Is Palin Trying To Incite Violence Against Obama?

MCCAIN CAMP TALKS 'CHARACTER ASSASSINATION,'  SUPPORTERS SHOUT FOR REAL ASSASSINATION
At her last rally in Florida, Sarah Palin told the audience that Barack Obama "palled around with terrorists" adding,"I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America."  Upon hearing the Republican VP candidate's concern that Sen. Obama might be a terrorist, a voice in the crowd cried out 'Kill him!'

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McCain Campaign Amplifies Violent Rhetoric, GOP Crowds Threaten Obama's Life
The Washington Post's Dana Milbank reported an incident at a Palin rally that should open America's eyes to the central role violent rhetoric now plays in the McCain campaign. Milbank describes how Palin told the crowd in Florida that Obama has close associations with a terrorist who sought to bomb the Pentagon and the U.S. Capital, in response to which the crowd responded with a threat on  Sen. Obama's life:

"Now it turns out, one of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers...And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,'" she continued.

"Boooo!" the crowd repeated.

"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.

Palin went on to say that "Obama held one of the first meetings of his political career in Bill Ayers's living room, and they've worked together on various projects in Chicago." Here, Palin began to connect the dots. "These are the same guys who think that patriotism is paying higher taxes -- remember that's what Joe Biden had said. "And" -- she paused and sighed -- "I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America, as the greatest force for good in the world. I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as 'imperfect enough' to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country." (link)

Palin's new rhetorical strategy signifies an alarming new development in the 2008 Presidential election, and one that has been not only been documented by such high profile newspapers as the Washington Post, but confirmed by the McCain campaign itself.

"It's a dangerous road, but we have no choice," a top McCain strategist recently admitted to the Daily News.  "If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we're going to lose." (link)

The 'dangerous road,' however, is not just a generic attack on Sen. Obama's trustworthiness or honesty.  Rather, the McCain campaign has chosen to stand before campaign rallies and accuse Sen. Obama of hiding sympathies with domestic terrorists--to accuse their opponent, essentially, of being a terrorist.

With the McCain campaign now using the Palin stump speech to accuse Sen. Obama of hiding a terrorist agenda, the McCain campaign has staked its future on rhetoric that skirts the boundary between character assassination and incitements of actual violence against their opponent.

Meanwhile, while McCain is not yet accusing Obama of terrorism in his own stump speech, the crowds at his rallies are.

In a recent video clip from MSNBC, McCain asked a rally, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" In response to McCain's rhetorical question, a voice from the crowd can be clearly heard to shout in response, "Terrorist!" (link)

Since the start of the election campaign well over a year ago, voters have been subject to ongoing smear campaigns in emails and push polls accusing Sen. Obama of ties to and sympathies with domestic and foreign terrorist groups.  No matter how many times these smear campaigns have been exposed, they continued.  Now that John McCain and Sarah Palin have echoed these accusations--the idea that Sen. Obama is secretly a terrorist has the stamp of approval of a presidential campaign, but of a multi-term U.S. senator and a U.S. governor.

One wonders at this point how the various agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the Presidential candidates from violence will respond to this latest tactic from the McCain campaign.  If, for example, a McCain supporter threatens the life of Sen. Obama by shouting 'Kill him!' at a Palin rally, should Sen. Obama's Secret Service contingent launch an investigation?  Having been accused of terrorist ties by the McCain campaign, will Sen. Obama's name be put on the 'No Fly' list, effectively making it impossible for him to engage in normal airline travel?  

An even more basic question, perhaps: Is Gov. Palin trying to incite violence against Sen. Obama as part of an ill-conceived campaign strategy to change the topic from the economy at any cost?

Time will tell how law enforcement will respond, but one thing is already certain:  the more Palin and McCain incite calls for violence against Sen. Obama, the more their chances of achieving a victory in November disappear.

(cross-posted from Frameshop)

Comments

[Michale32086]

Secret Service Discounts Any Threat In "Kill Him" Shout.

This is the final report from the US Secret Service on the issue.. You can google the text to read the article..

As I have made clear many times, I find it shockingly depressing that, considering that there is SO MUCH real and unequivocal stuff to beat the Republicans over the head with, that Democrats would actually go out of their way to make stuff up....

But that is the problem with bigots. By nature, they are illogical and irrational..

Michale.....

[psychomama]

I am a registered Republican--i switched from Unaffiliated in 2000 to vote for McCain in the Primary because GWB scared me so much. I received a fund raising letter in the mail today from Sarah Palin asking for a contribution. I sent the postage prepaid envelope back with a piece of toilet paper in it.

[ymax]

Mr. J. McCain and Ms. S. Palin.
I am writing to you and asking both of you to cool the incitement to violence shown in your rallies in the last few days.
By standing idle and not stopping the HATE, you are guilty by association.
Please do something before some people will take you inaction as an approval.

