Obama Called "Traitor" Again At McCain Rally

John McCain's rally on Friday once again inspired furious reactions from his supporters, with one woman screaming "traitor!" as McCain criticized Barack Obama's tax record.

"He promised higher taxes on electricity," McCain charged at the event in La Crosse, Wisconsin. "He voted for the Democratic budget resolution that promised to raise taxes on people making just $42,000 a year." At that point, the woman yelled "traitor," and both McCain and his wife Cindy appeared to look in her direction.

The Arizona Senator continued with his stump speech without referencing her.

Here's video:

As Talking Points Memo's Greg Sargent noted, GOP loathing for Obama seems to also be "spilling into down-ticket races," with one woman yelling "bomb Obama!" during a Thursday debate between Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his Democratic challenger.

During a Friday appearance on Fox News, Obama aide Stephanie Cutter said that McCain's crowds have become "mob-like" in their anger and argued that McCain cared "more about the state of his campaign than the economy."

"The thing that is most important right now is that we have got to instill confidence in people in our economy. We have got to calm people down," Cutter said. "We do not need to stoke fears on the campaign trail with these mob-like rallies that we have been seeing. We need to take a step back and provide steady leadership. This is a crisis. This is not what leaders do in crises. Barack Obama invoked FDR, 'the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' Those are words to live by at this point."

Cutter had been asked to weigh in on McCain's newest proposal for the government to buy home mortgages at face value from the banks and renegotiate them at terms more favorable to the homeowner. Clearly, however, she was hoping to further a meme that the Obama campaign sees as a winner: that McCain is appealing to the worst of people's fears and prejudices in order to advance himself electorally. But in referring to the crowds as "mob-like" Cutter brings the argument further than anyone else from Obama's headquarters.

The Senator himself sounded a similar theme during his speech in Ohio Friday morning.

"It's easy to rile up a crowd by stoking anger and division. But that's not what we need right now in the United States. The times are too serious. The challenges are too great. The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country -- they're looking for someone who will lead it. We're in a serious crisis -- now, more than ever, it is time to put country ahead of politics. Now, more than ever, it is time to bring change to Washington so that it works for the people of this country that we love."

McCain hasn't seemed all too eager to tamp down the hate-filled rhetoric emanating from his crowds, beyond merely distancing himself from two introductory speakers that used Obama's middle name as an epithet.

Comments

[charitabledonation]

Republicans are nuts. The don't want to be mad at "their" party, and ultimately can't take responsibility or blame for their own crappy lives, so they have to lash out? Pathetic. Looky repubs: The last 8 years are YOUR fault. Your behavior represents all that is wrong with America today. If I were you, I would go back to your miserable lives and just adjust to the fact that your cult-like party loyalty gives you nothing in return. Your faux patriotism allienates a good portion of America that thinks you and your behavior are WRONG and undefendable. Plus, you are just making your losing candidate look even worse. Idiots.

[junior78]

These are turning into nothing but hate rallies !!!!!!!!! To even think that McCain would give a thumbs up to these types of comments is unbelievable, My god that man has lost it.

[Ave-Gabrielle]

Sarah Palin started all this, yet in the history of politics I have never known a VP candidate that remains off limits to the media. The absurdity, I guess only I find. She spouts out truly dangerous offensive remarks, but can't be called on it because as she noted in a remark "I'm NOT doing anymore interviews, only speeches." But she went on FoxNews and was handled with kitten gloves, Sean Hannity loves her--didn't know a so-called journalists could ask what he ask and still remain credible. Even the former attorney (Greta?) on FoxNews talked to Sarah Palin with kid gloves, I'm astounded at FoxNews channel. Again, in the history of politics HAVE YOU ever known a VP candidate who remains off limits to the media? Is this how we pick them now? Is politics, the media, the public, just another American Idol audition? Our country is in dire straights. How come no one in the media is allowed to ask Sarah Palin any questions? SHE picks her interviews, and, if she agrees to go on SNL before the election--I'm going to bed early. It's over.

