# "He's not one of us" - McCain/Palin are playing the race card **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 10, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269 "2008-10-10T02:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/21 "2008-10-10T12:33:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Ooh, yeah!](http://www.theonion.com/content/video/portrayal_of_obama_as_elitist)🙂 Really truly nothing quite like The Onion. :D:D;) ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/22 "2008-10-10T12:41:14Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > We wouldn’t know Sarah Palin’s name if Hillary had gotten the nom 🙂 The issue is not Sarah Palin, the issue is what script has been placed in her hands by the McCain Campaign. Sarah Palin is without a doubt being used by McCain. Does the McCain campaign truly hope that if he wins this election using this strategy, that he would be able to mend fences with minorities in this country ever? This line of attack can only go to the further fracturing of race relations in America. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/23 "2008-10-10T13:13:21Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > I believe it is a planned strategy. > > **[Winning the Message War: The Real Fight He Faces](http://www.campaignsandelections.com/articles/?ArticleID=762DABF7-1422-17E0-F818DC93EB37020B)** by Tom Rosshirt After reading the OP, I was thinking this and came across it in your link: > [@](#): > > As the heirs of Nixon find repulsive new ways to say, “He’s not one of us,” they may inspire voters to support Obama so they can say: “I’m not one of them.” On some, not all, policy points, I could support the GOP. But their nastiness, subtle race-baiting and embrace of religious fundamentalism makes it impossible for me to vote for them. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/24 "2008-10-10T13:21:02Z")
Just by going on what has been posted, I’m taking it as painting Obama as an ivory tower, liberal elitist. Of course this is coming from a campaign where the top guy on the ticket can’t remember how many houses he owns, but, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/25 "2008-10-10T13:27:32Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Edwards’ “Two Americas”… no problem. > > Republicans’ “not one of us” … oooooh race card, race card! > [@Marley23](#): > > Would you mind explaining the similarities between those two ideas? Come on, you can’t see that on the surface they’re both just cheap shots to separate Americans into “us” and “them”. The only difference is that the Pubbies actually used the words “us” and “them”, which sounds infinitely worse than “Two Americas”. And why would McCain/Palin have to secretly imply Obama is black anyway? Of course he’s black! You can fucking see that! “Not one of us” is just the latest in a long line of attacks on his Godless Liberal-lifestyle that is not in line with real American values. Why throw the race card into that when it doesn’t even make any sense? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/26 "2008-10-10T13:30:57Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Who is “us”? If Obama is considered as part of the American public, then of course he’s one of us, by definition. What they mean by ‘us’ is whitefolks. Rich whitefolks. Or poor white folks who want to be rich someday, but never will. Or Black folks who want to be white. Also Christian. Rich, white Christians. That’s who “us” is in their special code, and that’s why “He’s not one of us” is not-very-heavily veiled racist talk. Your bare assertion of racist intent does not mnake it true. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/27 "2008-10-10T13:31:38Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Come on, you can’t see that on the surface they’re both just cheap shots to separate Americans into “us” and “them”. The only difference is that the Pubbies actually used the words “us” and “them”, which sounds infinitely worse than “Two Americas”. Dividing people by economic class may be inaccurate, but both parties do it and it’s at least sometimes related to a political argument. I can’t say the same for playing the race card. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/28 "2008-10-10T13:38:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Dividing people by economic class may be inaccurate, but both parties do it and it’s at least sometimes related to a political argument. I can’t say the same for playing the race card. But how can you be sure they’re using the race card? Isn’t it infinitely more likely they’re talking about righty “values” like hating gays, giving tax breaks to corporations and calling women who get abortion whores? That’s Palin’s “base” after all. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/29 "2008-10-10T13:40:49Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > But how can you be sure they’re using the race card? Isn’t it infinitely more likely they’re talking about righty “values” like hating gays, giving tax breaks to corporations and calling women who get abortion whores? I said upthread I don’t think they are playing the race card. I just think **What the … !!!** was making a pointless comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/30 "2008-10-10T13:57:51Z")
[Freaks]Gooble gobble, gooble gobble! We accept you, one of us, one of us![/Freaks] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/31 "2008-10-10T14:10:01Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > But how can you be sure they’re using the race card? Isn’t it infinitely more likely they’re talking about righty “values” like hating gays, giving tax breaks to corporations and calling women who get abortion whores? > > That’s Palin’s “base” after all. I’m starting to think [this](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/cocaine/cocaine_basics.shtml) is Palin’s 'base. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/32 "2008-10-10T14:10:53Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > If “doesn’t share our values” \*\*is \*\*what they mean, then I’m not “one of us” either, and neither are approximately 50(+/-1)% of Americans, based on the outcome of the last two elections. 50% of Americans spent their childhood outside of the United States? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/33 "2008-10-10T14:12:43Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Your bare assertion of racist intent does not mnake it true. Actually, if you go back to the 50s and 60s, a sneering “not one of us” was commonly used with poorly veiled racist intent by people who were too polite to say “nigger” when their words were being recorded. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/34 "2008-10-10T14:13:11Z")
I thought of Chefguy’s response at first…😃 But “not one of us” can refer to the race issue, or “decent, right-thinkin’, white-bread Americans” too. You know, the kind who still live in the Mad Men type of world, when men were men, and could do and say anything, and “those” people knew their places. Yeah, I pretty much see it as using the race card. McCain and Palin sicken me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/35 "2008-10-10T14:13:48Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > 50% of Americans spent their childhood outside of the United States? C’mon, Alaska is not outside of the United States. It just seems like it because it’s culturally much different than much of the country. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/36 "2008-10-10T14:16:09Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Edwards’ “Two Americas”… no problem. > > Republicans’ “not one of us” … oooooh race card, race card! One difference there is that Edwards was telling the truth. Another difference is that America really urgently **needs** a bit of (preferably nonviolent) class war, but we have no use whatsoever for race war. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/37 "2008-10-10T14:21:29Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > 50% of Americans spent their childhood outside of the United States? Well, \*that \*was certainly… irrelevant to what I said. I’m a little unclear on what you’re trying to imply. Help a girl out? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/38 "2008-10-10T14:25:12Z")
It is racist. One of us, the white majority, main street, small town,Christian repubs. It is not even veiled. It is well understood who the repub base is. It is not difficult to follow the point. Obama is black .We are not. You can not trust anyone who is that different. Blacks do not share your values and aspirations. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/39 "2008-10-10T14:27:29Z")
The whole “not one of us” epithet is particularly diabolical because it is not necessarily racist. Or elitist. Or anything else in particular. The difference is in the mind (??) of the audience member. To someone with even mild racial distrust, it resonates as Obama is differently complected. For those who fear Muslims, it means Obama may be a Muslim. Ad nauseum. Pick your own dark, hidden fear. This tactic resonates with it. So, yes, it is the race card for some. And not the race card for others. But it is divisive and disgusting regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/40 "2008-10-10T14:28:06Z")
I said: [Quote=Sitnam] I really think it means ‘he’s not really American, he doesn’t share our values’ more than it means ‘he’s black’. Pointing out his race isn’t really necessary for anyone who cares about it, they’re pointing out his unAmericanness. [/QUOTE] You said: [Quote=DianaG] If “doesn’t share our values” is what they mean, then I’m not “one of us” either, and neither are approximately 50(+/-1)% of Americans, based on the outcome of the last two elections. [/QUOTE] Do you believe his choice of party is all they’re talking about? If not, how was the 50% arrived at? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269.md?page=3)