I'm going to say it, McCain is a RACIST

[WeDidIt]

He's the one playing the race card.

That makes him a RACIST.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Well, duh.

[WeDidIt]

3. Well, no one was coming right out and saying it

so I thought somebody should.

:evilgrin:

[ecstatic]

13. Well thank you. I knew there was something missing from this dialogue

Just couldn't put my finger on it!

[Tim4319]

2. He played it first when he voted against MLK Holiday!

[margotb822]

4. Myabe not McCain personally

but definitely the Republican base. And playing to that is even more deplorable. I thought he was going to have positive discourse about the future. Oh wait, he's Repub. They never do anything positive.

[WeDidIt]

6. NO! McCain is PERSONALLY a RACIST

It's his campaign. He's responsible for their racist attack.

[margotb822]

10. I think playing the race card and being racist are two different things

Yes, he is responsible for his campaign (I think. Maybe), but this campaign is also bigger than him. It's about solidifying the Republican base, many of whom are racist or at least racially prejudiced. In an era where it shouldn't make a difference, it still is. I am AA, and I am offended by the McCain campaign, but I don't know if he personally is racist. And, like I said earlier, I think playing off of racial fears is even more deplorable because he said he was going to elevate this campaign discourse.

Racism is based on ignorance, playing the race card is a purposeful decision, and that is why it's even worse.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. "I hated the gooks, I always will."

-John McCain.

Right, he's not racist.

:eyes:

[margotb822]

25. So McCain hates his adopted daughter?

I just don't think racism is a clear-cut issue. Where does one draw the line between stereotypes and racism? Is it just when a stereotype is negative? McCain has said and done a lot of things I don't agree with, but I think that race hasn't been a big issue. I'm not claiming to be an expert and if the information arises, I will amend my position.

I got blasted for calling Sen. Webb sexist for his comments in 1979, and I think this is much the same. McCain says something years ago and he's racist, while Sen Webb says something years ago, but, hey, that was in the past and he's changed. So, what's right?

Maybe both, maybe neither.

I'll go back to my statement that, whether or not McCain is a racist, the deliberate pandering to racists and the prejudiced is more deplorable. It is not the clean campaign he "promised" to run. Is that how he's going to govern? Probably, and it's unacceptable.

[TwilightGardener]

27. His daughter isn't black, and she isn't a "gook". So, his daughter isn't the issue.

Webb publicly acknowledged he was wrong about women in combat--not 100% sure I believe him, but at least he made the effort to correct himself. Has McCain ever publicly acknowledged that he was wrong about MLK Day?

[margotb822]

40. Half-heartedly

(I can't believe I even looked this up: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/mccain-regrets.html)

I believe him in the same way I believe Webb.

[AlCzervik]

29. my sister is a racist which is really weird because she's married to someone

who is isn't from this country, he's not from Europe either. She is racist about a few certain groups. I wissh i could go into more detail but i can't because i'm going to get really fucking pissed off again.

Btw this isn't a statement on McCain, i don't know if he is or isn't racist but i do know my sister is because i heard it with my own ears.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. So he panders to racists...

he uses racist slurs, but he's not racist.

Using the "lots of black friends" argument.

:crazy:

[margotb822]

38. Hahaha, I guess I am

I think calling someone a racist is a serious accusation, so I hesitate to use it.

As far as the pandering, I'd like to know if it's him or the campaign. We all know he doesn't always hold the reins, so I wonder if this is one of the Rove disciples' idea for solidifying the base. It would be nice to know what he did in previous campaigns. Or if he had something like Webb, some written statement or known tirade against minorities.

This is going to sound like McCain defense, but I'm going to risk it anyways. I'm in the Navy and people can pretty much say anything they want about any race. It's meant to elicit laughs...and it usually does. Sometimes it becomes a game of one-upping each other. People talk about themselves, too. So, if this is how things are now, and McCain was brought up in the Navy of "back in my day," I think he thinks little jabs here and there are ok. I know, I sound like a just chugged some of that kool-aid, but I'm really speaking from my own personal experience. I know I say things that are not acceptable outside of the Navy. I'm not racist, but that way of thinking manages to creep in. I can see where he's coming from, which is why I suppose I give him some leeway.

