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McCain Volunteers Taught to Accuse Obama of Terrorism
According to Time, McCain campaign staffers in Virginia are teaching volunteers to see Barack Obama as having terrorist 'friends,' and then providing these volunteers with arguments for persuading voters that Sen. Obama, like Osama Bin Laden, shares responsibility for bombings of the Pentagon.
The report from inside the McCain campaign brings to light an alarming fact: while McCain tells his supporters publicly to refrain from violent rhetoric, he continues to teach his volunteers rhetoric designed to elicit violent responses.
In the article, Time's Karen Tumulty recounts her visit to a campaign training session in Gainesville, VA, a strategic center for the McCain ground game in Prince William County. What Tumulty describes is a training session hosted by Virginia's state GOP Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick in which volunteers were being trained to see Barack Obama as a terrorist. Tumulty writes:
The McCain campaign invited me to visit Frederick and the Gainesville operation on Saturday morning, to get a first-hand glimpse of its ground game in Prince William County, Virginia, a fast-growing area about 30 miles from Washington, D.C.
With so much at stake, and time running short, Frederick did not feel he had the luxury of subtlety. He climbed atop a folding chair to give 30 campaign volunteers who were about to go canvassing door to door their talking points -- for instance, the connection between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden: "Both have friends that bombed the Pentagon," he said. "That is scary." It is also not exactly true -- though that distorted reference to Obama's controversial association with William Ayers, a former 60s radical, was enough to get the volunteers stoked. "And he won't salute the flag," one woman added, repeating another myth about Obama. She was quickly topped by a man who called out, "We don't even know where Senator Obama was really born." Actually, we do; it's Hawaii. (link)
The report from inside the McCain campaign is disturbing on several levels. While McCain has begun chiding his supporters at public rallies for using violent rhetoric, his campaign has taken the opposite tack behind closed doors. Despite the public image of a campaign not responsible for the violent outbursts of a few followers, the Time report reveals a ground operation actually training its volunteers to elicit violent responses in voters--specifically by making false claims about Barack Obama's connection to terrorist attacks on U.S. military buildings.
The report confirms that the McCain campaign has staked its chances of winning the Presidency on convincing the public that Barack Obama is on the wrong side of the 'War on Terror' and, therefore, his victory in the Presidential election would put the power of the White House in the hands of terrorists.
Tumulty's report raises serious questions about whether or not John McCain is using campaign rhetoric that not only depart from recognized moral boundaries, but risk igniting actual violence.
In particular, by teaching his volunteers to see Barack Obama as similar to Osama Bin Laden--and by training his volunteers to convince voters of the same--McCain is using his presidential campaign to tie Sen. Obama to the mass murders of September 11, 2001. In this way, McCain is effectively teaching his supporters to believe that Sen. Obama is not only connected to terrorists, but that Sen. Obama deserves the same punishment as terrorists.
In other words, by bringing to light the rhetoric being taught to his campaign volunteers, Time Magazine has provided the explanation for why attendees at McCain and Palin rallies have called for the death of Sen. Obama rather than just his defeat, which would be the norm in such events. When supporters of a Presidential candidate view the opposing candidate as merely an election threat, they call for his defeat. But when they view the opposing candidate as a national security threat--as they are being taught by the McCain campaign--they call for that threat to be eradicated.
(cross posted from Frameshop)
Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman
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As we all remember, OBAMA has said on numerous times that it won't be easy. The Republicans will do anything it takes to win. They do not want to give up the reigns. This what Obama meant. They will lis, they will steal, they will fabricate story lines, such as the ACORN voter fraud, Ayers is a terriostt, Obama is Muslim, OBAMA was born overseas, anything they can sell, But it is up to us, to take our stand and say enough is enough. We want a piece of the American and we will not let it be stolen from us again. We must stand up to these criminals. They have done enough to us. Stand up America and take our country back, so our children, and our children's children don't have to go through this anymore. This is our country.It belongs to all of us, not just a priviledge few.
