MCCAIN CAMP TALKS 'CHARACTER ASSASSINATION,' SUPPORTERS SHOUT FOR REAL ASSASSINATION
At her last rally in Florida, Sarah Palin told the audience that Barack Obama "palled around with terrorists" adding,"I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America." Upon hearing the Republican VP candidate's concern that Sen. Obama might be a terrorist, a voice in the crowd cried out 'Kill him!'
McCain Campaign Amplifies Violent Rhetoric, GOP Crowds Threaten Obama's Life
The Washington Post's Dana Milbank reported an incident at a Palin rally that should open America's eyes to the central role violent rhetoric now plays in the McCain campaign. Milbank describes how Palin told the crowd in Florida that Obama has close associations with a terrorist who sought to bomb the Pentagon and the U.S. Capital, in response to which the crowd responded with a threat on Sen. Obama's life:
"Now it turns out, one of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers...And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,'" she continued.
"Boooo!" the crowd repeated.
"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.
Palin went on to say that "Obama held one of the first meetings of his political career in Bill Ayers's living room, and they've worked together on various projects in Chicago." Here, Palin began to connect the dots. "These are the same guys who think that patriotism is paying higher taxes -- remember that's what Joe Biden had said. "And" -- she paused and sighed -- "I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way you and I see America, as the greatest force for good in the world. I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as 'imperfect enough' to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country." (link)
Palin's new rhetorical strategy signifies an alarming new development in the 2008 Presidential election, and one that has been not only been documented by such high profile newspapers as the Washington Post, but confirmed by the McCain campaign itself.
"It's a dangerous road, but we have no choice," a top McCain strategist recently admitted to the Daily News. "If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we're going to lose." (link)
The 'dangerous road,' however, is not just a generic attack on Sen. Obama's trustworthiness or honesty. Rather, the McCain campaign has chosen to stand before campaign rallies and accuse Sen. Obama of hiding sympathies with domestic terrorists--to accuse their opponent, essentially, of being a terrorist.
With the McCain campaign now using the Palin stump speech to accuse Sen. Obama of hiding a terrorist agenda, the McCain campaign has staked its future on rhetoric that skirts the boundary between character assassination and incitements of actual violence against their opponent.
Meanwhile, while McCain is not yet accusing Obama of terrorism in his own stump speech, the crowds at his rallies are.
In a recent video clip from MSNBC, McCain asked a rally, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" In response to McCain's rhetorical question, a voice from the crowd can be clearly heard to shout in response, "Terrorist!" (link)
Since the start of the election campaign well over a year ago, voters have been subject to ongoing smear campaigns in emails and push polls accusing Sen. Obama of ties to and sympathies with domestic and foreign terrorist groups. No matter how many times these smear campaigns have been exposed, they continued. Now that John McCain and Sarah Palin have echoed these accusations--the idea that Sen. Obama is secretly a terrorist has the stamp of approval of a presidential campaign, but of a multi-term U.S. senator and a U.S. governor.
One wonders at this point how the various agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the Presidential candidates from violence will respond to this latest tactic from the McCain campaign. If, for example, a McCain supporter threatens the life of Sen. Obama by shouting 'Kill him!' at a Palin rally, should Sen. Obama's Secret Service contingent launch an investigation? Having been accused of terrorist ties by the McCain campaign, will Sen. Obama's name be put on the 'No Fly' list, effectively making it impossible for him to engage in normal airline travel?
An even more basic question, perhaps: Is Gov. Palin trying to incite violence against Sen. Obama as part of an ill-conceived campaign strategy to change the topic from the economy at any cost?
Time will tell how law enforcement will respond, but one thing is already certain: the more Palin and McCain incite calls for violence against Sen. Obama, the more their chances of achieving a victory in November disappear.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/is-palin-trying-to-incite_...
Link time:
- http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/06/in_fla_palin_goes_...
- http://jeffrey-feldman.typepad.com/frameshop/2008/10/frameshop-mccai.htm...
- http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/as-dow-plummets.html
- http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/mccain-does-nothing-as-crowd-member.h...
