Bad News Folks: The Uppity Negro Charge Is Winning It for McCain
I see a terrible problem here and I don't see the solution.
Throughout the primaries and now the general, the only way Obama's opponents have scored against him was by (I'm going to be polite) reminding voters that Obama is "not like us"
In the primaries it was the Rev. Wright thing, the Muslim libel, the e-mails to the Jewish community, the "elitist" brouhaha, etc. And now it's the "One" and the rest of that meme. Not one of these charges, not one, would have been launched if Obama was white.
Team McCain is not stupid. It studied what worked against Obama in the primaries and sees that the "uppity negro" thing is a winner.
So far it has been.
At this point, it is impossible to know if race will, in the end, put McCain in the White House. Although, a friend told me yesterday that it definitely would. I was going on about how if Obama lost because he's black, I'd be "so done with this country"
She said: "You are crazy. If five years ago someone had told you that in 2008, a terrific, brilliant, charismatic black guy would come along in a Democratic year but would lose to an ancient white Republican simply because he was black, you would have said that 'of course he'd lose.' What's changed?"
She's right. That is what I would have said. And maybe I would have been wrong. But so far this year it looks like most Democrats can live with the idea of an African-American President but a majority of all voters probably can't.
Luckily there is still time to turn it around. But not if we don't confront the race issue rather than duck it. I understand why Obama feels that he has to pretend that it is not the elephant in the room, more relevantly the elephant in his opponents' war rooms. Unfortunately, playing as if it wasn't almost lost him the nomination and could easily lose him the election.
One more point. The polls, in my opinion, are crap. Obama should be 10% ahead of McCain. The fact that it's tied means that he is not winning.
Racism dies hard in America. What a shock.
The difference between now and five years ago? Well, the economic, moral and physical damage of the Iraq war, for one. It's not just depressing to consider that a majority of Americans won't vote for a black president, it's depressing to think that they'll vote for the continuation of the worst policies in modern times instead of a black president.
If, indeed, that's how things go down. I believe Obama will win. But it is scary that the "uppity" line has been so effective even when its demonstrably false.
August 2, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
He needs to forget racism. America isn't racist, America is nervous.
Focus on the one thing we all care about...will he push the button to defend the country?
Is he in the mood to kill terrorists?
August 2, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think 'uppity' engenders the real - and unfounded - fear that may ultimately defeat any black man seeking a position of power in white America.
The McCain ad featuring the black man juxtaposed with the young, white, nubile likes of Paris and Brittany was not to equate his 'empty' fame with theirs, it was to evoke that old fear of the predatory black man lusting after young, white female flesh. Afterall, there are plenty of young white male celebrities whose only fame is being famous who could have been used in the ad, even more appropriate given Obama's gender, but weren't.
August 3, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree it's working, and it's probably the reason the race is so close right now...
McKrusty throws out 4 nasty and stupid attack ads at Obama in a couple of weeks which cable news shows free of charge again and again and when the Obama campaign fights back and tries to correct some of the perceptions and lies, he's accused of going negative.
When he points out that he's not the candidate from central casting, he's blasted as a racist by McKrusty, and the bobble-heads dutifully pick up and amplify the message...
The stupid really hurts...but unfortunately these attack ads appeal to the reptile brain of the uninformed voter, and as it's negative message seeps in, the damage is done...
August 2, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
MJ
McCain's campaign is now based on substance-free ads that are provocative. The uppity negro theme is being successfully applied. The race issue cannot be avoided but other issues can dominate the news cycle and Obama needs to forcefully introduce them.
Obama needs to fire off his own ads with the following themes:
John McCain isn't independent. He is 4 more years of GWB.
John McCain is desperate to get attention. Ads with Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton mean are the only things that get anyone to notice him.
John McCain is a horrible, philandering husband. He left his ailing wife, calls the current one a cunt in public and cheats on her.
John McCain is senile. He can't remember that there is no Iraq/Pakistan border, doesn't know the difference between Shia and Sunni muslims. He is old and incompetent.
