McCain "Categorically" Proud of Hateful Rally Attendees

"Traitor!"  "A terrorist!"  "Off with his head!"  "Bomb Obama!"

Those are just some of the hateful, bigoted, xenophobic, cries that have been spewed at McCain-Palin rallies in recent weeks.  We can hear these cries loud and clear, and so can McCain, even though he chooses to ignore them.  Until now, both he and his running mate have remained silent, providing tacit approval for a growing atmosphere of violence along the campaign trail. 

Even when confronted directly about this damnable inflammatory rhetoric, McCain weasels his way out of any accountability.  During last night's presidential debate, McCain said he was "categorically" proud of the people who attend his rallies.  He looked twitchingly into the camera and lied, claiming he has always repudiated any "out of bounds remarks" made by Republicans.  Except when his own Virginia state GOP chairman Jeffrey Frederick gave explicit directions to canvassers to link Obama with bin Laden.  Except when someone referred to Obama at a Palin rally in Scranton, PA, by shouting "Kill him!" And except when the Sacramento County Republican Party likened Obama to bin Laden, telling people to "Waterboard Barack Obama."

Instead of directly addressing the incendiary remarks, McCain tried to take offense.  He brought up the offensive shirts seen at Obama rallies, presumably the ones that read: "Sarah Palin is a c*nt" -- ironic, considering McCain once referred to his wife using the same word.  He also cited the recent comments of Rep. John Lewis, the Civil Rights leader and Georgia congressman who compared the atmosphere at McCain-Palin events with those of former segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace.  Yes, Lewis's comments were harsh -- and Obama called them inappropriate -- but his comparison was actually apt:

"George Wallace never threw a bomb.  He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."

Lewis, of course, is not the issue here.  How dare McCain hide behind this relatively minor affront when things have gotten so dangerously out of hand at his own campaign rallies that the secret service has had to intervene and investigate.

What's it going to take for McCain and Palin to stop offering up to their crowds "the red meat of hate," to quote conservative author and former McCain supporter Frank Schaeffer?  What's it going to take to end the fearmongering and race-baiting that McCain and Palin have allowed and even contributed to at their rallies?  Watch the latest Brave New Films video and sign the open letter calling on McCain and Palin to end the politics of hate.  

Comments

[TexasMom]

I actually feel sorry for the Republicans who aren't racist hate-mongers because their whole party is going to be so identified with this "stuff" after this election. My humble advice to deal with the rage caused by these articles and the back to the bad old days behavior observed across America since one of the campaigns decided to "turn the page on the economy" is to go to stop by your local Obama office or go to their website and volunteer to make sure we have the largest voter turnout ever.

The thing I just can't get is the attempts at voter suppression. How can a person truly believe in democracy and then think it's not a good thing to have as much participation as possible? Rhetorical question, guys, let me live in my naivete and don't spell it out for me.

[The Lorax]

It takes a lot for me to really hate. And I HATE what I see and hear here. If ANYTHING happens to our next president, Barack Obama, of any of his family, we know whose hands the blood is on. This is sickening. I just can't even really put it all into words. I just, I freaking don't know how to sum it up, especially in ways that will pass mods here. I... ? I think I need to go outside and scream a SECOND time today, the first being from the donkey watermelon ads about Obama. Geez, how sick and hateful does one have to be to become president? I thought people at these rallies were supposed to have morals? GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I just am to mad to express myself clearly! !%#$WT%W@%TW% And that doesn't happen often!

[lovable]

as long as hehas fox news/ mika/ morning joe/ and the few conservatives left who will honor him on tv then mccain has no reason to be concerned.

when he goes on morning joe mika just lights up so much it is sad to see it. i expect it from fox. does anyone have joe or mika email?

[jade7243]

In the crowd at the McCain-Palin rallies, you see children of all ages. And ... they absorb what their parents are saying -- or screaming. And once those thoughts and feelings are unleashed, their effects are far graver than the momentary "rush" these people get cheering for their candidate.

John Lewis -- and all of the other people who called out McCain and Palin for their rhetoric -- was right to do so. Again, Lewis didn't call McCain a racist (or play the race card) or compare him to George Wallace, but just wanted to remind McCain -- and all of us watching -- how easy it is to go from "rah-rah" to riot.

If you have the stomach for it (and it can be very disturbing), study the photos of lynch mobs. Not for the torture of the poor man or woman who is the target of the violence, but for the faces of those on the periphery. They do not look shocked. Instead it is the sweaty excitement, the smug self-satisfaction, and in some, the outright glee. Their hands may be clean of the horrific deeds, but their hearts and minds are just as tainted and guilty.

John McCain should study those pictures, but John McCain just doesn't get it.

Read it all at http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/jade7243/2008/10/on-mccain-and-the-dangerous-rh.php

[AlsoSarah]

I find it frightening that some Americans find the McCain/Palin ticket considerable. I have seen the McCain rallys. Any reasonable or thinking person should be concerned. The McCain/Palin campaign has been hate mongering deliberately to gain ground. I remember the racisim of the 60's and frankly, this isn't too far from it. When will they bring out the sheets? And will McCain declare he is proud of his brotheren?

[BarackMarley]

Here's some more good footage of the McCain/Palin hate rallies

McCain Palin Hate-Fest
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/more-mccain-palin-hate-festvideo/

Inside the McCain Palin Mob
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/inside-the-mccain-palin-mob/

[milo h minderbinder]

McCain really blew it last night with his whining about t-shirts at obama rallies and insisting that they are comparable to people yelling things like "kill him".

He came off as a whiner as well as a guy who can't make up his mind if he endorses his hateful supporters or not.

[PeepingTom]

I was astounded when McCain responded to the issue of hate speech by saying he's proud of his supporters - the very ones who promote hate speech. I can't believe he doesn't see similarities in the church bombing and his own campaign, which is inciting just such behavior.

Mr. McCain: You are too racially ignorant to realize it, but this is how a riot begins. It starts when crowds get warmed up, then riled up. When their leaders don't tell them to stop, it's like a green light to keep going. No one tells them "no" and they become spoiled, thinking they can do anything they want, and break the law, because their leaders haven't told them to stop.

If something happens, it will be McCain's fault. McCain is a disgrace to America. His POW status means nothing anymore. At this point, he has done a greater disservice to America by encouraging racism, than any good he did serving in the war.

[sticksnstones]

Well, ya know it's like ol' John said. If Sen. Obama had just agreed to a few dozen rigged audience town halls, then all the pallin - around - with - terrorists stuff would have been unnecessary. So, it's all Sen. Obama's fault. Makes sense to me. That's just the kind of unmuddled thinking we're all looking for in a man who will be within reach of the red button. John's negotiation skills, his world view, and his even temper will guide this ship of state into the 21st century. He says he knows how to do that.
I'll take my chances with Senator Obama. Ol' John is a nuclear war looking for a place to play.