Posts with the tag racism

Racism and Hate at McCain/Palin Rally in Pottsville, Pennsylvania

Mark C. Eades — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:39:34 EDT

A new video posted to Youtube shows McCain/Palin supporters spewing racism and hate at peaceful pro-Obama demonstrators outside a McCain/Palin rally Oct. 27 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. One older gentleman early in the video shouts "Bomb Obama!" at the videographer and Obama supporters. Asked by the videographer what that means, the man says, "Get rid of him," then gestures indicating this means assassinating Obama. A younger man holding a "Democrats for McCain" sign says, when asked why he supports McCain, "I'd never vote for a black man." Another young man declares, "I do not want a black man running my country." Among women at the rally, one says she is against Obama because "his associations and his judgment are not American," repeating the Obama-as-foreigner meme. Another older gentleman also repeats this idea, insisting that Obama was born in Kenya, not the United States, and asking for his birth certificate (ample proof exists that Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii). Other rallygoers shout various combinations of "Barack Hussein Obama" in addition to the usual charges that Obama is a "terrorist" and a "baby killer." If we needed more proof that racism and hate are indeed running rampant in the grassroots Republican ranks, this is it. The video is credited to the Pennsylvania progressive organization Keystone Progress.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

More Anti-Obama Hate at Palin Rally outside Las Vegas

Mark C. Eades — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:02:11 EDT

The scene following a Sarah Palin rally Oct. 21 outside Las Vegas turned ugly when departing McCain/Palin supporters confronted a small group of peaceful pro-Obama demonstrators. Video from the Las Vegas Sun shows McCain/Palin supporters in Henderson NV shouting, "Vote McCain, Not Hussein!" at Obama supporters in addition to more overtly race-based taunts including nonsensical charges that Obama either is an Arab or has dangerous ties to Arabs. One woman shouts: "This country needs to wake up! Obama is dangerous! This man is a tyrant to this country. I mean, he has connections to Arabs! His education was paid for by Arabs! He's an abomination!" A man says: "Yes, I am a racist.... Those Arabs are dirtbags. They're dirty people, they hate Americans, they hate my kids, they hate my grandkids." More video from the Henderson event at Youtube includes the usual shouts of "Terrorist!", "Communist!", and "Anti-American!" at the small group of Obama supporters in addition to two men shouting: "No Arabs in the White House!" while the Obama supporters sing "Why can't we be friends?" An additional video at Youtube includes one man shouting "Dope and loose change!" at Obama supporters and a woman shouting: "Barack Hussein Obama! Barack Hussein, he associates with terrorists...! He is anti-American, he is anti-military, he has done nothing for Chicago, his middle name is a terrorist name, he takes money from terrorists, he associates with terrorists!" These video records from Henderson NV are only the latest in a growing library of similar material from McCain/Palin events across the United States, illustrating a disturbing pattern of hate-based behavior at these events that seems to be intensifying as Election Day nears.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

McCain/Palin Volunteer Admits Attack Hoax, Race-Baiting Attempt Exposed

Mark C. Eades — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:43:05 EDT

McCain/Palin campaign volunteer Ashley Todd of College Station, Texas, has admitted to police in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that her report of a mutilation attack there by an Obama supporter was a hoax. In an apparent attempt at race-baiting to draw white voters away from Obama, Todd initially told police that she was robbed at an ATM the night of Oct. 22 by a tall black man who became enraged, beat her, and carved a "B" into her cheek after seeing a McCain-Palin bumper sticker on her car. Todd said the man told her he was going to teach her a lesson for supporting McCain, and that now she was going to be a "Barack supporter."

Police later said, however, that details of Todd's story kept changing, prompting them to give her a polygraph test. Other problem in Todd's story included the fact that the "B" scratched onto her cheek was reversed as though done in a mirror by Todd herself, and the absence of any video surveillance or bank records verifying her claim of having carried out an ATM transaction immediately prior to the alleged attack. Finally today (Oct. 24), Todd confessed to police that the attack never happened, indicating that her wounds were self-inflicted. Todd is now facing charges for filing a false report to police (see AP, KDKA, Huffington Post).