However, that being said, I don't think it's appropriate for a presidential candidate (or any public figure) to talk the way I do, and if I were a presidentential candidate, I'd hope people expect more of me, too.

So, racist, probably not. Insensitive and stupid? Yes.

[pnwmom]

37. His daughter is from Bangladesh, not Africa. How he feels about her personally

doesn't tell us how he feels about African-Americans or really anyone but herself.

By the way, history is full of examples of people who "loved" their slaves -- to the point of freeing them and/or marrying them -- but whose good feelings about black people didn't extend to anyone else.

[my2sense]

18. cosign n/t

[TwilightGardener]

22. It depends--the Clintons tried to use race to their advantage and against Obama

(hard-working people...WHITE people), but because they had spent many years helping, and cultivating good relations with, the AA community, I didn't think it was fair to brand them racists. Does McCain have a SIMILAR background of helping the AA community, or did he in fact spend a career OPPOSING legislation that would have helped them or even honor one of their own heroes (MLK)? I think you know the answer to that.

[WeDidIt]

24. He even has a well known history of using racial epithets. n/t

[DangerDave921]

23. What racist attack?

Seriously, the word "racist" should only be used when it really applies, otherwise it dilutes the meaning of the word in those circumstances when it should apply.

Can you point to any specific racist attack?

[TwilightGardener]

26. Screeching about the race card is a racist attack. Don't pretend it's not--

they didn't do it to defend themselves. They did it to bring race to the forefront, because they know it ALWAYS hurts Obama when race is discussed.

[DangerDave921]

31. But

Obama did bring it up by saying something like - they're going to tell you i have a funny name and don't look like the presidents on the currency. And McCain responded. I don't think that makes McCain personally a racist.

I take the allegation of racist seriously, and I hate to see that term tossed around just because you don't like someone. It really does weaken the meaning of the term. Reserve it for truly racist people.

[TwilightGardener]

35. Um, the McCain campaign created an ad that ridiculed Obama by

putting his face on a dollar bill. Obama simply alluded to it--did he not have a right to? Do you want to rethink your post?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6567663&mesg_id=6567663

[Bluerthanblue]

49. Obama was stating the facts about himself-

he DOES have a "funny name"- (he should know, he's the one who has lived with it all his life) and he DOESn't look like most other candidates- which is also true. He can't pretend he is someone other than who he is- and shouldn't have to. What he was saying to the crowd was that there are those who support McCain, who ARE instilling 'fear' and 'bigotry' and 'prejudice' into this campaign, and he is aware of it, but don't get distracted by that garbage, listen, look and judge Obama for who he is, what he believes, and how he wants to lead this nation.

That ain't 'playin' any kind of "card"- (as if racism is a game :nuke:- or as if Obama or any other person of color has any real 'choice' to "play" who they are????)

McCain 'plays' the POW- he 'plays' the loyal, honor and duty bound person. He can't be accused of playing the "male" card, any more than Obama can be accused of playing the "race" card.

This whole issue is a tool used by those who are in positions of power to keep their power.

I call bullshit on the 'race card' meme.

[pnwmom]

39. The Celebrity ad is a racial attack.

Do you think it was an accident that the two celebrities whose pictures were flashed before Obama's were both young, blonde, white females? Do you think it was an accident when a young blonde white female was featured in the ad against Harold Ford two years ago?

I'll give them credit -- the ad against Ford was a blatant racial attack. The effect of this new one is subliminal. But I'm disappointed that so many DUers don't seem to recognize this. In a country with a long, sordid history of white men being afraid of black men associating with "their" women, an ad like Celebrity just plays to the worst racial fears among us.

There's no way it was an accident that they chose two young blonde white women to juxtapose with Obama. No way.

[DangerDave921]

43. Didn't even think of that connection

So either the ad was not racist, or else I'm not tuned into it sufficiently.

