Campbell Brown Blasts McCain Campaign For "Race Baiting"

In her "No Bias, No Bull" segment Wednesday night, Campbell Brown pleaded with the McCain campaign to stop what she referred to as "race baiting."

"It is getting very, very ugly," Brown said. "Tonight, we are cutting through the bull on the issue of race and this campaign."

Brown blasted McCain surrogates for injecting race Obama's race into the campaign narrative by invoking his middle name or referring to him as a terrorist, and she called on McCain to deliver a "much stronger denunciation than a campaign-generated paper statement":

Look, everybody, we all know that we are in unchartered territory here. Never before has there been an African-American presidential nominee. So without question, race is going to be part of the conversation. Race baiting doesn't have to be. And yet, it is happening in this campaign.

Twice this week, surrogates for Senator McCain had made a point of calling Senator Obama "Barack Hussein Obama." The implication here is clear. It's foreign sounding. It's Muslim sounding. It's un-American sounding. It's dangerous sounding.

What it is, is race baiting. And that is what is dangerous. Inciting crowds, encouraging their angry outbursts. McCain supporters shouting "treason" and "terrorist" about Obama at these rallies — that is dangerous.

Earlier in the campaign, McCain denounced this stuff. He strongly denounced it. And today, it requires a stronger response, a much stronger denunciation than a campaign-generated paper statement.

Brown also cautioned Obama supporters not to accuse McCain of racism over his "that one" remark from Tuesday's Presidential debate, as she reported some have done. "Give me a break," she said. "I can hear my grandfather talking about one of his kids or grandkids as 'that one.' He used it a lot. Maybe it's a generational thing. Maybe it wasn't a term of endearment
the way it was when my grandfather used it. Maybe McCain did mean to be disrespectful, but racist? I don't think so."

She ended the segment with a plea for candidates, supporters, and the media:

You know, we should be holding these candidates accountable for what they say during the campaign, and hope that in these final days, they do try to maintain a little dignity. But we have also got to check ourselves. We have a responsibility, too, to not get overheated. What we say matters, too.

Whoever wins this election, we are all going to have to rally around that person. Given what is happening to our economy, all that is going on in this country right now, none of us wants the next president to be a failure, whoever he may be, do we?

Over the weekend, Brown's shift towards the role of nonpartisan commentator was highlighted in a New York Times article. A collection of recent links in which she has kept politicians' feet to the fire appears below:

Campbell Brown Pleads: 'Don't Let This Devolve Into A Campaign That...We Are Sickened By'
Campbell Brown Holds Paulson, Bush Accountable For Crisis: "Seriously, What Were You Thinking?"
Campbell Brown Rips McCain Camp's "Sexist" Treatment Of Palin
McCain Spokesman Stumped Trying To Explain Why Palin Is Ready To Be Commander-In-Chief

Comments

[IowaKid]

Thanks Campbell Brown. By the way I voted for "That One".

[AnAmericanWoman]

Me too. I mailed my ballot yesterday.

[changeishere08]

Brown, you are not champion of the truth. Where were you when BushCo was lying to us about Iraq? Brown, you are in NO POSITION to tell us about what "that one" meant. I find your stance patronizing. Why don't you stick to what you know and leave the stuff you have no concept of alone. You have no idea what subtle racism is. You don't know what dog whistle racism is. You are a pampered news personality who is trying to ride on the coattails of Maddow. You are disingenious and unbelievable.

[BAVirago]

Brava! She speaks from a position of privilege. As a woman of color, I take what she says about racism with a grain--or two or a thousand--of salt.

[changeishere08]

I am a woman of color too :-). It's refreshing to read that others are not fooled by Brown's "performance". Please!! She's nothing more than an opportunist, a bandwagoner. When Brown does a full show on Alaska Independence Party and the Palin's connection to it, then I will take her seriously. For now, she's just a media opportunist.

[miatch]

Never forget that Brown is married to Dan Senor, Republican Press Strategist. Her husband was literally in charge of lying about Iraq for the Bush Administration.