An incident such as this is exactly what I would have expected from the grotesque circus the McCain campaign has become particularly since the arrival of Sarah Palin. McCain/Palin rallies, and particularly Palin rallies, have turned into festivals of hate as attendees shout "Terrorist!" and "Kill Him!" at each mention of Obama's name and vent their rage at the media by attacking reporters. An obvious wingnut, willing to use racist tactics in a sick attempt to make white voters nervous about Obama, Ashley Todd is precisely the type of personality I would expect to be drawn to Palin. Indeed it isn't hard to imagine the 20-year-old Todd as a younger, less fortunate mirror image of Palin herself, and I wouldn't be surprised if Todd identified personally with Palin in ways a psychoanalyst would find fascinating. Her willingnes to mutilate herself suggests anything but good mental health, and the pathological feelings about African Americans her actions reveal put her in good company with the other crazies we have seen turning up at Palin events.

Fox News executive vice-president John Moody wrote hopefully in his blog earlier today that "if Ms. Todd’s allegations are proven accurate, some voters may revisit their support for Senator Obama, not because they are racists..., but because they suddenly feel they do not know enough about the Democratic nominee." On the other hand, Moody observes not so hopefully, "if the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain’s quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting."

Unfortunately for Mr. Moody and Sen. McCain, the latter would seem to be the case.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

New Mexico Republican Women's Leader Calls Obama "A Muslim Socialist"

Mark C. Eades — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:11:23 EDT

Marcia Stirman (pictured here), head of the Republican Women of Otero County, New Mexico, published a letter in the Alamagordo Daily News Oct. 21 stating her belief that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is "a Muslim socialist." The letter listed Stirman's reasons for being a Republican, including her belief that "Muslims are our enemies," and concluding with her belief that Obama is "a Muslim socialist."

In fact, as most Americans know full well, Obama is neither a Muslim nor a socialist. Ms. Stirman is obviously an ignorant bigot.

Interviewed by the Associated Press following the publication of her letter, Stirman said of Muslims: "I don't trust them at all. They've sworn across the world that they are our enemies. Why we're trying to elect one is beside me." Sassy Tinling, chair of the Otero County Republican Party, said Wednesday that Stirman would be asked to resign from her position as head of the Republican women's group. Stirman herself has stood by her remarks and has offered no apology to any who might have been offended.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said of Stirman's statements: "Because these hate-filled remarks were made by a prominent Republican, it is incumbent on state and national GOP officials to repudiate her divisive and intolerant views." Stirman remained unapologetic, however, as she expressed in the Las Cruces Sun News: "I still have freedom of speech and an opinion. If the Islamic group doesn't like it, well, I don't like what's going on in their camp, either."

Stirman is an interior decorator with Artistic Interior Solutions, 1702 23rd St., Alamogordo NM 88310. Comments may be directed to Stirman by e-mail at mstirman@yahoo.com or by telephone at (575) 437-9362.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

McCain/Palin Supporters Slash Tires and Heckle Early Voters in North Carolina

Mark C. Eades — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:54:13 EDT

Attendees at a Barack Obama rally Oct. 19 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, had their tires slashed apparently by supporters of John McCain and Sarah Palin. Following the rally, early Obama voters were heckled by McCain/Palin supporters outside at least one polling place in Fayetteville.

According to the Fayetteville Observer, some person or persons unknown slashed the tires of at least 30 vehicles parked outside Fayetteville's Crown Coliseum during the Oct. 19 Obama rally, leaving attendees including a single mother and her baby stranded and upset. At least four tow trucks had to be called for stranded vehicles at a cost upwards of $100 for each vehicle. One Obama supporter quoted in this report expressed the belief that the slashed tires were an effort to intimidate her and others like her, but insisted that she wouldn't be deterred from supporting Obama.

Following the rally, Obama supporters taking advantage of early voting were met by hecklers outside at least one Fayettevile polling place. Unlike the anonymous tire-slashers of earlier in the day, the hecklers outside this polling place left no doubt as to who they were and why they were there. As shown in two videos posted to the Washington Times, many of the hecklers were holding McCain/Palin campaign signs; and all were white while most of the voters they were heckling were black. Reporter Christina Bellantoni described the McCain/Palin forces here as "a group of loud and angry protesters who shouted and mocked the voters as they walked in" to vote, their shouts including the usual claims that Obama is a "socialist" or a "terrorist," and even that the voters themselves were "cheaters."

A report by the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham NC suggests that the heckling incident may be a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1964, which states: "No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote, or intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for urging or aiding any person to vote or attempt to vote."

