It is pretty sad when you cannot even put up a yard sign supporting Barack Obama without it being slashed down with a knife (or burned to the ground). So much for free speech, ha? Yes...this happened to me, and it's happening all over the country. But this hardly even begins to describe the hate brewing rhetoric that has come out of the McCain campaign. Politics are politics, and candidates will inevitable get ugly, but the McCain campaign has taken ugly to a new level, putting the life of a fellow AMERICAN, Barack Obama, at stake for the sake of trying to win this election. It began with insinuations that Obama was a Muslim, which has finally began to fade as report after report disproves it's truthfulness. There was, Barack HUSSEIN Obama...because that somehow should be an indicator of his political views?? Then, it was that his wife, someone who has dedicated a great deal of her life to community service in America, hates America, because of one comment she made that got taken out of context (read the entire comment in context here). And then his associations. What do Rev. Jeremiah Wright (see Wright's "God Damn America" comments in context here) and Bill Ayers (read about Ayer's reform from violent behavior and his accomplishments here, in a right-leaning Chicago newspaper) have in common? It's not that they hate America, it's that they speak out against hateful things that America has unquestionably done throughout our history. No one is excusing Ayer's actions of 40 years ago, but he has since reformed and been accepted and credited among the the scholarly and political community in Chicago. The idea that protesting America is unAmerican completely contradicts the basis by which this country was founded, when we fought for our independence from a government that we disagreed with (it's called a Democracy, in case anyone has forgotten that word over the past 8 years). And P.S. people, America needs to come out against unjust policies and behavior once again.
We can all establish through some simple fact checking that Obama does not "pall around with terrorists". And to be frank, these types of comments probably aren't enough to swing the election in McCain's favor, since it seems the majority of Americans are smarter than this. But, you don't need a majority to inspire a lunatic to do something crazy, something violent, in retalliation to these remarks. The problem is that the Americans who beleive these fables to begin with are too ignorant to go out and actually find the facts. Instead, they develop hateful feelings toward Obama's person, with no regards for his plans or policies. Due to these comments, McCain has gotten through almost his entire campaign without having to raise the serious issues that America today faces, and hopes that this presidency will be given to him based on his "character" (which is by no means unquestionable), his "patriotism" (AKA his egotistical idea that America must fight war after war to remain the most powerful nation) and his seniority in the Senate. This would all be fine and dandy if McCain had the policies capable of moving this country forward. Unfortunately, he doesn't.
McCain supporters, if they are true Americans, should call on their man to end these politics of hate and begin to shape this election, in it's last few weeks, to reflect the real needs of our country. More division will certainly lead to more problems. They should call on him to stop spreading hate, and to start spreading ideas as to how to get our economy back on track, how to end the climate crisis, how to educate the youth of our nation to be able to compete in a global economy, how to create a health care system that benefits people- not insurance and pharmaceutical comanies, and how to restore our fundamental rights and freedoms that the Bush administration has raped us of over the term of his presidency. McCain needs to step up and act like a leader, put his campaign in check, and begin to compete with Sen. Obama on an INTELLECTUAL level. I don't know about you guys, but I want my president to portray intellegence, not elementary and unfounded character bashing.
See a special comment to McCain on the state of his campaign here.
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6 comments:
The hateful words that have surfaced over the past few weeks is disgusting. It is utterly despicable!
What is wrong with America is that there is still a fear in America post 9/11. Some of us are scared of something different. The McCain Campaign and the RNC are pouring gasoline on this situation. The worst of it is, that this could end up someone being hurt and our nation losing a great leader. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, and there should be no reason why not to think it COULD happen again.
McCain needs to put Country First and stop this fear mongering that has people delusional. The ignorant and misinformed deserve the right to the TRUTH. Please educate yourself and those around you before Nov 4. Everyone has a right to free speech but I think we can all agree when it threatens the life of another with violence, it has gone way to far. Be passionate, but be smart and respectful. We need to unite, not divide in fear.
sorry to hear of your sign, it's unfortunate that people stump that low. however, I'm sure there hasn't been a single McCain/Palin sign vandalized. Hatred is ALL around.
