Of course it's about race

[auburngrad82]

A McCain/Palin Supporter carries a stuffed monkey labelled Obama to one of the rallies.

A GOP office circulates "food stamp money" with a picture of Obama surrounded by fried chicken and watermelons.

A right wing rag runs an article by a self-described racist about how Obama will silence science research because it will prove that blacks are inferior to whites.

The GOP refers to Obama's wife as his "babies' mama".

Rush Limbaugh refers to Obama as "a halfrican".

Can someone explain to me how the GOP can continually claim that it has nothing to do with race?

[slackmaster]

1. The "chimpification" of George W. Bush for 8 years negates the argument against Obama monkeys

All humans resemble apes and monkeys. But the fried chicken and watermelons are over teh top.

People ARE going to parody, mock, and create caricatures of Barack Obama for the next four to eight years. That kind of thing goes wtih the territory of holding one of the most powerful elected offices in the world. If every cartoon of him gets automatically labeled as "racist", that kind of accusation is going to lose steam fast. Save it for the cases where the racism is unambiguous.

I hate to put it this way, but we should all prepare to get used to it.

[frogcycle]

2. wrong

bush looks like a chimp. bush acts like a chimp.

certainly caricatures of Obama will emphasize facial features - that's what caricatures do. but there is no way in hell that the Obama hat on the Curious George doll at a mccain rally was anything but racist. period.

[slackmaster]

3. Everybody has an opinion.

Yours is NOT special.

[Yes We Did]

6. WRONG!

Every opinion is "special." And his/hers just happens to also be correct.

[slackmaster]

11. Ipse Dixit

Is that all you have?

[Yes We Did]

12. Snipe for a Snipe.

[slackmaster]

15. OK, everybody's opinion is special because every person is a unique individual...

...just like everybody else.

:crazy:

[frogcycle]

7. I don't recall claiming to be "special"

just stating what should be obvious to anyone with an IQ over room temperature.

[slackmaster]

10. As I wrote previously, EVERY HUMAN resembles apes and monkeys

I personally think chimps are cool.

just stating what should be obvious to anyone with an IQ over room temperature.

That's a lame, juvenile personal attack.

If you want to spend the next eight years stressed out by every criticism of a President you support, suit yourself.

[auburngrad82]

13. It's not actually the caricature, it's the intent behind the caricature.

Historically, many racist caricatures have pictured black people as monkeys. Just as many caricatures picture black people with watermelons. It was intended to make it about race and it did.

By the way, the woman behind the watermelons and fried chicken said it wasn't racist, she just wanted some food items in the picture. You can rationalize anything, but that doesn't make it any less wrong.

[slackmaster]

19. I have no doubt that the intent of both Curious George Obama and the watermelons was racist

My point is that sword has been blunted by YEARS of juvenile portrayals of George W. Bush as a chimp.

[frogcycle]

24. and that point is as blunt as that sword

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Why are you defending racism?

What do you hope to gain?

[slackmaster]

17. Racists have a right to express their opinions

Just like everybody else.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Why are you creating strawmen, and defending racism?

Again, where are you going with this?

[slackmaster]

20. Years of "chimpification" of George W. Bush partly negate the outrage of Obama being monkified

It's that simple.

I feel like I am on solid ground saying this, having never personally stooped to the level of making fun of any candidate on the basis of unalterable physical traits.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. No, it doesn't.

Now please explain yourself.

[slackmaster]

22. Asked and answered repeatedly

You're just being obtuse, as usual.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. You've provided no valid answer.

You're just spewing this false equivolance that David Frum got his nuts in the wringer for so recently.

You're like the lady in California who spread those racist cartoons of Obama and said "oh gee whiz, I'm not a racist. I eat fried chicken and watermelon too."

Frankly, without an explanation, I'll simply have to assume the worst.

[slackmaster]

26. Why do you oppose free expression of ideas?

I say let racists spew all the vile crap they want to, until they say something illegal like inciting a riot or calling for someone's death.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. Did anybody oppose these people's right to free expression?

[slackmaster]

29. Did anybody actually defend racism?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Yes, reply #1.

Somebody argued that calling a black man a monkey is not racist, because some people call a white guy a monkey.

[slackmaster]

31. Defense of the expression of racism != defense of applied racism

Thanks for the opportunity for clearing that up.

I believe strongly in freedom of THOUGHT, and freedom of EXPRESSION. People do have the right to think and say as they please, as long as what they say and do does not interfere with the rights of others. If someone wants to make an ass of himself by showing off a Curious George doll with an Obama face, I see that as valuable information about the individual who did it and not a real threat to anyone.

Institutionalized racism, especially official racism as existed in this country in the past, is not defensible.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. This person defended the application of racism.

Nobody has argued that anybody doesn't have the right to be racist.

[slackmaster]

33. How is carrying a stuffed monkey labelled "Obama" a defense of applied racism?

I'm not seeing the connection.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. Arguing it is not racism is a defense of racism.

Like I said, it's like the woman who argues her mailer isn't racist, because white people like fried chicken too.

[slackmaster]

35. I have stated several times already that it is an expression of racist thought

I also said the mailer was clearly racist. Equating a human with an ape or monkey is not INHERENTLY racist, but in this context displaying a stuffed monkey labelled "Obama" unquestionably reflects a racist attitude on the part of the person who did so. All it really shows is that the individual who did it is a dickhead. So what?

Arguing it is not racism is a defense of racism.

Sure, it would be, but I have never said that. Nor have I at any time indulged in mocking anyone on the basis of unalterable personal traits, which I consider to be juvenile at best.

[frogcycle]

25. Now YOU seem to be claiming to be "special"

[slackmaster]

27. I am special

Just like everyone else.

[mrcheerful]

4. Because to the GOP its only racism if its directed at them

if its directed at democrats its perfectly fine and not racism. Of course this election is about race, watch how many third parties get higher then normal votes. I've heard people state they don't want McCain because thats just another Bush in the white house but they can't vote for Obama cause he's not a white guy, so they are voting Nader. Of course I cleaned up what they actually said. BTW, you know it's about race when you hear a homeless alcoholic who complains he can't get work rant that when Obama gets in the country will be doomed and the only ones that will find jobs is black people.

[AspenRose]

5. And bringing any of this to their attention=Dems are playing the race card

They're full of crap.

[Butch350]

8. I think it's funny myself.

I as a Black male get a real good laugh at that kind of crap. Obama and his popularity is really getting
to the RW Nuts! I'm truly loving it - finally it's the other side that's frustrated. It just goes to show
that Democrats have class. The GOP just gives people who are already racist/nuts a chance to justify their flaws.

If it wasn't Obama, they the racists/nuts would find something else to vent their frustrations upon!

[frogcycle]

9. I agree that the dipshit with the doll

looked ludicrous, and pretty pathetic. When that is all they have, then we are in pretty good shape.

The more overt their appeals to racism, the sharper the line they draw around the "base." Eventually only those openly willing to acknowledge their white supremicist stance will be left in the group.

The woman who made the "food stamp" ticket knows damned well what she was doing, and to whom she was appealing. But yet, now she won't admit it. She tries to do a Miss Piggy and say "Moi?" This is indeed amusing, albeit disgusting.

[steve2470]

14. I firmly believe that if Barack *really* loses, it will be because of race

Barack is completely awesome. I am convinced if he were Caucasian/Hispanic/etc., that he would win in a landslide. This election really is a referendum on racism.