Here Comes the Race Card (Second Verse)

[silverscreenselect]

It's no surprise that Obama's supporters are again trotting out their most anguished expressions decrying McCain and the Republicans for daring to imply that Obama is not qualified for the presidency. And whenever the attacks get a bit too effective, you'd better believe the race card is hitting the table as well.

In the same week that Obama warned people that the Republicans would try to point out that he didn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills (no race card there), the Repubs dare to compare Obama to braindead celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and he responds by claiming racism. Apparently, showing Obama in the same commercial with two moronic bimbos is a subtle implication that Obama is a black man who wants to have sex with all braindead, bimbo blonde white women.

The comparison is to the Harold Ford commercial in which a similar blonde bimbo cooed at Ford and asked him to call her. There is nothing in this current commercial at all that has a sexual connotation. This comes on the heels of another Obama claim that the commercials mocking him as presumptuous are a code term for "uppity."

Sadly, there have been many negative stereotypes of black people in our history. They have been called uppity, and there have been attempts to portray them as sex crazed. The problem is that there are so many negative stereotypes of blacks that any attempt to criticize Obama can be construed, if you stretch a point far enough, as a racial attack. Imagine if that commercial had shown a couple of rap singers instead of Britney and Paris. Then McCain would have been playing to stereotypes that blacks are all dangerous thugs. Or perhaps another anti Obama attack might be labelled an attempt to portray him as lazy and shiftless, or a docile Uncle Tom type or any other negative black stereotype. It's like playing six degrees of Kevin Bacon (or SSS). If you stretch the point far enough, you can "construe" any attack as a racial attack.

The Britney/Paris commercial says more about our sexual prejudices than our racial ones. The fact is that when most people think of dumb celebrities, it's Britney, Paris, the Simpson girls and Lindsay who come to mind, not equally braindead males. So McCain used the most obvious stereotype of a dumb celebrity in his commercial.

When Michael Moore made his Fahrenheit 911 movie, he used a clip of Britney saying she approved of George Bush as a way of poking fun at him. If it's okay for Moore to use Britney to poke fun at Bush, why can't the Republicans use her to poke fun at Obama.

The Obama people know this, but this type of sham cries of racism worked before with Hillary. The differences are (1) Hillary was a Democrat who backed off in order to prevent even worse of a party tiff, while the Republicans will show no such compassion, and (2) people are seeing these attacks more clearly for what they are.

Next week, when we see the first polls to start showing McCain in the lead, the wailing and moaning will really begin in earnest.

[TheConfessor]

It's really helpful to get such expert analysis of political "card" games from someone who recently played the Nazi SS card against Obama.

Serious question -- has anyone here ever decided whom to vote for based on any of the partisan attacks they have read on this board? It seems unlikely, but if so, I suspect the zealous advocates here have sometimes influenced people to vote in support of the candidates they tried so hard to denigrate.

[15QuestionsAway]

...In the same week that Obama warned people that the Republicans would try to point out that he didn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills (no race card there), the Repubs dare to compare Obama to braindead celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and he responds by claiming racism...

Stop lying. Here's the money quote - Obama today in Orlando:

"In no way do I think that John McCain's campaign was being racist. I think they're cynical. And I think they want to distract people from talking about the real issues."

Here's a link from a source article at the Huffington Post: http://tinyurl.com/65p6uz

SSS, you're acting like a Republican troll. I read the crap you continue to spew about Obama, and you sound like you're voting for a prom king rather than a president. Here's the first level subtext I keep hearing behind the words:

<SSS>
There's something I don't trust about that young, smooth talking fella...
</SSS>

And then you go out to the corporate media to bolster your opinion. Try digging a little deeper, with regards to both Obama and McCain.

If you really support Democratic policies like you say you do, and you can't see the illogic of voting for McCain, then you're beyond help. Hillary's supporting Obama - what she's not good enough for you anymore?

[silverscreenselect]

...In the same week that Obama warned people that the Republicans would try to point out that he didn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills (no race card there), the Repubs dare to compare Obama to braindead celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and he responds by claiming racism...