John McCain and Sarah Palin did not tell their supporters to slash the tires of Obama supporters or to heckle voters at a polling place. In view of their continued insistence on the use of fear and hate to manipulate voters, however, and in view of the similar types of hate-based behavior we have seen at McCain/Palin rallies across the United States, I would argue that McCain, Palin, and the GOP are as responsible for these acts as the perpetrators themselves. McCain and Palin need to be held accountable for the lynch-mob mentality they have knowingly cultivated among their supporters with their own divisive rhetoric.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

Vandalism, Hate Calls, Threats Hit ACORN Following McCain/Palin Attacks

Mark C. Eades — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:43:51 EDT

The McCain/Palin campaign of hate and fear against Barack Obama, and its attempts to tie Obama to alleged vote fraud by ACORN, have resulted in a string of attacks on ACORN offices and staff including vandalism, hate calls, and at least one death threat.

As McClatchy reports, ACORN offices in Boston and Seattle were vandalized Oct. 16, and ACORN staff in Cleveland and Providence RI have reported telephone hate calls as well as e-mails including direct threats. A senior ACORN staffer in Cleveland, after appearing on television last week, received an e-mail saying that she "is going to have her life ended." Meanwhile, a female staffer in Providence received a threatening call from someone who directed racial slurs at her and said words to the effect of "We know you get off work at 9."

ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring told McClatchy that, since McCain's remarks accusing his organization of vote fraud, ACORN's 87 offices across the country have received hundreds of hostile e-mails, many of them containing racial slurs. "We believe that these are specifically McCain supporters" sending the messages, Kettenring said.

Right Wing Watch has obtained audio files of hate calls ACORN has received as well as copies of e-mails including threats and racial slurs. One young woman caller openly states that Barack Obama and other blacks should be lynched: "Barack Obama needs to get hung...," the young woman says, "...All the niggers on oak trees. They're gonna get all hung, honeys, they're gonna get assassinated, they're gonna get killed." A male caller, meanwhile suggests with obvious racial undertones that all "liberals" are "welfare bums" who "come to our country, consume every natural resource there is, and make a lot of babies." Accusing these "liberals" of sucking up welfare and health care benefits for their children, the caller continues: "I just say let your kids die.... And I hope you all die." In addition to the e-mail death threat from Cleveland cited above, an e-mail copied at Right Wing Watch says: "You blue gums are not going to steal the election. All of you porch monkeys need to go back to Africa."

As Rachel Maddow and others have reported and as ACORN itself has explained, any cases of voter registration fraud connected to ACORN are most likely attributable to dishonesty on the part of people hired by ACORN to register voters (it's easier to fake registrations than go out and get real ones) rather than any dark conspiracy on the part of ACORN itself; and in any case is unlikely to result in actual voter fraud since fictional people are unlikely to show up on Election Day. As Maddow and others have also reported, Obama's only relationship to ACORN was as an attorney in partnership with the US Justice Department and the League of Women Voters in addition to ACORN to sue the State of Illinois for enforcement of the 1993 federal "motor voter" registration law.

John McCain, meanwhile, has his own links to ACORN as Maddow and others have also noted. McCain was in fact the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored event in Miami on Feb. 20, 2006 in support of comprehensive immigration reform, which McCain once supported. A video of the event including McCain's address clearly demonstrates McCain's support for ACORN's objectives at that time: "What makes America special...," McCain's declares to an audience filled with with red-shirted ACORN members, "...is what's in this room tonight" (see also Politico, MarketWatch).

The Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) is an organization dedicated to empowering low- and moderate-income Americans through voter registration drives, ballot initiatives, service delivery, and other organizing efforts. ACORN is not the sinister cell of subversives John McCain, Sarah Palin, and other Republicans have accused it of being. In fact, ACORN has frequently been on the same side as the federal government in voters' rights cases such as that in which Barack Obama was involved as an attorney-at-law.

Republican attacks on ACORN have nothing to do with voter fraud, and everything to do with smearing Barack Obama and with finding ways to stop likely Democrats from voting. These Republican attacks are nothing more than a grand voter intimidation scheme aimed at young voters, low- and moderate-income voters, urban voters and people of color who would most likely be voting Democratic on Nov. 4.

