McCain Responds to "Arab" Epithet at Rally: "Obama a Decent Family Man"

John McCain supporter Gayle Quinnell told the crowd at a McCain Rally in Minnesota that "Obama is an Arab." McCain took away the microphone but failed to address Quinnell's unabashed bigotry or the incidents of anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-African American bigotry that has become an increasingly regular feature of GOP rallies as the election draws near. "No ma'am," he says. "[Obama's] a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."

Above, an interview with Quinnell done via streaming cell phone. Interviewers include Noah Kunin, Senior Political Correspondent from The UpTake, Adam Aigner of NBC News and Dana Bash of CNN.

Quinnell said she obtained the information on Obama being an Arab at "her local library" and from a pamphlet obtained at a local McCain campaign office (provided by a fellow volunteer not the campaign itself). She has taken it upon herself to redistribute the information as widely as possible by making copies of the pamphlet and sending it to random names in the phone book.

Transcript:

Gayle Quinnell: I went to the library in Shakopee and I got lots of ... three pages of information about Obama

Adam Aigner of NBC News: And what kind of information did you get?

Quinnell: I got to tell you, you call me. It's a long story. I'm afraid of what's going to happen to this country.

Aigner: What would you think would happen? Do you think it would become Muslim country and what would that mean?

Quinnell: It would be bad

Aigner: So even though Senator McCain told you that he didn't feel that was true and you ought to be more respectful, you still fear that?

Quinnell: I still do. Yeah. I'm not alone. I go to Burnsville, the main Republican headquarters and I do a lot of work over there. A lot of sending out mail and talking to people. And all the people agree with what I'm saying to you about Obama.

Aigner :Then do you feel there are a lot of volunteers for McCain who feel that way?

Quinnell: Yes. A lot of them. In fact I got a letter from another woman that goes over there to Burnsville and she sent me more things about Obama.

Aigner: What was on the letter?

Quinnell: Oh all kinds of bad things about him and how, I mean I have to tell you to call me. It's all bad.

Reporter: Are a lot of people getting this letter and are a lot of people believeing it and is that turning a lot of votes or support for McCain?

Quinnell: Yeah I sent out 400 letters. I went to Kinkos and I got them all printed out. And I sent about 400 letters. I went in the telephone book and sent them out to people. So they can decide if they would want Obama.

Aigner: Can you give me your name again?

Quinnell: Gayle Quinnell and I honestly think that these people hear about this Obama, they wouldn't want him.

Aigner: Because they would know what you know in the letter?

Quinnell: Yeah, he read that letter. In fact when I was standing in line , there were about eight girls, young girls standing in line. And they said "what have you got." I had one of the letters and they said "Give it to me. I want to read it. I want to read it" And they read it. And they just went (shakes head) . They hadn't read it before and they didn't (unintelligible) all that information. To me it's bad news.

Aigner: So maybe if I call you you'll give me one of the letters maybe?

Quinnell: I sure can!

Aigner: You don't have another one on you now?

Quinnell: No I don't. But I can give you what I got and I can give you what she sent me in the mail.

Aigner: I'd be interested to read it.

Quinnell: OK

Aigner: And can you spell your name for me?

Quinnell: Q-U-I-N-N-E-L-L

Aigner: E-L-L? And Gayle is just...

Quinnell: G-A-Y-L-E

Aigner: And where you from?

Quinnell: I'm from Shakopee.

Aigner: Shakopee?

Quinnell: Shakopee, Minnesota

Aigner: And and I'm sorry how old are you ma'am?

Quinnell I'm 75

Aigner: 75?

Quinnell: (Nods yes) And I got a lot of grandkids and a lot of kids, I've got five kids. I got seven grandkids and they all think the same way.

(PHONE NUMBER EDITED OUT OF CONVERSATION)


Noah Kunin (The UpTake): Do you volunteer at the Republican Party Headquarters or the McCain Campaign office over in Burnsville?

Quinnell: McCain. McCain Headquarters in Burnsville.

Noah: The McCain headquarters.

Quinnell: It's out over by , over by that post station there.

Noah: Yeah, I know which one you're talking about. And just to be sure to make sure we got your quote OK, you called Obama and Arab terrorist?

Quinnell: Pardon?

Noah: You called him an Arab terrorist? Is that correct? Why do you think he is an Arab?

Quinnell Because his dad is. If you... I'll send you the paper.

Female reporter: His dad is Muslim His dad was Muslim. Barack Obama has never been a Muslim.

Quinnell: No but he's....

Dana Bash of CNN: He's a Christian.

Quinnell: He's not an Arab either, he's a --

Bash: His father was Muslim, and he's a Christian.

Quinnell: Yeah, but he's still got Muslim in him. So that's still part of him. I got all the stuff from the library and I could send you all kinds of stuff on him. In fact....

