ARCHIVE: An Especially Disturbing Campaign Season

*** This entry was originally posted to LiveJournal October 15, 2008 ***


Appalling.

Appalling, appalling, appalling.

In case I've not been clear, I'm appalled.

I am appalled at where the presidential campaign has gone.

I am appalled at how often Senator Obama's middle name is used in a blatant attempt at fearmongering, and I'm appalled at how effective the tactic has been.

I am appalled that now that the fearmongering has worked SO well that cries of "Terrorist!" "Get him!" and "Kill Him!" are ringing out at McCain rallies, Senator McCain, a man whom I have historically respected, has chosen to say nothing--NOTHING--in response. It's probably true that most of the attendees at Senator McCain's rallies DON'T advocate assassination of Senator Obama. It just seems to me that if even ONE attendee vocally does so in such a way that he, the other attendees, and the TV cameras can hear it, then Senator McCain has an obligation unequivocally and immediately to put that sentiment down. He did not do so.

I am appalled at this exchange I watched last night. Granted, it was a clip from "The Daily Show," which makes no claim to be a good journalistic source, but unless they had Weta Workshop to smooth their splices using a CGI model of Senator McCain I don't believe they INTERNALLY edited this clip (though they may have edited it out of all context, I realize). I'll quote as best I can, and the ellipses represent pauses rather than omissions.

Woman at Rally: "I fear an Obama presidency. Because I've done some reading. I've read about him, and . . . he's an Arab." [She did not say WHERE she read about him]

Senator McCain: (takes microphone back from woman and shakes his head) "No, no . . . he's a decent family man."

I suppose you get an "E" for effort, Senator McCain, for finally stepping in to counter one of the many blatant (and, frankly, racist) mischaracterizations of your opponent. However, you get a resounding "F" for reflexively setting up "Arab" and "decent family man" as mutually exclusive concepts.

As a side note, Jon Stewart was both cracking me the hell up and raising some VERY salient points last night on the show. I recommend catching a re-run.

If nothing else, I am grateful to Senator Obama and his campaign for dragging this country's racism shadow at least somewhat out into the light. I still find what we have collectively revealed appalling, and I find the thought that there's probably a lot more still hidden absolutely terrifying and disgusting.

I'm sad, I'm afraid, and I'm angry.

This is ugly, unpleasant, and yes--appalling stuff. However, only by dragging it out from its hidden places and LOOKING at it will we as a society collectively heal it. I sure hope that happens. It would suck if instead we chose to embrace it or to stuff it back down into the corners.