Ugly is as ugly does…
Posted by Chris on 7 October, 2008
The other day my blog buddy Mike wrote about the lack of respect being shown around the PRB for the political candidates. 
He specifically mentions the catchy names for the Republican ticket, you know the ones I mean – McSame, Grampy McSame, Sarah Stalin (that was a new one on me), etc. I’m certainly no saint in that respect and have been known to refer to Governor Palin as Caribou Barbie in public and I’m pretty sure I’ve referred to Republican Senator McCain as McSame here on this very blog. Well even those of us who have our fingers in the pie can still point those fingers. For those of us on the left, we need to remember how much we hate those on the right falsely claiming that Senator Obama is a Muslim and trying to make it seem like a detriment if he did happen to be a non-christian. Neither side of the aisle is innocent in this situation.
Are the candidates themselves responsible for what their supporters are saying? Is Republican Senator McCain responsible for his supporters who call Senator Obama a Muslim? Conversely is Senator Obama responsible for his supporters who call Governor Palin Caribou Barbie? This may seem like an odd or silly question, but the name calling took an ugly turn this weekend. I’m not even sure that ugly is the right word to use here, I would posit that things took a dangerous turn this weekend.
Recently during rallies when Republican Senator McCain asked the rhetorical question “Who is Obama?” someone in the crowd responded by shouting out “terrorist” and “kill him”. The same answers were shouted by the crowds at Governor Palin’s events as well. Neither the Senator nor the Governor stopped their speeches to admonish the audience about inappropriate, offensive and illegal comments. Lest you doubt the veracity of my statements simply head over to YouTube where there are several videos that show the situation in question.
Need we remind not only the candidates, but also the Secret Service agents that were in attendance, that threatening the life of a presidential candidate is a felony. While I can imagine that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find one or two individuals in a crowd, I feel the onus was on the Senator and the Governor. They should have immediately admonished the crowd and reminded them of the legality of saying “kill him” about Senator Obama. Are the candidates responsible for every word that comes out of their supporter’s mouths? No, probably not, but they certainly have a responsibility to rein in illegal activities when they’re occurring in front of their faces.
Campaigns get ugly. I’m beginning to wonder if the folks who shouted “terrorist” and “kill him” were planted in the crowd by campaign staffers. Stranger things have been done in the attempt to win political office.
The question remains – where does the responsibility lie? Does it lie with the Senator and Governor who tacitly accepted the statements by ignoring them? Or does it become their responsibility only when someone acts on the statements that they have ignored? Or is it never their responsibility?
jewelz916 said
I “affectionately” refer to McCain as McPain(in-the-ass). And I’m loving the Caribou Barbie!!!
I, too, saw the YouTube video that showed Palin at the rally where someone shouted “Kill Him”, and I was absolutely horrified that nothing was said. She didn’t even blink an eye…although I swear I saw one of her vapid smiles tickling the corners of her mouth.
I truly believe that the candidates ARE responsible for this kind of thing. Name calling? Probably not…you can’t control that. But the S.S. should have been on top of those dumb-asses who were shouting threats about a presidential candidate. Just further proves to me that the McCain/Palin ticket is the WRONG choice….they obviously don’t care about following the letter of the law, and I can only imagine the kind of damage that they could do if unleashed on this country. I shudder to think.
sizzle said
I do think that the candidates can set the tone for their supporters to follow. I’ve seen Obama interact with people who are protesting his speeches on video and he handles it with poise and respect. I heard about the person shouting “terrorist” and “kill him” and it really concerns me. Who are these people and how in the hell are they SO misguided?
Chris said
Jewelz ~ I could swear I saw a smirk on Republican Senator McCain’s face when the person in the crowd shouted terrorist. Regardless of smirks or no smirks condoning such behavior, tacit or not, is the same thing as encouraging it. Four years of a McCain/Palin administration will leave this country in dire straights indeed.
Sizzle ~ I’ve seen the same thing from Obama and it encourages me that there’s hope in future races for the discourse to change. It really concerns me that the republican national committee or even the McCain/Palin campaign hasn’t made an announcement denouncing such behavior by their supporters. It speaks volumes to me that they haven’t…
Dagny said
In hearing about the things that were shouted when McCain spoke (and when Palin was speaking recently in Florida), it would be an understatement to say that a chill ran down my spine. As a woman of color, I suddenly found myself thinking, “What if they are elected? They have made no statement to admonish this behavior and so they imply that they condone of this behavior. What will this mean for me and others like me?” This last week in the campaign has made me very nervous about my place in American society. I have always known in my mind that there were those who saw my race and thought awful things. But now they suddenly feel free to openly espouse their hate. I’d be lying if I said that this did not make me afraid.
As for the name calling. The first time I have ever seen those names is when I read your post. I have never referred to any of the candidates by anything other than their name. It would have been nice if McCain could have done the same during the debate.
Christopher said
I call Palin “McCandy” and I will continue to do so.
I call McCain “the Old Coot” and I will continue to do so.
No apologies from me.
Chris said
Dagny ~ I know that if I was a person of color I’d feel nervous as well. I really feel that the McCain/Palin campaign is beginning to openly foster a climate of hatred.
Christopher ~ no apologies necessary…
Mike said
Ouch. So the whole “but they do it too!” defense. Wow. Still a 10-year-old argument.
And, so sad.
Chris said
Mike ~ I hope that comment was not directed at me b/c I don’t feel that was the point of my post. My point was that we on the left need to knock it off and we need to remember how much we hate it when the right does it to our candidates. My point is that regardless of which side of the aisle it comes from it needs to stop. Yes, they do it too is a child’s argument and that’s exactly why I didn’t ever say that. I’m just not understanding your comment I guess.