# What is the evidence that McCain and Palin are racists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 10, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341 "2008-10-10T16:24:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/21 "2008-10-10T17:00:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > But that won’t prevent them from engaging in a likewise endless witch hunt for terrorists. Now now, they’re just saying that questions need to be asked re: terrorist connections. I don’t think they’ve said what these questions are, but they need to be asked and the media hasn’t done so. I’ve seen the question been asked and answered by Obama himself at least twice but they aren’t the correct questions appartently :rolleyes: Does anybody know what these questions actually are? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/22 "2008-10-10T17:02:07Z")
[Here](http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/04/john_mccains_re.php) is McCain’s record on the MLK holiday and confederate flag. Any support the McCain provided to the despicable [Evan Mecham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_mecham) might be seen as racist. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/23 "2008-10-10T17:07:28Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Can someone cite specific uses of this oft-mentioned phrase by McCain and/or Palin? Palin dropped it at a rally on October 6 in Florida. I’ll see if I can find a video of it ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/24 "2008-10-10T17:12:21Z")
I don’t think either of one of them is truly racist in the classical sense. But they both seem willing to rub against the boundaries of racist language in an atempt to curry votes from easily race-frightened independents. It’s sort of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” In other words, if racists can help them get elected, they appear willing to look the other way rather than condemn the racist language and tactics. ---
**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, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/25 "2008-10-10T17:13:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I don’t think they are racist in the sense that they, personally hate or fear blacks. But they are not above appealing to that sentiment in their followers in order to be elected, so it is racism by proxy. That’s it. In the pockets of the country where casual racism is still in vogue, the “doesn’t see things the way WE do” is EXACTLY what you should say to rile people into a tribalist, angry frenzy. The Mac campaign knows it. And it is an awful thing to do. ---
**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, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/26 "2008-10-10T17:15:09Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > You know, an awful lot of people are really getting tired of this endless witch hunt for racists. :rolleyes: That’s why I started this thread. I’ve heard insinuations of racism and if there’s anything to it, it should be put forward. If not, it should be retired, pronto, because it becomes a phony way of establishing moral superiority. I agree that McCain, and also Clinton (against whom some similar accusations were made here, but not as often), did get some benefit from racism. You’d expect that to happen for someone running against a black candidate, of course, but it’s still despicable if they are encouraging it in any way. But how were/are they doing so? I’m not sure what trial balloon **RickJay** is referring to in his post - their fleeting and failed efforts to make his high school drug use an issue, maybe? I forgot about McCain’s opposition to the MLK holiday. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/27 "2008-10-10T17:20:02Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > racist in the classical sense. No, I’d say they’re more neo-modernist, post-Romantic, deconstructist, once-over-lightly racists. **Skald** : did you use a “(Self-loathing R)” after your name? I’ll never in my life understand why a black person born any time after Lincoln was shot would become a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/28 "2008-10-10T17:21:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > But that won’t prevent them from engaging in a likewise endless witch hunt for terrorists. The difference is that no one goes around accusing white people of being terrorists at the drop of a hat. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/29 "2008-10-10T17:23:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > :rolleyes: That’s why I started this thread. . My apologies. I should have made it clearer that my post was a response to Fear Itself. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/30 "2008-10-10T17:25:01Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > No, I’d say they’re more neo-modernist, post-Romantic, deconstructist, once-over-lightly racists. > > **Skald** : did you use a “(Self-loathing R)” after your name? I’ll never in my life understand why a black person born any time after Lincoln was shot would become a Republican. In the first place, that statement is, at best, extremely poorly thought. You seriously think a black person born in , say, 1875 was likely to support the Democrats. In the second place, I’ll thank you not to tell me my motivations. I was not self-loathing; I was (and am) a fiscal conservative who believed the issues the party was at variance with me on were issues the party could be moved away from. When the party was hijacked by its most rabid fringe I moved away. ETA: Don’t mistake the calmness of my response for a lack of anger. The condescending tones some liberals take with black libertations and conservatives is simply infuriating. Calling me “self-loathing” can’t be anything but an insult. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/31 "2008-10-10T17:25:44Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > The difference is that no one goes around accusing white people of being terrorists at the drop of a hat. So because it doesn’t happen to white people, it doesn’t count as a parallel? What a bizarre defense. ---
**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, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/32 "2008-10-10T17:26:40Z")
Whether they are racist or not is unclear. They are running a racist campaign though. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/33 "2008-10-10T17:28:06Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > You know, an awful lot of people are really getting tired of this endless witch hunt for racists. Yup. The problem is that if you have a problem with a black person, in any venue for any reason, you automatically get smeared as “racist”. It’s the nuclear weapon of argument tactics. I don’t like John McCain, never have, would never vote for him. But I don’t envy him or anyone else the task of running against the first black candidate for President (or the first black candidate for any other position). Because you gotta walk a very fine line surrounded by a minefield of “Racism!” charges. Been there, done that, been smeared by it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/34 "2008-10-10T17:29:29Z")
> [@choie](#): > > So because it doesn’t happen to white people, it doesn’t count as a parallel? What a bizarre defense. People would not look at me and my wife askance when we kiss in public if my skin color matched hers. Are you saying such glares are not an instance of racism? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/35 "2008-10-10T17:29:32Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > The difference is that no one goes around accusing white people of being terrorists at the drop of a hat. What’s your point? Palin encouraged her followers to believe Obama was a terrorist. Why is his color relevant? ---
**Author:** ![rikc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c57346/32.png) [@rikc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rikc)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/36 "2008-10-10T17:32:53Z")
Honestly, I feel there are stronger examples of Obama appealing to voters’ ageism than McCain appealing to racism. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/37 "2008-10-10T17:36:58Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > ETA: Don’t mistake the calmness of my response for a lack of anger. The condescending tones some liberals take with black libertations and conservatives is simply infuriating. Calling me “self-loathing” can’t be anything but an insult. Oh, **Skald** , come on…not only are you self-loathing, apparently you are even too stupid to understand that you are. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of white people around here to explain to you how a a black man is supposed to think. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/38 "2008-10-10T17:39:22Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Oh, **Skald** , come on…not only are you self-loathing, apparently you are even too stupid to understand that you are. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of white people around here to explain to you how a a black man is supposed to think. I’m going to assume you were too proud to append a 😉 to this. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/39 "2008-10-10T17:39:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What’s your point? > > Palin encouraged her followers to believe Obama was a terrorist. Why is his color relevant? I think the feeling those of us feeling queasy about all this is the fact that this “terrorist” bullshit appeals to the same kind of people who judge a person by the color of his skin (aka idiots). > [@rikc](#): > > Honestly, I feel there are stronger examples of Obama appealing to voters’ ageism than McCain appealing to racism. I thought that “McCain can’t use a computer” ad was crap, but at least the age issue has some basis in relevance. It’s a changing, digital world. The next president will be dealing with a lot of related issues, especially privacy issues dealing with computers and the internet. I want a president who at least somewhat understands it all. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/40 "2008-10-10T17:39:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What’s your point? > > Palin encouraged her followers to believe Obama was a terrorist. Why is his color relevant? Yeah? Where? She merely referenced the fact that Obama associates with a man who is known to have belonged to a terrorist organization and shows no regret or remorse about it. And color is relevant here because whites are much more likely to be targthe targets of gratuitous accusations of racism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341.md?page=3)