McCain is totally blowing it

[SportsFan68]

This comment is only to agree with Cal's remark about scary -- that was far and away the most-used adjective applied around here to Romney. Clinton was a distant second in scariness. We are not scared of Obama, and I think he will win Colorado easily.

[Thousandaire]

"Scary" sounds like a Republican codeword for the N-word... just like "radical" and "exotic" are Republican codewords for the N-word.

Aaannnnddd we begin....

So do I assume your premise is that if Obama loses it will strictly be due to racism?

Small points like being ranked the #1 most liberal senator in a body containing Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, et al, doesn't come into play?

His lack of a stance or record on anything doesn't matter?

It's only because he's black that he'll lose?

Right.

So if he wins, it's on talent and character alone?

Neat trick. I've gotta figure out how to do that.

Wait, how can you say he is the most liberal, yet doesn't have a stance on anything? Does not compute.

I'm convinced he is a liberal no matter what he says. I'm also convinced he will not get us out of Iraq anytime soon, no matter what he says.

[Flybrick]

Wait, how can you say he is the most liberal, yet doesn't have a stance on anything? Does not compute.

His US Senate and Illinois State Senate voting record. He has authored/co-sponsered very little legislation of his own.

[TheConfessor]

His US Senate and Illinois State Senate voting record. He has authored/co-sponsered very little legislation of his own.

Who couldn't see this gaffe coming? Misspelling a word after chastising Nelly for his spelling. Most of us live in glass houses.

[TheConfessor]

"Scary" sounds like a Republican codeword for the N-word... just like "radical" and "exotic" are Republican codewords for the N-word.

Bulls**t

Scary and Radical mean Scary and Radical.

Oh, yeah? Which one of the Spice Girls was called "Scary"? Case closed!

[Flybrick]

His US Senate and Illinois State Senate voting record. He has authored/co-sponsered very little legislation of his own.

Who couldn't see this gaffe coming? Misspelling a word after chastising Nelly for his spelling. Most of us live in glass houses.

I didn't chastise nelly. I simply answered his question about continuing or not. If he's going to insult views that differ from his own, it would seem that an articulate framework for those insults to rest upon would be in order.

I'm far from a perfect speller and will 'fess up (pun intended) when I so goof.

Ya got me. I will try to carry on with the shame...

[TheCalvinator24]

"Scary" sounds like a Republican codeword for the N-word... just like "radical" and "exotic" are Republican codewords for the N-word.

Bulls**t

Scary and Radical mean Scary and Radical.

Oh, yeah? Which one of the Spice Girls was called "Scary"? Case closed!

Posh always scared me more than Scary.

She still does.

[Buffacuse]

Interesting thread so far...let me add something: I understand Obama skewing to the center--he has to. I don't understand McCain abandoning his maverick attitude now that HE ALREADY HAS THE NOMINATION. If anything, he should be Mr. Maverick between now and November--trust me--the Right isn't going to bolt to Bab Barr any more than the left will bolt to Nader.

[TheCalvinator24]

Interesting thread so far...let me add something: I understand Obama skewing to the center--he has to. I don't understand McCain abandoning his maverick attitude now that HE ALREADY HAS THE NOMINATION. If anything, he should be Mr. Maverick between now and November--trust me--the Right isn't going to bolt to Bab Barr any more than the left will bolt to Nader.

I will vote for Barr (or perhaps even someone more fringe) if McCain picks Romney as his running mate.

[clem21]

They couldn't debate the issues with John Kerry four years ago, so they introduced codewords into the mainstream to scare voters into not voting for him. "Flip-flopper", "wishy-washy", "elitist", "cut-and-runner", "surrenderer", "terrorist coddler", "appeaser", "defeatocrat"... shall I continue?

But here's the key point: That worked perfectly. Whether or not the GOP strategists are racists or not, they're damn sure going to try and scare those voters who are racist (and sadly enough there are plenty) into voting for McCain. And why not? It's dirty but it's a good strategy and unfortunately that's basically all that matters in American politics today.

[tlynn78]

Whether or not the GOP strategists are racists or not, they're damn sure going to try and scare those voters who are racist (and sadly enough there are plenty) into voting for McCain

I sincerely doubt that any (white) racist needs to be 'scared' into voting for McCain. Wouldn't they, almost by definition, be sure to vote for the white guy?


t.

[wintergreen48]

They couldn't debate the issues with John Kerry four years ago, so they introduced codewords into the mainstream to scare voters into not voting for him. "Flip-flopper", "wishy-washy", "elitist", "cut-and-runner", "surrenderer", "terrorist coddler", "appeaser", "defeatocrat"... shall I continue?

Those aren't 'codewords,' those are specific accusations/criticisms of Kerry. 'Flip-flopper' simply means that (in their view) he flip-flopped on issues, taking contradictory positions depending upon his audience, the time of day, whatever; 'wishy-washy' is the same as 'flip-flopper'; 'elitist' is the usual complaint about highly educated Democrats who tend to look upon 'the masses' with disdain (the usual 'only stupid people vote for Republicans/conservatives' position, Gore's comment about Republicans appealing only to the 'extra chromosome' [i.e., retarded] set; etc.); the others all directly challenged Kerry as someone who would simply, well, cut and run, give up in the face of adversity, etc., rather than 'stay the course.' There's nothing 'coded' in any of these, they may or may not be accurate (a different issue), but they are, at least, straightforward.

