Dangerous Words
Recently, supporters at McCain/Palin rallies have yelled: “kill him”, “terrorist,” “traitor” and “off with his head” about Obama. At the last presidential debate, McCain refused to denounce those outbursts or take any responsibility for the violent, hateful atmosphere he’s helped create. Instead, he attacked civil rights hero John Lewis and tried to cast McCain/Palin supporters as victims of a smear.
Either McCain doesn’t understand the dangerous words coming from some of his supporters, or he doesn’t care. As the leader of his campaign, he has a responsibility to condemn and control hateful speech, which has included specific threats to a presidential candidate.
McCain/Palin rallies have started to look more like mob scenes than political events. The candidates keep asking “who is the real Barack Obama?” and their supporters have responded: “terrorist” and “traitor.” These outbursts have crossed the line. With the mention of Obama’s name, a McCain supporter yelled “kill him,” which prompted a secret service investigation.
McCain and Palin are going down a dangerous path. Watching some of their supporters being interviewed shows the kind of fear their campaign is stoking and exploiting. McCain and Palin have made it a point to use “terrorist” and “Obama” in the same sentence and keep pushing the guilt-by-association smears that have long been exposed.
False rumors spread by email claim that Obama is Muslim, a terrorist and anti-American. This strategy has worked, because it plays into the suspicions some White Americans have about Blacks and their allegiances and trustworthiness. In the end, it makes Obama’s race a disadvantage without appearing overtly racist.
Americans have seen how Obama’s historic candidacy has moved people to have a more honest conversation about race in this country. It’s inspired a lot of people to step out of their comfort zone and confront racism in their own communities.
McCain’s campaign is pandering to one of the worst instincts in America. They’re planting the seeds of suspicion, hatred and fear, that brings out the worst in people. History has shown this kind of exploitation led to the murders of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.
Either McCain doesn’t understand the dangerous words coming from some of his supporters, or he doesn’t care. As the leader of his campaign, he has a responsibility to condemn and control hateful speech, which has included specific threats to a presidential candidate.
McCain/Palin rallies have started to look more like mob scenes than political events. The candidates keep asking “who is the real Barack Obama?” and their supporters have responded: “terrorist” and “traitor.” These outbursts have crossed the line. With the mention of Obama’s name, a McCain supporter yelled “kill him,” which prompted a secret service investigation.
McCain and Palin are going down a dangerous path. Watching some of their supporters being interviewed shows the kind of fear their campaign is stoking and exploiting. McCain and Palin have made it a point to use “terrorist” and “Obama” in the same sentence and keep pushing the guilt-by-association smears that have long been exposed.
False rumors spread by email claim that Obama is Muslim, a terrorist and anti-American. This strategy has worked, because it plays into the suspicions some White Americans have about Blacks and their allegiances and trustworthiness. In the end, it makes Obama’s race a disadvantage without appearing overtly racist.
Americans have seen how Obama’s historic candidacy has moved people to have a more honest conversation about race in this country. It’s inspired a lot of people to step out of their comfort zone and confront racism in their own communities.
McCain’s campaign is pandering to one of the worst instincts in America. They’re planting the seeds of suspicion, hatred and fear, that brings out the worst in people. History has shown this kind of exploitation led to the murders of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 12:00 AM
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