# 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:** 4
**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, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/61 "2008-10-10T18:19:33Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 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? Huh? Are you addressing that question to me? Of course they are. (And it doesn’t matter whether the people looking at you askance are white or black.) Please explain how my comment implies that I would think otherwise. All I was saying is that it’s a bit mind-blowing for **Lonesome Polecat** to dismiss the equating of terrorist accusations to racist accusations solely because he says the latter occur only to whites. ---
**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, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/62 "2008-10-10T18:20:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Pride, foolish pride! You are right. OK, I will swallow that pride and give it to you: 😉 ---
**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, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/63 "2008-10-10T18:21:04Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Huh? Are you addressing that question to me? Of course they are. (And it doesn’t matter whether the people looking at you askance are white or black.) Please explain how my comment implies that I would think otherwise. All I was saying is that it’s a bit mind-blowing for **Lonesome Polecat** to dismiss the equating of terrorist accusations to racist accusations solely because he says the latter occur only to whites. I was addressing you, but only because I misread your post. I was distracted by work. Stupid job!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/64 "2008-10-10T18:22:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t give a good damn what anybody _would_ do, I’m interested in what is actually going on. This has been debated in who knows how many threads to this point, and I’m still hoping I can get some answers (yea or nay, or maybe, and why) to my questions before the inevitable hijacking. My impression as an outsider (I’m not American) is that the clear answer is “no”. No-one so far has been able to come up with any clear example of overt racism by McCain. Unless you believe, as some clearly do, that a White Republican running against a Black Democrat is, of necessity, ‘racist’ because many White Republicans are racist and a White Republican politician must appeal to them. Which in my opinion renders the term more or less meaningless. Moreover pointless. McCain et al doesn’t _have_ to overtly or even covertly appeal to racism or racists, as racists aren’t very likely to vote for a Black man anyway. He can count on their support without raising a finger. He’ll get their support even if he didn’t want it. The _only_ thing McCain can possibly achieve by racism is harming his own campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/65 "2008-10-10T18:24:18Z")
McCain is using [xenophobia.](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1848755,00.html) Bottom line of the article is that hate and fear is still being exploited in politics, but only now people are scared of foreigners more than they are of black people. So instead of attacking Obama by associating him with welfare, affirmative action, and black criminals, McCain is associating Obama with foreigners. Using “country first” slogan as if Obama doesn’t put America first. Tying him in with someone who has said “God damn America” instead of tying him in with a new Willie Horton. It’s not exactly racist, but it is equally deplorable. ---
**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, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/66 "2008-10-10T18:25:06Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I’d like to see a cite for a single example of (anti-white racism). It happened to me. ☹ When I was 12 we went to Disney World in Florida. While walking with my brother from one place to another a black kid a few years older than me walked up and said, _“Yo egg white! What time is it?”_ I told him what time it was and he went on his way. Since then I’ve lived in constant fear of anti-white racism. It hasn’t happened again yet in the twenty years hence, but I know it will someday, and I’m _terrified_. Also, I was laid off from my job earlier this year. Actually three people from my group were laid off. Guess what color they all were?!!? :mad: For the humor impaired, yes, all of the above is kidding ---
**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, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/67 "2008-10-10T18:25:49Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Nope. The most ubiquitous form of racism today is anti-white racism, and the left routinely encourages and exploits it. It’s amazing that people who share a common language and even a common arena of discussion (SDMB), can see the world in such opposing views. Anti-white racism? Who’s out there saying that other races are superior to the white race? Or maybe you mean “anti-white racism” is being AGAINST white racism?😉 The term “racist” is bandied about too often. (Hell, even Rev. Wright’s sermons, once you’ve heard a few in full, aren’t saying that white people are inferior. His sermons seem to be about the “races” coming together and quitting the historical trend–against racism). And, of course, given a black candidate for president, folks will howl about this. Anti-white racism. In America. Ubiquitous.:rolleyes: Yep, being white has always been an obstacle because so many people think white people are inferior. You can see the results by looking at pictures of all of the presidents of the US. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/68 "2008-10-10T18:40:31Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Ptooey. If McCain had a similar relationship with a Klansman, the lefties would make a very big deal out of it indeed. Trying to shrug off Obama’s connection with Ayers as somehow trivial or unimportant is profoundly dishonest. McCain actually has a much closer relationship to Robert Byrd, what with all of that “reaching across the aisle” that he does. ---
**Author:** ![emulsified](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emulsified/32/2915_2.png) [@emulsified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emulsified)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/69 "2008-10-10T18:51:29Z")
Does this count as the McCain campaign employing subtle or coded racism? From [Salon.com](http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/10/10/surrogate_street/index.html): > [@](#): > > While on conservative comedian Dennis Miller’s radio show, McCain campaign co-chairman and former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating brought up Obama’s admitted former drug use. Calling Obama’s record “very extreme,” Keating went on to say that Obama “ought to admit, ‘You know, I’ve got to be honest with you. **I was a guy of the street**. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I’m back at the center …’ But he hasn’t done that.” (Bolding mine.) ---
