Patterico's Pontifications

7/30/2008

Jake Tapper: “Did Obama Accuse McCain of Running a Racist, Xenophobic Campaign?”

Filed under: 2008 Election — DRJ @ 9:08 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Jake Tapper of ABC’s Political Punch blog:

“I’ve seen racism in campaigns before — I’ve seen it against Obama in this campaign (more from Democrats than Republicans, at this point, I might add) and I’ve seen it against McCain in South Carolina in 2000, when his adopted Bangladeshi daughter Bridget was alleged, by the charming friends and allies of then-Gov. George W. Bush, to have been a McCain love-child with an African-American woman.

What I have not seen is it come from McCain or his campaign in such a way to merit the language Obama used today. Pretty inflammatory.”

Details at the link.

— DRJ

41 Responses to “Jake Tapper: “Did Obama Accuse McCain of Running a Racist, Xenophobic Campaign?””

  1. Doesn’t it seem that all of the mention of race in this campaign is coming from Obama? Not a word from the GOP.

    Yet the accusations of “racism” (first mentioned by Bill “the first Black President” Clinton) still abound as though this were a confrontation between the NAACP and the KKK…

    Drumwaster (5ccf59)

  2. Drum – It was coming from the left as opposed to the right.

    Here Obama’s doing it once again with the “He looks different” bit. He’s freaking shameless.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  3. The race card will be a recurring theme. I believe its main purpose is to energize the troops.

    nk (c1e92f)

  4. Key Obama talking points: “John McCain and the Republicans, they don’t have any new ideas, that’s why they’re spending all their time talking about me.” — and then, just a few sentences later — “They’re going to try to say that I’m a risky guy, they’re going to try to say, ‘Well, you know, he’s got a funny name and he doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills and the five dollar bills and, and they’re going to send out nasty emails.”

    — “They” have already been identified: John McCain and the Republicans. Obama isn’t referring to fringe-dwelling bloggers; he’s talking about the people that operate the mainline Republican ‘machine’. This is a direct callback to his San Francisco ‘bitter’ comments: “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them“. He is clearly playing the race card now; accusing McCain supporters of fostering fear of a black man in charge as a campaign tactic (taking advantage of and amplifying those bitter feelings). Does he have any proof that anyone other than ‘fringers’ are doing this? No. Will that stop him from mentioning it (twice today!)? What do you think?

    Icy Truth (b6bc11)

  5. Well, it is nice (and refreshing) to finally start hearing substantive assertions and announcements and promises from at least one of the candidates in this race. Frankly, I’d rather know what one person WILL do than hear what that OTHER guy won’t never ever ever do. Because he’s, you know, a racist fruck.

    We know, now, finally and for certain, that if we elect Obama, he will indeed spend much time and attention telling us about Obama.

    And that’s important.

    bobby b (4baf73)

  6. “He looks different” than other presidents on our currency was a purely racist statement and the left wingers stuck their heads up his butt and sucked. This man is not presidential material, unless it’s president of the Black Panthers.

    Scrapiron (d671ab)

  7. It’s cute you think Sen Obama would survive in that culture. He’s not NEAR militant enough…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  8. Prediction: Between November 4th (when McCain will win the election) and inauguration day, Michelle Obama will play the race card in explaining complaining about why her baby-daddy lost.

    Icy Truth (b6bc11)

  9. All I can say is Obama playing the race card is the Ace in McCain’s hand.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  10. The comments section has covered it, all on the money. Obama does seem to rally his troops with this stuff. It may also divert from little goofs and fluffs that might otherwise get discussed.

    I think that of all the BHO controversies, his constantly pulling the victim card is just really sh*tty campaigning. The man is a superficial turd.

    Dennis Prager did a good writeup of the Berlin speech today, and it is indeed scary how the words flow but nothing has weight. An interpreter is needed to explain what’s missing and what’s inaccurate. But the damn dumb vote Ho’ is cultivating will never dare analyze his comments. And the white guilt vote is already in the bag.

    Seriously, Obama: People are voting for you because of your color. It’s not because of your experience or empty rhetoric. The comparison ad to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears is very, very funny. Ironic that we get the only humorous barb from the guy’s opponent! Letterman and Co. won’t even touch the messiah.

    Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6)

  11. OBAMA’s OWN WORDS:

    If somebody doesn’t have anything nice to say about anybody, that means they’ve got some problems of their own.”

    – For once the fool is right. Now let Michelle tuck you into bed so you can sign all your autographs in the morning.

    Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6)

  12. Does this put fruit on the table?

    steve miller (eba841)

  13. Contaminated fruit.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  14. McCain is white.
    A white Republican.
    That makes him a de facto racist to members of the Democrat party.
    …and only a racist would dare oppose the chosen one.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  15. Racists

    JD (75f5c3)

  16. Just how many votes does he hope to win by calling people racists? That sort of tactic only works on his hard-left base, who he already has locked up. The people whose votes he needs will resent it.

    So keep it up, BO!

    brobin (c07c20)

  17. JD,

    I resemble that remark (or is it “resent”? I always confuse the two).

    Icy Truth (c38387)

  18. Typical white people.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  19. I calls ’em like I sees ’em.

    JD (75f5c3)

  20. And Juan McCain is seriously considering Lieberman as VP at this stage? Other than the war effort, isn’t Joe rather far to the left on social issues? We hear evangelicals will desert McCain if he picks Romney. Why not just pick Hillary? Good chance whoever is VP will be taking over at some point, no?