I wonder if that's why a McCain supporter, shown at a rally recently, was right up front holding a handmade sign that read "Obama Bin Lyin". Considering the kind of idiots we've seen at these McCain rallies, it honestly seemed unlikely to me that one of THEM could have come up with that.
I figure the people shouting these " He's a terrorist " ,and carrying the signs are actually McCain campaign people trying to stoke the hate and violence. And yes racism.
If in fact McCain is instructing his volunteers to equate Obama with terrorism and this is blatantly known by the media: what vote does he think he's going to get?
The anti-terrorist...
McCain should open the final debate with a sincere apology for the conduct of his campaign. I consider it outrageous that RIck Davis had the temerity to demand an apology from The Obama campaign.(Why is the media giving no attention to the less-than-savory history of Rick Davis-ot McCain's continued association with him?
Yeah, I'm fired up! I've been perusing the Huff post for a few weeks and the innuendo, lies, exaggerations, sensationalism, twisting of facts, etc. is absolutely no different than anything on right-wing websites. You people are laughable in your belief that you are so much more enlightened than everybody else. "EVERYTHING is Bush's fault." "All the problems of the world would go away if America would just stay out of everybody's business." "There would be instant peace if all the Christians dropped dead." Trouble is, there's 100 and 535 other lawmakers that have the same hand in everything that Bush ever did. The world wants America to mind it's own business, except to keep sending billions in aid and when all the Christians are gone, I'm sure the Muslims will be a lot harder to convince that they shouldn't be whipping and hanging homosexuals, adulterers, drunks, thieves, Buddhists, Hindus and Wiccans. What'cha gonna do then?
It is a liberal blog, and maybe we're just as worked up as the people on the right-wing blogs. But I don't think we've gone to Obama rallies to threaten McCain's lfe, nor does the campaign tell its operatives to compare the other candidate to Osama -- which is what this article is about
And since when did commenting on the current election mean we have to choose between Christianity and the Caliphate????
Those quotes in your post, where did you get them? Did anyone actually say that? or is it just your own version of what you think people here say?
Although I will not being voting for Sen McCain, I do feel that he is uncomfortable in the role of negative campaigner. You could see it in his face and body language when addressing the angry voters at his Friday townhall meeting. I think he was truly shocked to hear the responses of people - "afraid of an Obama presidency" and "he's an Arab".
Trouble is, if he can't keep his campaign under control, how do we expect him to keep the government under control?
Would he have been better off running as an Independent and not handing control over to the very machine that helped destroy his last run for the presidency with lies and innuendo?
On the hate issue, I'm sorry but the emails about Obama that I have rec'd from relatives and neighbors who call themselves Christians are about as unChristian as possible. Maybe we should suggest to yahoo, google, etc that they include a new tab on their email pages "Would Jesus Forward This?"
My goodness, 110508 is running scared, and I thought this country was the home of the brave. Haven't you read the verse, "If my people who are called by my name humble THEMSELVES and turn from THEIR wicked ways . . ."? Before pointing fingers at everyone else, I think the religious right in this country needs to examine themselves. Didn't Jesus say, "You who are without sin cast the first stone"? The Christ you purport to serve befriended disabled, disenfranchised, foreigners, outcasts, and constantly said, "do not be afraid." So, where's your faith?
From my reading about, listening to, and observing him, Obama is a Christian because he has declared it --as in "believing with the heart," which only God sees and "confessing with the mouth,"
so the public knows. As public I am responsible to hear and accept the confession and watch the fruit--as in "by their fruit you shall know them." Obama doesn't seem to have the rancor that some of us, including myself, who say we are, do display. A peace that passes understanding seems to sustain him even when his very life is put on the line by irrational racial-hate-inciting rantings of "fellow Christians" and ones who likens them-self to an animal symbolic of those who are without -- outside the kingdom. Being harmless as a dove is the symbol, not attacking like a pit-bull. Generalizations about what the world thinks are a bit far out. Many Christians have not always been quick to be the light of LOVE but have deceived ourselves into thinking God has step-children and foster-children who we can abuse or allow to be abused.Those living in glass houses ought not to cast stones, such as in "let him that is without sin cast the first stone," or that judgment belongs to God, or that "fear is not of God." God needs no defense, especially by us-- defenseless creatures. God is!