John McCain and Sarah Palin did not tell their supporters to vandalize ACORN offices or contact ACORN with death threats. In view of their continued insistence on the use of fear and hate to manipulate voters, however, and in view of the similar types of hate-based behavior we have seen at McCain/Palin rallies across the United States, I would argue that McCain, Palin, and the GOP are as responsible for these acts as the perpetrators themselves. McCain and Palin need to be held accountable for the lynch-mob mentality they have knowingly cultivated among their supporters with their own divisive rhetoric.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

California Republicans in Hot Water for Hate-Based Attacks on Obama

Mark C. Eades — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:39:07 EDT

Republicans across the United States are getting into a lot of hot water these days for hate-based attacks on Barack Obama, and "tolerant" California is no exception. Earlier this week, the Sacramento County Republican Party and its chair, attorney Craig S. MacGlashan, caught some well-deserved flack for posting anti-Obama materials on the county GOP website including a call to "Waterboard Barack Obama" and a statement equating Obama with terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Having removed the materials Oct. 14 in the face of sharp criticism from Republicans as well as Democrats, MacGlashan later found it necessary to apologize for the materials even as local Republicans called for his resignation. MacGlashan's wife, a Sacramento County supervisor, also condemned the materials, calling them "hateful, stupid and offensive."

Following these events in Sacramento another instance of hate-based Republican attacks on Obama was reported Oct. 16 in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles. Here, an organization of Republican women circulated a newsletter including a depiction of Barack Obama on a US food stamp surrounded by a watermelon, ribs, and a bucket of fried chicken (pictured here). Diane Fedele, president of Chaffey Community Republican Women Federated, was also forced to apologize for the picture but denied any racist intent despite the obvious racial stereotypes included in it. As in the Sacramento case, state Republican officials were forced to condemn and disavow the San Bernardino attack.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Republicans could get away with hate campaigns like this, particularly on the local level free of national attention. Thanks to the internet, those days are gone.

Craig S. MacGlashan is an attorney with the Sacramento law firm of Nageley, Meredith, and Miller (8001 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento CA 95826). The firm can can be contacted by telephone at (916) 386-8282 or by e-mail at mail@NMLawFirm.com. MacGlashan may be directly contacted for comment by telephone at the same number or by e-mail at cmacglashan@nmlawfirm.com. MacGlashan sits also on the board of directors of the Saramento Valley Lincoln Club, a conservative political action committee, and is married to Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan.

Diane Fedele and the Chaffey Community Republican Women Federated may be contacted by e-mail at diane1354@mindspring.com and diane1354@verizon.net, by telephone at (909) 981-0493, by fax at (909) 982-6880, or by mail at P.O. Box 974, Upland CA 91785. Chaffey Community Republican Women Federated meet the fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:00 p.m., at the Magic Lamp Inn, 8189 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

Al-Jazeera Report Highlights Racial Tension in US Presidential Election

Mark C. Eades — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:36:04 EDT

A recent video report from Qatar-based news network Al-Jazeera highlights racial tension in the US presidential election through interviews with McCain/Palin supporters at a Sarah Palin rally Oct. 12 in the rural southeastern Ohio town of St. Clairsville.

The comments provided to Al-Jazeera US correspondent Casey Kaufman were as shockingly ignorant and hostile as anything we have seen in videos from McCain/Palin events around the country. "I'm afraid if he wins, the blacks will take over...," says one woman, "...He's not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our culture gonna end up like?" Others in the video repeat this woman's false assertion on Obama's religion, insisting that Obama is a Muslim despite the well-known fact that he is indeed a churchgoing Christian. Others in the video insist that Obama is either a relative, a friend, or a supporter of terrorists. Still others arewere more frankly racist in their comments about Obama. "When you got a nigger running for president, he ain't a first stringer...," one man says, "...He's definately a second stringer." While one woman expresses a fear that Obama and his wife might be secretly "anti-white," another woman says of Obama: "I don't like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash.... Because we're not!" There is of course nothing in Obama's history to suggest that any of these things are true of him, but that doesn't seem to stop these people believing them nonetheless.

Kaufman also speaks with an Obama supporter peacefully demonstrating outside the rally with a small group of friends. The young man details the verbal abuse he has received from his neighbors due to his support for Obama, and reveals his fear that "some of these people might try to hurt Obama."

Palin's own speech at the St. Clairsville rally was no less divisive than the comments of her supporters, as CNN observes. "We know who the good guys are...," Palin said as she spoke on the threat of terrorism, "...We know who the bad guys are." At the mention of "bad guys," the crowd shouted, "Obama!" Palin continued: "Those who sympathize and support those terrorists who would seek to destroy all that it is that we value, those are the bad guys, OK?" On Planet Palin, that of course means the scary black guy with the funny name.