[Undoctored]

And another thing: Campbell always undermines her truthlful charges against McCain by forcing the facts to make it look as if Obama is ALSO guilty of similar smears. This is the "false equivalency" trap. It's perfectly obvious that McCain make a conscious decision to trash Obama depicting him as "unlike us" and whipping up his low-information loonies to the point that they are calling for Obama's death. This is beyond the pale and should be denounced much more forcibly by Campbell and her pundit friends.

[Sparty1]

Can she tell me how a black person should take the 'THAT ONE' statement? Um, hell no. He used it to disrespect Obama period, point blank. When the senators are on the floor, they address each other as the Distinguished Gentleman so and so. McCain was wrong and he should admit it. I'm tired of these so-called journalists saying that it was generational. Yeah, back in hisday it was acceptable to call black folks alot of horrible things. That doesn't make it damn right.

[changeishere08]

Truer words where never typed! I am so sick of these "journalists" insutling my intelligence under the guise of "unbias". Generational my kaboose! Obama is McCain's collegue and should of addressed him as the Senator from Illinois or the gentleman from Illinois. We know exactly what McCain is doing. It's dog whistle racism.

[JohnnyBeBad]

If he had said "Dat one", you might hve a point.

[Sparty1]

What? Ugh, your ignorance is making my head hurt.

[Alans21]

Obama's first name means "blessed" in several languages. It is spelled differently in various languages but the meaning is the same.

[Danny]

Good point, too.

[EvangelicalEmpathy]

I commend Campbell Brown for speaking out against race baiting. I'm glad to hear her denounce it. However, I think Brown misses the point with the use of "that one". Whether it is a cultural or generational divide is not the point. The use of the phrase is not presidential and has no place in our American politics. It shows McCain's lack of discipline and grace. "That one" should be used within the confines of the family home, where one's love and respect for one another is never questioned. It has not place in politics, where candidates need to display the highest respect for mankind and the mastery of temperment.

[rahmanya]

I agree with you %100! "THAT ONE" has no place in politics! It is disrespectful!, I commend senator Obama for his restrains and maturity through out the debate!

He even stayed behind to shake hand and chat with some members of the audience! that is something President Clinton use to do during his days after a town hall debate! Now that's what I call "Presidential Behavior" ! 'THAT ONE" gesture IS NOT!

[miatch]

Never forget that Brown is married to Dan Senor, Republican Press Strategist. Her husband was literally in charge of lying about Iraq for the Bush Administration.

[JacksTiger]

Good for Campbell Brown for telling it like it is. Regardless of who wins this or any election, there is no place for the race baiting and hatred we've seen from the McCain/Palin campaign. The McCain/Palin rallies seem more like something from the past i.e. Hitler's ascent to power in post WW I Germany; George Wallace when he was running for President in 1968; and Spiro Agnew tapping into the anger of voters during that same 1968 race.

[kellygrrrl]

oh, gag! MorningHo is doing Race4theWH

[kellygrrrl]

I am so thankful when I hear any MSM Journo (esp. on CNN) say something sane and honest.

Thank You, Ms. Brown, for doing your job.

[skepticaltoo]

Hussein is his name, people. I don't understand. Why is it wrong to call him by his name? Isn't he proud of his heritage? He has stated MANY times that he is. Has anyone actually asked him if it offends him to be called by his full name? Remember, it was he, himself who changed his name to Barack from Barry. It seems it offends the liberal media and his campaign advisors more so than it does the candidate. Let's hear it from Mr. Obama before we pass judgement.

[greenwitch]

Hah---don't be so disingenous. The people who are calling him by his middle name are advancing the meme that he is a secret Muslim (terrorist) to scare the morons who would believe that sort of thing. Remember who is running McCain's campaign--it sure ain't Gandhi.

[BushSunkOurShip]

You are so clever... Republicans bathe in lies and deceit, then try to justified it with simple statement of deceit as if their intentions are noble....
Just as Mcsame stated to his audience when he greeted them , My fellow prisoners.­..this tells the whole story of what is in the heart and mind...
Bush and his republican administration with John McSame almost 100% approval has shown the American citizens in the last 8 years just how Non American they are in their policies and action...
Along with that they have also shown there is nothing to low for them to go , in order to keep their power , control and wealth...

[miatch]

You and I both know why they use the name Hussein.

Look, if you promise to refer to John Sidney McCain the Third, every time you speak of him, I'll be OK with Hussein. It's good to remind us that John Sidney McCain the Third is a very very very wealthy man with NOTHING in common with most of us.

