Racism and Dirty Politics in the 2008 Presidential Campaign
by Kelly
We’ve been covering the 2008 Presidential Campaign for some time here at Rotten Little Girls. I’ve written about McCain’s negative ads, Sarah Palin’s unsuitability to be Vice President, but for the first time in this rollercoaster of an election period, I am fed up and disgusted. I was able (somehow) to stomach Palin’s “getchas” and “betchas” and McCain’s painfully boring speeches, but I am not able to condone racism.
Let’s be clear — other than referring to Obama as “That one” and releasing an ad associating Obama with a “terrorist”, I do not believe McCain has said overtly racist statements towards Obama (yet, there is such a thing as coded language).
Most disturbing, however, is the recent McCain and Palin rallies in which people have called Obama a “terrorist” and “Obama Bin Laden” and have even been heard shouting “Treason!” and “Kill him!” Check out the following video for one example:
Not only is it terrifying to hear someone threatening violence to a Presidential candidate, but considering Barack Obama is the first African-American Presidential candidate, you cannot ignore the racial undertones. In this country, you must keep in mind our history of slavery and Jim Crowism. Less than a century ago it was customary for extremist groups and mobs such as the Ku Klux Klan to terrorize and murder black people. That is one of the first things that comes to mind when I hear someone shout “Kill him!” in reference to Obama.
Racism, both overt and aversive, is systematic and pervasive in our society. Racism and hatred towards black people — Obama in particular — is not “out of the ordinary”. Here are two clips from Youtube that show McCain supporters calling Obama a terrorist, among other things. While I do not find these two videos to have journalistic integrity, they give you a glimpse of what some McCain supporters are willing to say publicly, on camera. Most disturbing to me (and the main reason I post these videos) is the part when a child of one supporter says about Obama: “You need gloves to touch him” (This can be seen from around 3:00 to 3:10 in the second video):
There have also been some troubling incidents that have come to my attention:
- An Obama supporter in London was shot by a BB-gun at close range because he was wearing an Obama t-shirt and because he was black.
- A man in Georgia tried to sell t-shirts that depict Barack Obama as Curious George (the monkey starring in beloved children’s books).
- There is talk of the Bradley Effect, which is when people, afraid to seem racist, tell the polls that they are voting for a black candidate but then change their mind in the privacy of the voting booth.
- In a speech given by John Ashcroft, he (deliberately?) referred to Barack Obama as “Osama”. Politically leanings aside, that’s fucked up.
The racism and personal attacks must stop. By calling him a Muslim and a terrorist, people are associating Barack Obama with “otherness” (nevermind that a) he’s not Muslim b) being Muslim isn’t a bad thing). People seriously think: He’s Muslim — don’t trust him. He’s a “pal” of terrorists — don’t trust him. He’s black — don’t trust him. It’s about time people looked at the facts: Obama is a United States Senator with extensive credentials and a strong educational background. He is an upstanding citizen and a loyal father and husband. Quite frankly, I’ve had enough of ignorant people’s bullshit.
What are your thoughts on racism and its effect on this election? Have you heard of any other incidences of racism in the campaign? Please share your thoughts and stories.
Further reading:
How Racism Works – a telling post about racism in this election (pay special attention to Palin’s educational record…did you know she attended 5 different colleges before getting her degree?)
“Pseudo Controversies” Hide Racism
Hello Rotten Little Girls!
It makes me sick and nauseous that racism still exists in the United States. I am a human being, who happens to have white skin, and grew up color-blind, thanks to my color-blind parents. However, I always had a sense of right and wrong, even as a little girl, so I would have thrown off that influence that I thankfully did not get. And to think, I mean even THINK, that any human being on this planet is inferior or superior based on race, color, education or circumstances is the most inane thing I cannot wrap my head around.
I’m voting for Barack Obama. I wanted him since I first heard rumors that he “might run” for President.
As I get older, I find it harder and harder to deal with and forgive the few of my relations, who through the years have become de-lightened instead of enlightened, and failed to grow as humans, and stop this racial nonsense.
You know what’s really funny? Barack is half white and half black!!!! You’d think that would ease the troubled mind of a troubled racist!
Certainly you’ve noticed that Barack is way up in the polls with “educated, college degreed” people. Let that speak for itself!
Keep up the great blogging for Barack!
