgusting.
Were those who perished part any less patriotic, or "pro-America" than people who lived in rural Pennsylvania, or southwest Virginia? Of course not!
The party who used 9/11 for political purposes to play to the worst tendencies of fear during the Bush administration is at it again.
As Obama and the Democrats rightfully discuss how the time period following 9/11 was a wasted opportunity to call on the country for sacrifice, and use the campaign to stress the need for the country to come together not as "red states" or "blue states", but as the "United States," the Republicans again are trying to divide the country. In the process, McCain is calling those who live in New York and Washington - - the areas that were actually attacked - - "elitists" who are less patriotic and not as "pro-America" as the people who support his campaign.
It is just another example of how the Republicans have used fear and tried to divide this country, while the Democrats are trying to appeal to the best of the country to achieve unity in pursuit of a common purpose.
I wish that the Obama campaign, and/or the national media would expose this as just another example of the Republicans shamefully using 9/11 for political purposes. They need to be called on it.