A Different Look at McCain Supporters
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in News.
I’m a little late to the posting of the above video, but I think it’s a much better portrait of John McCain supporters than some of the highly edited videos that have made the rounds and depict McCain/Palin supporters as a bunch of racist imbeciles.
As this video shows, the real story is more complicated. Yes, there are idiots out there. But they do not represent the majority and they aren’t going unchallenged by other McCain supporters.
h/t: Sideways Menken.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Thank you for that Alan.
I’ve become pretty disappointed lately with the level of discourse emanating from McCain’s supporters (e.g. Tracy Kerlee), so it was nice to know that at least some of them are not as hate-filled as I was lead to believe from some of the Palin/McCain rallies. It’s a shame it took direct confrontation from Muslim McCain supporters before others stood up, albeit halfheartedly, to the bigots.
As Obama said, it’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable. We don’t hear that from Palin, but I suppose it would be difficult for her to reconcile such a statement with accusing a U.S. Senator of palling around with terrorists.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I still disagree with you there Alan, every republican that I’ve talked to over the age of 40 completely believes the racist garbage that the republican party has pushed out there. While there are certainly level headed, critical thinking republicans out there, I don’t think they are in the majority right now.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Really? I have heard very little of that b.s., even down here in red-as-red-can-be Texas. I think it’s not only unfair to claim a majority of Republicans are racist idiots, I think it’s ultimately destructive. You can’t go around assuming your opposition is filled with fools and bigots. It makes it nearly impossible to create civil dialogue and it blinds you to the good ideas that the other side might have b/c you just assume those ideas are based on a distasteful mindset.
But the Republican party DOES have a problem with small-mindedness amongst more than just a fringe of their supporters. It’s something the GOP has to address more forcefully.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
“it makes it nearly impossible to create civil dialogue and it blinds you to the good ideas that the other side might have b/c you just assume those ideas are based on a distasteful mindset.”
You’re absolutely right, I’ve given up trying to have a intelligent discourse with them and now instead just try to show everyone else how dumb they are.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
pondering further, it might be that because texas is a “safe” state that isn’t going to swing the other direction, they probably don’t feel threatened.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Maybe I’ve just segregated myself into “smart” communities. Or maybe it’s that San Antonio is just more laidback about everything.
But it’s a shame you feel you can’t discourse with Republicans. I feel both sides have built up these walls between themselves, as if admitting the other side might have a good idea is a sign of weakness. People buy into one side or another and approach it with a kind of tribalism that I don’t think is healthy for our country. Few people seem to spend all their time pointing out what’s wrong with the other side and no time examining their own beliefs. (not saying that applies to you by any means)
I’m sure you have common ground with a lot of Republicans. I hope eventually you’ll meet a few who impress you and are willing to talk to you without assuming you’re a baby killing anti-American.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
This is perfect evidence – the current form of the Republican party needs to fully implode so that the clear-headed conservatives (many profiled here) can take their party back from the nut-cases. There is no doubt that the RNC/McCain campaign has at best tolerated the wacko-discourse, and at worst (and more probably) incited it. The Repubs need to purge the wack-o neo-cons, and the socially intolerant once and for all, and get back to being conservative. They’re about to get their opportunity to do some house cleaning. I hope they take advantage of it.