Racism and Hate at McCain/Palin Rally in Pottsville, Pennsylvania
A new video posted to Youtube shows McCain/Palin supporters spewing racism and hate at peaceful pro-Obama demonstrators outside a McCain/Palin rally Oct. 27 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. One older gentleman early in the video shouts "Bomb Obama!" at the videographer and Obama supporters. Asked by the videographer what that means, the man says, "Get rid of him," then gestures indicating this means assassinating Obama. A younger man holding a "Democrats for McCain" sign says, when asked why he supports McCain, "I'd never vote for a black man." Another young man declares, "I do not want a black man running my country." Among women at the rally, one says she is against Obama because "his associations and his judgment are not American," repeating the Obama-as-foreigner meme. Another older gentleman also repeats this idea, insisting that Obama was born in Kenya, not the United States, and asking for his birth certificate (ample proof exists that Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii). Other rallygoers shout various combinations of "Barack Hussein Obama" in addition to the usual charges that Obama is a "terrorist" and a "baby killer." If we needed more proof that racism and hate are indeed running rampant in the grassroots Republican ranks, this is it. The video is credited to the Pennsylvania progressive organization Keystone Progress.
Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com
This is not surprising. Northern Pa. especially is a hot bed of right wing religion and politics. There are a number of white supremacy groups in that area. With at least 20 such groups at last count.
C
October 28, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Should the MSM be reporting on this? Or would it only make it worse? My initial reaction is they definitely should, but then......
Thoughts?
Thanks for posting. Rec'd.
October 28, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for posting this.
I was speaking with a friend earlier this evening and we were discussing our disappointment in the lack of consistent attention that this simultaneous campaign of hatred is garnering in the media.
My mother has been telling me for years that you don't engage this type of ignorance, you just ignore it and move on. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you see it, I don't agree (who likes to tell Mom she's wrong?)--I think it is imperative that you expose it, you rebuke it, and shame the actors. How do you hope to mitigate this behavior and the associated attitudes, without first acknowledging their problematic nature?
October 28, 2008 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
One must expose and discuss and refute it, otherwise it persists unmolested. Silence is assent.
October 29, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
These are fascinating events, but I do alway wonder what the Obama supporters are doing. I mean, it's their right to be there, but what's the strategy? Incite? Do they think they'll convert people? I don't get it.
October 29, 2008 8:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
To put in a presence. If they outnumber the 'tards, then the 'tards, regardless thier loud mouths, realize that they are a minority. IT backs down their pseudo-confidence.
October 29, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink