"Obama Bin Lyin'" Sign At McCain Rally

One day after John McCain passed up an attempt to criticize a comparison between Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden, he has been presented with another opportunity.

After his speech in Virginia Beach Monday morning, one of the candidate's supporters was shown on MSNBC brandishing a sign that read: "Obama Bin Lyin'," a clear reference to the al-Qaeda leader.

McCain received some credit last Friday for addressing the palpable xenophobia at his various town halls. "No ma'am," he told a woman who falsely asserted that Barack Obama is an Arab. He answered another supporter who said she was afraid of an Obama presidency by telling her she had nothing to fear.

But the question now appears whether McCain can put the genie of the Democratic nominee's "otherness" back into the bottle, after having issued a week of "who is Barack Obama"-themed attacks. Even after a speech that made no mention of ACORN, Bill Ayers, or purportedly radical politics of any stripe, it was clear that McCain's crowds are not dissuaded from reveling in character assassination.

On Sunday, McCain refused an opportunity to criticize the state chair of the Virginia GOP, who compared Obama to Bin Laden, since "both ... have friends that have bombed the Pentagon," a reference to Ayers. Asked whether that was appropriate, McCain only said: "I have to look at the context of his remarks. I have always repudiated any comments that have been made that were inappropriate about Senator Obama." (Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the campaign made the decision to call the remarks "not appropriate.")

If this keeps up, however, McCain may have to weigh in with his own thoughts on the matter.

Comments

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

I have a question, has anyone seen more then 4 African American's at any McCain rally. I am not asking to be snarky, I keep looking but I only see whites. sometimes a AA or a Latino. I think this speaks volumes about where everyone will fit in McCain's administration.

[postman606]

I think think a person of color would be best served to stay away from McCain/Palin rallys the past couple of weeks. It's got that mob mentality.

[kathy001]

You got that right. If I were a person of color I would refuse to even work at those rallies. Remember the black cameraman who had racial epithets thrown at him and was told to "sit down, boy" by the crowd? I hope people remember that nasty little episode until McCain is in his grave and Palin is strapped to a rocker in a nursing home.

[Bitsko]

Nope. Don't bother looking for Hispanics either. The repubs haven't had an African-American Representative or Senator in six years.

[shanester]

As Archie Bunker would say '"Them colordes ain't allowed at these rallies" LOL

[profounddogs]

Yes, I have noticed nothing but white people. OBAMA: NOTHIN' BUT NET!

GO OBAMA!

[warsaw]

I think they're the same 4 and they send them to all the rallies.

[catinca]

I went to a Obama's Phlly rally. He only mentioned his opponents twice & not in a negative way.
This is the man I want for President not some backwoods mudslinging fools.

Obama/Biden 08

[pantello]

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1

[peacegurl48]

I find it fascinating that the moral compass, Ms. Palin, remains silent and in attack dog mode.
Particularly fascinating since she has been found guilty of abuse of power and violation of ethics. The hypocrisy of this campaign is stunning.

Palin and First Dude in the White House is what should terrify America.

[profounddogs]

God, Palin and First Dude in the White House. GOD, CAN YOU IMAGINE -- ESPECIALLY FIRST DUDE, LORD HELP US ALL ...

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

They probably had to toss out their collective brains because they burn them out comming up with that sign!!!

[twjohnson]

The McCain campaign has the choice to screen rally goers at the entrances and prohibit anyone with anything offensive from entering. Obviously in this situation they have remained silent.

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

are they not checked for guns and the such? surely the signs are being seen then.

[Newville]

I attended an Obama rally two weeks and we weren't allowed to bring our own signs in. There's no reason McCain's campaign couldn't enforce the same policy. I don't think they want to stop the messages from their crowds.

[frantaylor]

That's the only way to do it otherwise there are arguments about what is appropriate and what is not. McCain's stink will drive away EVERY undecided voter.

[demfriend]

As those who "know" McCain have said "This is not the John McCain I know" I wonder where they have been all the time he has been this John McCain? That after throwing rattlesnakes(lies and hate) out into the crowds at the rallys for both Palin and McCain and using every form of code to incite hate and racism John McCain has the appearance of changing his tone, I say BS! He has done this with other issues where he softened his tone only to come back with the same nastiness. As he did with the woman who called Obama an "arab" and the man who spoke of fear of Obama winning, he was supposedly "stepping back" all the while a nastier ad went out with more lies. What he tries to show outward doesn't jibe with what he is doin and this is the real mcCain. Nasty to the bone and now showing racist almost as far in. He could have stopped this hate before the snakes(lies and hate) were thrown out but it is too late as they have reproduced and grown.

[ImpalaSuperSport]

Is it a death threat? No. Is it worth commenting about other than being a stupid sign? NO.

[dudervision]

Is this "another nail in the coffin"? Definitely

[luvobama]

Well let's just say it is the face of republicans in general.

[Bitsko]

Gee, you're pretty lenient aren't you?

[DinSea]

Wrong. This stuff is no joke. Hate crimes are no joke, and people who incite hate are the real terrorists. Wake up! We must have zero tolerance on hate-provoking public speaking, and this kind of offensive campaigning.

[kathy001]

It does not matter what McCain does now, he has already whipped his supporters into a frenzy of hate and it will continue. I believe there will be repercussions felt from the McCain/Palin hate and fear mongering for a long time to come. They knew what they were doing and they did it on purpose.

And saying that the McCain camp did not realize what kind of reaction they would get from that kind of talk is just admitting that they are both too stupid to hold public office.

[Cathar]

By not responding he is. McCain by not condenming both the VA comments and the signs by ommission agrees. His lack of clarity on this and the 9/11 Iraq link is disturbing for some one who claims he is the candidate with judgment and experience.

[evgolightly]

On some level, it must be depressing to McCain that he's stuck talking to the most illiterate, simplistic, gullible, and ideologically rigid people in our country.

Then again, he did put one of those people on his ticket ....

[rigormrtis]

Hillary went that route also.

[nwmother]

I'd like to get some of the biggest Obama supporters together, wait outside their rally, and engage them in a lengthy debate on the issues...t­ake that

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

um some of those folks are still trying to figure out how many toes they have. I am not sure they are up for a lengthy debate.

[marasgram18]

lol

[enyapjeff]

I wonder how the folks would re-act if we said that John McSame is not a war hero, rather he was a maverick pilot who foolishly got himself captured in Nam.

These hypocrite neo-cons are only playing on the fears and ignorance of an un-informed segment of the electorate.

The rest of us who know what change means and really want it must continue to press to get the vote out for Barack and Joe.

Obama /Bidden 08!!!!!!!

[Jamaican-Democrat]

It's ok, it will all be over soon. November 5, President Obama.

[greatblue]

John Lewis was right. Don't sugar coat it. This is George Wallace-style provocation, and it is very, very dangerous. The Secret Service needs to have a little talk with McCain and Palin, personally.

[profounddogs]

If they haven't already ... maybe that's why McCan't apologized (sort of speaking) at the next rallies.