[ajax88]

Hello to all commentators,

All the commercials, pundits, gaffes, personal attacks, and the MSM will not dictate the outcome of this election. THE GROUND GAME IS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE WON, AND LOST!

Before you go to the next left leaning article to comment on, or right leaning article to start an argument with a repug (which will no doubt end with them calling you an unpatriotic socialist wimp) I suggest that you get in the game.

Please visit my personal fundraising page below:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/craigcubberly

If you cannot afford to donate money there are many other ways to help below :

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/statepages

Take a look. It is a lot of fun, and very satisfying to get involved. You will really feel as though you are making a difference.

Thanks Craig

[Brian Ross - Huffpost Blogger]

With all due respect, Craig, the phone calling bank at MyBarackObama is cool, and easy for most to do, but it is equally important to visit places of worship, er gathering, by the organizations that spread misinformation and hate on the web, eg. FOX NEWS and other Republican sources. Give a man a phone call, and you feed his mind for a minute. Give Fox News a piece of truth to offset smears, and you feed a whole bunch of minds that a few less hardened might change.

[WillfromSF]

How can an Obama campaign staffer go on FoxNews to protest the vitriolic hate and violence that is permeating the McCain campaign, given that FoxNews is one of the primary cheerleaders and instigators for that violent behavior?

[NeoLiberal]

WWJD: invite enemies to dine with him, give them his right cheek if they strike his left, and pray that their hate will be changed through love.

[MarkBoston]

Is it just me .... Or do we all seem to hate each other now days ? Outside of the great civil war, have we ever been so divided in the history of our country ? It's completely out of hand now. Democrat / Republican. .. Gay/Straight,... Religious/Atheist .. White collar/ Blue collar .. White/of color ENOUGH ALREADY people ! What is it going to take to bring us all together? Only huge catastrophe's seem to allow us to forget our differences. What a shame we have not outgrown this disorder in the human condition . Are we heading to some type of civil war again ?

[WillfromSF]

Mark - not sure of your age, but the hatred was as bad in the 1968 and 1972 elections, although it was more from the left than the right then (and I was on the left). But it was also a lot of hot air and theater then - nobody tried to assassinate Nixon. Now I'm not so sure. Obama is the one person above the fray and God bless him for being that way. My fear is that the McCain supporters are so much in denial about how they've been screwed not by the Democrats (although they have been ineffective) but by the party they profess to support for the past 8 years, that they can't face that they have been the greatest dupes in political history and instead take their anger out on those that are actually trying to help them - the Obama campaign.

[oldguru]

The truth is that when LBJ was president and pushed civil rights, the Dixicrats in the south fled the Democratic party in droves. Led by Jesse Helms and his racist ilk, they all became Republicans and took all their hatred and ignorance with them. Good riddance! What happened with Bush/Cheney/Rove is that they had Lee Atwater acolyte Karl Rove on board to exploit these ignorant, bitter, hateful people. Somehow we have to make them understand that it is NOT American to sow the seeds of hatred against fellow Americans. I so hope that Obama wins this election, and that perhaps his calm and good sense will dampen the fires that have been lit by the Republican leadership. It is also up to each of us to speak out against the hatred wherever we encounter it. It is not just in the South anymore. In fact it seems to be the most virulent in the midwest. What's with that?

[bolingo]

how come you put of color last and you didn't capitalize it?..just kidding lol

[CC16]

Listen to the video. She isn't shouting traitor, she's shouting liar. I was standing right behind her and we're friends, therefore she talked to us afterwards. She was calling McCain a liar because of his comments on Obama's position on an issue.

[betabeta]

I agree, sounded like Liar, but its hard to tell between the USA chants... what was that all about? Why didn't they stop with the USA chants so they could hear their leader?

[runnerin1]

You're right it was liar. Look at McCain's expression afterward, even he had to laugh, so did Cindy.

