Comments on: “That one.” http://www.republicoft.com/2008/10/09/that-one/ Black. Gay. Father. Vegetarian. Buddhist. Liberal. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:03:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Lucas http://www.republicoft.com/2008/10/09/that-one/comment-page-1/#comment-184845 Lucas Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:53:40 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/10/09/that-one/#comment-184845 Call me cynical, but I suspect that it is exactly the type of sentiments that the McCain campaign is trying to stir up -- albeit in the background. Notice that the McCain campaign has come out publically condemning some of the racially-charged language used, yet McCain supporters, Palin, and on occasion McCain himself kept bringing it up. It's no surprise, that McCain supporters mayvoice such sentiments. Palin's apparent soccer-mom-I-don't-know-anything image, allows her to voice such ignorant stuff -- because she had set the bar so low for herself, people will just see it as yet another one of those things that are trickling out of her mouth that no one really understands. McCain himself, also, in a very covert way that is instantly recognizable by a minority that's ever been discriminated against because of race, but not so much so by others. When one add all of those situation up, it's hard not to see the bigger picture. All of the media outlets have concluded, that McCain is fighting a losing battle on issues -- since economy is taking center stage, and people are equating McCain to Bush on ecnomy -- as a result, McCain is going for personal attacks. When you're going for personal attacks, invariably racism and sexism will eventually raise its ugly head -- McCain campaign knows this -- that is why they are attacking Obama's character in such a subtextual and behind the scenes sort of way. It's like the mob bosses letting the small-time gangsters do their dirty work for them -- the bosses have maximum deniability, blaming it completely on those who did the dirty work. Same thing here -- McCain have maximum deniability, letting his supporters, the pro-McCain media and Campaign workers get all of the blame, while he benefits from those negative sentiments raised. While you may think this covert racism would only work on folks who are poor and less educated, you'd be surprised some of my coworkers' (who are intelligent and well-educated engineers) negative views of Obama is fueled directly along those lines of thinking and sentiments. Call me cynical, but I suspect that it is exactly the type of sentiments that the McCain campaign is trying to stir up — albeit in the background. Notice that the McCain campaign has come out publically condemning some of the racially-charged language used, yet McCain supporters, Palin, and on occasion McCain himself kept bringing it up. It’s no surprise, that McCain supporters mayvoice such sentiments. Palin’s apparent soccer-mom-I-don’t-know-anything image, allows her to voice such ignorant stuff — because she had set the bar so low for herself, people will just see it as yet another one of those things that are trickling out of her mouth that no one really understands. McCain himself, also, in a very covert way that is instantly recognizable by a minority that’s ever been discriminated against because of race, but not so much so by others. When one add all of those situation up, it’s hard not to see the bigger picture.

All of the media outlets have concluded, that McCain is fighting a losing battle on issues — since economy is taking center stage, and people are equating McCain to Bush on ecnomy — as a result, McCain is going for personal attacks. When you’re going for personal attacks, invariably racism and sexism will eventually raise its ugly head — McCain campaign knows this — that is why they are attacking Obama’s character in such a subtextual and behind the scenes sort of way.

It’s like the mob bosses letting the small-time gangsters do their dirty work for them — the bosses have maximum deniability, blaming it completely on those who did the dirty work. Same thing here — McCain have maximum deniability, letting his supporters, the pro-McCain media and Campaign workers get all of the blame, while he benefits from those negative sentiments raised.

While you may think this covert racism would only work on folks who are poor and less educated, you’d be surprised some of my coworkers’ (who are intelligent and well-educated engineers) negative views of Obama is fueled directly along those lines of thinking and sentiments.

]]> By: Katharine http://www.republicoft.com/2008/10/09/that-one/comment-page-1/#comment-184839 Katharine Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:55:40 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2008/10/09/that-one/#comment-184839 I've been really appalled by some of the racist attitudes that this election has brought to light. Perhaps the worst of it is that on a core, deep, unspoken level, these people just can't see past Obama's skin color. They might make some pretense that they feel he's too inexperienced, but certain indicators say differently. It saddens me that they simply cannot see that the stereotypes they're rationalizing as humor (not funny, but that's how they're trying to play it off) do not in any way, shape or form apply to Barack Obama. I mean, they just don't even make sense, seriously. It'd be like picking on William F. Buckley for being a geek for liking remote-controlled robots (as far as I know, he didn't). It's not funny because it simply isn't true, doesn't make any sense, and is completely foreign to the butt of the joke. It'd be like picking on me for liking NASCAR (I don't) -- if you know me at all, you'd be like, "Huh? You've got that wrong." It's just baffling, and I don't think these people have a clue as to how dumb they look. Making some sort of lowbrow joke about Obama liking arugula might at least be funny in some circles because it is actually true (the man appears to have good taste in restaurants). But Obama has about as much in common with Aunt Jemima as I do. It's completely bizarre because it is in no way pertinent or relevant to the individual in question ... so not only is it racist, it's wildly inaccurate, and it bothers me that people disseminating such content under the poor, thin guise of humor can't see that. I mean, if you're going to criticize or mock, at least do it with something that makes logical sense. Racism is stupid, but this is stupidity on top of stupidity. Even an ignorant attempt humor has to have some sort of rhyme or reason to be funny. Dear Congress: since we apparently have tons of money just lying around to give to Wall Street, perhaps we could invest another small portion in developing the critical thinking skills of our population? Thanks. I’ve been really appalled by some of the racist attitudes that this election has brought to light. Perhaps the worst of it is that on a core, deep, unspoken level, these people just can’t see past Obama’s skin color. They might make some pretense that they feel he’s too inexperienced, but certain indicators say differently.

It saddens me that they simply cannot see that the stereotypes they’re rationalizing as humor (not funny, but that’s how they’re trying to play it off) do not in any way, shape or form apply to Barack Obama. I mean, they just don’t even make sense, seriously. It’d be like picking on William F. Buckley for being a geek for liking remote-controlled robots (as far as I know, he didn’t). It’s not funny because it simply isn’t true, doesn’t make any sense, and is completely foreign to the butt of the joke. It’d be like picking on me for liking NASCAR (I don’t) — if you know me at all, you’d be like, “Huh? You’ve got that wrong.” It’s just baffling, and I don’t think these people have a clue as to how dumb they look.

Making some sort of lowbrow joke about Obama liking arugula might at least be funny in some circles because it is actually true (the man appears to have good taste in restaurants). But Obama has about as much in common with Aunt Jemima as I do. It’s completely bizarre because it is in no way pertinent or relevant to the individual in question … so not only is it racist, it’s wildly inaccurate, and it bothers me that people disseminating such content under the poor, thin guise of humor can’t see that.

I mean, if you’re going to criticize or mock, at least do it with something that makes logical sense. Racism is stupid, but this is stupidity on top of stupidity. Even an ignorant attempt humor has to have some sort of rhyme or reason to be funny.

Dear Congress: since we apparently have tons of money just lying around to give to Wall Street, perhaps we could invest another small portion in developing the critical thinking skills of our population? Thanks.

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