McCain was again pressed about Obama's "other-ness" and again he refused to play ball. "I don't trust Obama," a woman said. "I have read about him. He's an Arab."For my part, I'm still concerned about McCain. Earlier in the day, his campaign released a statement blaming Barack Obama for the riled-up crowds, saying that he was out of touch with their needs (need to shred someone apart? need for human blood? need to fear the black man? I don't follow...). But many prominent Republicans and former aids probably finally talked some sense into McCain. And John McCain is no fool. But, he is a gambler and he is tempestuous; and he allowed his campaign to be carried away with this viciousness and stupidity for too long."No, ma'am," McCain said several times, shaking his head in disagreement. "He's a decent, family man, [a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about."
At another point, McCain declared, "If you want a fight, we will fight. But we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments." Supporters booed then also. "I don't mean that has to reduce your ferocity," McCain responded. "I just mean to say you have to be respectful."
How would this thinking be reflected in his presidency?
How about this for tempering down the base?
ReplyDeleteOutside on Broad Street, waiting for Palin to leave, one man was heard saying: "Let's stone her, old school."
Another protester shouted at someone entering the hotel, "Wait till your daughter wants an abortion, you hypocrite."
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081012_Palin_hears_plenty_of_boos.html
IS this what you had in mind :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI
so, i just checked those stories out. and, yes, atrocious and stupid. no arguments would be won there - no civility. i agree.
ReplyDeletebut, this is beyond the point. that's always going to happen when people feel passionate about something (sports teams, religion, etc.). The question is (and i repeat), did these things occur at an Obama rally?
were these statements urged on by obama campaign staffers? if so, shame on them. deep, regrettable shame. but i see no evidence of that.
did biden call palin a c**t? (nope. although if you wanna argue about who called who a c**t, well, it's not pretty and should have stayed private, but it's out there.) were these names and threats and vulgar statements made w/in earshot of obama or biden? i don't think so. so, once again, you're missing the point.
again, if you wanna keep it civil, cool. let's disagree; but let's not be like these idiots (i say this b/c i know that my proclivity is for arguing and getting angry and taking it personally. so forgive me if i take a long time to respond at times. i may still be trying to abate my fury. :D).
Did Palin or McCain say anything inappropriate? Can Obama control what happens at his events? If so, why the black protestors (twice)?
ReplyDeleteI get your point...what I think you miss is Obamas surrogates like Hastings in Florida, Meeks in NY, cohen in Tenn. or John Lewis are speaking for Obama.
heres some reading material for you:
Obama’s Racial Firebomb
With Obama supporter black Democrat Congressman John Lewis leading the charge—comparing Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin to the 1960’s racist Democrat George Wallace—the Obama camp has tossed a racial firebomb into the election, a blatant attempt to intimidate average Americans into voting for Sen. Barack Obama who is a far left-wing radical socialist, or risk being called a racist.
http://www.nbra.info/
And again I would reiterate, look at Obamas record of reaching across the aisle 13% of the time versus McCains 55% (much to the anger of the conservative base). How does Obama represent unity?
thanks for trying to understand my viewpoint. i really appreciate that.
ReplyDeletere: the john lewis controversy, i blogged about that here and, to be honest, i was pretty upset (and still am) so be forewarned, here's the gist of my rant towards the end:
why does Obama always have to ‘repudiate’ the claims of other black men that are not speaking for him? And why isn’t McCain repudiating the claims of a white woman [who] specifically is speaking for him? Or a sheriff who speaks for him? Or, say, Fox News, who brings in an anti-Semite with no evidence to make some sh*t up about Barack and ACORN just because they’ve both worked in ‘community development’? Oh, and they’re both connected to the evil big city - what with all of its urban poor and dark-skinned and foreigners that you just can’t trust, doggone it
in other words, Lewis is a grown-arse man and does not work for Obama. if one considers him to be a surrogate of Obama, then one should also consider fox news to be a surrogate of McCain. or certainly at least Virginia GOP chairman Frederick, who point-blank linked Obama to Osama and then sent his volunteers out canvassing w/ outright lies.
as per record in the senate, it sure ain't the best. i think you're right about that. but i think that's partially due to a polarizing difference (one that was, until recently, sharply divided amongst party lines) in viewing the war in iraq and the fact that Obama is new and most of his senate experience has been in the context of the iraq war. but i take solace in this: as President Bush's witness testifies, the history of bipartisanship does not necessarily translate in the White House.
Thanks for the civil discussion. And thanks for your other post on Lewis...im sure youve read about Hastings comments as well.
ReplyDeleteBret
is that alceed hastings? i can't find anything recent about him right now, but i haven't done a thorough search. if that is him, it sounds like he was long ago discredited w/in his own party.
ReplyDeletebut in the interest of fairness, i'll check it out.
o, found it.
ReplyDeletei'm sure he thought he was funny, but it strikes me as being about as xenophobic or at least ignorant (although not as dangerous, i might add) as it gets.
"Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through,” Hastings added as the room erupted in laughter and applause."