Thank you and God bless
Y. Manor

[Limanani]

Palin was chosen by McCain's people as a running mate to throw the focus of the voters away from any topic of substance - the economy, the war in Iraq, etc. Now they are having Palin do the same - look how we are all focused on her hate messages and "Christian values". The second Obama responds in any other fashion than taking the high ground it will be over - McCain's people will have a field day and the real issues that need to be addressed will be lost in all the drama. At any other ralley, at any other point in time should someone be instigating what authorities deem to be a threat of violence the event would be shut down or the person making the threat would have been asked to leave. The fact that the only people who heard "Kill Him" being shouted from the audience were the media is laughable - Palin was reading from a script and "kill him" was just the next line.

[Audrey85]

Media need to call him on it! This is absolutely frightening. Let's question the ties that McCain has that a far more substantiated than serving on a board. If Ayers frighten folks, if he is such a terrorists, be more concerned over him teaching at the University than serving on a board with Obama. You are basically saying we need the resume's to include background investigations on everyone that is serving on the board we are asked to join. Is that what you are saying? The smear and fear tactics and the old ways of America needs to stop and NOW! Racism has no place in a land founded by IMMIGRANTS!

[Pacaba]

I cannot understand why Obama-Biden-DNC have not gone after McCain and Palin's "associations," also. Palin has many "unsavory" associates in Alaska, including those of the Alaskan Successionist Party who backed (and helped fund) her initial run for mayor. She tried to reward them with city offices, but was blocked by council members. Obama accepted a "house party" from Ayers when he entered his first race for public office. What's the difference? Perhaps the difference is that Obama didn't try to appoint Ayers to a state position!

McCain has many past associates who are now in jail! He gladly accepted endorsements from some of the most radical, anti-Semetic, "ministers" of the far right wing. Is he somehow less responsible for his associations than Obama is?

Who among us doesn't have SOMEBODY we once knew who once-upon-a-time did something that they (and we) are now less than proud of? Serving on a board of directors that worked to benefit children's education with somebody else who, like you, was appointed to that same board, is hardly a terrorist act! Not to mention that the organization was funded and run by staunch Republicans! If they placed Ayers on the board, blame them! Don't blame Obama.

[Audrey85]

Problem is, sensitivity issues. If Obama goes after him, media says he stands to isolate his white supporters so he needs to be careful on his approach. It takes Joe Biden and the non-black surrogates to do it. It is sad but this is America

[MissingAmerica]

And all this hate spewing from one who claims to have God on her side! No wonder so many young people have turned away from religion! If I were forced to believe in a God that ensorsed such violence and hate, I'd turn away too! These people are no better than the terrorists. The only difference is the way they live and dress.

The immediate threat to this country is not the terrorists from the Middle East, rather from the McCain/Palin radicals. They have called Obama a terrorist, using his name as proof. To me, actions and words speak loudly, and the McCain camp screams of terrorism!

No McCain/Palin now or ever!

[amcg50]

No Shame; No Honor; No McCain! No Palin!

[Ackerman]

My question to the Christian Right: what happened to the teachings about tolerance, understanding, equality, honesty, thou shall not kill, compassion, love and truth? If Sarah Palin speaks for you, does she also speak for your prophets? For God? Does she sound "Christ-like"?

I'm not a Christian, so maybe I'm just confused here...

[ALEdwards]

Ackerman, I am a Christian and perhaps just as confused as you are. As a Christian I can most certainly say that Palin (and many of the Christian Right) is so far removed from being "Christ-like" it's just plain sad that people fall in line with her to begin with.

[geewiizz]

It is really not hard for me to understand the obvious contradictions. However, if you study the history of evangelicals and hard right christians, they interpret every thing in the bible as literal. So, with that, in their understanding blacks and other people of color have been cursed by god and therefore not entitled to any alienable rights. The constitution has written in it that blacks are only 1/3 human. Bush amended the Voter Rights act for the next 20 years only. I could go on with other examples....

It is left up to the well-educated old and young GENX and Ys and Millenniums, the white folks who are fed up with the last 8 years and are willing to vote a black man into office who they believe has the skills to change this world. There is no help for McCain and Palin. They are simply in too deep!

[yallkiddn]

America! Now HERE'S a country to be "really" proud of, huh?

[paix]

The campaign tactics that McCain/Palin are using in this election are frighteningly similar to those used by the Nazis in Germany prior to World War II. Instead of a yellow star identifying the enemy, the "insiders" are recognized by their flag lapel pins. Invoking rhetoric that sets those who hold "conservative family values"(whatever those are) as being superior to the selected evil scapegoats; variously "liberals", "intellectuals", "Washington insiders", the "main stream media", homosexuals, immigrants, etc., is the same type of pernicious chauvinism that was practiced by Hitler and his followers. Portraying one"s opponent as "that one" who "doesn"t think like we do", "who doesn"t see America the way you and I see America¦" comes perilously close to the dehumanizing hate speech that precipitated the Holocaust and the massacre in Rwanda.
Just as the Nazi hate propaganda provoked violence in Germany, the McCain/Palin attacks against Senator Obama have predictably elicited aggressive responses from their supporters. Obama is called a "terrorist " and a "traitor". At one event a man yelled out "Kill Him" while Governor Palin was exaggerating Obama"s association with Bill Ayers. Of course, Palin, claiming that she had not heard the comment, never challenged it.
The McCain/Palin campaign"s use of character assassination and inflammatory rhetoric diminishes our political process. Instead of a substantive discussion of the issues the voters are polarized by hate speech. Americans must forcefully repudiate this type of political campaigning both vocally and at the ballot box on November 3.