Well said.
In another post I told people to Google "Source-watch-Echo chamber". It details how the Republicans have been manipulating the media for years. Of particular interest is the link to Jerry Landay's article on Mediatransparency.org. It makes you wonder if there is any point to searching for the truth. It brings to mind Woody Allen's definition of epistomology: " Is knowledge knowable? If not, how do we know this?"
It' s very disturbing to me that the GOP resorts to these divisive and dangerous methods in the interest of gaining power-even at the expense of the people and the country at large. And If McCain loses they will no doubt continue to keep using them to do everything they can do undermind an Obama administration-as they have done with every sitting Democratic president. Neither party is above reproach but most people expext at least some degree of honesty in (most) journalism-in that they are supposed to reporting facts-and the Republicans have systematically skewered the facts beyond anybody's recognition. The fact that the media gives a great deal of press to the "terrorist associations" of Obama and next to nothing to MCCain's own questionable associations makes me think there if nothing and no one you can believe.
Free speech for everyone. Every liberal democrat, that is. Hi, I'm a conservative INDEPENDENT, and I have certain beliefs that hurt NOBODY. But I'm supposed to shut my mouth and dare not express an opinion that is in the least bit out-of sync with the liberal agenda or brace myself to be called a hating, bigoted, racist. All for simply stating my mind. Who's the real "haters' here? As I said, free speech for liberals only. Everybody else can just shut up and listen. That's not America.
For the sake of argument, let's pretend that conservatives really aren't allowed to express an opinion. I don't think that's accurate, heaven knows that there are plenty of outlets where a conservative would find a warm welcome, but let's pretend.
Are you really trying to say that someone telling you "Sit down and shut up" is the same as someone saying "Kill him"? Because I'm just not making that connection myself....
Yes free speech for everyone even the liberal and democrate. I've read alot of right wing sites. They have plenty of free speech. Let the softer person speak and bam. I believe in your right to free speech on this site also. I've even completely read your comment. No one has said you couldn't express yourself.
Free speech? Not on any right wing sites if you're a liberal and try to post anything that doesn't agree with their lies. I've tried to comment on several right wingnut sites and have never been posted-at least dissenting opinions are posted on liberal sites. So yes, apparently free speech is only for conservatives. Why would your opinion be posted if what you stated was true?
I agree. I have also tried to post on some of these rightwing sites and have NEVER been posted on them-NOTHING is posted that doesn't agree with their views-or in some case out-and-out lies that their own party has disavowed.
We are pretty sure that John McCain was born in Panama, though it would be tough to find any witnesses from that 1936 event. So maybe we're not so sure after all.
McCain was born in the Panama Zone. It was or is an American military base in Panama. The argument is that the base was not American land, part of the lower 48. I look at it this way American base/American land. The base only. That's just me.
Dang, nyred48, one could simply take everything you say, substitute Clinton for Nixon, DNC for RNC, Democrats for Republicans, WHATEVER, and still make a perfectly true statement. THEY ARE ALL LYIN', CHEATN', CROOKED BASTARDS! Gingrich or Pelosi, W or Billary, they're srcewing you as well as me. Your problem is simply that you and your screaming lib buddies don't or won't see it. You seem to get a sense of purpose in lathering yourselves up over the "opposition". You're all a HOOT!
To quote Burns, "O wad some power the giftie gie us / To see oursels as ithers see us."
