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McCain and Palin Dehumanize and Objectify Obama -- They Call Him "This" or "That"

Submitted by christine on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 1:54pm.

Analysis

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Christine Bowman

Will Voters Choose Hate and Fear? Or Hope and Change?

John McCain refused even to look at Barack Obama throughout their first debate. His campaign never offered an explanation for that odd reality.

Then in the second debate, John McCain pointed and called Barack Obama "That one."

At a campaign rally earlier this week, Sarah Palin announced:

"I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America … I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as 'imperfect enough' to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country."

Her supporters in that crowd said, "Boooo!" and "Kill him!" Another has shouted "treason!"

What's going on here?

The Republican candidates for president and vice president have made the active decision to use words and body language to dehumanize their Democratic opponent. This goes beyond attacking. They are not content to criticize Obama's or the Democratic Party's policies or plans or record. They are not even attacking the Democratic candidate personally.

John McCain and Sarah Palin and their skillful messaging team have decided to demonize and objectify Barack Obama. To them, Barack Obama is no longer a person. Barack Obama is no longer to be referred to as "he," but rather as "this" or "that."

McCain and Palin have chosen to make Barack Obama into a receptacle for right-wing hate and anger. To them, the Democratic candidate for president of the United States is a piece of flypaper against which they fling fears and latent hostility. He is the scapegoat they blame for anything the extremists in their base think has gone wrong in America.

This is dangerous, not just ridiculous. It is classic fascism. We saw a violent outburst of it when an angry gunman opened fire in a Unitarian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, two months ago because he hated liberals. This Pandora's box of racism, hate, and fear will not be easily clamped shut again after November 4.

What is the Obama/Biden response?

Barack Obama told Americans Wednesday, "I can take four more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but America can't take four more years of John McCain's Bush policies."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/obama-are-you-b.html

In the latest Obama/Biden campaign video sent to supporters, David Plouffe outlined the Obama campaign plan for these final weeks. They intend to focus on the economy and work hard on the grass-roots level to get Democratic volunteers out and Democratic voters to the polls.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/giveadayvideo

Veteran NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell asked Obama spokesman Bill Burton to comment on the McCain/Palin "ugliness" of late. Mitchell asked if Palin shouldn't take some responsibility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCnO1rsmisQ&feature=user

Burton responded with neither denunciation nor outrage. He suggested calmly and generously that perhaps Palin hadn't heard the mob-like shouts from her enraged supporters. Instead the message Burton delivered was that there is anger out there, but it is misdirected. Folks are justifiably angry that their representatives in Washington have not been looking out for them, and that's why Barack Obama is running for president.

In early August, John McCain issued a sarcastic attack ad portraying Obama as "the second coming." It was called "The one."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopkn0lPzM8

Now McCain wants to suggest that Obama isn't even human. No eye contact. Just "That one" and "this."

The Obama/Biden campaign will soldier on through the next few weeks by staying on message and racking up more electoral votes and individual voters. The polls show that more Americans are on their side, and more are joining them every day. We can be thankful for that.

In the mean time, more journalists need to denounce the disturbing change in tone from McCain and Palin. Their hate and fear "strategy" is antithetical to American values. Voters must renounce the GOP strategy and any who embrace it.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

I really hope...

Submitted by VettaKing on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:44am.

that Obama wears a vest and his secret service actually take their job seriously. These people are nuts.

Imagine

Submitted by bettysdad on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:07am.

Imagine McCain referring as "That One" to Clinton, Biden, Edwards , Dodd, Kucunich (well maybe)) If it wasn't racist, bin Laden's down at the airport Hyatt.

Insults

Submitted by Bumpa on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 11:56pm.

McCain seems to be going out of his way to be as offensive as possible. His "That one" comment was uncalled for. But another comment he made that missed attention by those covering the debate insulted the intellegence of the audience, when he was going off about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac he let slide that we (the general public) probably wouldn't know about them. Sorry, John, no brownie points for you. If nothing else you are convincing me that a vote for Obama is the right choice.

He said that to a black man...

Submitted by VettaKing on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 4:41am.

who asked him the question about it. Why would you think he wouldn't know about Fannie and Freddie John?

McCain-Palin Setting The Stage For Bush To Declare Marshall Law

Submitted by Revolutionary on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 11:27pm.