Bash: What did you think about McCain said. He said he's a decent person.

Quinnell: Well he did have didn't have (unintelligible)... I think McCain wanted to (unintelligible) I don't think he wanted to say anything against him. You know he didn't want to cut him down. That was my way of thinking. I don't think he wanted to cut him down. So he just kind of brushed me off.

Reporter: Plus he criticizes Barack Obama plenty himself, so why wouldn't he do it now?

Quinnell: Well I probably brought up something that he didn't want to talk about.

Reporter: Do you think John McCain thinks that he's Arab? Do you think he knows this stuff that you're saying you know is fact?

Quinnell: I don't know. I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want to bring it up then. I don't know why. Is there some way I can get to you more information.

Bash: Can you wait for me for like five more minutes?

Quinnell: Yeah.

Bash: I want to an interview on camera. Our camera team is occupied right now. What's your name?

Quinnell: Gayle Quinnell (Spells name again)

Bash: In case I lose you, you don't have a cell phone do you?

Quinnell: No I wish I had it on me but I don't.

Bash: See the pretty lady over there with red hair? That's our camera. As soon as she's done , we'll be over there Ok

Reporter: What was your reaction when Senator McCain backed away

Quinnell: What was my reaction? Well when he didn't want to talk about it...

Comments

[picval]

I'm so embarresed to be from Minnesota. We do have a lot of Crazy's, but she takes the cake. She must be another well read Republican. She doesn't know the difference between a person from a Arab Country and an African Country. I Feel that she shows how Dangerous The Far Right has become.

[siciliabel]

Gayle Quinnell note to self: Must remember not to put my lower plate with my tolerance. I can never find either one when I need them.

[poetryofpersuasion]

Part of it is just her age, I'm afraid. There are plenty of people raised in her era that have risen above what they were taught, but unfortunately there are plenty who just can't abandon the prejudice instilled in them from a young age. I've seen it in my own family. The good news is that it does get better with each generation, even if they are trying to teach the same old bigotry to their children--teachers, tv, and others influence the children, too, so the parents' bigotry doesn't always transfer over, and even if it does, it is often at least a lesser degree in the children. If we all keep working on it and trying to teach our own children to ignore idiotic claptrap like this woman is spouting, we will eventually win out (well, for the most part--I think some idiocy will always survive, no matter what we do.)

I am just thankful that it looks like enough people are using their brains, paying attention, and planning to vote Obama instead of McSame. Honestly, after 8 years of a steadily declining economy that has already become a worldwide disaster, how can anyone even consider voting Republican again?

[kpo718]

To: John McCain
From: Barack Obama
Re: That Crazy Old Lady In The Video

Dear John:

You can have her.

Sincerely,

Barack

[LRM216]

Unfortunately, many people of her age group do in fact think like she does. My own mother (84) was raised in a republican home and it's almost impossible to discuss politics with her. When I turned 18 and registered to vote, I was adamant about registering as an Independent. Heck, there was an actual fist fight in a nursing home yesterday - a nursing home!!!! When it comes to the old folks - there just doesn't seem to be too much flexibility in their thinking or their opinions.

[larmarch5]

Oh, good grief, we all have these "Aunt Betties" and "Uncle Archies" in our families. Mine is loaded with them, sending lying e-mails right after sticky sweek Christian angles and soldiers emails. I hit the "reply all" button on the lies and give the "uninformed citizens" links to the truth. Now all but one obnoxious alumni of a christian boarding school my husband attended have stopped sending the lies -- to me. As a Christian I am really disturbed that other Christians spread lies. How can one be a person of faith and a bigot? Yikes.

[RobinL]

Thanks for this. I'm Christian, too, and think these people are the antithesis of those teachings. I don't know how they square it with concepts such as tolerance, love and forgiveness. They don't represent those teachings to me.

[ilpostino]

"How can one be a person of faith and a bigot?"

Are you kidding me? I was raised Catholic and am in my mid-50s. Bigotry and being of the faith go hand in hand; I was instructed by my grade school teachers to steer clear of non-Catholic schools and churches because they 'housed Satan'. I kid you not.

Look at the news... for example, here is one item that caught my eye just today, about the imminent collapse of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre unless some repairs are effected pronto.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4944164.ece
Apparently several "Christian" orders of monks share rights to this holiest of places and have been bickering over it since the 1700s...th­at's over 300 years folks.

The more I read about the founding of Christianity and the ensuing bloodletting, the more repulsed I get. Watch the documentary "Constantine's Sword" http://constantinessword.com/ and you will understand what really happened when the 'soldiers of Christ' gained power.

[Phil Waste]

It shouldn’t shock you that the religionist would believe the most outrages things told them as they have believed their Pastors lies for their entire lifetimes. Adding a few more outrages lies doesn’t trigger their truth alarms as their minds are ready to accept what they are told if it comes from their authority figures in their churches. They just don’t have the ability to discern truth and reality from fiction.

