The Americans Lost the Election!

[tr0psn4j]

Not sure how many people think like this but I live in California so I’m sure it’s underrepresented in this state.

Anyway, it was around 5:00PM, a friend and I were on our way to the California Aqueduct for a little bit of fishing. On our way there, we decided to stop by Dennys for some dinner. We were sitting next to a gray haired man in, most likely his 60s an his mother. After ordering our drinks and food, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation the mother and son were having. I don’t have the greatest memory so I’ll paraphrase the best I can.

When I listened in, the conversation was more of a monologue by the son about the auto industry. Naturally, my interest in other people’s opinions, and his loud nature, had me listening attentively and ignoring the conversation at our table.

So apparently, our automotive problems began shortly after the second world war with the introduction of the VW Beetle and VW’s 20% market share with their one car lineup. Then, of course, the damn Japs came with their cheap vehicles too.

It is becoming clear that this guy has some quirky opinions and he might be slightly racist. That is part of the fun in listening in on other people though.

But the guy continues… The conversation eventually evolves into the present and about Barrack Hussein Obama (extra emphasis on Hussein, of course) and possible bailouts and whatnot. Throw in a few more Husseins for good measure and I’m fighting the urge to laugh out loud.

They didn’t want to make it easy on me though. The mom finally interrupts the son and throws this curve ball, “Couldn’t the Americans find someone to run for office?”

At that point both my friend and I couldn’t restrain ourselves and we started laughing out loud. They left almost immediately.

Now I voted for McCain and sometimes might jokingly call Obama Hussein when among friends and I know there’s always a few people on both sides who think like that but damn, I didn’t really think I’d ever hear a dialogue between two people who seriously believed in that stuff.

[Euphonious_Polemic]

@tr0psn4j

Now I voted for McCain and sometimes might jokingly call Obama Hussein when among friends and I know there’s always a few people on both sides who think like that but damn, I didn’t really think I’d ever hear a dialogue between two people who seriously believed in that stuff.

I strongly suspect that there are many more of them than you might think…

[Miller]

Well, we must have left it around here somewhere. Have you checked the couch cushions?

[Stuffy]

This clearly demonstrates why some of us were so dismayed by what we felt was dog whistling to the racists during the election.

[Captain_Carrot]

@Stuffy

This clearly demonstrates why some of us were so dismayed by what we felt was dog whistling to the racists during the election.

You misspelled ‘barely disguised pandering’.

[Mr.Moto]

@Stuffy

This clearly demonstrates why some of us were so dismayed by what we felt was dog whistling to the racists during the election.

Who did that? I won’t deny that some commentators went on a tear about it, but McCain himself didn’t allow it in his campaign.

[samm]

@Mr.Moto

Who did that? I won’t deny that some commentators went on a tear about it, but McCain himself didn’t allow it in his campaign.

If you don’t count Sarah Palin as being part of his campaign?

[matt_mcl]

@Mr.Moto

McCain himself didn’t allow it in his campaign.

Except for the part where he did it himself (“He’s not an Arab, he’s a good family man”).

[BrainGlutton]

And Palin just made it worse with her meme about “real Americans” from “real America” – meaning rural conservatives; and almost certainly meaning only white rural conservatives.

[Derleth]

@Mr.Moto

Who did that? I won’t deny that some commentators went on a tear about it, but McCain himself didn’t allow it in his campaign.

McCain distanced himself from the worst of it, but Palin pandered to it directly and McCain himself stated that Arabs weren’t good family men. It was as much a part of the campaign as the economic policy.

[gonzomax]

You voted for McCain. Those are your peeps.

[Sailboat]

@Mr.Moto

Who did that? I won’t deny that some commentators went on a tear about it, but McCain himself didn’t allow it in his campaign.

Dude, it’s been official Republican party doctrine for decades. When you deny it like that, despite the fact that it’s public knowledge and offcially acknowledged by party strategists, your denial rings hollow.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@matt_mcl

Except for the part where he did it himself (“He’s not an Arab, he’s a good family man”).

I don’t know that you can really hold that against him; I mean, Obama himself was saying, “I’m not a fucking Arab, 'mkay?”, rather than “well, so what if I was an Arab?”

[Cisco]

@tr0psn4j

Now I voted for McCain and sometimes might jokingly call Obama Hussein when among friends and I know there’s always a few people on both sides who think like that but damn, I didn’t really think I’d ever hear a dialogue between two people who seriously believed in that stuff.

They don’t seriously believe it. It’s verbal masturbation.

[Captain_Amazing]

@matt_mcl

Except for the part where he did it himself (“He’s not an Arab, he’s a good family man”).

I really think that was a misspeak on McCain’s part. I think he had gotten concerned with the intensity of the personal attacks against Obama and was prepared going in there to answer questions that criticized Obama personally with something like “He’s a good man, a family man and not the monster you’re portraying him as. He just has bad political ideas”

So, when the woman questioning him started, he filed it as “Obama personal attack” and responded accordingly.

[Ludovic]

@matt_mcl

Except for the part where he did it himself (“He’s not an Arab, he’s a good family man”).

I hear they’re four times the family man as a real American! hahahahahahlol!

[DudleyGarrett]

@Miller

Well, we must have left it around here somewhere. Have you checked the couch cushions?

It was you and your mother. Admit it.

[pravnik]

@Captain_Amazing

I really think that was a misspeak on McCain’s part. I think he had gotten concerned with the intensity of the personal attacks against Obama and was prepared going in there to answer questions that criticized Obama personally with something like “He’s a good man, a family man and not the monster you’re portraying him as. He just has bad political ideas”

So, when the woman questioning him started, he filed it as “Obama personal attack” and responded accordingly.

I kind of gave him a pass on that for the same reasons. I think he was kind of in “caught off guard by crazy lady” mode.

[vd]

@Miller

Well, we must have left it around here somewhere. Have you checked the couch cushions?

I looked in the couch, but all I found was a bunch of change. Can you believe it?

[Green_Bean]

@matt_mcl

Except for the part where he did it himself (“He’s not an Arab, he’s a good family man”).

I’m another one who gives him a pass on that one. A. he was “caught off-guard by a crazy lady,” and B. it was abundantly clear that the woman said “Arab” but meant “terrorist.” So he misspoke, but it was understandable under the circumstances.

It would have been nice if he had explained himself later, but strategically, it was probably better that he didn’t address it.

(Of course, none of this excuses the other racist and xenophobic themes that he promoted in his campaign.)