Just another one of the human race, in San Diego, California
Look I totally understand where you’re coming from. HOWEVER it is happening on the ‘other’ side as well. Here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo0Lckiztgs (warning ten year old using the “N” word)
My so-called Republican boyfriend atually took the McCain yard sign out and threw it away after news of the Palin-Kill Him!- Smirk came out.
Even old white guys are disgusted by this.
Fucking hell, the little kid in the video who said “You need gloves to touch him” made me want to PUKE. His parents SAID NOTHING. I want another civil rights movement, I swear to God, because it’s obvious the first one didn’t do half as much as it should have. Look at these people! Look at their ignorance and their hate!
And while believer’s right that Barack is just another human being (which one woman in the video seemed to think he wasn’t), none of us live in a colorblind society. We all see color just as we all see gender. It’s the fact that these people see color as a reason to animalize, objectify (PUPPETS?!), and degrade him that changes seeing color to being red with hate. Thank-you for all the YouTube links nonetheless. We need to get this out to the sane masses.
(Cuz, you know, all those radical liberals are sooo scary compared to this…
rolls eyes)
“You need gloves to touch him.” — Seriously, what are those parents teaching that boy? And what sort of person will that kid be like when he grows up?!
I happened upon your site and the post regarding racism in this year’s Presidential campaign is on the mark. I am concerned that Sen. McCain may indeed have upped the rhetoric when he said that he was going to “whip his ***”. Language matters and the image of anyone suggesting that they were going to whip someone — in light of the history of our nation disgusts me. Lest one say I’m being too sensitive — pause for a moment and think about how elese the sentiment could have been conveyed.
Thank you all for commenting!
@ believer – I appreciate your comment. I definitely agree that Obama is well-educated, intelligent, and trustworthy! It’s ridiculous that people are looking at the color of his skin and making negatives judgments, but that’s the nature of illogical prejudice. As for your comment about Obama being half white…honestly in a racist’s mind that doesn’t even matter. If you look black, you’re black (and historically, if a person had only a percentage of “black blood” in them and had light skin, they were also considered black – and treated just as badly. We have a seriously fucked up history of prejudice in this country).
@ OMGIAMGOINGNUTS – Thank you for the links, but I must disagree with you. There is already a pattern of racism against Obama, and there are loads of examples I didn’t even post about! (I’m thinking of doing a “Racist Watch Weekly” post at this rate…) I don’t see too much negativity from the Obama campaign towards McCain that is false (for example, they brought up Keating Five…which is an actual scandal. Linking Obama with terrorism is another story…).
@ Kimmi – Props to your boyfriend! Thanks for sharing.
@ Dollyann – I agree totally. We can try to be “colorblind” but it’s really impossible. The best everyone can do is to recognize their own privileges and try to accept people as unique individuals. Stereotypes are toxic.
As for the Youtube links…aren’t they awesome? I just realized how to embed them and I admit I went a little crazy with them. Of course, watching these ones in particular just gets my blood boiling.
@ paolo – Apparently, they are brainwashing him with insane ideas. It’s really tragic.
@ Darryl – Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I’m disgusted by McCain’s “careless” statements. He needs to choose his words more wisely – after all, he’s not running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. He’s running for President.
this is disturbing on a multitude of levels.
i had heard of most of this, except of the person wearing a barack t-shirt being shot in London. Was it specifically about politics?
:[
i recently watched a documentary about the Ku Klux Klan, and these political rallies do not differ all that much from the hardcore Klan rallies.
sad to see people be so ill hearted.
