The last months I have become increasingly on edge. It has very little to do with the daily minutia of parenting and life, and almost everything to do with the upcoming campaign for the presidency. And the fact that the economy, bailout and all, seem to be sending the markets further south. Funny, because we are not really "market" people, although we do have some small investments. No, the feeling has been mostly annoyance, with the candidates of course, for what they say and do (or don't say and do). I get all steamed up because Sarah Palin seems ridiculous to me and I can't fathom anyone actually falling for her "America's Gun-Totin-G-Droppin Sweetheart".
And then I see this. This clip is a pretty straight forward clip of McCain/Palin supporters walking into a rally, being asked questions by an Obama supporter. It reminds me of those old newsclips of the Little Rock Nine, and the hatred that they had spewed at them by ignorant white people, God-Fearing-This-Is-America-Goddammit White People. It points out pretty well that we haven't come as far as we'd thought. And it also points out the absolute fact that the McCain/Palin ticket is playing directly to these crowds, fomenting their hatred of "The Other", and it makes me fear for the safety of the Obamas.
So the next time John McCain calls Senator Obama "That One", or Sarah Palin talks about him as "Barack Hussein Obama" or says he "pals around with terrorists" remember that THESE are the people they are talking to. And THESE PEOPLE? They are dangerous.
Thanks to Kari over at Persistent Cookie for pointing it out.
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oh annie: I'm afraid.
I'm a long time lurker but never commented. I had to comment to say that this also makes me sick. I've never been very big into politics but this particular election has me on edge too. It just seems like the ignorance is coming out in people in full force and it's scary.
I'm physically nauseous just thinking about what the outcome might be in November.
LOVE your blog!
I'm almost speechless. This video made my heart sink. And what comes to mind is when I went to the Obama rally last week. THere were McCain supporters there (about 15-20) with signs. What did every single one of the Obama supporters do? Promptly ignore them. No comments about how they are stupid and should get a job or any other attacks.
The group in this video is not interested in anything called change (by either Obama or McCain). They don't want a progressive nation. They just want to hate.
What I hope happens is that many intellectual Republicans who have seen that McCain really isn't of substance and are too dissappointed to actually vote for him, I hope that they vote for Obama so that the vote will show that what the people in the video are preaching is not backed by the majority of Republicans. It's just "American extremists" that tout this bullshit.
You know how it only takes 1 bad apple to spoil the bunch? Well I know there are many good decent Republicans in this world, and these people give them a bad name.
I'll save you the rest of my rant and will only say that we had better starting hearing from more people like this:
John Weaver, McCain’s former top strategist, said top Republicans have a responsibility to temper this behavior.
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Sen. Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Sen. McCain,” Weaver said. “And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive.”
“Sen. Obama is a classic liberal with an outdated economic agenda. We should take that agenda on in a robust manner. As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
Unfortunately it seems that ignorance,and racism is still alive and well.
And what about the April babies(FOOLS) that kept telling Obama supporters to go to work?It sure didn't look like they(McCain supporters) were getting ready to clock in anywhere.
It just makes me sick to my stomach to know that there is still so much hatred in this country.sad sad sad.
I wish I could say this video shocked me.
But I live in Texas.
First of all, I'd like to thank you Gretchen for stepping out of lurkerdom and saying hi.
Second of all: LIAGW is right: the folks in this video don't want to do anything but hate.
Thirdly, I'd like to thank Kari for giving me the only amount of hope I've seen in this campaign. The ONLY ray of sunshine in this is that there is at least ONE Republican speaking reasonably and rationally to this hatred. "As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
It reminds me of what Joe Biden said during the debate: "I have never since that moment in my first year questioned the motive of another member of the Congress or Senate with whom I've disagreed. I've questioned their judgment.
I think that's why I have the respect I have and have been able to work as well as I've been able to have worked in the United States Senate. That's the fundamental change Barack Obama and I will be bring to this party, not questioning other people's motives."
Keep fighting the GOOD fight, friends.
Annie --
You so touched on what I've been thinking and feeling lately. It's a long story why, but I accidentally landed on a conservative blog the other night and I was truly freightened by what I read. And then it dawned on me that I have been seeing Nov. 4th as the date this will finally be over (and hopefully we will have won) and now I realize that it will just be the beginning. These people, these scary, narrow-minded, conspiracy-theory believing people will keep at this for 4 or 8 years. These are the people who accused the Clintons of murdering, yes murdering, Vince Foster. And the Clintons were white southerners (well, at least Bill was). Imagine their hatred for Barack Obama. I share your fear for the Obamas' safety.
I have heard, but not verified, that at a Palin rally within the last week, she mentioned Obama's name and someone in the crowd yelled out "kill him." AND SHE SAID NOTHING. I think it's true because Biden commented on it and how that situation DEMANDED that she object, but she did not. Unbelievable.
The good news is that all of this garbage does not seem to be working well enough to win, if we can believe polls. The bad news is that an election loss will simply anger them more. Sad, so very sad. And scary.
Peggy, the incident you referred to about someone yelling out "kill him" is right here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/06/mccain-does-nothing-as-cr_n_132366.html
Oh my heavens, I am so frightened that these people will prevail.
Thanks for posting this Annie. I've read about these comments, but actually seeing and hearing them is chilling.
I want to believe that smarter people will prevail. At least that is my hope.
These are the same people that wore white hoods on their heads back in the 50's and 60's and still do today, now that I think about it. These people have been racist pigs from the day their parents first taught then to be that way.
Oh my god.
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