Is The GOP Trying To Instigate Race and/or Religious War Accidentally Or On Purpose?

[babylonsister]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/29/is_the_gop_trying_to_instigate/

Is The GOP Trying To Instigate Race and/or Religious War Accidentally Or On Purpose?
By M.J. Rosenberg - October 29, 2008, 1:18PM


So now John McCain is attacking Obama for his association with Prof. Rashid Khalidi. Khalidi is a Palestinian-American who has consistently supported Palestinian recognition of Israel, has opposed terrorism, and promoted Washington's efforts to produce an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Yes, he is connected to the PLO, the organization Israel negotiates with (Netanyahu negotiated and shook hands with Arafat, for heaven's sake) and recognizes as the "legitimate representative of the Palestinian people."

But, as you can see here, McCain likens Khalidi to a neo-Nazi. Why? Not because he believes it (McCain has a long-time association with Khalidi too) but because the Republicans' latest strategy is to count on (1) Jews being such racists that, so far as we are concerned, any association with any Arab is bad and (2) hey, this is what the McCain Republicans do.

Of course, this does not compare with McCain and Palin's embrace of that liar in Pennsylvania who claimed a black guy carved a B into her face. If McCain or Palin had the slightest shred of patriotism in them, they would not have run with that story even if it was true. Even if it was true, it would have had nothing to do with the Democrats and, a story that incendiary, could cause innocent people to be killed. (Even they must know the long terrible history of where blood libels against black men have led in this country).

But they grabbed the scarlet B, embraced it, hugged it to their collective bosoms, and found out within hours that it was a hoax perpetrated by their supporters.

No matter. So what if people died? Not their problem. Just like they happily use incitement at their rallies and if, God forbid, it leads to the national tragedy we all have nightmares about, so what. Not their problem.

So McCain will certainly not apologize to Jews, African-Americans and now Arab-Americans (who, even more than the other two groups, are now the popular target of hate crimes). Heck, have Republicans ever considered apologizing to gays and lesbians for inciting against them for 30 years now?

Being a rightwinger means never having to say you are sorry. For anything.

There are two kinds of Republicans. There is the Colin Powell kind who worries about the feelings of a seven year old Muslim American kid who has to endure the smears against him and his family by the GOP. Then there is the McCain-Palin kind of Republican who happily victimize any vulnerable group or individual that fits the bill.

It's called scapegoating and it has a long, long history.

Can Republicans honestly believe that Jews, Jews of all people, will fall for that? How dumb do they think we are?

[MiniMe]

1. imho, they are being typical repubicans, they want to win no matter what the consequences

are. Win at all costs. Damn, that sounds like a McCain commercial.

[fasttense]

2. Republican Strategy: when you got them down then

KICK THEM !!!! Don't ya know ?

[high density]

3. Speaking of scapegoating, I think now the Repukes want to make 2010 = 1994

The media is already acting like this is the next narrative they're going to be taking, assuming Barack Obama becomes president. I expect Obama's media savvy will continue into his administration, and this should help out the idiots in congress that have no clue how to play the media game.

[gratuitous]

4. They'll take it any way they can get it

Of course, it doesn't occur to them that Democrats have spent decades building relationships with other races and religions, so if their longed-for war comes about, they'll find out that they picked a fight with more than a billion people and they only have a few thousand.

And no, before you ponder too long, they're not very smart.

[Fumesucker]

5. On purpose..

Republicans are ignorant, not so much stupid, they know exactly what they're doing.

[Brewman_Jax]

6. As usual

nothing new, business as usual for the past 40 or so years. :(

[Orsino]

7. No. They just want to keep control of the government.

They're hoping to stir up the same hate and fear that drive them, and are amazed to discover that that doesn't motivate so many voters anymore.

Their solution, of course, is to keep trying the same old ploys with the rhetoric ratcheted up. It's like the stereotypical Ugly American, who thinks he can communicate to speakers of foreign languages simply by yelling.