Stop lying. Here's the money quote -

No, here's the money quote from Wednesday:

"Nobody thinks that Bush and McCain have a real answer to the challenges we face. So what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me," he said during one such speech on Wednesday. "You know, 'he's not patriotic enough, he's got a funny name,' you know, 'he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.'"

I'm not surprised Obama backed off that a bit today. That's his pattern; whenever the political heat gets a bit much he claims he's been misunderstood.

SSS, you're acting like a Republican troll. I read the crap you continue to spew about Obama, and you sound like you're voting for a prom king rather than a president.

I am well aware we're voting for a president and the fact that he's got the D after his name doesn't mean that I or anyone should automatically shut my brain down and vote for him.

If it doesn't bother you that Obama trots out the race card wheneer it suits his purposes, that he has a lifelong history of associating with some of the sleaziest characters around, that he has no experience, no strong positions, no consistency to his views, and a history of ducking issues and votes, then you are saying that the end justifies the means.

I have done my homework on Obama, and I'm finding out what the Democrats should have found out before they ran out to nominate him, that he is an inexperienced, arrogant empty suit with no scruples and no political principles to think of. If you think that he is going to pursue Democratic ideals and principles if elected then you will be in for a rude surprise.

I understand that Hillary has to support him because she's in the party and that's what they have to do. It's the same reason she couldn't call him out when he pulled the slimy tactics on him originally. The media has been in the tank for Obama for so long it's ridiculous. But the public is beginning to see through it.

The Democratic party has survived losing presidential elections before, even those we should have won. This country has survived eight years of George Bush. Both the party and the country can survive four years of McCain, especially with a Democratic Congress. I don't think either the party or this country will be in nearly as good a shape four years from now with Obama as president.

[Ritterskoop]

The Britney/Paris commercial says more about our sexual prejudices than our racial ones. The fact is that when most people think of dumb celebrities, it's Britney, Paris, the Simpson girls and Lindsay who come to mind, not equally braindead males.

Nobody wanted to see a picture of him standing next to Keanu Reeves. Not even his enemies.

[15QuestionsAway]

(it's all upthread)

I really don't want to waste too many more joules of energy here, so I'll respond briefly.

There's something about Obama that makes you react viscerally. I don't see what you do - you hold him to a much higher standard than you do McCain, and that's a shame.

McCain is just another way of saying "more Bush". Follow the money and you will see where McCain will lead us. You're either missing the big picture or you're fine with Republican policies.

Now go treat yourself to a spa day or something. Too much stress is bad for you.

[Jeemie]

(it's all upthread)

I really don't want to waste too many more joules of energy here, so I'll respond briefly.

There's something about Obama that makes you react viscerally. I don't see what you do - you hold him to a much higher standard than you do McCain, and that's a shame.

Where do you get this impression?

And even if true, SSS is a Democrat...so OF COURSE he will hold his candidates to a higher standard than GOP candidates.

McCain is just another way of saying "more Bush". Follow the money and you will see where McCain will lead us. You're either missing the big picture or you're fine with Republican policies.

So the solution is to just vote for anyone, as long as he doesn't emulate Bush?

It's not possible to be even worse than Bush?

[silverscreenselect]

(it's all upthread)

I really don't want to waste too many more joules of energy here, so I'll respond briefly.

There's something about Obama that makes you react viscerally. I don't see what you do - you hold him to a much higher standard than you do McCain, and that's a shame.

I do hold Democratic candidates to a higher standard. It's no defense to say that the other guys are doing things bad. That's our excuse for waterboarding in Iraq, because "they" do really nasty things, we can engage in some torture that's not quite as bad. I have no tolerance for fakers, frauds and crooks who try to take refuge under the Democratic banner.