Wallis
Antica Murrina Veneziana
Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti
*sigh*
1Airhead is getting desperate because McCain is behind in the polls. She's a very sad and pathetic woman
2I mean -- this is just plain DISGUSTING!! This
mob
mantality -- it's totally like a hate rally! McCain did nothing to stop it either --nothing what so ever. It's like they WANT to entice a riot or worse -- a race war or something.
Their little rallies are looking more and more like hate rallies -- WHAT happened to the damm issues???????
3How is she inciting it? If Obama said McCain is bush 3, like he has said many times, and someone said kill him, is that Obama's fault or the fault of the actual moron who said it? There are fanatics on every side.
4Calling someone a terrorist has a much different connotation than calling someone Bush. Come on GS you have to know that.
5She never called him a terrorist. She said he associates with them, and he does.
6That is just a fact.
7He does not!!
8That's right I forgot he wants to have them over for pizza and beer "unconditionally."
9How can you logically say he doesn't? Obama wrote his book review as recently as 2007.
10Well maybe not inciting it per se - but not stopping then and there and or acknowledging the threat and continuing on the same train of thought is wrong. The campaign surely is aware of the threat that was posed. They can make a stand against violent remarks, which they are choosing not to. Rather, they continue to let Palin speak half-truths that she is now likely aware are creating great hostilities that simply do not need to exist.
11Is there proof that Palin heard it up on the podium while speaking? Have you ever spoken before a large crowd? You can barely make out words let alone an individual voice. If she heard it and didn't address it, that would be wrong. But just assuming she heard it and moved along is wrong. I don't know why or what she has done that would make any of you think she wanted Obama dead. That is just preposterous.
12And kiddy, all four runners have been notorious for half truths.
13GS - this info has been making it's rounds and is becoming fairly well known. As I stated the campaign is surely aware of this...I never said she herself heard it then. I never said that they don't ALL make half-truth statements. What I was pointing out was that THIS PARTICULAR half-truth is causing much more harm and the campaign can simply state that there is no room for that sort of violent outburst in this race.
Oh, but you wanted to put words in my mouth without even really reading what I wrote.
14I heard about this incident this morning before I left for work. And I was so angry at the dangerous game she's playing. She's definitely appealing to the emotions of people who don't like Obama for, dare I say it b/c of the color of his skin or . Let's face it, there are people out there still like this. She's encouraging behavior by not denouncing ugly words, but instead fueling the anger by continuing without pause is quite frankly fanning the flames of hatred.
15I heard about this incident this morning before I left for work. And I was so angry at the dangerous game she's playing. She's definitely appealing to the emotions of people who don't like Obama for, dare I say it b/c of the color of his skin or . Let's face it, there are people out there still like this. She's encouraging behavior by not denouncing ugly words, but instead fueling the anger by continuing without pause is quite frankly fanning the flames of hatred.
16sorry about the double post, hit the button too fast
17I very obviously read what you wrote as I respond to nearly every point you made. And again, his association with Ayers in NOT a half-truth.
18Where does race come into this at all. Where has Palin ever mentioned the color of his skin? What does saying he associates with Ayers, a white guy, have to do with race? If you are talking about rev. Wright, he is the one talking race.
19I wasn't talking about Palin, I was talking about some voters being racist.
20Oh, well yes. That is the case from all races. A sad case, but real.
21This is the same thing THEY did in 04 and all we got was George W Bush.
22Remember Mission Accomplished? LOL
Don't worry about it Krradford, GS isn't reading too well today. Obviously. Taking what we say out of context and misconstruing it...oh wait!
GS, of course you responded. Not to what I said, but to what you decided to make out of what I said. You would do well in the Spin Room I think.
23He does not associate with terrorists. He isn't a Muslim (which shouldn't matter anyway). And he isn't a Socialist.
It doesn't matter how many lies people tell, the accusations just are not true. But it seems to me that many many people can't be bothered to think for themselves
24sasha, on the last two you are spot on. The first one is just a matter of fact. How can you disclaim it. Not terrorist a la taliban, but domestic terrorist being William Ayers. That just is.