Obama must get ugly. Ugliness worked for Clinton in the primary and Obama had a tepid response. He must make McCain look like a crazy, grumpy, old man. Since he is, that should be easy.
August 2, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I totally agree!
August 2, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. But where are Obama's allies to get ugly for him? Now would seem like a good time for say Hillary to show up and smack McCain down for him.
August 2, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary an ally? I don't think so. Her primary campaign against Obama laid the groundwork for McCain's current stategy. I think she and Bill are going to hang Obama out to dry until November.
August 2, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's just plain bullshit.
Hillary did not lay any groundwork for any loss for Obama.
You guys might have lost the election for the Democrats by demonizing Hillary and now you want to cover your tracks by blaming her if Obama loses. How disingenuous can you get?
Obama was a long shot from the start. That's reality.
That's what we were trying to tell you knuckleheads all along. For that we got demonized as racist crypto Republicans.
The kids who were all going gaga over Obama have a short attention span and have long moved on to other "thrills".
If the Democrats lose this election don't you fucking dare blame Hillary you bozos.
As far as the tactic of getting down and dirty with McCain is concerned, that’s a loser. Obama does not have the luxury of getting down and dirty with a white grandpa. Obama needs to finesse this somehow. I don’t know exactly how, but he has to make McCain look foolish in the eyes of Joe six pack.
This has to be handled very very carefully.
August 2, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Andrew, I agree that Obama was a longshot.
Hillary also laid the groundwork for the republican attack. The two are not mutually exclusive. Hillary, could have stopped long before she did, right after she lost 10 consecutive primaries would have been most reasonable.
She didn't. She instead launched meaner and nastier attacks even to the point of claiming that the republican opponent was ready to be Commander in Chief.
Hillary will be a fundamental reason for the effectiveness of the GOP attacks as she laid the groundwork and sowed the seeds of oppostion before McCain.
August 3, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a pile of crap!
You're basically saying: if McCain attacks on character, then we should counter-attack on character.
That's the best way to lose, because John's got Teflon.
Hillary would have started pummelling him now on economy, Iraq, jobs, oil, gas, etc until she was able to paint him as a clueless, infantile old egomaniac.
Too bad Obama has nothing to say about any of this.
August 2, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's entirely possible that McCain could win, because of the "uppity black guy" theme. But it was going to come out, and the Obama campaign knew it was going to come out.
I actually think it's much better that RACE CARD-GATE erupted now, at the beginning of August, because there are fewer people paying attention right now, and in a week, there will be even fewer, what with the Olympics.
Imagine had this come out a week before the first debate. And, if you want to scare the daylights out of yourself, imagine that ABC was hosting the debate!
So while it's ugly and may do lasting damage, it's possible that by being out there now, the damage will be less.
And I think the allies are going to come out soon, frankly.
August 2, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right! McCain is playing the race card too early. He should have unveiled this lovely tactic after Labor Day. On the other hand, had Hillary taken the low-road earlier she probably would have won. Her campaign staff didn't go vicious until too late.
But Team Clinton definitely showed that the card works.
August 2, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh I see MJ it took "Team Clinton" to show us that the race card works.
You can't be that stupid!!
August 2, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
For God's sake MJ get a grip.
Are you surprised that McCain is doing this. If so, shame on you. You know this is what Republicans do.
Are you surprised that the media isn't stepping up to smack them down. If so, shame on you. Fool me twice and all that. Media ain't going to do it, the campaign and its supporters have to do it.
Are you surprised that this crap is resonating with the American people? Trick question. The fact is, I've seen no poll that demonstrates that it is, though there may soon be some, who knows. But if that happens, the campaign will just have to react to it. Up to now, we have no real data on what the effect of this barrage is, other than some remarks of revulsion toward it by some not-very-powerful Republicans, which means little.
Is there anything here at all, MJ, other than your feeling of dread, doom and gloom? And please tell me, what good your sharing of that doom and gloom is doing. I'm sure Obama will go negative if he decides that that's what he needs to do.
August 2, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It does good because most of us think we are well ahead and we aren't.
And what you call "dread" leads me, and others, to give more and do more AND pushes the campaign to get off its high horse and fight the SOBs.
