Senator McCain and Governor Palin had embarked on a dangerous path of using race-baiting and cultural intolerance to stoke hate among their followers. Although the news has dialed down its coverage, average voters are still discussing the angry tone of the Republican rallies.
It should be a concern to all Americans as Senator McCain and Governor Palin tout their “country first” message, they are also willing to tear the social fabric of our country apart with racially-tinged and divisive messages as they whipping up a mob mentality. This is not about “country first”, it is about Senator McCain and Governor Palin exploiting the basest of human emotions, fear and hate in order to garner votes at all costs.
Senator McCain is the man who talks incessantly about “honor” and “integrity” and “country first.”
McCain-Palin are linking Senator Barack Obama with domestic and international terrorism by demonizing Senator Obama’s name as something foreign or even, ludicrously, Middle Eastern, due to Senator Obama’s middle name Hussein. In other words, the McCain-Palin’s campaign has demonized non-Anglicized names as “foreign, dangerous, traitorous, and un-American.”
Yet, in the most un-American act, Senator McCain and Governor Palin have enabled their supporters to insult Arab and Muslim American communities across our country by suggesting that any Middle Eastern sounding name is automatically a terrorist-in-the-making. They have, in effect, questioned the patriotism of all Arab and Muslim Americans?
Governor Palin is particularly egregious as she continues to incite the crowds among her rallies to shouting, “Kill him”, “Treason”, “Terrorist”. It is as if Governor Palin is also pumped up for the “kill” as she continues to smile and delivers the rest of her speech. After all, she is a proud hunter. Since Palin has promised to take her gloves off and apparently, that means, race-baiting and to incite hate.
Governor Palin uses Senator Obama’s acquaintance with former Weatherman founder Bill Ayers by telling the crowd, “This is not a man who sees America as you and I do – as the greatest force for good in the world. This is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorist who targeted their own country.” Never mind that when Ayers committed detestable acts, Obama was 8 years old.
Along the same line, in March 2008, it was Governor Palin who video-taped a message of support of a secessionist Alaska Independent Party (AIP) that advocated armed opposition to the United States; her husband was a member of this party for 7 years (1995-2002), and the AIP was supported by Iran. The AIP is still active. The McCain campaign has defended Ms. Palin by citing her Republican Party membership since 1982.
All this brings us back to the question of Senator McCain’s judgment and choices throughout this presidential election campaign. It is deeply disturbing that Senator McCain seems to be willing to tear this country apart to win some votes and stands by Governor Palin’s insidiously race-baiting comments that prey on people’s fears. He has not shown any sign to rein in her overt provocations.
Fear-mongering is not helpful to a country that is already strained financially. For example, fear was responsible for the Dow Jones Industrial Average to swing 1,000 points last week. In Wall Street’s parlance, fear is measured as volatility index (VIX).
Regardless of our differences, our society does not need any potential laceration of our socio-cultural fabric. Our country needs to recover from the current economic crisis, re-stabilize our financial system, and restore the public confidence in investments.
After the November election, it will take a bi-partisan Congress and President to work to solve a mountain of problems that awaits them in January 2009.
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