25MamaSuir~ I love your avy! I really want a Hamsa tattoo.
Just to clarify my comment: I'm fully aware that the particular accusations I referred to have nothing to do with this particular post. I was merely using them as examples of steaming piles of bullsh*t that many people fall all over themselves to belive
26And kiddy, I really don't know what to say to you. I refuted your post. Every point you made. Your comeback, you just heard what you want to hear. Not refuting what I actually said. That reads, "I don't have a comeback."
27:snort: Thanks GS! You can't imagine how excited I am that you approve of two out of three of my points! OMG!
28Wow.
29I'm pretty sure its "forerunners".
Has McPalin denounced the calls for his assassination or the accusations of his being a terrorist?
I'm 100% serious about my above questions & any info as to such is welcome.
30No I meant four runners as in the four running.
31GS, what I wrote was that surely the campaign is aware of the remarks made. You countered asking have I ever made a speech in front of a large crowd and did I think she heard it. I reiterated that although unlikely she heard it AT THE TIME, she is likely aware now. I never assumed she heard it, but now that she is likely aware she CAN address it yet hasn't. That was my point from the get go, but you keep working under the assumption that I said she heard it. I never did.
Snarky comebacks cracking wise about the immaturity of people is just as immature. Yes, this comment is snarky too. Sometimes having fun in life makes it so our faces don't stay all twisted up when we get old.
32Again, no one said he was a terrorist. He DOES associate with domestic terrorist Ayers. So that shouldn't be denounced. And does Obama denounce everything thrown against McCain by people outside of the campaign? No. He doesn't even denounce lies from inside the campaign, a la his spanish ad. Politics are dirty. That is just that.
33I speak only for myself, but I can't be bothered to do battle over every single last "issue". Personally, I've got way too much going on.
Besides, all the back & forth BS is pointless anyway. None of us are going to change each others minds & I'm not down with pissing contests.
34It kills me when people say he "associates" with a terrorist. This "terrorist" is a well respected professor at an American University. He was called a domestic terrorist because he was one of thousands of Americans that were against the Viet Nam war. He blew up a toilet at a frat house right? Scandalous! And- since when are you judged by people that volunteer with you in a CHARITY. I have volunteered with many charities and respect people that give back...and for that matter, I'm against the the Iraq war & I think George Bush is a murderous war criminal who should be jailed for life. OH NO! I'm a TERRORIST!
35Shiz Candy! I am too! OH NOES! I "associate" with all manner of people at the law school & I bet a few of the students will, in 10ish years, turn out to be total scumbags. I better quit my job & never leave my house!
36Sorry, I said the "toilet" comment out of frustration...I know he participating in blowing up a statue.
37The president of the United States is more of a terrorist than Bill Ayers EVER was.
38War crimes what? Candy, I'm having flashbacks to asshats in the bar in Savvy...
39Thanks Sashak!
40
I LOVE hamsas! I'm looking at the one right by my front door right
now!
41Ayers participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the United States Capitol building in 1971, and The Pentagon in 1972, as he noted in his 2001 book, Fugitive Days. Good lord, do your research.
42I didn't say that the statue was THE ONLY one he participated in. I can read Wikipedia just like you.
43Sigh, wikipedia? I've known this stuff for about a year. If you knew, why did you put statue? Makes him seem less extreme than he actually was?
44Man,
is such an awesome retort
45Oh- and about the actual topic of this blog, OF COURSE I think Palin is trying at the very least to incite hatred against Obama. C'mon, Republicans you give her so much credit for being smart & then you let her off the hook with this angry rhetoric SPECIFICALLY designed to make people angry? She knows exactly what she is doing and this is unacceptable.
46You must not have caught the actual retort in front of it, I guess.
47GS, why do you bother? You aren't going to change our minds & we aren't going to change yours.
48And with that, I'm done with you.
49Well, GS, the point you are missing is that I DON'T CARE if Obama knows or associates with someone that has a past like this. It doesn't scare me because I don't buy into the fear mongering that the Bush administration has so successfully applied to the American people. Ayers is not a threat to Americans.
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