In 2006, the Democrats won back Congress without resorting to these tactics by staying focused on the issues. The voters overwhelmingly rejected Bush and the Republican dirty tricks. Rather that nominate a candidate who would take it to the Republicans again on the issues and thus win an election handily (like Hillary, but also like Edwards, Dodd or Biden, and, sadly, Al Gore who wouldn't even run), they chose an unprincipled, smooth talking, inexperienced empty suit who is the one candidate to whom we should not be entrusting our country in times like this. We don't need a symbol to the world; we need a leader. For his flaws, McCain is better than any other Republican would have been, like a Romney or a Fred Thompson. And we can hold him in check with a Democratic Congress.

[BigDrawMan]

It's no surprise that Obama's supporters are again trotting out their most anguished expressions decrying McCain and the Republicans for daring to imply that Obama is not qualified for the presidency. And whenever the attacks get a bit too effective, you'd better believe the race card is hitting the table as well.

In the same week that Obama warned people that the Republicans would try to point out that he didn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills (no race card there), the Repubs dare to compare Obama to braindead celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and he responds by claiming racism. Apparently, showing Obama in the same commercial with two moronic bimbos is a subtle implication that Obama is a black man who wants to have sex with all braindead, bimbo blonde white women.

The comparison is to the Harold Ford commercial in which a similar blonde bimbo cooed at Ford and asked him to call her. There is nothing in this current commercial at all that has a sexual connotation. This comes on the heels of another Obama claim that the commercials mocking him as presumptuous are a code term for "uppity."

Sadly, there have been many negative stereotypes of black people in our history. They have been called uppity, and there have been attempts to portray them as sex crazed. The problem is that there are so many negative stereotypes of blacks that any attempt to criticize Obama can be construed, if you stretch a point far enough, as a racial attack. Imagine if that commercial had shown a couple of rap singers instead of Britney and Paris. Then McCain would have been playing to stereotypes that blacks are all dangerous thugs. Or perhaps another anti Obama attack might be labelled an attempt to portray him as lazy and shiftless, or a docile Uncle Tom type or any other negative black stereotype. It's like playing six degrees of Kevin Bacon (or SSS). If you stretch the point far enough, you can "construe" any attack as a racial attack.

The Britney/Paris commercial says more about our sexual prejudices than our racial ones. The fact is that when most people think of dumb celebrities, it's Britney, Paris, the Simpson girls and Lindsay who come to mind, not equally braindead males. So McCain used the most obvious stereotype of a dumb celebrity in his commercial.

When Michael Moore made his Fahrenheit 911 movie, he used a clip of Britney saying she approved of George Bush as a way of poking fun at him. If it's okay for Moore to use Britney to poke fun at Bush, why can't the Republicans use her to poke fun at Obama.

The Obama people know this, but this type of sham cries of racism worked before with Hillary. The differences are (1) Hillary was a Democrat who backed off in order to prevent even worse of a party tiff, while the Republicans will show no such compassion, and (2) people are seeing these attacks more clearly for what they are.

Next week, when we see the first polls to start showing McCain in the lead, the wailing and moaning will really begin in earnest.

---------
that is the worst argument I have ever read about anything.

you like to make up stuff that isnt true and wasnt said, then exaggerate it within an inch of its life, then argue against it .

you could get an innocent man sent to the chair by a sympathetic jury.

do your arguments ever influence anyone (out of diapers that is) about anything ??

you are not good at it

you make jeemie and flock look reasoned and discerning.

[Jeemie]

that is the worst argument I have ever read about anything.

you like to make up stuff that isnt true and wasnt said, then exaggerate it within an inch of its life, then argue against it .

you could get an innocent man sent to the chair by a sympathetic jury.

do your arguments ever influence anyone (out of diapers that is) about anything ??

you are not good at it

you make jeemie and flock look reasoned and discerning.

Too bad there's no one here that could make you appear to be any less patronizing and condescending.

It is not exaggerating to say that when Obama says "they're going to try and make you scared of me by saying...'he has a funny name'...'he doesn't look like other Presidents on the dollar bill...'" then he's playing the race card.

What else could it be?

[Weyoun]

Obama, indeed, doesn't look like the guys on the money. He's also not behaving like that guys on the money, unless it's revealed that he has a bit of a Grant-style drinking problem.

