Cross-posted in the Concord Standard
As a nation we can be proud that someone was able to progress through their career and overcome being a target of the most vile, bigoted elements of their political party to be a choice for President. Regardless of the outcome on November 4th, we can rest assured that the presence of this man’s name on the ballot is proof that the racist cohort of the electorate has decayed beyond the threshold of significance.
This man who overcame racism to gain his party’s nomination is, of course, Senator John McCain.
During the 2000 Republican Primary in South Carolina, a multi-pronged smear campaign included accusing Senator McCain’s daughter, Bridget, of being the result of a bi-racial union under illicit circumstances. The real truth underscores how awful the attacks really were. John and Cindy McCain adopted Bridget McCain as a desperately sick and abandoned three-month old from an orphanage run by Mother Teresa. At the time of 2000 Campaign, Bridget McCain was 8 years old.
Senator McCain’s experience in 2000 made disconcerting remarks at a June fundraiser from Senator Obama predicting that McCain supporters would remind the voters that “…he has a funny name. And did I mention he was black?” Senator Obama forgot to mention that, in February, Senator McCain spoke against an Ohio radio talk show host for emphasizing Senator Obama’s “funny name” – particularly his middle one. As for the racism charge, that was handled well by National Public Radio commentator Scott Simon. “How many people can there be that truly don’t know that Senator Obama is black”, Simon said “or care”. Later in the piece, Simon made this observation: “The results of this year’s primaries and today’s public opinion polls might suggest that it is politically more injurious to insinuate that someone is a bigot than it is to make an issue of their race” Fellow NPR listeners will understand when I tell them that – in spite of the thoughtful commentary and clear diction – I had to do a double-take to believe that I was still tuned to WFAE: there was actually criticism of Barack Obama.
With more intellectual honesty like Simon’s, a probable result of the 2008 election will be more social regulation of the wanton – and most often unfounded – designation of those who refuse to support a particular cause or candidate as being racist. Hopefully, we’ll recognize it is as wrong to quickly designate someone as a racist by how they vote as it is to deny our shared humanity based on their race.
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12 responses so far ↓
1 Brad Spry // Aug 7, 2008 at 9:44 am
If John McCain overcame racism, why is there an entire book devoted to his racism? The title of the book is: Gook: John McCain’s Racism and Why It Matters.
“I hate the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live,” – John McCain
Here is an interview with the book’s author Irwin A. Tang.
2 Caleb Seamone // Aug 7, 2008 at 10:14 am
If you were taken hostage by a certain group of people, I’m sure you’d have a little built up anger towards them too.
3 Aaron // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm
No, Brad would suffer from Stockholm Syndrom and be lobbying for their release…
4 Larry M.Burrage // Aug 7, 2008 at 1:15 pm
La rry Burrage
Justin,what a great and appropriate illustration ,The Box Of Crayons.we are all of different colors and ,sizes,when used together really beautiful or ugly distortion can be achieved.
our beliefs,origins,education also can be used individually or collectively for our nations benefit or devastation.
I do not believe this is a race issue, I think along the theory that the media and political ads plus the hate and darkness in hearts of all races allows all the beautiful colors to not be able to live in the same box,but demands everyone else become the same color and lose all individual freedoms our great nation and forefathers left us as a legacy.
5 Justin Thibault // Aug 7, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Brad - If you are naive enough to believe that, I’d like to tell you about a little something that Michelle Obama said…
6 Brad Spry // Aug 7, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Justin - I’m not naive enough to believe your claim that McCain has overcome racism. If he has, then he knows something about space aliens that we don’t
7 Justin Thibault // Aug 8, 2008 at 5:54 am
Brad - Wow, it’s amazing how you don’t read your own links:
You don’t think the people who tortured John McCain were evil?
8 Brad Spry // Aug 8, 2008 at 6:16 am
I think he, nor the human race, has overcome racism. End of line.
9 Brad Spry // Aug 8, 2008 at 6:20 am
Too early in the morning, let me try that again. I don’t think he, nor the human race, has overcome racism.
10 Justin Thibault // Aug 8, 2008 at 6:43 am
Brad - In spite of your Tron reference, I think John McCain’s winning the SC primary was evidence that the racists don’t have much influence in our elections.
11 Brad Spry // Aug 8, 2008 at 8:19 am
McCain’s 147,283 votes in the SC primary certainly paled in comparison to Obama’s 295,091, that’s for sure.
12 Caleb Seamone // Aug 8, 2008 at 11:44 am
Thats a faulty comparison. Two completely different scenarios. McCain will still carry South Carolina in November.
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