The 'coded' problem is something entirely different, and actually comes up as much on 'the other side' as it does with the people supposedly talking in codes. You take the position that 'radical' and 'scary' are coded words for 'black,' but the problem with that is that both are words that are typically used irrespective of someone's race, and to the extent that they are 'code' at all, they are code for 'her/his positions are far off on the opposite political extreme from me' (left wingers have often referred to Dick Cheney and Karl Rove as 'scary', Jesse Helms was said to be 'radical' and 'scary,' and last I looked, they were all white boys). However, I would posit that accusing people of using 'coded' language is, itself, somewhat coded-- 'they talk in codes' is, well, may perhaps be code for 'they are racist race-baiters.'

[clem21]

Whether or not the GOP strategists are racists or not, they're damn sure going to try and scare those voters who are racist (and sadly enough there are plenty) into voting for McCain

I sincerely doubt that any (white) racist needs to be 'scared' into voting for McCain. Wouldn't they, almost by definition, be sure to vote for the white guy?


t.

Yes, but I'm not talking deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism. I'm talking on the fence Ohio or Pennsylvanians who feel mildly insecure with an African-American president. Yes, those people can get scared into voting.

[silverscreenselect]

Whether or not the GOP strategists are racists or not, they're damn sure going to try and scare those voters who are racist (and sadly enough there are plenty) into voting for McCain

I sincerely doubt that any (white) racist needs to be 'scared' into voting for McCain. Wouldn't they, almost by definition, be sure to vote for the white guy?


t.

Yes, but I'm not talking deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism. I'm talking on the fence Ohio or Pennsylvanians who feel mildly insecure with an African-American president. Yes, those people can get scared into voting.

For years, Republicans have scared (or tried to scare) voters into voting for them by appealing to their fears about Democratic candidates being weak on the enemy of the moment, whether it be Communists or Saddam Hussein or more generally terrorists. That may be reprehensible; it may or may not be effective, but it's not racist.

You can validly criticize Obama as inexperienced and that worries a lot of people. You can criticize him as being defeatist or soft on terror, which may or may not be valid. You can criticize him for being a flip-flopper with no real stand on the issues. All of these are less likely to get people to vote for Obama and these tactics only work with people who weren't solid Obama supporters in the first place; i.e., they are mildly insecure about him).

But these criticisms are not racist and the mere fact that Obama is black doesn't make the criticisms racist. It's Obama and his supporters who are trying to label virtually any attack on him as being racist and therefore off limits that bring up the race card.

There have been a handful of racist attacks against Obama, usually very crude in nature, and not very effective. There will undoubtedly be others. But the vast majority of criticisms of him have nothing whatsoever to do with his race. The most virulent racist and sexist statements in this campaign have come from Obama's spiritual mentors Rev. Wright and Father Pfleger. Obama is using the race card to solidify the black vote behind him, regardless of his qualifications, to appeal to white guilt and to stifle any criticism of him that he doesn't like.

[Tocqueville3]

Whether or not the GOP strategists are racists or not, they're damn sure going to try and scare those voters who are racist (and sadly enough there are plenty) into voting for McCain

I sincerely doubt that any (white) racist needs to be 'scared' into voting for McCain. Wouldn't they, almost by definition, be sure to vote for the white guy?


t.

Yes, but I'm not talking deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism. I'm talking on the fence Ohio or Pennsylvanians who feel mildly insecure with an African-American president. Yes, those people can get scared into voting.

IIRC, the largest amount of KKK members live in Indiana. Quite ironically, Indiana borders Ohio and is just one state away from Pennsylvania.

So you can take that ill informed stereotype about "deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism" and shove it.

[clem21]

I sincerely doubt that any (white) racist needs to be 'scared' into voting for McCain. Wouldn't they, almost by definition, be sure to vote for the white guy?


t.

Yes, but I'm not talking deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism. I'm talking on the fence Ohio or Pennsylvanians who feel mildly insecure with an African-American president. Yes, those people can get scared into voting.

IIRC, the largest amount of KKK members live in Indiana. Quite ironically, Indiana borders Ohio and is just one state away from Pennsylvania.

So you can take that ill informed stereotype about "deep south Ku Klux Klanish racism" and shove it.

Fair enough.
I spoke from my experiences when I lived in Florida and there were always people on the street making overtly racist comments without anyone even blinking an eye. That kind of thing just doesn't happen in New York. Or even Indiana. However, if I somehow offended you in my reference to the location of many Klu Klux Klan member then I apologize.
BTW, as for my "ill-informed stereotype,"

Numerous smaller groups use the Klan name. Estimates are that about two-thirds of KKK members are concentrated in the South, with another third situated primarily in the lower Midwest.[91][90][92]

Shove that somewhere.

[takinover]

C'mon Nelly don't you know the only racism that exists today emanates from W. 67th street in NYC. You know, that grand conspiracy to keep White Males off of game shows.

Shame on you for suggesting that such a thing can exist anywhere else in America.