I am very concerned, very concerned. I've recently viewed and read Naomi Wolf (author of "Give Me Liberty"). She relates an alarming scenerio. Many of you may know that Bush has deployed the First Brigade on American Soil. Bush has desacrated the Constitution and has given himself the absolute power to declare war on American citizens. I believe that MaCain-Palin are deliberately inciting riot. They are setting the stage for Bush to declare marshall law on Nov. 3rd. Thereby violating voting rights and causing a national panic. I may seem irrational and fatalistic to some. I believe this is a great threat to our Demoracy! I've been asking myself some very tough questions these last few days. Am I ready to die for my country, for my Constitution, for my liberty, for my freedom? My answer is YES! If I must die, I will gladly give my life to exercise my right to vote! I am afraid. I've put my fears to good use -- calling voters in Florida for the Obama campaign. No, I'm not telling them my fears of Bush. I am encouraging them and inviting them to vote for Obama for our country's very survival. I encourage each of you to visit the Obama website and get involved. "Neighbor to Neighbor" will give you the scripts, the voter's names and phone numbers, and all the tools you need. I phoned 25 Florida voters earlier this evening. I was able to reach several Obama supporters and had wonderful conversation. One young man agreed to volunteer with the Obama campaign. I talked with several undecided voters and also had wonderful conversation. I hope I helped these undecided voters in some small way! Yes, I had several people hang-up on me, but I did not let that bother me. My eyes kept going back to two words on the call script "HAVE FUN!" Join Me In The Revolution To Restore America!

LOOK AT YOURSELVES IN THE MIRROR, NON-RACISTS!

Submitted by josephconrad on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 9:49pm.

ALL AMERICANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING RACISM PREVAIL IN THE MCCAIN-PALIN 'WORLD'! SADLY TOO MANY AMERICANS ARE TOO STUPID TO SEE THAT PALIN'S ONLY ROLE IS TO STIR UP RACISM & DISCORD AMONG WHITE PEOPLE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL SENSE OF 'EQUALITY' THEY'VE LEARNED IN CHURCH & SCHOOL AS 'GOOD (LYIN', CHEATIN', THIEVIN') CHRISTIAN 'GET-EVEN'GELICALS' THE FOLKS WHO YELLED 'KILL HIM' AT THE MCCAIN-PALIN RALLY WERE DISHONORABLE, SELF-DEGRADING POOR, WHITE TRASH WHO NEED TO BE SHIPPED IN CATTLE CARS & SLATTED CRATES TO BAGDAD & KABUL WITH NO BODY ARMOR OR AMMO! They are lower than WHALECRAP in the ocean... THE SICK PART OF THE 'KILL HIM' STORY WAS THAT PALIN LOVED THE ADORATION & MCCAIN DIDN'T HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY NO!

Republican Bigotry and Racism

Submitted by monish on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 9:47pm.

I have always believed (from my very first year in the U.S., 1980), that by-and-large, the R-party in all its manifestations I had seen was nothing but a sanitized version of the KKK. You could think of it as KKK-lite; on the other hand, given all its political power and astonishing (often ill-gotten) wealth- it might even be considered "KKK-filtered and amplified." Think of their intrinsic stand on any issue of interest to humanity and world culture. These hateful, supremacist ignoramuses have always been against anything that remotely threatens their smug, self-obsessed, privileged, country-club world. These virulent bigots were against the MLK holiday (this was what first alerted me to their racism and frightening xenophobia); against abolishing the apartheid in South Africa; consistently against popular, democratic movements in Latin America; against issuing any kind of apology or contrition to Africa, Africans, Mexicans, Philippinos, Vietnamese, Native Americans, and on and on (in other words, pretty much the list of colored, non-Anglo-Saxon peoples tortured and terrorized by the bigots in the past). In fact, they were sufficiently upset when Bill Clinton actually apologized to Africans for slavery and other vicious ills of the past- so much so that they ganged up against him with phony, slimy accusations leading to the outrageous and criminal "impeachment charade" that adds a black chapter to U.S. history. The R-party bigots slime social programs simply because of their perceived threat to their comforting, bigoted universe. Hence, they have invented convenient boogie-words, such as "Commies,' "Socialists," ""Liberals," and the like- to be used copiously whenever that comfort or entitlement is threatened. Hence, any progressive program that may assist humanity as a whole, that may improve the lives of the poor and disinherited, that may improve living conditions and empower non-Anglo-Saxons anywhere in the world- it is anathema to them. Thus, the very notion of a Barack Obama being within striking distance of that hallowed seat of Anglo-Saxon power, the POTUS- must be indescribably revolting to the bigots. Thus- the effort to derail Obama (even though personally I would have preferred other, far more progressive candidates in this sham U.S. presidential election, I still believe that generally, with all their tragic similarities, the D-party is overall a more inclusive choice by far than KKK-lite) will be in full swing. JM's clearly racist snub, and hateful disregard for Obama- treating him as "sub-human", as Mr. DiMaggio correctly infers, is only a small, albeit revealing flash of a deeper hatred and bigotry. That brief "That one" moment reveals the inner workings of the R-party's bigoted mindset better than lengthy tracts or protracted soundbites. [These comments also appeared at CrooksandLiars earlier today] Monish Chatterjee

