Be Sure To Tip Toe When Attacking Obama
February 27th, 2008 . by glendeanIt’s like this. I understand that using Barack Obama’s middle name when referencing him can be a sneaky way to remind people that Obama is not “one of us”. It is in fact, a good example of what I talked about in this post. I understand where Mack is coming from, and can only assume that a principled “racist pointer-outer” like himself felt the same level of outrage when Clinton supporter Bob Kerrey made worse comments. The same goes for Sharon.
I am a little uncomfortable though with the way McCain handled the situation. If he had not brought attention to it, nobody would likely be talking about it today. But McCain just had to get in front of the camera and once again say “I’m not like those other Republicans.” It’s like he couldn’t wait to do that.
I guess it is good to get this sort of thing out of the way. Now Republicans know that they can’t use Obama’s middle name. I am sure there are a few more things that are off limits in regards to Obama.
This Politico article discusses how afraid the GOP is of saying something that might be perceived as racist.
“You can’t run against Barack Obama the way you could run against Bill Clinton, Al Gore or John Kerry,” said Jack Kemp, the 1996 GOP vice presidential nominee, who expressed concern that the party could be reduced to an “all white country club party” if it does not tread cautiously.
“Being an African American at the top of the ticket, if he makes it, is such a great statement about the country,” he added, “Obviously you have to be sensitive to issues that affect urban America. …You have to be careful.”
So basically, Obama is not to be treated the way that any other Democratic candidate would be treated. I understand this, but I also find it ironic that what they are really saying is that Obama is not to be treated equally. Oh well I guess that is the times we live in. Right or wrong, it is what it is.
UPDATE: Music City Oracle says “Don’t do it!” Bob Krumm says “Sorry Bill, this is wrong.”
UPDATE II: Bill Hobbs responds to the piling on.
I hear you, excellent point (re. treating Obama without prejudice) and thanks for the link to what Kemp said.
However, I’m not sure the two (your post’s thesis and what McCain did) are related. Don’t you think that this would have been news whether McCain denounced it or not? So ignoring it would have sent the wrong message, in my opinion. Maybe this is akin to Clinton’s Sista Souljah maneuver (except I don’t think it was a maneuver for McCain). I myself wince sometimes at the stupid stuff said by a caller to talk radio and hope–hope–that the host will slap some sense into them. That doesn’t always happen.
No, I don’t think anybody would have noticed, had McCain not brought attention to it. This was nothing compared to Bob Kerrey’s remarks.
No, I don’t think anybody would have noticed, had McCain not brought attention to it.
Then you’re naïve. It might not have been picked up on right away, but someone would have picked up on it. You’re right about one thing, though: McCain addressing it is the part that makes it newsworthy. Bigoted speech on talk radio is otherwise so common, that it simply isn’t “news.” A Republican publicly distancing himself from bigoted hate speech on talk radio? That’s news!
(Whoops, I forget: McCain isn’t really a Republican. My bad.)
Of course they would have picked up on it, that’s the only way they can win.
Any time McCain beats up on Obama’s message (by calling for details) he’s going to be the mean old white dude.
Yes, because reporting what conservatives say and think truly is a death knell for conservatism… *rolls eyes*
Tgirsch, don’t you think McCain was grandstanding here?
I don’t, Glen. I think he was just being honorable. It’s what old white dudes try to do.
Maybe I am just too cynical when it comes to McCain. I just think he is a media whore.
Well, it was equal parts “being honorable” and heading off criticism in advance. He learned a lesson, it seems, from the infamous “how do we beat the bitch” moment.
Well, I think the talk show dude was out of line. I mean, he didn’t have enough degrees of separation from John McCain to take that POV and use those lines. Because he was the opening act, he set the tone for the entire speech! To quote a friend, he acted a douchebag.
Someone like me, now, I’ve enough distance from John McCain that I can say whatever the hell I want to about Baracky.
And, I will.