This is the long held GOP modus operandi. They mix McCarthyism with Nixon-ism. Years ago attended RNC classes for "Future Press Officers of the Republican Party" and was floored by the ugly and underhanded methods taught. Their motto is to win at all costs--lie, cheat, steal, reverse positions and blame the media. Richard Nixon did it to Helen Douglass in California a gazillion years ago. He is the GOP's poster boy. They are TOXIC and DANGEROUS! John McCain is a bottom-feeder who ferociously chases the rich and changes his beliefs, particularly if it means advancing his own career. Unrepentant in his lust to prove his father, grandfather and his own party were/are wrong about him. Tumulty is not wrong. McCain and his handlers say one thing publicly, another away from the public eye. Pure evil!
What I consider really appalling is that this is being done to Americans by other Americans-(the old Nixon warcry: "Us against Them"). How can they say they have the country's interests at heart? Or call themselves"Uniters not Dividers"? Or say they have any regard for Free Speech? If you look up Nazi propaganda techniques you will see a frightening similarity.(G. Gordon Liddy openly admired those techniques.)
When the Watergate scandal broke the people were outraged by the duplicity and dirty trickery used by the Republicans-but the nation has become so cynical that most it those tactics-still being-used-barely raise a yawn.
This is sick. Inciting hatred through accusations and innuendos in order to gain ground constitutes political violence, the very dictionary definition of terrorism:
noun: the calculated use of violence (or threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear.
What has become of our country? What has become of us? Our electoral process should stand as a cornerstone of the democracy for which we are sacrificing the lives of our youth. Should one of those McCain supporters carry through on his call for Obama’s death, on whose head will that assassination rest?
This is a very frightening time for our country. I thought we were past all the nasty attacks. Most people truly seem to be uninformed. Someone wrote to our local paper stating that Ayers bombed the Pentagon and since he and Obama he are pals they are both terrorists. They are not pals but obviously
people believe what they want to hear. Please every one check out the facts and don't buy all the stuff out there. Also I think it might be a good time to consider being a poll watcher. After the last two elections we need to insist on paper ballots that can be counted or a receipt if machines are used. This election scares me.
Americans have become so fixated on money and winning that they tend to do anything to reach those elicit goals. That is so troubling.
Shoot, that someone was wrong on both counts. Ayers didn't bomb the Pentagon, either.
McCain is a real chicken, if he thinks that Obama is a terrorist than say it to his face, of course he wouldn't do that, he wouldn't even look him in the eye. What a sore loser McCain is turning out to be, and he is running for president, shame, shame!! He is enciting mobs at his rallies then acts like he did nothing, reminds me of a naughty child, when caught. This is real and he doesn't get it, there are plenty of unstable people who are out there and will listen and believe what they are told and who knows what the consequences can be. They are playing up the 'race card' in the most evil way.
It's all a game people. They are playing this dangerous game of "bait" where they are baiting Obama for someone to seriously think he's dangerous and possibly do him some harm. It's sick, mean, and inhuman.
It takes one to do the dirty work of McPalin,
Dallas. Memphis and LA, remember? .
If someone is spouting hatred, there are those who will follow.
McCain's campaign knows this, and shows no sign of stopping.
no matter what he says in public his staff keeps pushing the hate.. .
Frankly I don't think that people who yell Kill Him in Palin's ralies are in the majority ,most people are not of this mindset, thankfully .
A man I recently saw at a McCain rally who stood up and said I am mad and then went on a rant, looked more like a plant to stir up the crowd than a regular voter. For one I don't think a regular voter would tell the people in the crowd to sit down I am not finished yet as this man did while the face of a man near him looked agrivated by the man telling them to sit down.
We all know there are racists and thos who are just ignorant and believe every lie they are told ,but I don't believe for a minute that these people are in the majority in this country . Good people with intelligence see right through the Republican parties method of divide and conquer using hate and fear as their tactics !
It doesn't take a "majority" to kill anyone, "quest44". All it takes is ONE nutcase! And it sounds like there was at least ONE of those in in the crowd in order to holler anything THAT moronic!
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