**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, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/70 "2008-10-10T18:54:45Z")
> [@emulsified](#): > > Does this count as the McCain campaign employing subtle or coded racism? My question is about the candidates themselves. I know there’s been racism in the campaign. What Bobby Lee May wrote the other day was blatantly racist, for example. ---
**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, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/71 "2008-10-10T18:56:30Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Nope. The most ubiquitous form of racism today is anti-white racism, and the left routinely encourages and exploits it. Just in case anyone was wondering who McCain/Palin could possibly reach with coded racist/xenophobic rhetoric? Meet “That Guy”. ---
**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, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/72 "2008-10-10T19:00:33Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Have you any idea how to engage in a civil adult discussion? No, I don’t. My excuse is that I just got off a banana boat, which I took from a deserted island I’ve spent my entire life on up until this morning, and so I require your services to explain discourse to me. Please do so, and thanks ever so much for showing me how I might avoid adopting a condescending tone. I will model my tone on your above-quoted post towards that end. Thank you, my dear fellow. ---
**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, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/73 "2008-10-10T19:24:27Z")
Somehow in raising this issue I failed to mention the idea that some people think McCain and Clinton were both either hoping for or trying to encourage an assassination of Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/74 "2008-10-10T19:26:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Have you any idea how to engage in a civil adult discussion? Please forgive the hijack, but **Skald** , I have to say, although I wouldn’t have phrased it as colorfully as **Pseudotriton** , I too raised an eyebrow when you mentioned you used to be a Republican. I don’t know how old you are. Perhaps you became a Republican during some period when the party’s platform wasn’t as hateful, xeno- and homophobic, and controlled by Christian opportunists as it is now. However, I still don’t see, even considering your fiscal conservatism, why someone of African ancestry, of which I consider myself, would become a member of a party that promotes, whether overtly or covertly, discrimination and restrictions in basic human rights for certain segments of the population, in any form. I’m not trying to insult you. I just don’t get it. Obviously, you’ve had a change of heart and left for reasons stated earlier, but I don’t believe it should be difficult to see why someone would interpret your, or any African American’s, choice to become a Republican to be influenced, if only in some small measure, by self esteem. At the very least, it is somewhat odd, don’t you agree? As an aside, I know two black Republicans (amazing, yet true), who openly, and creepily, espouse philosophies that are, in my opinion, anathema to their and other African American’s best interests. In other words I think they’re dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/75 "2008-10-10T19:29:36Z")
Just jumping in here — have you been following Huffington’s blog? [Jeffrey Feldman](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/is-palin-trying-to-incite_b_132534.html) implies that Palin is doing nothing to discourage cries of “Kill him!” coming from the crowd as she excoriates Obama’s character. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/76 "2008-10-10T19:29:46Z")
> [@Flipshod](#): > > Anti-white racism? Who’s out there saying that other races are superior to the white race? Racism doesn’t necessarily mean belief in racial superiority- but the point remains that anti-white sentiment is way less prevalent than anti-black, -Jewish, -Arabic or -Asian sentiment. ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/77 "2008-10-10T19:34:22Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Just jumping in here — have you been following Huffington’s blog? [Jeffrey Feldman](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/is-palin-trying-to-incite_b_132534.html) implies that Palin is doing nothing to discourage cries of “Kill him!” coming from the crowd as she excoriates Obama’s character. I did read that piece earlier, when someone else linked to it. I’d have to point out that we only know of one “Kill him” and I don’t think it’s clear Palin heard it in the first place. I think the interpretation that they are hoping someone will rid them of Obama is fanciful. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/78 "2008-10-10T19:38:08Z")
I agree with you that it’s an interpretation. I would hope they’re not running that kind of campaign. That’s just awful. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/79 "2008-10-10T19:48:10Z")
In her convention acceptance speech, Sarah Palin did quote noted anti-Semite Westbrook Pegler. At best, this was dog-whistle politics, although I of course don’t know if Palin truly agrees with Pegler that Jews are “geese”. I don’t have the cite handy right now, but it does appear to be a habit at Palin events for the person introducing Palin to refer to Obama as “Barack Hussein Obama”. I can only assume this is done with Palin’s approval, since it was not an isolated incident. Ultimately, I don’t know if they’re racists or not. But as has been mentioned, I think they’re happy to run up to the line of racist rhetoric for a few votes. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341/80 "2008-10-10T19:51:46Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I’m sorry to say that in mixed neighborhoods like mine, it happens more than you might think. I lived in Venice Beach for about 15 years, and I’m a white guy with a shaved head, and I don’t ever remember being called a racist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341.md?page=5)