[LRM216]

They are all mere sheep following the herd. I have some dear friends I would describe as sheep, and due to their religious beliefs and devotion to same, I oftetimes wish I could throttle them. Only opinions they hold are what they have been taught and made to believe. I am a Christian, I am spiritual, but I am no longer church-taught religious.

[shirleen01]

It'sso sad but some people just can't seem to get pass color as if this is their world.

[spage71]

Unfortunately, Ms Quinnell never answered the question. She did the "Palin" beat around the bush.

[icposse2000]

The whole interview strikes me as sad more than anything else. She's willing to admit that he's not an Arab, but she is hung up on the fact that her father is Muslim. I've never understood why religious people get so worked up about people who are equally religious but from other faiths. Maybe they see an alternate religion as an attack on their entire worldview, idk. Either way, it's sad that she can't realize that someone brought up by his mother in the U.S. may not be Muslim at all...and that even if he was that the vast vast majority of Muslims are good people and not to be feared.

Fortunately for Obama, her nationally publicized bit of xenophobia only served to reveal the 'low road' that McCain and Co. have been taking over the past weeks. Polls are showing that voters recognize this for what it is (baseless personal attacks) and are NOT impressed. The more McCain tries to shore up his conservative base, the more he drives moderates to Obama.

[bronceye]

We should be understanding of this ladies opinions. While they are wrong, she has reached those opinions through a logical process. We are raised to trust and believe in our leaders. Mosy people don't have the time to research the political process as do I and many other "junkies" of cable news. The problem here lies in those that we are conditioned to blindly believe in. This violation of trust by the GOP is just as vile as their pick for vp. What will the secret service do with a spouse who is a card carrying member of a secessionist party? Who will go to those "adult" stores to purchase her stilleto go-go boots for her? The Goebbells-like network of repube mis and dis information needs to be confronted and placed under the scrutiny of the non American activities committee. It's a mockery of Americanism. Repubes should be ashamed. This seems to be a very decent lady who has made some logical conclusions based on the evidence provided her.

[smoovejef]

Logic would have caused her to research independently. People have the time, they just choose not to because its less bothersome. We are, to my knowledge, the highest form of intelligence on this planet because of our thought processes. The information was as available to her as it was to you. She didn't look; that is a choice.

[olderwhiiteman]

It's not only the GOP leaders who violate the trust...so many Christians never study the Bible for themselves­...just blindly accept what their blind leaders tell them...jus­t look at the garbage produced by Lehay and Jenkins (Dobson and his crowd too)... that they take as truth...le­mmings! It was the religious leaders who combined with a corrupt government that crucified Christ...h­istory is there for the reading.

[JessicasVoice]

We are going to become just like the Middle East. A bunch of different groups that cannot get along.
What happen to honesty, integrity and working in the interest of all people and for the common good? Was that a dillussion?

It seems everyone these days is willing to lie, cheat, steal and spin to get what they want.
Wall Street did it, Banks did it, CEO's do it to their investors, Politicians do it to get their job back,
Consumers do it to avoid taxes and even kids do it to get their way. What happened? The dumbing down of America has really got us in a mess.

More Education, More Accountability, More Honesty. All starts at home. My Grandmother would be appalled at peoples willingness to lie. Honesty is my most sacred trait and I stand on my integrity in everything I do. Even when honesty is the hard road to take!

[leftintheoven]

"Yeah, but he's still got Muslim in him. So that's still part of him." . . . . . . . BRILLIANT!!

God (or Muhammed, or Allah et. al.) help us.

[Lemeritus]

I've never been to Shakopee -- it isn't on my beaten path to anywhere -- so I did a little research. It's about 23 miles SE of Minneapolis, home to about 20,000 people, and was founded in 1857. The median income is $69,000 (seems like these folks are doing okay), the median age is 31.5, and it's almost 90% white. In 2000, there were 2 murders, 18 robberies and 150 stolen cars. While not exactly Mayberry, t'would seem that Shakopee is a pleasant little place that people like Gayle Quinnell would like to place in a sno-glob lest anything "different" assail its pleasantry. At 75, it should be easy to understand her dread of losing the familiar and comfortable -- it does not, however, make her intransigent myopia and bigotry any more palatable. It's comforting to know that, in spite of Mrs. Quinnell's heroic efforts at Kinko's, Obama enjoys an 8.7 point lead in Minnesota.

That said, my best to Mrs. Quinnell and her kin.

[smoovejef]

Touche'

[Phil Waste]

I certainly expect a quick follow up from these reporters with a copy of the letter she spoke of and I expect it d a m n quick. It needs to be spread all over the news as an example of the lies and fear the Republicans are spreading amongst our seniors.

[Susej]

It's easy for some people to hate, because they are predisposed to. And they know the current climate condones.