[15QuestionsAway]

I do hold Democratic candidates to a higher standard. It's no defense to say that the other guys are doing things bad.

Sure it is, because they (Republicans) will continue to do the same things they've done the last eight years. Obama won't, and he represents the Democratic bag of policies.

Again, I think you're too focused on the personality and not the policy. Will Obama be a worse president when it comes to implementing Democratic policies than McCain? Absolutely not.

That's our excuse for waterboarding in Iraq, because "they" do really nasty things, we can engage in some torture that's not quite as bad. I have no tolerance for fakers, frauds and crooks who try to take refuge under the Democratic banner.

Let's assume you're right about Obama for a second. Do you think all of the atrocities in Iraq, indeed our continued presence in Iraq is more likely to continue under McCain or Obama?

In 2006, the Democrats won back Congress without resorting to these tactics by staying focused on the issues. The voters overwhelmingly rejected Bush and the Republican dirty tricks. Rather that nominate a candidate who would take it to the Republicans again on the issues and thus win an election handily (like Hillary, but also like Edwards, Dodd or Biden, and, sadly, Al Gore who wouldn't even run)...

All of the people you've mentioned above support Obama, and are fine Democrats. Again, its because he represents the collection of policies those candidates support. Also, I know you don't agree with this, but I think Obama actually gives Democrats a better chance to win and increase their majorities in both houses. Think of all the vitriol directed at Hillary since Clinton was president. She's the best fundraising tool the Republicans have.

...they chose an unprincipled, smooth talking, inexperienced empty suit who is the one candidate to whom we should not be entrusting our country in times like this. We don't need a symbol to the world; we need a leader. For his flaws, McCain is better than any other Republican would have been, like a Romney or a Fred Thompson. And we can hold him in check with a Democratic Congress.

Your opinions about Obama are your own. I don't get it, but, hey, that's me. But when you talk about "...times like this...", I'm assuming you want to see some of the problems we face addressed.

A Democratic Congress "holding (McCain) in check" isn't good enough. I want to see progress and recovery from the Bush era. I'll take Obama plus 60 Democratic senators. And incidentally, why don't you think Obama could be "held in check" by a Democratic Senate? What are you really afraid of?

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Let's assume you're right about Obama for a second. Do you think all of the atrocities in Iraq, indeed our continued presence in Iraq is more likely to continue under McCain or Obama?

I think the atrocities in Iraq will continue to decline because we have killed most of the people responsible for the atrocities and the rest are running away despite the encouraging thought of an eventual Obama electoral victory.

[silverscreenselect]

I do hold Democratic candidates to a higher standard. It's no defense to say that the other guys are doing things bad.

Sure it is, because they (Republicans) will continue to do the same things they've done the last eight years. Obama won't, and he represents the Democratic bag of policies.

I wish I knew what insight you have into Obama that makes you so confident what policies he will or will not pursue. It's certainly nothing he's said, because at one time or another he's said pracically everything under the sun.

Obama doesn't represent "the Democratic bag of policies." He represents Obama first and foremost. Remember FISA, the big cave-in. Remember most recently offshore drilling. Wednesday, he's in favor of inflating automobile tires. By Friday, when that gets ridiculed, he says he might be in favor of offshore drilling. His positions are constantly changing in accordance with how the political winds are blowing.

I'm not saying he definitely would or would not do any particular thing if elected. But he has shown a tendency to pal around with whomever is willing to put some meat on his plate, and then, like Tony Rezko's slum housing project, be willing to scratch the back of whomever feeds him.

All Obama has to do is put forward some ridiculous legislation in the name of "bipartisanship" and the Democrats will be very hard pressed to go against him. All he has to do is name another Roberts non-entity with a stealth record to the next Supreme Court vacancy and the Democrats will be very hard pressed to go against him.

As for Iraq, it's become pretty obvious that the Iraqis want us out so any president is going to be looking at a withdrawal.

So many Democrats are blinded by the thought of getting back the Presidency that they are willing to overlook anything and everything about Obama to get it. But an Obama presidency would not be a Democratic presidency; it would be an Obama presidency, namely that of a narcissistic, unprincipled Demorat-in-name-only.

