More Hatred At Rallies: "Off With His Head"

After not attacking Obama in last night's debate as forcefully as his campaign had in previous days, McCain was back on the offensive today at a rally at Lehigh University with his running mate Sarah Palin.

As seen at recent McCain events, this afternoon's crowd was vocal in their support for McCain and their anger with Senator Obama. At one point one man could be heard yelling, "Off with his head," when McCain spoke about Obama's tax plan. That enthusiasm was even more present during Palin's remarks, and as other observers have reported in the past, today there was a sizeable number of people making their way towards the exit after McCain's running mate left the podium.

Read the whole story here.

The incident follows previous outbursts at McCain-Palin rallies this week.

Yesterday, a member of the crowd at a Palin rally in Jacksonville, Florida yelled "treason!" after Palin accused Obama of criticizing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

And on Monday, a supporter shouted "Kill him!" when Sarah Palin started attacking Obama's association with William Ayers at a rally in Clearwater, Florida.

Comments

[Schaef]

Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.

Sen. John McCain: No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.

[camanokat]

Awesome letter. Little Vincie's ready to p his pants! May I borrow...er, plagarize it? Thanks!

[shayle]

In addition, according to scripture, a mother's place is in the home. Palin has a child suffering from Down's syndrome as well as several other children that deserve to have their mother at home. Yes, she would have plenty of "nanny's" to handle her mothering role. However, hiring a "nanny" or other family members stepping in to raise her children is not the same as Palin raising her children herself. Palin does not have her priorities straight in reference to being a mother. Voting a "mother' into office is supporting her deicision to not be a mother to her children.

[shayle]

According to scripture, the ONLY command from God, our creator, is to pray for our leaders. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and pray. The truly sad part of these debates is that our children are hearing cruel, hateful, racist remarks from the Republican side. Character, values and morals should be demanded and expected from a leader. Unfortunately, I cannot and will not vote for anyone that is displaying evil qualities. Anyone participating in gossip in reference to either nominee is participating in an activity that God does not approve of and will have to answer to God.

[Zangar]

I cannot believe it has come to this. We have McCain's audience members yelling "Kill him" or "Off with his head" every time McCain mentions the name "Obama" or perhaps "that one."

I used to have respect for McCain. And the McCain I used to respect would have turned around and told his staff to throw out the folks who said that. "Off with his head" is not only extraordinarily disrespectful, to say the least, but smacks of the very "terrorism" that they now lamely try to accuse Obama of harboring. Hypocrisy and disrespect: the continued hallmarks of the Bush, Cheney, McCain crowd.

[lola85]

This is DANGEROUS. Here's the thing, based on what they have shown of themselves, OBAMA IS NOT THE DANGER, McCain/Palin is.

I, like so many others, would never TRUST McCain/Palin with the power that they would be granted to lead the US. McCain/Palin have already proven themselves to be unethical, untrustworthy, uninspiring, undignified, uneducated, and yes UN-patriotic. And before anyone says that McCain served his country, we know, he reminds us of it often and yes we DO appreciate his military service. However, in my opinion he IS NOT serving his country now with this hateful, shameful, debasing behavior.

Right now, more than any time I can remember, in addition to having a good leader, we need to feel HOPEFUL. We are suffering--we don't need any more suffering inflicted on us by our leaders by inciting hate and division. Obama/Biden for me, any so many others, represents that hope and fresh start that the country SO DESPERATELY needs.

Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive

[necer65]

Someone really needs to stop this. I feel like I am in another country. McCain and Palin are being extremely irresponsible. I am afraid for Obama. There is alot of hatred. Can't someone stop these rallies turning into hate filled riots?

[shayle]

Yes, I am concerned for Obama's safety as well. All Christians need to pray for his safety.

[desertbloom]

This is toxic for our nation. It is dangerous and highly irresponsible. McCain has sacrificed his honor in order to win. But, this isn't winning. When we have reached this point, we are all losers.

[vincie]

WHAT IS TOXIC IS OBAMA PLAYING THE RACE CARD TIME AFTER TIME. DON'T SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT OBAMA BECAUSE THE MEDIA AND PEOPLE AT HUFFINGTON POST WILL SLAM YOU. SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ELECTION IS WRONG. I ONLY HOPE IT STRAIGHTENS OUT, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS.

