Comments on: A Different Look at McCain Supporters http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:33:07 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mike mcEachran http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421079 mike mcEachran Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:20:31 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421079 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. 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.

]]> By: Alan Stewart Carl http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421072 Alan Stewart Carl Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:43:34 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421072 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421070 Chris Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:22:55 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421070 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421069 Chris Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:20:34 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421069 "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. “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.

]]> By: Alan Stewart Carl http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421058 Alan Stewart Carl Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:10:27 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421058 <blockquote>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</blockquote> 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.

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

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.

]]> By: Chris http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421056 Chris Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:40:23 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421056 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. 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.

]]> By: Steve http://donklephant.com/2008/10/23/a-different-look-at-mccain-supporters/comment-page-1/#comment-421050 Steve Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:14:10 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=9615#comment-421050 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. 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.

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