The Ford piece was disgusting. I didn't get that vibe from the Obama ad. I just saw it as Britney and Paris as representing the epitome of shallowness. What black celebrities would have fit the bill, and been instantly recoginzed?

[pnwmom]

45. You didn't make that connection because you're NOT racist.

You're not afraid of white women getting involved with black men. But there are many people who still are. And they probably will not make the connection consciously, but unconsciously -- which is even more effective.

A great deal of thought is put into every second of these ads. There is no way the choice of these two young blonde white females wasn't carefully thought out. And the McCain people are counting on open-minded people like you to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I won't. There's too much of a history of this, and as recently as two years ago in the Ford campaign. This was no accident.

[Virginia Dare]

48. They could have used Oprah..

she's a big celebrity, though probably not shallow.

[Virginia Dare]

47. I think he probaby is..

and I cite three pieces of evidence, in addition to his voting against the MLK holiday:

1) He's a republican
2) His mother's family is from Mississippi, and he spent much of his youth on their plantation
3) He called his captors in Viet Nam "gooks"

[JackORoses]

19. McCain personally fought against the MLK holiday

He voted against it in Congress and when it passed Nationally in 1983, he returned to Arizona and fought it on the state level where it was not recognized until 1992 (the last state to adopt it).

McCain is most definitely a Racist.

Have you heard his opinion of "the Gooks"?

[hiaasenrocks]

21. When can a person change?

Do you accept the reformed former Klan members?

It seems odd that people change on this. Just wondering what you think.

[margotb822]

32. I don't know

I brought up the issue of Sen Webb's essay of women in the military, and when I called him sexist, everyone said "oh that was years ago. He's changed. He did x, y, and z for women while he was secretary of the Navy." And, yes, I agree that those things happened while he was Sec'y of the Navy, but was he personally responsible for them or just responding to a national movement? I don't know. But, yes, knowing people like him (although I don't know him), I would say that he's still sexist. Maybe he's not, maybe he really did.

Now, McCain has a history of being uncouth and rude and degrading to basically every minority at some point in time. But, I guess I still have a hard time seeing him as racist, and probably because of that fact. In some weird way he thinks he's being funny, but all jokes are based in a bit of truth. I'm sure he holds racial and sexual prejudices, most people do. I don't see him as an all-out racist.

I'm willing to revise my position if there's evidence. Unfortunately, by the simple fact that he's a Republican means he associates with numerous racists, but I think this election is the first time he's courted them. I could be wrong though, since I'm not a huge follower. I just wish there was something like the Sen Webb essay, something that unequivocally delineated his position. He's certainly been no friend to blacks, but he's really not been a friend to anyone.

I'm definitely against McCain (check out the link in my sig line and read my blog). I think McCain is a terrible candidate and he's devolving into a terrible person. I think the decision to play the race card and then act all innocent is sick and perverse and makes him unworthy of public trust.

Being a racist is a very strong accusation, and I don't throw it around lightly. I guess that's why I hesitate to call him racist.

[JackORoses]

33. if a person was ever a real racist, then they most likely never change

they can keep up an appearance, but that doesn't change their gut reaction to events.

[pnwmom]

41. When there is evidence that he has changed. The Celebrity ad shows that

he is perfectly willing to use racial hatred in his campaigning.

Flashing pictures of two young blonde white females along with Obama -- rather than numerous other celebrities that could have been chosen -- was clearly designed to push racial buttons, just as the successful commercial used just two years ago against Harold Ford. For the Rethug party, it was more of the same. For McCain, it was a new low.

[pnwmom]

34. Yes, McCain personally. That Celebrity ad was clearly an attempt

to visually link two young blonde white females with Obama -- just as they did in another way with the Harold Ford ad a couple of years ago. They could have chosen celebrities who wouldn't send that racial message -- they didn't. They are clearly trying to appeal to that deep rooted racial fear -- black men associating with white women. And McCain approved the ad.

[TwilightGardener]

36. He not only approved the ad, he's PROUD of the ad.

[pnwmom]

42. And he's probably especially proud that so many people who should be

outraged about his ad are instead focusing on whether Obama has "played the racial card."

