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

Comments

[geniemaker]

This is such a bald-faced lie, you would have to be an idiot to believe it. I heard Senator McCain on TV claim to his supporters that ... Senator Obama is a decent American", and to that I say BS.

[FR]

Please contact Jeffrey Frederick himself at the Virginia GOP: http://www.rpv.org/contact.asp.

He'll be happy to confirm that he is indeed sending out people to compare Obama to Osama. That's what he told people when he answered their e-mails earlier today. They posted it on this blog.

I'll leave it to you and others on the blog to decide who the real "idiot" is, and who's doing the bald-faced lying.

[DebB]

My husband visted her very elderly grandmother this weekend and she was voting for McCain based on their "fear tactics". She called Obama a terrorist and was very afraid of him getting elected as President. He tried to reason with her but she became somewhat upset so he changed the subject. She said that they say it on TV so it must be true and that all the people in her building talk about it also. I must also add that she has been diagnosed with early dementia and lives in an assisted care facilit6y. This must be exactly the people they are targeting. I can almost bet that there will be a republican volunteer there to take them all to the polls. How sad.

[PlantGod72]

NOTICE:

Current PBS online poll on Sarah Palin being "qualified to lead".

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

PLEASE vote to register your feelings about Ms. Palin's "qualifications" NOW!

Thanks!

[Hempy]

Maybe Democrats ought to remind Republicans of Sarah Palin paling around with a terrorist. Palin's preacher pal, Thomas Muthee from Kenya who organized a gang to go after a witch in Kenya.

That's a domestic terrorist. And that was just last year. Sarah wasn't eight-years-old. Rev. Muthee prayed that Sarah be protected from witchcraft. And what was the nature of the witchcraft? According to Rev. Muthee, the witch caused an increase in traffic accidents.

More likely, the witch had healing prayers that closely resembled Pentecostal prayers for healing. The Rev. Muthee was more likely interested in eliminating competition.

Rev. Muthee prayed that the "righteous" would come into positions of power in the economic, political and educational world. "Righteous" means right and just. More than likely, Rev. Muthee meant it to mean wing nut religious right folks.

[sfnative365]

Sadly, I am familiar with Delegate Jeff Frederick. I am one of his constituents and had a series of e-mail exchanges with him several years ago when he was a newly elected Delegate. He and I were on opposite sides of a transportation issue and when I told him I wouldn't be voting for him he accused me of "threatening" him. When I challenged his use of the word "threatening", his reply was less than charitable. Having lived in Prince William County for the past 11 years I feel fairly certain that when folks around here go to the polls to vote, the only criteria their guy has to meet is to have "R" next to the name. It doesn't really matter how unhinged that person may or may not be, just so long as they belong to the GOP.

The story of Mr. Frederick's exploits on behalf of John McCain also appears in the Metro section of today's Washington Post.

[feo]

Years ago, Rumsfeld shook hands with Saddam Hussein; therefore, Rumsfeld hung out with terrorists, aided and abetted terrorism.

Years ago, McCain dropped bombs, some of which no doubt killed innocent people. Therefore, McCain is a terrorist.

Years ago, George Bush was listed as AWOL; therefore he is a deserter, therefore he aided and abetted our enemies.

A college level course in Logics would serve the McCain campaign well.

[noamjunior]

"A college level course in Logics would serve the McCain campaign well.-

naw- it would just depress them - but it Would serve the American Public well

[findingmuse]

A quote by one of my favorite writers:

"Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy gets the Catholic Church. America gets Hollywood. "

I feel quite certain Ms. Jong would not object if I added: "....Ameri­can gets Hollywood. And a McCain/Palin government if it doesn't get off its fat ass and vote sanely, for once."

[TNFarmer]

Is McCain complicit in Frederick's (and others') internal propaganda ploy? Perhaps one answer might be in the way he attacked Obama's position regarding dealing with terrorists in Pakistan (when Pakistan could not or would not act).

The crux of McCain's argument was - you don't SAY publicly you'd attack the terrorists. Meaning, it's absolutely okay to hit'm, just lie to Americans and the world you're doing it. What you SAY you do to the publics' face, and what you actually do behind our back, are two entirely different things.

Unfortunately, I think McCain knows this kind of stuff is going on in his campaign; he just won't admit it to our face. If he doesn't admit it, it isn't happening. Right. Winning the Presidency is more important for him than the duty, honor, and country principles he swore to follow. Sad. Very sad.

[bimplebean]

An excellent point. "It's okay to say we're not inciting hatred... we'll just do it on the sly so as not to telegraph our tactics to the enemy."

Vile.

[Mysterick]

I think the GOP is a terrorist organization.