[ESerafina42]

No - I have accused them (or at least some of their supporters) of that in the past, but this is different. Attack his policies, his programs, even his experience or judgment (though for Sarah Palin or the guy who picked her to do that is laughable), but this kind of smear is absolutely unacceptable.

Oh, and please don't yell - it's rude.

[shayle]

So true. The only word for this is sin.

[maggiq]

yes you are right. and this is called inciting to violence - often associated with- but not limited to hate crimes. it is illegal in this country, as well as others. the mccain-palin campaign should be charged with inciting to violence, a felony. at the least, the attorney general needs to order a cease and desist order. please encourage your law-makers to pursue this.

[TivoliEclipse]

Ditto... inciting to violence = hate crimes. McCain and Palin = guilty.

[solomnibuslucet]

It's not like the crowd became aroused for no reason. McCain and especially Sarah the pit bull incited the mob on purpose with inflammatory lies. They are the instigators!
By the way, such technique is routinely used in the so-called public trials by the communist regimes.

[ckinsobe]

I just sent this to the House Republicans. Next stop the Republican Senators...I've had enough.

""Congratualtions Republicans, you and your party have hit new lows with MsPalin and McCain carrying on at rallies inciting hatred and violence against a chosen candidate for the presidency.

Cries of "Kill Him" "Off with his head" "treason" and "terrorist" directed at Obama will not go unheard by the sane people of this country. McCains ambition to win at all costs has turned this man into a dishonorable mess.

I am proud to say that I have converted people , here in Florida, who earlier in the year were 100% in the McCain column solidly over to Obama.

You are making it very easy.

Perhaps you should sit John MCCain down and explain to him that allowing racially tinged slurs, violent threats and whipping up crowds in the way that they have been may have very serious consequences . The citizens of this country will hold all republicans responsible should any harm come to presidentail nominee Barack Obama.

I never held you lot in high regards but you have outdone yourselves this time. Silence on this matter speaks volumes about who you are as a party. Shame on you all."

[keepacoolhead]

That's great. We should all write to the Republican party outlets everywhere.

[vincie]

CRY BABY, CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING. WHAT A PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE MESSIAH WILL MAKE.

[ShamusNYC]

BREAKING NEWS

McCain/Palin to hold joint rallies with K K -K

Honorary Grand Wizard Sean Hannity to introduce the ticket.

No minorities or people with consciouses or triple digit IQs allowed.

[iamheasyouare]

Ditched the hoods is all. It's all about marketing, baby.

[Tim303]

Talk, communicate, reason, pray.

This is love vs. hate, guys. Hope vs. fear. Aggression vs. compassion. I know which ones are stronger. Let's find out how many Americans resist this knowledge.

In some ways, the racists outing themselves is a brilliant outcome of this campaign. For years we've labored under stuff like "Affirmative action is over...the playing field is now level" etc. etc. Now we can see the beast for what it is. People can't hide so easily any more. There was an NPR show today where people gave their names and proudly said they would never vote for a black man.

Time to get serious folks. Stay vigilant for white-on-black violence and know that we're all in this together.

[SugarMan]

c. Hate Speech Laws: Reasons Against. If hate speech and group libel laws have attracted extensive support, they have also been sharply criticized. In 1965, the Columbian representative to the UN registered a familiar complaint. Such laws are "a throwback to the past" because they place an arbitrary restriction upon freedom.

[P]unishing ideas, whatever they may be, [he said] is to aid and abet tyranny, and leads to the abuse of power....As far as we are concerned and as far as democracy is concerned, ideas should be fought with ideas and reasons; theories must be refuted by arguments and not by the scaffold, prison, exile, confiscation or fines. (U.N. Doc. A/PV.1406, at 42-43 (1965); cited in Natan Lerner, "Incitement in the Racial Convention; Reach and Shortcomings of Article 4," Israel Yearbook on Human Rights, 22 (1993), p. 5.)

[MathIsTruth]

Well, now we know the true value of McCain's experience in foreign affairs:

He is an expert on how to CREATE new terrorists.

New McCain slogan:

"Let's create terrorists here so we don't have to import them from there."