If John McCain has dragged his presidential campaign into the mud, Sarah Palin has dragged it into the sewer.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

Tell John McCain to End the Politics of Hate: Video and Petition from Brave New Films

Mark C. Eades — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:23:24 EDT

Brave New Films and The Real McCain have released a new video and petition calling on the McCain/Palin campaign to end the politics of hate. The video contains material from recent McCain/Palin events including accusations that Obama is a traitor, a terrorist, and a secret Muslim, as well as openly racist attacks on Obama such as a stuffed monkey doll with an Obama sticker on its head carried by a man at a McCain/Palin rally in Pennsylvania. The video and petitition also hold John McCain and Sarah Palin directly responsible for these and similar occurences at Republican campaign events, noting that they have frequently been provoked by the candidates' own statements and that the candidates have done little to discourage such behavior. The petition, signed thus far by nearly 27,000 people, calls on McCain and Palin to tone down the rhetoric of their campaign and to demand that their supporters do likewise. Brave New Films includes links to recent media reports on the hate-filled McCain/Palin campaign and the consequences of its behavior for the Republican Party and American democracy. The danger that such behavior may lead to acts of violence is also explored.

Democrats, Republicans, and all concerned parties are encouraged to watch the video and sign the petition. All are also encouraged to watch the appearance of filmmaker Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films this Thursday on The Colbert Report.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

McCain Forced to Fire Virginia County Chair Following Racist Newspaper Attack on Obama

Mark C. Eades — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:38:58 EDT

The John McCain campaign has been forced to fire its campaign chair in Buchanan County, Virginia, following his publication of a racist newspaper attack on Barack Obama. Bobby May, pictured here, who has also served as treasurer and correspondence secretary of the Buchanan County Republican Party, recently penned a column containing an overtly racist attack against Barack Obama for a local newspaper, The Voice, which lists Mr. May among its columnists. May's column contained a number of inflammatory charges against Obama, including the following on Obama's plans for America if elected:

"FREEDOM OF RELIGION: Mandatory Black Liberation Theology classes taught in all churches - raise taxes to pay for this mandate. Put Rev. Jeremiah Wright in charge...."

"DRUG CRISIS: Raise taxes to pay for free drugs for Obama’s inner-city political base...."

"2ND AMENDMENT: Under Obama will only apply to gang-bangers, illegal aliens, Islamo-Fascist terrorists, and Senator Jim Webb’s aide...."

"FOREIGN RELATIONS: Appoint Rev. Al Sharpton as Secretary of State, Jesse Jackson as UN Representative, and let Bill Clinton handle all other "foreign relations" ... As long as Hillary doesn't find out...!"

"THE WHITE HOUSE: Hire rapper Ludacris to “paint it black.” Taxes to be increased to buy enough paint for the job plus spray-paint for graffiti...."

"THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES: Raise taxes to send $845 billion, most of it to Africa so the Obama family there can skim off enough for them to free their goats and live the American Dream...."

"NATIONAL ANTHEM: Change to the "Black National Anthem" by James Weldon Johnson...."

"US CURRENCY: Update photos to reflect US diversity; include pictures of "great Americans" such as Oprah Winfrey, Ludacris, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Paris Hilton, and Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson (Obama's new Secretary of the Treasury - 50 Cent refused position after learning that he would lose his crazy check if he accepted the nomination)...."

"US FLAG: Replace 50 stars with a star and crescent logo; red stripes changed to green to represent Obama’s tree-hugging radical environmentalism and his lack of experience. Flag lapel pins, having become a substitute for "real patriotism," will henceforth be banned...."

At the end of his column Mr. May challenged Obama to meet him on "County Talk," a Friday morning talk show on radio station WMJD 100.7 in Grundy, Virginia. Mr. May seems quite the local mover and shaker in Buchanan County Republican circles: In addition to his work with The Voice and WMJD, May has appeared in the Virginia Mountaineer with other local Republican leaders. Mr. May's photo above was cropped from a larger photo of him here with GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, formerly posted at the Buchanan County Republican Party's website, now purged from that site but heroically rescued from oblivion and posted at the Daily Kos with news of May's dismissal from Team McCain. According to the Daily Kos, Mr. May also provides the advertising specialties for Virginia congressman Virgil Goode, currently seeking re-election and noted for his opposition to Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison's taking the oath of office on the Quran rather than the Bible. Here is a photo of May with Buchanan County GOP leaders from a March 2006 edition of the Virginia Mountaineer:

