# "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:** 3
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/41 "2008-10-10T14:33:18Z")
Even most moronic of the right wing probably knows Obama’s not a Republican. Don’t you think? ---
**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, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/42 "2008-10-10T14:33:18Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > The difference is in the mind (??) of the audience member. To someone with even mild racial distrust, it resonates as Obama is differently complected. But why? Obama is clearly black. No one who is going to vote in this election hasn’t seen any pictures of either candidate at this point. If someone is a little bit racist and that’s why they’re not voting for Obama, they don’t McCain/Palin to make that insinuation. It’s looking for outrage and is really the wrong debate to be having. ---
**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, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/43 "2008-10-10T14:37:10Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > But why? Obama is clearly black. Again, and this is me explaining the POV and not advocating it, the idea is that they are trying to stoke fears that he is just not like “you” because he’s black. The voters know he’s black, but the issue is the seed of doubt below the surface. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/44 "2008-10-10T14:39:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > One difference there is that Edwards was telling the truth. I thought that the difference was that Edwards was **acknowledging** a socio-economic divide in America as a **bad** thing, not trying to **pander** to it as if it were a **good** thing. After all, it’s not as though Edwards could have passed himself off to a low-income audience as “one of us”—he himself was notoriously richer than pig shit (although he did come from a low-income background originally), as was Kerry. (They both still are, AFAIK.) What he was saying was “It’s a bad thing in our free democracy to have Two Americas divided by an ever-widening gap between rich and poor, so elect us and we’ll make America more equal and more fair.” The McCain campaign’s “not one of us” meme, on the other hand, **if** it is in fact intended to play the race card (and I’m still not convinced), would be pandering to racist sentiments, not just acknowledging racism. The message would be “Yes, it’s appropriate to feel distrustful of that different-looking dark-skinned guy, so you should vote for us because we’re more like you.” ---
**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, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/45 "2008-10-10T14:41:57Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Do you believe his choice of party is all they’re talking about? If not, how was the 50% arrived at? I do not. I absolutely believe that they’re using “not one of us” in exactly the manner it is meant to be used, as a phrase meaning “Other” which is, in this particular case, code for “black”. It could just as easily be used to express “Muslim”. Or “gay”. Or even just “Godless Commie”. Whatever. It’s RSOP. What I was addressing was your assertion that they were referring to “shared American values”, and pointing out that there is, in fact, no such thing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/46 "2008-10-10T14:58:28Z")
> [@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 the McCain/Palin thing is dividing people by socioeconomic class too. They’re saying that there are two Americas…one made up of average Americans who work hard, try to make ends meet, and love America, and another made up of rich liberal elitists like Barack Obama who sneer at traditional American values and look down on working class and middle class America. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/47 "2008-10-10T15:04:29Z")
> [@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”. > > 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? I think the different between the two messages is: Edwards: We’re separated right now and ought be coming together. McCain/Palin: We’re separated right now and we want the exploit that separation to win the election. I also don’t think they need to remind the electorate that Obama is black but do want to awaken or keep alive that sense of tribalism or that primal fear that resides in all of us regarding the “other,” which will hopefully tilt their decision once they get behind that curtain on election day. > [@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? Then why not just say that? ---
**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, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/48 "2008-10-10T15:06:48Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I do not. I absolutely believe that they’re using “not one of us” in exactly the manner it is meant to be used, as a phrase meaning “Other” which is, in this particular case, code for “black”. It could just as easily be used to express “Muslim”. Or “gay”. Or even just “Godless Commie”. Whatever. It’s RSOP. So you can see why I was a little confused that you put an exact numerical value on it then. [QUOTE=DianaG] What I was addressing was your assertion that they were referring to “shared American values”, and pointing out that there is, in fact, no such thing. [/QUOTE] I’m going to have to respectfully disagree. ---
**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, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/49 "2008-10-10T15:11:48Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > Then why not just say that? Because you can’t come out and say things like that either. The hardcore right might stand up and cheer if McCain/Palin start attacking Obama for not hating gays as much as a good Christian man should, but then they’d lose a good portion of those undecideds they would need to win. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/50 "2008-10-10T15:13:26Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Because you can’t come out and say things like that either. The hardcore right might stand up and cheer if McCain/Palin start attacking Obama for not hating gays as much as a good Christian man should, but then they’d lose a good portion of those undecideds they would need to win. I don’t mean using your exact words but they could reference those exact issues and values to contrast theirs from the Obama/Democratic values if that’s what they truly meant. Those are their values, right, and they’re not ashamed to claim them, right? It would seem a subtle message in this case in more useful for the demonization theme than for a theme of somehow veiling Republican values for the independents and undecideds. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/51 "2008-10-10T15:14:17Z")
Any time you use an “us” vs. “them” wording you are separating yourself, placing yourself at a social advantage, and it’s disingenous to say that, when running against the first ever black candidate, that it is something the campaign should not have taken pains to avoid. Perhaps Palin and McCain as individuals could be forgiven the occasional oversight, but these are reoccurring instances of this kind of speech, which (intended or not) could easily be seen as de facto carte blanche to hatemonger. The campaign and its officials should know better, and a public statement by both GOP noms should have been made well before debate #2 to condemn any remarks intended as hate speech, or as an attempt to paint Sen. Obama as a terrorist. Obama himself did not bring up the Keating scandal until well after McCain kept trying to hammer home a connection with Ayers, and instead continously repeated that he thought of Sen. McCain as a hero, etc. What a shame that Sen. McCain cannot return that gesture and assure the media and his supporters that he respects Sen. Obama, and at no time condones any hate speech or calls for violence. What does he do instead? Tries to [sweep things under the rug](http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/10/mccain-forced-to-fire-virginia.php)and plays the fiddle while Rome burns. ---