[fedupinfla]

Congratulations Mr McCain. You have succeeded in throwing whatever dignity, honor, and respect you ever possessed right out the wondow. I was at that rally in Clearwater and heard the vilest & most divisive, hate-filled comments I've ever witnessed in my life. I had 3 little old ladies in front of me sighing that it was a shame lynchings were illegal. I heard Obama referred to more by the "N" word than by name (when they weren't calling him a Muslim terrorist that is) I saw t-shirts depicting Sen. Obama hanging from a tree, and some with his face in a bullseye. When the guy next to me was saying they'd have to call it "The Black House" if Obama were elected, his friend said he'd never make it there because someone would "blow his black a$$ to hell".

You & your unvetted VP pick, Sarah Palin have caused this vicious environment by YOUR actions & words. YOUR campaign has given permission to these racist people to behave in this way. Weren't you taught, as most children were, that hatred is like a cancer? What happened to "Country First"?

You & Palin have become the very "agents of intolerence" you once decried. You have divided the very country you sought to lead. Not exactly the actions of a "war hero" are they?

This country needs a President that seeks to unite us & provide REAL solutions to our problems. Not one that stokes the fires of racism & hatred...

[soldiergirl]

It's a different day and time, so I just don't think that those people talking about lynchings and such would have a lot of luck with that. Dumba&&es.­..........­..

[deminmo]

I heard Monica Crowley on a local radio talk show station this
evening. She said if McCain isn't up to the task of going after
Obama, then "we" are. The same station that has her show in
my area also has Hannity and Limbaugh. I have already written
Monica an email and Hannity an email suggesting their hate
rhetoric and veiled racism is fueling a fire that is going to get
out of control, and they would be as much responsible as any
other participant. I suggest everyone do the same. Flood all
these stations, local and national, with emails and calls. Just
do it with class so they have no ammunition to use against Obama.

[RHCNYC]

Actually, it seems that the lady yelling "traitor" was one of the Code Pink ladies... and it was aimed at McCain. Thus the chant of "USA USA", which is usually what the crowd chants to drown out protesters.

[elr50]

How in the heck can you conclude this? You can't even SEE anybody yelling. You are obviously a Repuke shill.

[PaulLee]

Hold on there - do not "do a McCain" and throw around wild accusations without proof. If you look at footage of GOP rallies where there were protesters the GOP supporters started to chant "USA" to drown out the protests and in this video you can hear the "USA" chant again. It is possible that the "traitor" was aimed at McCain and the crowd responded to drown out the protest. Either way its still not good for McCain.

[Helm2]

If McCain cannot even control his own campaign and keep it civil how can we expect him to control the country and organize negotiations with friends or enemies. If he lets things run away and lead him there is little hope for him in really tough scenes

[LITU]

According to Vietnam Vets Against McCain, it is McCain who is the t r a i t or. Apparently, and I have the links if you NEED proof, McCain caved in within days of being captured. According to the oath one swears, furnishing the enemy with anything other than name, rank, and serial number is an act of tr ea son.

Maybe the woman in the audience was an Obama supporter in disguise, and was calling out McCain.

[hellisonfan]

At least now I know I'm not the only one whose neighbors are homicidal hayseeds.

[briandrews15]

The girl yelling "Traitor/Liar" was yelling it at McCain.

Note: At McCain rallies you are informally instructed to chant U.S.A. to drown protesters out from the TV press. I'm surprised you guys didn't know that....

[janvoght]

mc cain's advisors seem to be taking the sliding of their polls as an invitation to gather their WMDs. domestic terrorism is alive and well with the mc cain/ palin ticket.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[janvoght]

in my humble opinion, i believe this portion of the mc cain/palin campaign serves to bolster american's opinion of the need to move away from this type of leadership, strategy, and mindset. in effect mc cain is accomplishing what barack obama and joe biden speak about every day to the american people. attacking character by john mc cain's own admission, is a sign that there is no other important vision that can be articulated. thanks john and sarah, for making the case so clear. and of course while they are trying to divert and distract, (because that's all they have for the american people) our urgent economic issues (that regular, not wealthy americans face everyday) continue to free fall.....???????
OBAMA/BIDEN '08 &12