GOP MEMBERS elected Saturday [3/25/06] were, from left (front), Delores Childress, treasurer; Leona Ratliff, recording secretary; Harriett McClanahan, second vice chairman; Jerry Lester, chairman; David Lowe, first vice chairman; and (back) Bobby May, corresponding secretary; and Bobby Hall, parliamentarian.
(Photo/Tucker Davis)

First noted in a Los Angeles Times political blog, Mr. May's story spread via blogs such as the Daily Kos (including this blog: see Oct. 5 below). May's dismissal from the campaign was finally noted by Keith Olbermann on the Oct. 8 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, when Olbermann named Mr. May "Worst Person in the World" for his racist attack on Obama (see video). Meanwhile, the Buchanan County Republican Party's website, which contained material by or about Mr. May throughout its pages when I previously looked (including the photo with Bob McDonnell above), has at time of this writing been taken offline as references to and photos of him are presumably being purged, Mr. May himself presumably expelled, any potential career for him in politics presumably ended. Like Trotsky in Stalin's USSR, Mr. May will now be airbrushed out of photos with prominent Republicans like Bob McDonnell. Wild!

The bigot Bobby May has been fired from his GOP campaign job and crowned Worst Person in the World as he deserves, John McCain has taken another notable hit in return for the overwhelmingly negative and "racially tinged" campaign he and Sarah Palin have been waging against Obama, and a county Republican website in Virginia has been forced offline. I call this a score.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

Is the democratic leadership listening?

Democrat in New York, NY — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:58:42 EDT

I was struck by what I read in the wapo this morning about how the McCain campaign is riling their crowds into a frenzy to the point where they have started screaming obscenities at African American reporters and at Obama himself. However, I don't see any democrats mentioning this ugliness on the mainstream media. Where are our attack dogs? Where are the Democratic attack dogs? Where is the democratic leadership during this very very important time? I would like to implore the leadership to go out there and attack McCain for being a racist pig!

Racist Newspaper Attack on Obama by Virginia Republican

Mark C. Eades — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:15:51 EDT

The shameless bigot you see pictured at right is Bobby May, McCain campaign chair in Buchanan County, Virginia, as well as treasurer and former correspondence secretary of the Buchanan County Republican Party. Mr. May recently published a newspaper column containing an overtly racist attack against Barack Obama. Appearing in a local paper called The Voice, May's column contained a number of inflammatory charges against Obama, including the following on Obama's plans for America if elected:

"FREEDOM OF RELIGION: Mandatory Black Liberation Theology classes taught in all churches - raise taxes to pay for this mandate. Put Rev. Jeremiah Wright in charge...."

"DRUG CRISIS: Raise taxes to pay for free drugs for Obama’s inner-city political base...."

"2ND AMENDMENT: Under Obama will only apply to gang-bangers, illegal aliens, Islamo-Fascist terrorists, and Senator Jim Webb’s aide...."

"THE WHITE HOUSE: Hire rapper Ludacris to “paint it black.” Taxes to be increased to buy enough paint for the job plus spray-paint for graffiti...."

"THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES: Raise taxes to send $845 billion, most of it to Africa so the Obama family there can skim off enough for them to free their goats and live the American Dream...."

"NATIONAL ANTHEM: Change to the "Black National Anthem" by James Weldon Johnson...."

At the end of his column May challenged Obama to meet him on "County Talk," a Friday morning talk show on radio station WMJD 100.7 in Grundy VA. It seems Mr. May is quite the local mover and shaker in Buchanan County Republican circles: In addition to his work with The Voice and WMJD, he has also appeared in the Virginia Mountaineer with other local Republican leaders.

Complaints and expressions of disgust at Mr. May's comments can and should be directed to the following:

McCain national campaign: info@johnmccain.com

McCain Virginia campaign virginia@johnmccain.com

Republican National Committee (Mike Duncan, Chair): chairman@gop.com

Virginia Republican Party: info@rpv.org

Buchanan County Republican Party (Jerry M. Lester, Chair): bcrp@naxs.net & jelester@mtinter.net / tel. 276-935-4764 or 276-935-5483

WMJD radio: info@wmjd.org / tel. 276-935-7227 ("County Talk," Fridays 10-11 a.m. EST)

The Voice: voice@mikrotecwildblue.com / tel. 276-881-8886

Bobby May: bobbyleemay@yahoo.com / tel. 276-566-8788

This story has already attracted the attention of the Los Angeles Times and blogs such as the Daily Kos, and with lots of further attention could become a major embarrassment to the GOP and the McCain campaign. The GOP and the McCain campaign should be pressed to acknowledge Mr. May's statements, to condemn and apologize for them, and to remove Mr. May from any official party or campaign role.

Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com

GOP DIRTY TRICKS IN THE SWING STATES

funkfresh01 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:20:05 EDT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/sep/22/uselections2008.republicans
Republican operatives are using an anti-Muslim film and push polling to raise fears of terrorism and smear Barack Obama
Richard Silverstein, Guardian, 9/22/08

We are now entering the closing weeks of what promises to be yet another close and contentious presidential election contest. As each side seeks to maximise its advantages and minimise its weaknesses, the Republican party has chosen the lowest of low roads, engaging in two sleazy political marketing campaigns over the past week.

First, DVDs of an anti-Muslim documentary film are being distributed to 28 million voters in swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. Second, Republican telemarketers have begun push polling aimed at scaring Jewish voters in swing states from voting for Barack Obama…

The mass distribution of Obsession is an obvious Republican scare-tactic, right out of the Rovian playbook. Party operatives believe that scaring Americans into believing there's a jihadist under every bed will play to Republican strengths and Democratic weaknesses on national security. They swiftboated John Kerry in 2004. Now they're jihadising Barack Obama.

ANTI-ISLAM FILM TARGETS "SWING STATE" VOTERS

funkfresh01 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:15:54 EDT

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43940
Ali Gharib, Inter Press Service, 9/19/08

WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Millions of voters in U.S. states crucial to this fall's presidential election received DVD copies of a controversial documentary film as advertising inserts in their morning newspapers over the past week, with more expected to be sent out over the upcoming weekend.

The 2006 film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", which has been accused by critics of encouraging Islamophobia, was reportedly delivered, or slated for delivery this weekend, into tens of millions of households in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other "swing states" that don't vote consistently for either party and usually decide elections.

Republicans and their candidate, Sen. John McCain, have made the battling the threat posed by radical Islamists a central platform of their campaign, while presenting their Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, as being weak on the issue. Obama has also fought off persistent "smear" campaigns, particularly among Jewish voters, that he is a closet Muslim.

‘OBSESSION,’ THE RADICAL RIGHT’S WAR ON ISLAM

funkfresh01 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:26:54 EDT

By Ahmed Rehab

Word count: 830

[Ahmed Rehab is strategic communications director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at arehab@cair.com]

You have to wonder about a film that could muster no better an endorsement to adorn its poster than that of CNN’s resident right-wing extremist Glenn Beck. "Obsession is without exaggeration one of the most important films of our time," says Beck. (Who would accuse Glenn Beck of exaggerating?)

The film Beck is lauding, “Obsession: Islam’s Radical War against the West,” is a 2005 work of anti-Muslim propaganda that has recently been widely distributed via an unprecedented campaign.

Obama, his great handicap: racism

John Pedler — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:08:35 EDT

Posted by: dipconsult on Sep 18, 2008
In reply to oped listing the many disadvantages a 'black' faces in the US:

Yes, the vast majority of us in Europe are appalled that the one man who could bring real change cleaning up the worldwide G W Bush mess in warfare and finance, could well lose this election for the sole reason that he is half 'Caucasian' (as you Americans put it) and half African. Had he been 'white' his ratings would be around, say, 60% - a sure victor.

Yes, we too, have quite enough racism in Europe but, for example, even in the 1960s the president of the French Assembly was a person of colour.

And today, by a huge majority we Europeans would vote for Senator Obama - not because we are 'Obamamaniacs' as some of your American media codescendingly dub us, but because we see in this brilliant, well informed, well organised man who opposed the Iraq war (whose military and financial consequences have severely damaged not only the US but our European position in the world) the one person who could indeed turn the page.

From his clearly stated policies, he could indeed lead the world away from the Bush era of sterile confrontation to a new era - made possible by the end of the Cold War - of international cooperation to face the grim challenges not just for the US but for every country. Indeed for humanity. (For more see our website dipconsult.eu )

Addressing the "Have Mores" [Again]

Democrat in Eden, NC — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:56:36 EDT

What I heard last night was socially-ignorant, highbrow, puffery, scripted to garner laughs and prolonged BOO!s from (you could hear it) increasingly inebriated delegates. With all the "YAYYUS!!" (yes) and "BOOOOOOOO!!" I heard, it sounded like a professional wrestling tournament in there. One could actually hear burps in the speech-pauses.