[truthfulfact]

On 10/10 I started sending letters to elected officials to take a stand that the McCain Palin campaign cease. McCain and Palin are doing what terrorists do. I called the VA campaign headquarters on Sun. to express that citizens are fearful and in shock that Senator McCAin is setting Obama up to be murdered and citizens recognize this. I have just begun speaking up to network news agencies. I wrote Gov. John Lewis, speaker Pelosi, Senator Biden..I have only begun. REading the NYT article that GOP leaders are frustrated McCAin is not sending consistent messages it struck me McCain has had one conistent message: Patriotism, Country First, war, win the war, defeat terrorists, Saddleback Forum "destroy evil", caputre or kill Bin Laden. It is simple common sense McCAin's only consistent message is to kill, destroy terrorists. Personifying Obama as a terrorist.­.preaching to destroy terrorists is patriotic equals a message to citizens that Senator Obama too must be destroyed, murdered. It will not take a "nut case" to follow McCain's lead, Palin role modeling terrorists must be destroyed and pointing Obama is also a terrorist. My effort is to raise social conscience the smear campaign has crossed the line to set up Obama be assassinated via patriotism. Why is no one addressing this only focused on winning via turning people against Obama?

[bongogirl]

I agree. McCan't and the republicans, including Limbaugh, Hannity, FOX NEWS and Kristol, are setting Obama up for assassination. I pray to GOD that it does not happen. But they don't care. One of the republican demented supporters in going to make an attempt. Just wait and see.

[plmgood]

I agree and I am doing the same. But I want to go a step further and demand that the Secret Service and FBI attend all McCain and Palin rallies to thwart those in the audience from speaking domestic terrorist threats and hopefully apprehending the pundits.

McCain and Palin are totally responsible for this domestic terrorism threat and now cannot undo their rhetoric. I saw a sign today on MSNBC at McCain's rally in Virgina and it said, "Obama Bin Lyin" which is suggesting that Obama is in cohorts with Bin Laden.

People may say that this is "freedom of speech," but they are wrong. This is crossing the line of protected speech which the Supreme Court has already ruled on, IE yelling "fire" in a crowed room.

McCain and Palin should be charged as Domestic Terrorists for inciting their pundits to hate Obama because of their speeches. And you would think that the President would come on National T.V. to warn the GOP party and it's members to STOP these types of domestic terrorist rants and raves that can inflame pundits about Obama.

Yet most of our efforts will fall on deaf ears. American's are just plain stupid and will most likely be gullible enough to vote for McCain/Palin, the fearmongers.

I am going to contact my senators and congresswoman, the FBI, and Secret service to see what can be done to charge McCain and Palin.

[bluekatz]

Mainstream Media is Garbage..T­he only person seems to be Keith Olberman who has the nads to stand up and say something. The comedians are the ones who are bringing out the truth, sad. BOYCOTT the SPONSORS. These morons on Mainstream are nothing but CARD READERS who have not opinion of their own. GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT!!!

[goldcoastsailor]

Everyone's a terrorist in today's world: street gangs, bankers, corporate executives, news executives, teachers, IRS officials, and on and on. Everyone wants to scare you a little and keep you scared. When Americans can get up off their fat asses and stop acting like sheep, then we will deserve the leaders we need.

[SEQUOIABISON]

This article helps to highlight the clear distinction between the Democrats and Republicans.

The republicans will continue to govern using devious deceptive rhetoric (WMD, Iraq 911 connection) to persuade people to their side of the argument, while democrats use the sometimes difficult approach to governance, telling the truth and letting people make up their minds based on the truth not lies.

The choice is clear, 4 more years that resemble the last 8 years of war and economic collapse or a fresh new start, returning our country to civility and worldwide respect again.

Obama/Biden

[Mysterick]

What I don't get is what the poor folks that fall for this get out of it. I'll bet most of them aren't any better off than I am!

[Deschris]

McCain can apologize all he wants,but the effect and damage has already been done.I also wish the press would not include Obama's supporters in this outpouring of hate filled and racist statements,because I have not seen or heard of one threatening or hateful remark or incitement against McCain or Palin from his rallies.Sh­ow these incidents to us.This latest action by the Virgina GOP is proof positive that McCain has either authorized this activity or he has lost total control of his campaign or surrogates­.If not he should put a stop to it immediatel­y.He is less than the bottom of the barrel now....des­tructive,d­ivisive,di­shonest and dishonorable and totally without any integrity.­I guess after reading this McCain would wish to whip or maybe whup me and my baby's momma uppity a*s*s also!

Obama-Biden 08 and 12

[denise911]

well said!!

[FreedomFries]

It is truly remarkable that the GOP ticket is first in history where both have ethics citations and the top of the ticket is a self-admitted collaborator after 4 days in captivity, while the bottom supports a secessionist party, all under the banner of Country First.

[Dee-Dee]

The 50s all Over Again - I’m a 60 year old retired African American educator so I was a scared young kid in the North watching the ugliness that erupted in the South in the 50s on TV, the bombings, the dogs, the young black children walking through crowds spewing hate. As a child it scared me to death to be so hated for no reason, and as a child in front of the TV I cried, and last week watching the McCain rallies, hearing everything Palin was saying, I cried again and the fear and despair I felt as a child came back.

[Strywever]

If they can make you afraid, they've won.

[Tropiholic]

Please know that for every hateful racist redneck there are 20 who aren't! We have come a long way but we still have a way to go.