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Crying Wolf – A Continuing Story of Black and White

Posted by TONY CAMPBELL, Columnist in At TMV, Politics, Society.
Oct 9th, 2008 | Comments

Yesterday, in response to Senator McCain’s “That One” comment, I advised the supporters of Senator Obama to let it pass. Someone must have gotten my blog to the Obama campaign because Michelle Obama followed my advice by letting the comment go (Good for you, Mrs. Obama). Unfortunately, a reporter caught up to several African-American Democrat members of the House of Representatives and they couldn’t keep their mouths shut. A simple “no comment” would have sufficed but politicians love to get their names in the paper even if it is going to be detrimental to their nominee for President of the United States

Rep. Meeks (D-NY) made this statement about codes:

“They are trying to throw out these codes,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York.

“He’s ‘not one of us?’” Mr. Meeks said, referring to a comment Sarah Palin made at a campaign rally on Oct. 6 in Florida. “That’s racial. That’s fear. They know they can’t win on the issues, so the last resort they have is race and fear.”

What code is he talking about? Codes are symbols and symbols have different meanings to people based on their interpretation. Rep. Meeks is only throwing gasoline on a fire when he lashes out in this manner. The Republican ticket is digging their own ditch. The people who fall for that trap are not going to care what you say or how you say it. In other words, keep your indignation to yourself. You are not helping Senator Obama win this election.

“Racism is alive and well in this country, and McCain and Palin are trying to appeal to that and it’s unfortunate,” said Representative Ed Towns, also from New York.

Rep. Towns has a more carefully stated response but even this statement is not helpful. Anyone who has a brain understands that Racism and Sexism still exists in this country. The question is: do you work beyond this by presenting a vision of a united America or fall into the “woe is us – white folks are racists” mentality of the post-Civil Rights era African-American political elite?

In this election, every person of every color is experiencing an economic recession not seen in over 30 years. Only a policy of inclusiveness, that helps everyone succeed, will provide healthcare for all, end an unpopular war, and ease financial pressures on families across America. Obama represents a change in direction, in race relations, that has taken 40 years to occur. It is time for political leaders, of all races and colors, to stop crying wolf and become Americans.

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superdestroyer

If you want inclusiveness, you can forget the Obama campaign. Remember, he still supports forced busing, racial set asides, 8A above market rate minority contracting standards, and separate and unequal standards for public schools, colleges, and goverment employment.

When Senator Obama stands in front of a crowd of blacks or Hispanics and talks about raising taxes on the rich, it is understood that rich equals white. Senator Obama has run a camapign on the idea of taxing others to give government goodies to the tradiation power blocks of the Democratic Party.

Senator Obama comes from a city where about 10% of the public schools students are white. Yet, Senator Obama sends his own chidlren to a school that if over 70% white. The last thing you can expect from a big city black politican is inclusiveness. What can be expected is a policy of "Sit Down, shut up, and do what you are told or you will called a racist."

Even in the fact of more than a trillion additional dollars in government debt, Senator obama's Hispanic cooridantor was on C-SPAN promising free college, free healthcare, and more government jobs.

RememberNovember

I don't think it was racist- I think it was just another attempt by McCain to de-humanize Obama- Not looking at him, not shaking his hand after the debate- obliquelly trying to refer to "The One" messianic criticism. Just poor sportsmanship.

RevDave

I didn't think it was racist either (but I am white), just a cranky, bitter old guy who can't believe that his planned coronation is slipping away from him. McCain is totally at a loss to understand that his (lack of) message is not resonating with the electorate. Looks like Obama's ads are correct - McCain is out of touch.

janinedm

This post is lame. I mean, I agree with you that "that one" wasn't racist, but that's where it ends.

First, I can only hope you're joking when you state, "Someone must have gotten my blog to the Obama campaign because Michelle Obama followed my advice..." Like most of the country, I'm less smart than Michelle Obama, and it still didn't need saying from you.

Second, there's some play happening with your use of examples. It's the internet, so I'm sure if you look hard enough, you'll find someone to say that "that one" is a racist phrase. However, in the Observer article, you haven't got a single person saying so. There's disquieting video coming out every day from the McCain/Palin rallies. I chalk it up to small-town xenophobia (tractors rule! public transportation droolz!) over anything else. I would argue, that even in an economic crisis, letting hateful crap just fly around is the beginning of a slippery slope. There's a reason that people keep re-airing the footage of John McCain plowing along, a bit nonplussed after a supporter called Obama a terrorist; it's a powerful visual metaphor of the honor he's lost. If things get worse, an environment of "us vs. them" politics could flourish, across all kinds of groups. Restoring the promise of the country economically and socially really is going to take everyone, so it's very relevant that we do not countenance b***s***.

law33

This post highlights the use of dog whistle racism in today's politics. And there are so many more!

We're tracking political race baiting at www.stopdogwhistleracism.com. We find the good, bad and ugly from the right, left and center about race in the race. Visit us today for a non-partisan take on the race card, and the race card card, in today's politics.

Hope to see you at StopDog!

GreenDreams

It was just a dismissive, derogatory comment from a dishonorable man. SD, you however, ARE making racist comments. There's nothing racial about asking the rich to help out the country that made them rich. There is nothing racial in Obama's plan. rich blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Middle Easterners would all be in that bracket.

And as SD himself has noted that whites will soon be in the minority, isn't it pretty forward-thinking to work NOW to make sure current minorities have a good education?

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