[paix]

CORRECTION: ON NOVEMBER 4TH!

[mamala4]

As a child I was always listening to people say "never again." In this generation we must say the same, never again will we allow our elections be stolen by the right wingers...we must stand up and encourage our candidate to quietyly shut the opposition down with retaliation....give them what they give...Rev. Hagee, the secessionist affiliation...there is a plethora of "dirt" that must be slung..I know Obama is a classy, sophisticated man, but we need him to get dirty...

[waitforme]

I don't know if HIS getting dirty will make it any better. Likely quite the opposite. He is doing exactly what he needs to do: continue to dismiss these characters' claims as lies and to go on three network stations for half an hour to ...whatever he will do. He needs to continue to connect the economy, the shock of the stock market today and the freezing of credit to people's worsening plights. He needs to continue to dismiss McCain's rude plethora of slingings of mud as just what it is: a way to win the election instead of focusing on the other problems facing all of us -- which McCain doesn't have answers for. He needs to continue to make it clear that he is for 'not raising taxes' though McCain says he is.

[debwilldo]

I could not agree with you more!
Palin's "Christian values" are enough to make God weep.
I am so ashamed of the way that main stream media is allowing us to be portrayed around the world,by showing it over and over again.
I wonder how many of them "secretly" agree with this looney broad, and wish to see harm come to a good and decent man.
America is losing ground because people have allowed hate/fear to rule the day.
MY Bible says to treat others as you would like to be treated. I am saddened by this spectacle that hate-filled people allow to pass as "news".
If,God forbid,something happens to this man, McStain and his sad little pit bull should be held responsible.
Haven't we had enough of hateful,angry leaders? ENOUGH!!

[waitforme]

Yes! Well put!

Last night, the 9th, Thursday, David Gergen felt the need to go on the Colbert Report to say simply that 'they' (McCain and Palin) need to stop the violence that they are evoking against Obama. Of course they need to. If they don't stop the shouters-out of violent language it will escalate (as Gergen implies) and Obama will get hurt.

The Secret Service must immediately stop shouters of violence. They must arrest individuals who shout, 'Kill him!' I read they have said they 'didn't hear' the man who shouted this before. I don't know if they noticed it when 'the crowd turned against the journalists' pen and one, seeing a black cameraman, shouted at him, 'N....., get down from there, boy!' Palin is evoking, inciting hate crimes. Palin, herself, should be arrested, for slander, for inciting incipient crowd violence.

This is a total shame.

I agree with some commenters here that there is still plenty of time for Obama to be, if not assassinated, swift-boated. Many people will just hear her (and McCain's) claims against him, magnified no doubt by right-wing radio-tv blatherers, and decide they have such a bad taste in their mouths about these ideas of hers that they will not vote, or will end up voting for McCain. Then the feelings we will be left with will be more than comparable to what we felt when the Supreme Court illegally handed the election to Bush.

[Ciganka]

Yes, this is taking on the tone of a KKK rally. It makes me wonder if these types are going to handle the Obama/Biden landslide. The culture wars are starting to take on an even more frightening rhetoric than I thought possible. If you visit their discussion sites, they do not even attempt to veil these attitudes - it is an escalating frenzy of bigotry, racism, and intolerance.

[Pendragon2008]

I don't think they are just inciting this against Obama personally, I think they are driving crowds to racial violence. All these guys need now are jackboots and they're set.

[lady49]

And how many lunatics out there are going to know the difference?

[iwillwatchyourempirefall]

What I am so afraid of, Mrs. Palin, is that America doesn't see YOU the way I see you - catty, arrogant and self-serving, someone who will do or say anything to further their own fundamentalist agenda. You are a disgrace to your species.

This just goes to show that the McCain/Palin ticket is down for the count. They're about to get TKO'd and they're grasping at straws. They know that if they play fair, they'll lose so now they're playing dirty. It's so transparent and pathetic!

[diffdrummer]

The three speakers at the McCain/Palin rally today in Wisconsin, 10/9, are clearly plants. Their delivery is way too articulate, measured and buzzword-filled to be spontaneous.

This is a despicable manipulation by a desperate and cynical candidate.

[daddydamon]

They had to throw in "the black guy" too. Shameless.

[brghtsd 1]

It is sick and it's sad...especially coming from a campaign that has called itself "COUNTRY FIRST" and a man who campaigned all of 2007 on the "straight talk express".
I wonder what GOD thinks about it? hmmmm???

[yallkiddn]

Ask Sarah whaat God thinks about it.

[lady49]

Amen!

[Barometer]

She doesn't care - she thinks she is God.