**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, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/52 "2008-10-10T15:19:30Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > \ The message would be “Yes, it’s appropriate to feel distrustful of that **different-looking dark-skinned guy** , so you should vote for us because we’re more like you.” Emphasis mine. If you have even the slightest twinge of racial distrust, hidden and suppressed deep within your brain, this provides you with justification for pulling it out, dusting it off, and accepting it. After all, you are surrounded by like minded people. You are one of us. He isn’t. You don’t have any hidden racial distrust? OK, then substitute any other hidden or overt fear for the bolded portion. It is divisive on whatever level you yourself bring to the table. ---
**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, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/53 "2008-10-10T15:26:38Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I’m going to have to respectfully disagree. Okay. Would you mind explaining exactly which of these “shared American values” you feel Obama doesn’t share, and exactly how having “spent his childhood outside of the US” is relevant to his failure to share these values? ---
**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, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/54 "2008-10-10T15:32:54Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Okay. Would you mind explaining exactly which of these “shared American values” you feel Obama doesn’t share, and how exactly being ‘raised elsewhere’ is relevant to his failure to share these values? We need some more conservatives on this board, we liberals keep stepping on each others dicks. _I_ believe he shares my values, I believe McCain and Palin where trying to convince me otherwise by implying more than the color of his skin isn’t the same as mine. All I’m saying is I don’t see the attack as inherently racist. Though **CannyDan** and **Atomicflea** bring up excellent points. I need some time to reflect. ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/55 "2008-10-10T15:38:59Z")
**Sitnam** , as I mentioned earlier, I don’t think that the phrase is inherently “racist” so much as it’s just inherently “ist”. It’s not okay, no matter which particular boogeyman is being evoked. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/56 "2008-10-10T15:39:11Z")
I don’t think they mean in any particular way, it is open ended enough for them to let people interpret it as they want. The idea is not to get people to fear Obama because he is not one of us for any particular reason, it is good enough for them as long as you have a reason to believe it. It could be race, or it could be status, or it could be intellect, or it could be values. The Republicans don’t care why you believe it, just that you do. And they will reinforce this vague message in their speeches. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/57 "2008-10-10T15:40:57Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > […] exactly how having “spent his childhood outside of the US” is relevant to his failure to share these values? And I personally would like to know how this pernicious Expatriate Childhood Devaluating Syndrome isn’t supposed to apply to McCain himself as well, to some extent. After all, he was actually born outside the US and spent some of his childhood on naval bases in the Pacific where his father was posted. Maybe the military-base environment is considered to counteract or inoculate against the scary influence of teh aliennn? ---
**Author:** ![Flipshod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f19dbf/32.png) [@Flipshod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipshod)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/58 "2008-10-10T15:47:59Z")
I don’t mean to hijack too much\*, but I’ve seen the effect of this last-minute uptick in tribalism. I’m in a small town in the deepest part of the Deep South. Day-to-day casual racism is alive and and well here, and I think the more it appears that Obama might win, the more active it becomes. My evidence: I’ve tried to have an Obama sign in my yard for the last six months or so. For the first months, it would remain up for a week or two before being stolen or damaged. (Each time it happens, I donate $100 and buy another sign.) After a while I just started ordering multiple signs. But in the last three days, a sign has not made it greater than 12 hours before being stolen. The last one went up around 7:00 last night and was gone this morning. I have one more on hand. (I think I’m going to attach a note to the Midnight McCainiac on the next one, to let him know how much he’s causing to be donated to Obama–although if this keeps up I may bump up against the contirbution limits:)) At first I thought it was just roaming kids doing mischief and found it funny, but in the last few days it has shown to be purposeful, with increasing vigilance. I think some folks are scared now that an Obama presidency seems likely, and that fear, as dangerous as it may be, is exactly what the McPalin campaign is trying to whip up. \*I have to share this story with the SDMB and I’m on lunch break and it seems to sorta fit this topic. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/59 "2008-10-10T16:01:00Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > “_ **He’s not one of us** _,” _ **he’s not like us** _" repeated often is a subliminal message that resides somewhere in memory. It’s designed to separate and ostracize. It’s diabolical. > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Palin made this statement in her most recent speech discussing how Obama “Pals around with terrorists.” Cite? I cannot find where Palin said, “He’s not of us.” ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269/60 "2008-10-10T16:09:33Z")
> [@Flipshod](#): > > I’m in a small town in the deepest part of the Deep South. Day-to-day casual racism is alive and and well here, and I think the more it appears that Obama might win, the more active it becomes. > > My evidence: I’ve tried to have an Obama sign in my yard for the last six months or so. For the first months, it would remain up for a week or two before being stolen or damaged. (Each time it happens, I donate $100 and buy another sign.) After a while I just started ordering multiple signs. But in the last three days, a sign has not made it greater than 12 hours before being stolen. Stealing or vandalizing election signs is not evidence of racism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hes-not-one-of-us-mccain-palin-are-playing-the-race-card/467269.md?page=4)