When minority voters signify on and realize that, when Sarah Palin (and Rudy) openly mocked and demeaned Barack Obamas community organizing in Chicago (this theme got BIG LAUGHS from the Republican base last night) as "nothing", they were calling the lifes work of Dr. Martin Luther King and scores of other [---wait for it---] Christian Americans nothing, we're going to see some tectonic shifts in the opinion polls. Barack Obama represents the fulfillment of the dreams of so many community-level public servants and volunteers.

The Republican Party got so caught-up in how hot and fresh and religious-sounding Gov. Palin is, that they couldn't hear between her (scriptwriter's) lines and hear the grave insults lodged there.

Rovian spin-tainment has amounted to the "have mores" being blind-sided, again, by their own ignorance of the Lower 90 Percent. Governor Sarah Palin shares W's and Rudy's snear when trying to appear witty. She came off as snotty. As with many high school prima donnas, Palin probably didnt pay much attention in History classes, more intent upon the hot snow machine racerboy in the second row. (She does, however, get some hippy-cred for naming one daughter after a Pink Floyd record.)

Heck, we Lefties even gave the Right A REMINDER last week, when Senator Obama made his acceptance speech on the anniversary of the single greatest "community organizer" speech of the last century. I heard a caller to a Burlington, NC talk-radio program today make that point; explaining that "minorities usually work their way up into government this way" because they cannot buy, leverage, or good-ol-boy, their way in.

I hate to say it, but this election seems to be morphing into something ugly as the Right runs out of ways to avoid addressing the issues. What, with a Republican slate that clearly has no contact or connection with grassroots efforts across the nation, the needy, our crumbling urban infrastructure, etc.

The insensitive glee with which they are throwing self-righteous mud disgusts me almost as much as the cost of groceries and fuel, Dick Cheney's refusal to get transparent about manipulating American energy to line friends' pockets, and Lifesavers Candy being made overseas.

The whole Republican Convention has been an entertainment; but bad, emotionally violent, mean-spirited, easily forgotten entertainment... like SAW III.

My Fellow Democrats...

From The Hip — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:35:00 EDT

I live along the TN/AL Stateline....

As I was listening to a popular radio station today, I heard many people call in and say they were NOT going to vote this year. I found this very disheartening. Most of this was actually coming from Republicans. They were very upset with the entire Palin situation.

I think there is work we can do in this area. I'm not sure how exactly how to go about it, unfortunately, there is still so much prejudice in this area. However, I feel if we can get the word of HOPE out and try to do more to educate the people about Barak's platform perhaps we can persuade some of them to vote our way.

I know in the past few weeks, I've gotten many people to see the bigger picture. People who will NOT believe Barak isn't a Muslim. While I know he's not a Muslim, some will not be persuaded. So, finally my answer to them is, so what? This country is a country where there is freedom of religion.

I'M ENRAGED !

FreedomOfSpeech — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:45:16 EDT

I have been so very angry over this , that I was waiting until I calmed down before I addressed it because I know how I get when I am angry. I can be rather blunt and sometimes , down right vicious when I confront a stupid fool or a person who acts like a stupid fool. Especially , when they are my own race representing me.

As you all know, and as I am constantly reminded, I am an African American woman who was raised Evangelical Christian and my father , who was a pastor by the way , taught us to reverence the Jewish Community and their faith because we have the same God.

The "God The Father" that we refer to in the "Holy Trinity" , is the God of the Jews and is to be reverenced ! And his people , respected. This idiot from "Tennessee" is not only being a racist Xenophobic fool , she is being very Un-Christian and borderline blasphemous !

I am ENRAGED ! And the more I am reading about this Tinky , Pinky or whatever the heck her name is , I am becoming even more angry. So, seeing that it's not going to get any better, I think it's best to address it now before I really go nuts.

Extended .......

Re Displays of Racism

Liz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:48:13 EDT

I have no idea who posted those references to burning crosses but anyone was really wondering if it was true or who really cared to get information on it could have taken two seconds to google it and you would have gotten the same 605,000 results that I did.

Here is one from Muncie--surprised that some of you don't know about this one. On July 1,2008 a Muncie man was sentenced to 10 year for buring a cross in front of a multiracial family's home.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080607/LOCAL18/806070483&s=TimeStampDescending&page=#pluckcomments

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2004/June/04_crt_407.htm

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0528-05.htm

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/april07/crossburn043007.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4865351

as for noose displays here is one report from November 2007

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/11/02/noose.ART_ART_11-02

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=315733