[heal57]

Wow, I thought only Olbermann talked straight! Who would have thought on CNN.....th­anks!

[Truth4Voters]

You Go Campbell. Tell it like it is.

[DaBluAce]

I want to know when would be a good time for Obama to fight back...esp­ecially after todays comments concerning him being street and Palin stupid arze cmments!

[eladora]

Campbell and few others in the press are willing to take on mcbush and his campaign. Good for her that she will do it .

[mentalasanything]

Let John McCain know that you find this type of mudslinging campaign unacceptable.
(Keep it clean and pass it along!)


http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

[piper1233]

Her Grandfather would be an old white man, and his grand kids would more than likely be young white children. How does this situation connect with a white man in his 70s talking to a black man in his 40s, both holding the same position while competing for the same raise. Give me a break Cambell, you as well as I don't know whats in McCains heart. The difference is, as a black man I have encountered more Racism in America than you have as a white women, and I have a better understanding of how it often manifests itself. You have a right to your opinion, but dont think for a minute that you can quickly and easily dismiss the strong feelings of someone who has had years of experience on the recieving side.

[gjoh]

I heard it too and there is no doubt that it was a racist put down, one of those plausibly deniable racist remarks, like calling a grown man "boy". (What's racist about that, Campbell?)
What would you have said if Obama had kept referring to McCain as "the old man"? No put down there, huh? I mean after all, he is old. No implication of senility, just an endearing phrase used to refer to one's father.
Can't you just hear the calls for Obama to apologize? I can. He would be apologizing till the end of the election.
McCain knew exactly what he was doing and saying.
Not a racist remark? That may be how you see it but I disagree.

[punkcashmere]

campbell brown's commentary is great for the first minute and change: the racism that the mccain campaign is encouraging at the rallies is not just unethical, it is dangerous. the argument that they are "not responsible for sick individuals" is avoiding the fact that these rallies are petrie dishes in which hatred and violence are given free form.

but her obama supporters' outrage over the racist implications of "that one" as race-baiting is just wrong. we are not here to argue whether or not john mccain is a racist. we are not psychics; we can never pinpoint the intentions of another human being. what matters is the words they put out into the world and the effects they produce. in this case, to point to a colleague who is african-american and call him "that one" rather than "mr. obama" or even..."hi­m" is to invoke the history of slavery, in which african-american humans were treated as objects. whether he meant it or not, mccain produced the specter of violence of another kind at that moment--that of one human enslaving and dehumanizing another. that is why we were so shocked and outraged by the "that one" moment. for campbell to then make fun of that real outrage with that "awww c'mon, it's not racist" attitude is condiscending and irresponsible. the outrage at the racism of "that" moment is not "race-baiting," it is real and appropriate reaction to real and uncontestable history.

[ExNewsGuy]

Dear Campbell: Here's a shocker -- most of us don't care what you think. Rant Away because we're not listening or watching. What YOU think is none of MY business and has no merit.

[GIBill]

Yeah, you don't care what she says but you're commenting here anyway.
Watch your use of "most of us". The fact that the truth about this campaign may be painful for you doesn't mean a lot of viewers aren't still interested in hearing it.
Keep it up, Campbell!

[hollyeve]

oh wait, clearly you were listening and watching, exnewsguy.

and clearly someone needs to speak up on this before someone is stirred into a frenzy to do unspeakable acts. thank you campbell.

[Norak]

Well I can see why the "ex" in your name.

[Unsui]

So, why did you open this post?

[vietnamvetforobama]

It is about time that someone on CNN, besides Jack Cafferty, has demonstrated the courage to hold McCain- Palin, the bully and the pituill, accountable for their dangerous and reckless behavior. They pitch violence to their mindless supporters. Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer seem oblivious to the truth and provide Unstable and Unable a platform to spew their vile nonsense.

[marrig]

Agree with you there. I can hardly bear to watch CNN anymore except for Cafferty and Brown. Their (CNN's) phony balance pretense is starting to become a real bore. There ISN'T always parity. I have been an Anderson Cooper fan for some time. That has changed because of the fact that he can't call things are they are anymore. If I wanted a mediator, I'd hire one.