After reading a story from "The New York Observer" Black Congressmen Declare Racism In Palin’s Rhetoric I realized just how low Palin is willing to go.
As the McCain campaign ratchets up the intensity of its attacks on Barack Obama, some black elected officials are calling the tactics desperate, unseemly and racist.
“They are trying to throw out these codes,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York.
“He’s ‘not one of us?’” Mr. Meeks said, referring to a comment Sarah Palin made at a campaign rally on Oct. 6 in Florida. “That’s racial. That’s fear. They know they can’t win on the issues, so the last resort they have is race and fear.”
“Racism is alive and well in this country, and McCain and Palin are trying to appeal to that and it’s unfortunate,” said Representative Ed Towns, also from New York.
21st century racism is subtle and "coded". I guess some won't call the tactics of the McCain campaign racist unless they hold their rallies wearing hoods, white sheets, waving confederate flags, and screaming the "N" word. The claim that AA's are "racist" because 90% are supporting Obama is ridiculous. Typically 90% of AA's vote for the democratic candidate in presidential races (Bush in 2004 was an exception).
You could put white sheets over 70% of Republicans and they would feel right at home. Look at Cindy McCain she almost fainted at thought of having to rub elbows with the crowd at the debate and left immediately before some of their low class rubbed off on her.
AA's are much more in tune with subtle racial cues that Whites may not even be aware of. However what McCain and Palin are doing is not so subtle; disgraceful and potentially dangerous. Nobody is going to accuse Whites of being racist for not voting for Obama, but McCain treating him in a disrespecful manner (refusing to look at him during a debate, calling him "that one" and allowing supporters to scream out "terrorist and kill him" during political rallies) is just a little bit over the edge. I for one have never seen a sitting U.S. senator treated in this manner. I agree that the Congressional Black Caucus should know better than to point out the racist tone of these tactics because of the types of comments that they elicit. I'm sure these members are speaking on their own - not at the behest of Obama's campaign because when AA's raise the race issue we undoubtedly lose the arguement. I think we should just continue to give McPalin enough rope and they will eventually hang themselves.
Palin and McCain are trying to incite a class and race war in order to win this election offends me. In America we have come along in race relations as evidenced by our Democratic candidate for president who happens to be both black and white. Most of us have a relative, in-law, grandchild or friend that is of a race different than our own. Palin and McCain are so out of touch with the general population to think their actions will divide us. Well, it will not it will make us more unified.
Sarah Palin is a vapid, inane, undereducated, unintelligent cypher. She is rapatiously ambitious however, and currently she is the mouthpiece of choice for the radical right. She is mouthing any nasty vitriolic swill that Steve Schmidt and Randy Schuenamenn put in front of her and spewing it out like Shamu, at three daily shows. It's what she does. Regardless of being too unintelligent to see two feet in front her (because had she have possessed this capability she would have turned down the VP candidacy in a heartbeat) she is unable to see that old Crash 'n Burn McCain is working dilligently at losing this election, ending his long inglorious career in defeat and taking hers down with him.
Only in American can half of us be so dumb! To nationally change a conversation by the worst ever VP (very poor pick) joke is unreal! This anti-intellectual who can see Russia out her backyard with a Alaskan secessionist first dude is actually running around the country questioning who is Obama? Who is this dummy, trained seal, can't name a newspaper she reads, running from scandals, parading her children one pregnant with a shotgun wedding to boot, another with downs who poses this baby and tosses him around for political points. Says Afghanistan is next door, damn can't keep up with this brain surgeon. And America buys into her changing the conversation on "who is Obama"? Not who is this bimbo who has set women back ages... the question should be from Americans who are you that in AK they are protesting her? The tiara is back home waiting for her in AK where Mrs. Frosty who serves up racist crap belongs!
This does not only affect blacks, it affects all of us. We are indeed in shock to see that Palin would stoop so low to the lowest to raise race as a last ditch option. I shouldn't expect much more from them. They have shown us Americans all that we need to know. I'm glad so many of us has seen through the divisiveness that they are trying to create. The President of the Union in Pittsburgh did a great presentation last week telling his folks about this. I'm so glad many are seeing it for what it is. All of us should be ashame to allow Palin to stand up and allow some joe six-pack to do something crazy and then say "it wasn't me". She should be held accountable. I hope many write the McCain campaign and let them know we're above this nonsense.
Racism takes many forms and the ideas within society are still vague enough that people can say things and yet make us have to decide whether or not it is racist according to our own values rather than general values of society. Unfortunately there isn;t such a clear line drawn where we can show it to be for sure and that is our own fault too.We have left a whole lot undone after the changes we have had to face and accept to make us all as one which we should always have been without color/race etc being a gauge. But I digress. Because there is still enough racism within our own thoughts and belief systems we can be led to think the best of the other person and not choose to believe they are being racist. But it is way too clear without any doubt the points McCain and campaign are making are racist and they want us to make the choice to join them in this. We can choose not to let them get away with it.
Palin & I have two things in common:
We are both women. We are both American.
She said Obama is not "One of us."
Who is the "us" in which she refers:
- those that tell untruth
- those that use fear to influence Americans to make their choice for their next leader
- those that use race to sway the ignorant
- those that continously seek not to learn and grow
Uhm.. Barack Obama is NOT one of them... neither are millions of Americans
When talking about progressive, intelligent, agents of change - Palin is NOT one of us.
Perhaps that is what she meant. Clearly she was not saying that Obama is not an American. That would just make her foolish.