[TwilightGardener]

5. Yes, indeedy. I never thought the Clintons were racist, although they

tried to use race to their advantage. I KNOW McCrazy has contempt for blacks--you can see it in his hatred for Obama and his success, as well as the whole MLK Day thing.

[Bluerthanblue]

17. and the issue of Bridget- seems like he was more upset

that they were calling her "black" than about the 'illegitimate' side. How quick he is to make the distinction that she is "very dark skinned Indian". As if there was anything wrong with being either one.


:shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

20. I thought he handled that whole thing weirdly, frankly.

[JoFerret]

7. And so are you

I say that because we are all racist. And these things are never just a simplistic matter. His campaign is clearly figuring out how to use racist tactics. And that is despicable.
But given race as a factor in our society - everyone has to negotiate the race minefield one way or another.And that fact is what enables the McCain people to say Obama is using the cliche (race card.)

[global1]

8. A Racist? I Thought He's A Maverick.......nt

[scheming daemons]

12. Well...you can't spell maverick without an R, A, C, and E

[global1]

28. Good Response - I See A Bumper Sticker In The Making Here.....nt

[rucky]

15. Didn't Mel Gibson play Maverick in the movie?

and he's a racist, so...

[hiaasenrocks]

9. What did he say?

[ecstatic]

11. He was against an MLK Holiday. F#ck his racist ass!

[Barack_America]

14. I want to know if he talked about anything other than education at the Urban League...

Bells go off in my head whenever someone immediately highlights that inner city African Americans are undereducated.

Sure shitty education is a big component of inner city blight, but it's only one component of general neglect on the part of state and federal government. Whenever someone immediately highlights education, without mentioning healthcare, public works, etc. my racist-o-meter goes off.

[GoesTo11]

44. McCain uses racism to advance his goals - much worse than a racist

Like slave traders and plantation owners, he isn't trying to make a statement about race. He's just trying to profit from it. He is happy to harm racial relations in this country if it helps him get elected.

The powerful elite like McCain who exploit racism and oppress people based on race for profit are 100 times worse than ignorant racist people.

[Virginia Dare]

46. Anybody who is a republican is by proxy a racist..

the whole party agenda advances racism and race-bating.

[Bluerthanblue]

50. sorry- that is bigotry in itself-

I don't advocate 'judging' people in clumps- and dismissing them as "all _______" because they 'fit' in a certian pile, and not because of their own personal actions or words.

That is nothing more than an example of prejudice and bigotry at work.


:shrug:

You might be surprised to look back at the 60's republican party and how they influenced some of the Civil Rights laws.- I was.

peace~

[Virginia Dare]

51. I'm not talking about the republican party of the 60's..

I'm talking about the republican party of the year 2008. What are they doing to advance the cause of minorities in this country? Wasn't it the GOP who purposefully disenfranchised minority voters in 2000 and again in 2004? I haven't heard McCain disavow any of this.

[Bluerthanblue]

52. I realize what you are saying- and there

are many MANY individuals in the "Republican party" who are racist, and who advocate policies which discriminate against people in bigoted and prejudiced ways- but the blanket statement you made is also 'wrong'- IM belief. not "all" Republicans are 'racist' or knowingly support 'racist' positions- some are ignorant, some lazy- I've met a few racist Democrats especially recently.
McCain's personal actions and words lead me to believe he is racist, and is using this negative quality in people to advance his own personal agenda.

The Republican agenda is not as concerned with the community 'good' as it is with personal success and individual prosperity, even at the expense of peoples lives. But it hides this behind the label of 'self-determination' and 'personal liberty'.
(IMO)

:hi:
peace~

[Virginia Dare]

53. I guess what I mean is that..

as a leader in this particular party, he is a racist, at least he legitimizes a racist agenda by not disavowing it.

He's also embraced an anti-immigrant stance in an attempt to appeal to the lowest common denominator of his party..

:hi:

[emilyg]

54. Do not agree.