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  21. Actually, politically, Hillary as VP would be a good idea on McCain’s part. It would basicly stop dead any effort on Obama’s part to pick up the “pissed off Hillary supporter”, and god knows enough republicans were considering voting for Hillary instead of McCain…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  22. Yeah, but Hillary would also monumentally piss off the GOP base that McCain will inevitably need come crunch time – he’s already done enough on that score with his immigration bill and many other silly statements the past few weeks. He may hate some of them, but there aren’t enough independents and disaffected Hillary supporters to replace a base that may choose to sit this one out (notwithstanding the illogic of that action).

    Dmac (416471)

  23. You say that like McCain doesn’t piss off a large part of the Conservative base by merely existing…

    And I really think that the Hillary backers going to McCain would be amazingly hurtful to Obama’s chances… Ever changed vote basicly acts like two votes from the base…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  24. If Tapper is looking for Racist Xenophobes, the pulpit and pews of Obama’s church strike me as a target rich environment. Anyone who spent 20 years (or 20 minutes if you have normal intelligence) as a member of that unholy tribe, has earned their racist credintials, magna cum laude.

    Ropelight (2af3e2)

  25. Don’t you think a conservative woman governor from Alaska might help McCain with women and the right? Seems that liberal women ( those over 50) support McCain.
    As much as I abhor Hillary, she’s much preferred for the nation’s future well-being, over the deadly wrong on many issues pompous prick Obama.

    Read Huckabee was still considered. Say it ain’t so. I’d have thought his Obama assassination joke would put the nails in coffin for his VP hopes. Ditto the Breck Girl with his love child.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  26. Palin would certainly help…

    But she could get teh whitehouse on her own. Next time around her with Jindal as VP would be an amazing ticket.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  27. Palin was my choice as well, but the local Dems there have initiated an investigation into her past dealings, as reported in today’s WSJ.

    “You say that like McCain doesn’t piss off a large part of the Conservative base by merely existing…”

    No doubt, but many would hold their noses and vote for him anyway, considering the alternative. But Hillary being on his ticket would really be rubbing their noses in it, and as much as McCain loves to do that, it’s akin to biting off his nose to spite his face. Ain’t gonna happen.

    Dmac (416471)

  28. I would love to see Palin on the ticket but given that she recently gave birth to a son with Down Syndrome, her plate would appear to be full, overflowing perhaps. This might not be her time -yet.

    As far as the WSJ goes, she already admitted she inhaled, isn’t that what matters?

    Dana (b4a26c)

  29. Not yet, but in 4 or 8 years, it certainly will be, and Jindal will have some lovely experiance as well to back him up.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  30. I wish that were true, Dana – but given the ridiculous behavior of the MSM towards Obama’s many missteps (i.e. completely overlooking them), you just know that they’re going to pounce on Palin’s problems in their heroic attempts at moral relativism. When you’ve got the full array of media outlets in the tank for your opponent, you better not give them any additional ammunition – but what do I know? If he chooses Romney, I would tend to think that may cause more problems with his candidacy than someone like Palin would.

    Dmac (416471)

  31. Is anyone out there keeping tabs on Obama’s gaffes, racist and otherwise? I think there are good correlations to be made and conclusions drawn from mapping those to the preachings of Obama’s mentor, co-board member and others in his circle. Wright and Ayers have not gone away, nor should they. There is still a great deal of knowledge about Obama to be mined from those sources. For instance, I can find no MSM mention of Obama’s church altering their website as his campaign began. The record is out there and there are legitimate questions as to why they changed what they did…

    F15C (3d6c14)

  32. Projection is a psychosis that is endemic within the modern Democrat/LoonyLeft political spectrum.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  33. The 527 ads practically write themselves. I’m thinking we’ll see swiftboat vets redux. How about clergy for truth?

    Announcer: Obama regularly accuses McCain and Republicans of racism.

    Cut to Rev. Wright or Pleger.

    The howls from BO and the MSM will be deafening.

    Chris (da1e70)

  34. #25 – 27

    McCain can pick anyone, really. I’m there on election day. I’m casting the anti- Obama vote come hell or high water. Hillary, Mitt, Joe… all good.

    Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6)

  35. Even Dana Milbank at the Washington Post says Obama is playing the race card.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  36. Announcer: Obama regularly accuses McCain and Republicans of racism.

    Cut to Rev. Wright or Pleger.

    The howls from BO and the MSM will be deafening.

    Excellent. They should use it..

    Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6)

  37. Obama defends infanticide.

    Obama supports a total handgun ban.

    Obama stands up for illegal aliens.

    Obama thinks consumption is intrinsically wrong.

    Michael Ejercito (a757fd)

  38. ^ I can only hope the team is scanning blogs for good ad concepts.

    Obama defends infanticide.

    Obama supports a total handgun ban.

    Obama stands up for illegal aliens.

    Obama thinks consumption is intrinsically wrong.

    Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6)

  39. Obama is a gaffe machine and the debates are going to decide the election. If McCain is sharp, and he is at his best off the written speech, Obama will refuse any more debates and that will be it.

    I would like to Pawlenty, who is the origin of the “Sam’s Club Republicans” term which is the future of the party. If you wonder what I’m talking about, read Grand New Party, or you could read my review of it on Amazon.

    Mike K (6d4fc3)

  40. That was supposed to say Pawlenty for VP.

    Mike K (6d4fc3)

  41. As I was leaving my office this afternoon, one security guard was telling another:

    “Did you hear what McCain said about Obama? He said that Obama does not look like any of our dollar bills!”

    So the Obama campaign’s dishonest tactic is working, they’ve put into people’s minds that McCain is saying racist things that he isn’t and has no intention of saying.

    That’s the kind of dishonest campaign we are going to see Obama run this year.

    Its making me more enthusiastic about McCain … and even more disgusted with Obama. From empty suit to slime bag.

    SPQR (26be8b)


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