And these are not just my feelings. There's a lot of other Democrats out there (perhaps 20-30%) who may either sit this out, vote McCain or vote third party.

[wbtravis007]

And these are not just my feelings. There's a lot of other Democrats out there (perhaps 20-30%) who may either sit this out, vote McCain or vote third party.

The number of people who share those feelings -- and the effect of that bitterness -- continues to astonish me.

Just goes to show you: sometimes you don't know as much about some people as you think.

[Flybrick]

sss, I think your analysis of Obama is pretty accurate - mainly an empty suit with no inner core of his own, just whatever will be popular at the moment.

That said, and I truly am not intending an insult here, if Hillary were the Democratic nominee, I believe nearly all Republicans would move heaven and earth to defeat her.

As mentioned above, she'd be the best fund raiser for the Republicans ever.

With Obama drawing fairly hefty support and McCain drawing largely luke-warm, Obama has a very good shot at winning.

To put it in personal terms, if Hillary were the Democratic nominee, I would vote for whomever the Republicans put up. With Obama, while I can't vote for an him since he's such an empty suit, I have not made up my mind to vote for McCain. I might just sit this one out.

Again, I mean no insult and can respect your support for Hillary and lack thereof for Obama.

[Beebs52]

I am also surprised that there is such glorious love for the Democrat candidate. Supposedly. I know there is no glorious love for the Republican candidate. As a former fomenter and asshole on certain subjects, I find the continuing vitriol, on both sides (that means YOU) laughable. If you think you're going to find straightforward answers and righteous statements and follow through on proposals and no-making-stuff-up on either part, you'r batshit crazy. All of you.

With that said, I'm getting old and much mellower...I'm sorry. I lie. I had to say that. I've become much more jaded and cynical, for good cause, looking at what we have to work with.

And, with that being said, I think it still comes down to who has your back, right now. Because, having grand teleprompter thoughts and messianic aspirations does not a president make. I realize that will engender all sortsa fun responses if anyone gives a poop about what I said.

Howsabout them Astros?

[flockofseagulls104]

that is the worst argument I have ever read about anything.

you like to make up stuff that isnt true and wasnt said, then exaggerate it within an inch of its life, then argue against it .

you could get an innocent man sent to the chair by a sympathetic jury.

do your arguments ever influence anyone (out of diapers that is) about anything ??

you are not good at it

you make jeemie and flock look reasoned and discerning.

Too bad there's no one here that could make you appear to be any less patronizing and condescending.

It is not exaggerating to say that when Obama says "they're going to try and make you scared of me by saying...'he has a funny name'...'he doesn't look like other Presidents on the dollar bill...'" then he's playing the race card.

What else could it be?

I don't know how to take that. I am staying out of this. As far as I'm concerned, neither candidate is worth a crap and both will grow government even bigger. Socialism here we come.

[peacock2121]

sss, I think your analysis of Obama is pretty accurate - mainly an empty suit with no inner core of his own, just whatever will be popular at the moment.

That said, and I truly am not intending an insult here, if Hillary were the Democratic nominee, I believe nearly all Republicans would move heaven and earth to defeat her.

As mentioned above, she'd be the best fund raiser for the Republicans ever.

With Obama drawing fairly hefty support and McCain drawing largely luke-warm, Obama has a very good shot at winning.

To put it in personal terms, if Hillary were the Democratic nominee, I would vote for whomever the Republicans put up. With Obama, while I can't vote for an him since he's such an empty suit, I have not made up my mind to vote for McCain. I might just sit this one out.

Again, I mean no insult and can respect your support for Hillary and lack thereof for Obama.

My sister's husband is retired Navy. He is who I see as a staunch Republican. I got to spend a week with him in early July. As we got more comofrtable with each other, politics came up (it never would before, given my points of view vs his).

Anywho - he said "There is no Republican running and I don't know what I will do. I will not vote for McCain."

I asked "Would you vote for Obama or not vote?

He said - neither - I will write in.

He says he is writing in Romney.

His youngest son says he will do the same thing as well.

[Jeemie]

I don't know how to take that. I am staying out of this. As far as I'm concerned, neither candidate is worth a crap and both will grow government even bigger. Socialism here we come.

Now that I agree with.

I'm going third-party or write-in this year.

People mentioned that I don't criticize McCain.

It's hard to do that- he's worse than Obama in that he doesn't articulate a clear message TO criticize.

[silverscreenselect]

I don't know how to take that. I am staying out of this. As far as I'm concerned, neither candidate is worth a crap and both will grow government even bigger. Socialism here we come.

Now that I agree with.

I'm going third-party or write-in this year.

The public has turned against conservatism as a solution to our current problems, viewing it more as the cause of the problems. That's why Republicans got voted out of office in droves in 2006 and why a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican currently by 10-15 points.

Conservatives may grouse about McCain, but the fact is that a "true" conservative like Romney or Thompson would have been slaughtered this year even by Barack Obama. The thought of a continuation of the Bush years is a huge turnoff to most voters.

The things that make McCain unattractive to folks like Jeemie and Flock are those that make him a palatable alternative to a lot of conservative Democrats and independents. I'm by no means a conservative Democrat but I can live with McCain as an Obama alternative. I'd have had to do a lot more soul searching in making a decision if Romney or Thompson were the candidate.

McCain gives the Republicans a fighting chance at holding the White House. Other candidates would probably have dragged down the prospects of Republican Senate and Congressional candidates as well.

[flockofseagulls104]

The public has turned against conservatism as a solution to our current problems, viewing it more as the cause of the problems. That's why Republicans got voted out of office in droves in 2006 and why a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican currently by 10-15 points.

The public has not turned against conservatism. There is no party that is upholding and putting forward conservative values. No, the country has not turned democratic, it's just that there is not an eyelash difference between the way they govern any more. The only difference is foreign policy, where democrats have no grasp on reality and republicans have screwed up big time. So there is no real choice. The real issue in this country is not who will be president, but will we keep electing ignorant panderering windbags to congress. Both major parties are full of them.

[earendel]

I'm by no means a conservative Democrat but I can live with McCain as an Obama alternative. I'd have had to do a lot more soul searching in making a decision if Romney or Thompson were the candidate.

I have just three little words for you, SSS - the Federal judiciary. Presidents come and go, Congresspersons come and go, but federal judges are forever. And McCain has already gone on record in saying that he favors nominees like the ones Bush offered (Roberts and Alito)and also voted for Bork and Thomas for the USSC; he also pushed for the approval of very conservative judges to the Federal bench. All of what both candidates propose during their campaigns are ephemeral and subject to change when faced with Congress. But the ability to put one's stamp on the Federal judiciary is what really counts. Anyone who is considering a third-party candidate or sitting on one's hands in November should think about this, no matter what your views of the candidates' positions may be.

[silverscreenselect]

I'm by no means a conservative Democrat but I can live with McCain as an Obama alternative. I'd have had to do a lot more soul searching in making a decision if Romney or Thompson were the candidate.

I have just three little words for you, SSS - the Federal judiciary.

And again, you are assuming what type of judges Obama will pick. Frankly, his record does not give anyone reason to believe he will be picking general progressive or liberal judges.

The difference between an Obama and a McCain presidency is that the Democrats will not be able, as a practical matter, to block/filibuster an Obama nomination. They will do so with a McCain one. The Democrats were willing in the 1980's to flex their muscles when Reagan tried to run Bork through, and the eventual result was David Souter.

[silverscreenselect]

The public has turned against conservatism as a solution to our current problems, viewing it more as the cause of the problems. That's why Republicans got voted out of office in droves in 2006 and why a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican currently by 10-15 points.

The public has not turned against conservatism. There is no party that is upholding and putting forward conservative values.

So for some strange reason, either conservatives aren't running for office or they aren't getting nominated or elected if they do run. That sure sounds like the public has turned against conservatism at the present time.