<33 mermaid
I think Barack Obama is the best speaker and he looks a lot better than McCain but I have chosen McCain to vote for because I have too many unanswered questions about Obama and he has made too many promises but I can see in time McCain will catch up on these promises and maybe even pass Obama up. The main point that I disagree with Obama on is his economic policies… I don’t believe government should try to redistribute the wealth because anytime the government gets their hands on the workers money a large percent of it goes to the military industrial machine which give a small portion to their lobbyist to run back over to the capital . I hate it when someone starts bad mouthing Palin as I think she is the only person that tells the public what she thinks instead of what the public wants to hear. Can you believe that any person running for office would say that they don’t believe in abortion where rape is involved… When I heard Palin say this it stopped me in my tracks and it bothered me. But if a person believes that life is created at conception then that would be the proper position for them to take and I believe that everyone is entitled to there belifes, religious or otherwise, as long as those ideas don’t harm or restrict other people’s freedom of choice. Most of us make decision not based on what is right or wrong but what we think would be best for the us and those around us and there are not many of us that would want a young girl to have give up her life raising a baby that was the result of a rape. But that is not to say that there aren’t young girls that would want to have that baby. Also when the subject of racism is brought up you should read some of Senator Obama’s speeches and lessons. In 1995 he was teaching a class of eight Black women from the Grand Boulevard community and this particular class was “What folks should know”, it was one of Obama’s favorite topics. And Mr. Obama said to the class, We talk ‘they, they, they’ …….. but how did ‘they got to be high and mighty …..(1995) And in 1995 Obama was promoting the Black race with a grass roots movement for the economic development of the Black communities and most of the time when he said “good folks” he was speaking of Blacks and ‘they’ and ‘them’ were references to Whites or non Blacks. It appears that Obama will be our next President but if he isn’t the Black community must not turn back and must come together and not work or prolong the division of our country as the liberal, democrats and republicans have done for the last eight years. There is serious business to do as the world is suffering from economic failure that might last for a long period of time and our representatives are busy giving tax payers money to crooked bankers and Wall Street Investors.. I was disapointed at McCain and Obama for voting fot that bail out. First we had Weapons of Mass Destruction and then we had Debts of Mass Destruction no question they tell us it has to be done so they all voted yes….. The blind leading the blind.. I don’t believe you can borrow your way out of debt. This Depression will teach a lesson that many white people have forgotten …. save your money … debt is like an anchor around your neck pulling you down and you will never get free. Why does our government allow credit card companies to charge 18, 19 percent and penalties on top of that ? And then there are those check cashing places that charge 400% interest for cashing a non funded check… And we have a government that is suppose to be looking after the people…. I don’t believe in violence but it seems the job of politicians is to keep the people from coming together. Politicains always find something that really doesn’t matter to argue about. Remember a year and a half ago with Senators or Representatives talking to ball player about steriods…… God Help Us!!! Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were loaning (giving) money to people that did not have jobs or credit ratings and our elected representatives are talking about steroids… Obama talks about redistribution of the wealth well since 2003 there has been the greatest redistribution of wealth that has ever happened in history. Today there are somewhere between 10 and 20 million homes that are going to be foreclosed on… and those homes have gone down in value 36% or more… If the average home is worth $150,000.00 today. .36 X 415,666.67 = $149,640.01 doesn’t that look more like 50% than 36% well I checked the math twice… so on the average there are 15 million homes and someone has taken out loans for $415,000.00 and they are being foreclosed and they are only worth $150.000.00 a difference of $265,000.00 dollars
So lets round that off just to be save to $200,000.00 and multiply that by 15 million homes 300,000,000,000.00. So if every thing they are telling us about this housing foreclosure is true then today we could purchase all the bad paper for Three hundred billion and yet Congress and the Senate voted Seven hundred billion dollar bail out … Better check the math …
Obama or McCain I don’t think it makes a difference because when a person gets elected they are already bought and paid for.
Now that the election is over what does everyone think of the new world of the United States?
I’m not out here to bash anyone but it seems that both sides of this coin are fear-mongering and hate-mongering children of about 6 years old. All the name calling and the hate speech and the initiation of violence (SEIU) and anger at town hall meetings, and ACORN and Hannity, and Beck, and Maddow, and the rest is getting out of hand.
What ever happened to civility? Even this article is rout with ideals and ideas that cause more disdain, hate, fear, and anger.
McCain and Palin did not do anything right when they inferred race into their campaign, but certainly you saw the other side of the coin too? Is Sarah Palin incapable of being VP because she has children? Men do it all the time. Is she incapable because she was governor of such a remote state, Alaska? Is she too pretty to be VP? Was she too outspoken, honest, real? She did nothing wrong but have a 17 year old girl who did what a lot of 17 year old girls do, and a baby born with down syndrome. If those happened to a man then there would not be the drivel being spoken. Why does society believe that the woman should be staying at home with her children? Can’t a woman have ambition?
This entire political process for 2008 was terrible. Disgusting angry people trying to change the minds of otherwise reasonable people.
It’s such a shame that we have so many children in politics.
Ha ha…Americans are so dumb “he’s a terrorist” “um its in his blood” “Islam taught him” should be made in to a sketch show!Right wing conservatives of middle america are particularly funny to watch speak – maybe they should be complaining more about the education in the country!