mccain,palin

Submitted by chuck1958 on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 9:00pm.

hitler used the same words to dehumanize his victims.

Chris Mathews shows true journalism, speaks truth

Submitted by Snowbound on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 7:32pm.

After an afternoon of CNN having bash Obama day, and there piece on race affecting the election. I had had enough and switched to Hardball with Chris Mathews, wow what a great job he did highlighting the Manchurian candidate insinuations of the McCain campaign. He even argued with Pat Buchanan that in order for voters to make the right decisions , they must be informed with correct information, and without that they may be tricked into making false assumptions as in Iraq. I really can't do justice to the program in this short synopsis, please watch it yourself, pure awesome journalism.

McCain-Palin hate

Submitted by tffletch on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 7:02pm.

It's good that the Obama campaign keeps its cool in the face of such vicious lies. McCain's true colors shine through. He's used his pedigry to get a free pass all his life (amazingly, he even used it when a prisoner in Vietnam - see Rolling Stone article). Now he's losing and he throws a tantram and goes negative. The Palin mob make me think that the KKK will rear its ugly head here in North Carolina, when Obama wins. Hate groups get desperate and flip out when they lose.

McCain and Palin, not resonating

Submitted by Colleen Clark on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 6:50pm.

The bad news is that McCain's and Palin's language and demeanors are inflammatory and
beyond inexusable. "Reach across the aisle"????? McCain won't even shake hands or
make eye contact. And Palin won't talk to the press because she can't think on her
feet, or think at all.

The good news I don't think they're fooling or persuading anyone, except those who
realize that they cannot vote for McCain/Palin. Otherwise they're speaking to a
shrinking base.

I think we have to resist McCain/Palin vigorously, but I don't think they have much
power.

I told a fellow local Democrat a few weeks ago that "Palin was toast." He says he's
been repeating it everywhere. Now McCain's toast too.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

But Bush Has Power!

Submitted by Revolutionary on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 11:35pm.

Colleen, I agree that McCain and Palin do not have power. The very real threat is Bush and Cheney. Bush has deployed the First Brigade on American soil. Bush has desecrated the Constitution and has given himself abolute power to declare war on American citizens (see Naomi Wolf). I believe that McCain and Palin are intentionally inciting riot. They are setting the stage for Bush to declare marshall law days before the election to violate voting rights and cause national fear and panic.

Dangerous

Submitted by ernieson on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 6:32pm.

The mere fact that McCain-Palin will not condemn the audience members who call out "kill him" and other slurs about "that one" means that "those people" condone dangerous people who would commit murder. Desperate people have desperate ways and cornered rats are dangerous.

'That one'

Submitted by Marc Foorman on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 6:28pm.

Mc Cain and Palin are the best examples of the 'lowest' in our society. I will be good riddance in November!

Isn't it interesting

Submitted by SpikeHeels on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 4:26pm.

Isn't it interesting that the party of God and good, Christian, family values is the party that uses lies and innuendo to smear their opponents? I can't identify with Christians any longer. Who would want to be part of a religion that spews hate and fear and promotes greed, war and lies?

Republicans don't speak for Christ

Submitted by Bumpa on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 12:13am.

They may bend the Gospel around to fit their warped ideas much as they have the flag and patriotism. These are NOT Christians and spouting off as they will about "family values" and faith based programs ad nausium dosn't make them much more than pitiful hypocrites. The finest thing I've done was to accept Christ, that choice has reinforced my liberalism!

video of AIP

Submitted by edo123 on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 8:01pm.

Check this video of Palin pretty much supporting and "Palling" with the AIP which wants the State of Alaska to be it's own country and break away from the United States.

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