Also, you forgot to mention Tony Rezko as another poor obama tie.
Please sigh this petition to censure Congresswoman Bachmann who wants to investigate Congress and others for any "liberals" who hold anti-American ideals..Yeeks
http://www.censurebachmann.com/
Boy those Obama sign stealers are soooooo hateful!!!!
A woman campaigning for John McCain in Pittsburgh claims she was mugged by a knife-wielding man who then "carved the letter 'B' into her face" after spotting a McCain bumper sticker on her car, police said yesterday.
Ashley Todd, 20, a Texas native, told police she was using a Citizens Bank ATM at about 8:55 p.m. Wednesday when a man rushed up, put a 4-to-5-inch knife to her throat and demanded money.
She said she gave him $60, and "she remembers moving away from [him]," said police spokeswoman Diane Richard.
"Then, she said, he noticed a McCain bumper sticker on her car and became very angry.
"[She] reported he punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, and continued to punch and kick while threatening to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter."
Richard said the victim said the attacker called her "a lot of names and stated that 'You are going to be a Barack supporter'," pinning her hands down while carving the letter B on her face "using what she believed to be a very dull knife."
Pennsylvania has been a key battleground state, where McCain and Barack Obama have both been campaigning hard.
The attack lasted 5-10 minutes, after which the suspect fled. Todd said she drove to a friend's house, cops said. That friend called police.
When an officer offered her medical attention, Todd said she'd go to the hospital the next day, Richard said.
Cops are treating the alleged attack with skepticism, unnamed law-enforcement sources told TMZ.com. A source told The Post that cops were considering administering a lie-detector test.
Richard would only say the investigation was continuing. Todd, who was being re-interviewed last night, remained inside the stationhouse early today.
"We can't substantiate that it was politically motivated," Richard said early today. She said police are trying to retrieve surveillance tape from the area.
After the attack, Todd posted this message on a GOP college blog: "Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers - I'm phonebanking, so let's all work together and get John McCain elected."
It also appears she was using Twitter - a social-messaging Internet application for wireless devices - around the time of the reported attack.
In one post, she wrote, "Stubbornly searching for a Bank of America to avoid ATM fees," she said.
Shortly after, she wrote, "Pretty sure I'm on the wrong side of Pittsburgh."
McCain's campaign said he and Sarah Palin spoke to Todd's family yesterday.
Obama's campaign released a statement, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman for her to make a speedy recovery, and we hope that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."
Ethan Eilon, executive director of the College Republican National Committee, the group Todd was volunteering with, said he'd spoken to her several times over the day.
"She's recovering. Obviously, she's had a pretty rough 24 hours," he said.
Whether or not this was a "political" attack is still being investigated, as many questions and inconsistencies have risen with this woman's story. Regardless of the reason for the attack, the Obama campaign condemned the attack and sent their well wishes to this woman.
There are crazies on both sides of the spectrum and no one is arguing that. The problem with the McCain campaign is that they have let hate brewing become a centerpiece of their campaign with the spreading of assumptions that Obama is some kind of terrorist or that he holds anti-American views. The problem is that when his supporters shout things like, "kill him" and "terrorist" and "treason"- all statements that if not condemned can easily put the life of the candidate and our country at risk- time after time Palin (in particular) and McCain have ignored this slander without any acknowledgment of the dishonesty or pettiness of these remarks. They have instead let this type of behavior become normal at their events, with no regard for the safety and integrity of his opponent. This is ridiculous, disgraceful and dishonorable.
This isn't about crazy supporters. It's about the responsibility and integrity of the two campaigns.
In addition, it has been reported that McCain campaign volunteers are being taught to canvass talking points such as making connections between Obama and Osama bin Laden. This is coming directly from the McCain campaign, not something that is out of their hands.
Keith Olbermann was right on when he said that perhaps McCain should take THIS opportunity to suspend his campaign until he gets some control over it.
JJ...
Looks like you spoke a bit too soon on this one. Turns out this whack-job woman made this whole sad sob story up (which I believe I suggested might have been the case)! Better start searching for another piece of useless bullshit to use for your attacks. Unbelievable.
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