I wasn't around in 1948 but we need to recall Tom Dewey. While I'm there, I think that McCain will start invoking Truman soon. Both scrappy, both short, both "straight talkers" and both running against smart kids (Dewey was 46, Truman was 64).
August 2, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose.
But I read it, and I guess this wasn't your intent, as throwing up your hands. There are people who might take it that way. It reinforces the "American people are a bunch of morons to fall for this crap" meme, which has been incredibly destructive to the progressive movement's chances this past decade.
Now, I'm sure there is some discussion in the Obama camp about when and how to go negative. It isn't necessary clear to me that "right this minute" or "it's already too late" are the right answers.
But yes, we, Obama's supporters have to do more.
Oh, and show a little faith in your guy's judgment. He was always more your guy than he was mine - although I did vote for him in the primary and have donated to his campaign.
August 2, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me neither. If he goes negative now, he'll be seen as "panicking". I can just hear the commentary now: Is Obama rattled by McCain? Obama showing the first signs of strain...blah blah blah blah blah blah....plus, we'll get a thousand more free showings of the Britney ad.
On the other hand, if he waits too long, it may be too late.
IN any event, I prefer to think of the state of the race right now as this: McCain, benefitting from some huge media attention on that ad, bleating about the race card, and disparaging Obama at every single event is behind in many states, and tied over all nationally. Could be a lot worse for Obama. Could be significantly better, as well.
August 2, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, this uppity negro subliminal message is working, and it comes from the same guys who did swiftboat. But how long can it play?
I will say that the tactic does appeal to the working class dems who supported Clinton and have found Obama elitist and too self confident for American mass consumption. I would never vote McCain though, and will vote Obama. I just don't care for him much and see some truth to this stuff. Nevertheless, when it comes to policy he's the better choice. One can see that just from listening to him speak on the economy and the middle east.
But Obama is going to need all the allies he can get.
August 2, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only way a black guy is going to defeat a white guy is if Americans are convinced that the black guys is the one who is going to deliver the goods.
Obama has allowed (encouraged?) the conversation to be about him. It must be about the American people if he is going to defeat McCain. He's fallen into the "I" trap. Listen to him lately. He sounds like Hillary early in her own campaign. "I, I, I, ..."
Plus, he seems to have decided to run a John Kerry campaign, all mushy nuance, no clear distinctions, no clear alternatives and the Republicans are morphing themselves into "moderates" at the same time Democrats still have the delusion that being just another generic moderate is going to beat them. Obama doesn't look like a "generic" brand and he isn't offering them anything new or better.
Democrats, you have to deliver the goods. You have to represent interests. You have listen to the left on FISA and listen to the working people on jobs and listen to the environmentalists on off shore drilling.
What have you done for me lately? What are you going to do for me tommorrow? I still don't have a clue.
August 2, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen brother
August 2, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"What's changed?" How about the wrath of the most incompetent President in history? That HAS to change people's minds. You are justified about "being done with this country" if they don't see reality at this moment, after 8 long and painful years.
Which brings me to how Obama fights celeb/race attacks....
GRAVITAS. He needs pics of him and uniformed military leaders at EVERY event.
Dick Cheney is pure evil, but he has gravitas. Obama can't float above these charges on a unicorn and be above the fray, he needs to sink his feet in the ground, and firmly plant his case next to the most serious people in Washington DC.
August 2, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Rip Van Winkel, wake up, Bush is not up for re-election. Bush does not stick on McCain all that much even as McCain utters Bushisms left and right.
August 2, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Andrew Strat: You're opinions are worthless. Stop commenting on my posts.
August 3, 2008 3:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Andrew Strat says;
Andrew, who can look at McCain and not think Bush?
After 6 years of Republican rule and the resultant disasters, foreign and domestic, there is now a black cloud that follows all Republicans running for office and the public is well aware of that cloud.
August 3, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
John
You and I know that. But the general public (that mythical ghost) does not make the connection between John McCain and Bush. Maybe that might be an Obama tactic that might work. I would roll that one out not just yet, but it has great potential especially if things get worse with Iraq/Afghanistan, economy etc.
McCain, if you notice, does not mention Bush or lets himself be photographed with Bush at all.
Would a McCain Administration be a Bush 3 term? I honestly don't think that anybody could be as bad as that. But he will certainly not turn the ship of state around from our perilous course, or at least it seems that way from what he says. Yet somehow his numbers are not affected by this crap. Go figure.
August 3, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Andrew,
regarding McCain's numbers. I think the story being reported is ass backwards; its not that McCain is making the race close, its that an unknown young black guy is beating McCain and his history in a number of polls.
August 4, 2008 8:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like that!!
But will the MSM run with it" I doubt it
August 8, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why does Obama bring up the fact that he "doesn't look like" other Presidents?
That may help him with the African American vote, but he doesn't need help there.
He needs to stop antagonizing the largest voting block in the country, the one without which no candidate can win...White Men.
August 2, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nonsense. If this tepid remark antagonized some white voters, those particular white voters were never going to vote for him anyway. As for the African-American vote, I doubt this remark helps or hurts him with that demographic. He mostly has their support and those he doesn't have won't be swayed by this.
Race is always there whether you talk about it or not.
The question is how you bring the question to where it can be discussed. Make no mistake about it - the McCain camp is playing the race card. How DOES Obama respond to it? You seem to think that this wasn't an issue until Obama brought it up.
If even this triflingly humorous remark is beyond what can be discussed then there truly is no hope. I don't think that's the case.
August 2, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
VintageClub: O was trying to innoculate, but Rove being Rove, took the innoculation and shoved it right back down his throat.
There is no more time to waste. Barack must hit back now with a decimating attack.
August 2, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should confront these types of ads head on. He should do an ad in which he states unequivocally that McCain has NOTHING TO SAY about America's problems.
McCain has to compare Obama to Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton and, amazingly, Moses because he has NOTHING TO SAY about how he is going to improve the lives of ordinary Americans. McCain has no plan for health care, the economy, ending the Iraq fiasco so all he has is whiny complaints about Obama's celebrity and arrogance.
Obama should not dwell too much on the fact that McCain is hinting at racial stereotypes. He is, but who cares. He should remind people that all McCain can do is distract them, not lead them.
That hits back and doesn't get ugly.
August 2, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
eamseneca: Damn Straight! He can raise expectations for McCain's proposals and words, and when he stumbles and gaffes, his fall will look even worse in this context.
But BO may be too late at this point.
WAKE UP O-CAMPAIGN! You're getting rolled!!
August 2, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are crazy. If five years ago someone had told you that in 2008, a freshman senator who never was a governor or major or a statewide leader or distinguished himself in any other way would come along in a Democratic year but would lose to McCain, a war hero, because he was was wrong or flip-flopped and so many issues, such as Iraq, drilling, FISA and many other issues and because he was not very good without teleprompter , you would have said that 'of course he'd lose if is not a President's son.
August 2, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
But tnathan, you are precisely the audience for the ads. You've been consistent all year on your disdain for African-American and your feeling that they can't be trusted on the only issue you care about; Israel.
You aren't exactly a swing voter.
August 2, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
With friends like M.J. Rosenberg, Obama doesn't need enemies.
August 2, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
This uppity/arrogant/presumptious business wouldn't be gaining traction if it were only the McCain campaign pushing it. It's being amplified by the entitled ones sniggering in agreement from their perches within the MSM superstructure.
Obama can provide all the substantive ideas he wants but if the smirking media ignores it in favor of the McCain camp's framing, it won't matter.
The McCain camp has in essence, recruited the media by appealing to their highschool dweeb loser sensibilities of "ironic detachment". It worked against Gore and Kerry and is even worse against Obama.
Recall that Mark McKinnon, creator of the Kerry windsurfer ad, saw it coming and for whatever reasons, informed the McCain camp a year before it happened that he would not be producing video should Obama become the nominee.
If he would talk, it would be interesting to get McKinnon's take on the current situation.
Josh? Greg? Gitlin? Anyone?
August 2, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink