John McCain, Sarah Palin and the Right-Wing Lunatic Fringe
The Republican Ticket is Inciting the Lunatic Fringe to Violence
"Terrorist!"
"Treason!"
No, these aren't slurs shouted in protest in front of the courts holding hearings on the fate of U.S. enemy combatants. These are words being shouted by the right-wing lunatic fringe at John McCain's and Sarah Palin's rallies, and they are directed toward the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
The McCain-Palin campaign knows damn well that they cannot close a 6 point gap (it's actually 11 in today's daily Gallup poll) in three weeks by throwing red meat at the right-wing lunatic fringe (otherwise known as the Republican base). So, what is it that the McCain campaign truly hopes to accomplish by implying that Barack Obama is a terrorist?
When Hillary Clinton raised the issue of the June 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy during the Democratic primaries, America's collective jaw dropped. How dare she? And yet, the mere mention of RFK's murder was clearly not meant to incite Hillary's supporters to violent action.
The same cannot be said about John McCain's and Sarah Palin's words and behaviors this week.
In one breath, John McCain and Sarah Palin call for victory in the War on Terror. Victory in such a war can only come about when every last terrorist is captured or killed.
In the next breath, John McCain and Sarah Palin imply that the man running against them for the highest office in the land is a terrorist himself.
Even someone with the intellect of Sarah Palin can connect the dots.
The right of free speech does NOT include the right to incite others to violence. And incitement to violence is precisely what John McCain and Sarah Palin hope to accomplish with their recent stump speeches.
This type of behavior from a Senator and a Governor must NOT be countenanced by the American people. We have lost too many of our nation's most inspirational leaders. We cannot let history repeat itself.
Contact the McCain-Palin campaign at (703) 418-2008.
Demand that they put a stop to this despicable behavior before it's too late.
Published by Jack Oceano
Jack Oceano is an attorney whose articles cover a broad range of topics, including politics, legal issues, travel and tourism, dining and nightlife, sports, books, movies, music, and writing. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentExcellent points! Thank you for taking the time to write it down rather than impotently yelling at your television as I have been. Thanks for the contact number as well.
Ps: Google Khaled Hosseini's Opinion piece at the Washington Post to see his feelings about the anti Arab hate at the McCain campaign.
It is a stunning article. He is such a beautiful writer and he is quite upset at the slurs about Obama's name that is so close to his own...
Jack, I was thinking of writing something of this ilk myself, because it outrages me that anyone would stand and speak with this going on around him/her and not take a stand- McCain and Palin owe an apology to the American public for letting this go on in their names as part of their rallies and not even trying to put a stop to it. Your idea of including a phone number to call is a fantastic one and I will call it now and urge every other civilized voter to call and tell McCain/Palin that their behavior has been unacceptable and to shape up.
One thing you have to say for Marquis, he is always willing to help support your point!
Excellent article...especially the call to action at the end. You are among my list of nominations for political writing award.
Jeff, I'd like to think that the people who would actually act on McCain's and Palin's comments are very few, and thus part of the lunatic fringe. I'd include anyone that yells out "terrorist!" or "kill him!" in that category, and certainly anyone who talks about taking up arms. Those who applaud at the mention of Barack's middle name are certainly ignorant, and some are undoubtedly disturbed. But what frightens me most is that small group of people who'd actually think they were doing our country a service by doing any candidate physical harm.
But Jack, can they be called the lunatic 'fringe" when there are so many of them? The right wing nutbars number in the millions, and are a far greater threat to America then most want to admit...
I can't imagine being at a public event and hearing these things shouted out and not addressing them and ejecting the people who say them. I am frankly horrified that a vice presidential and presidential candidate hear these things and do nothing. But, I guess they incite them in the first place. That is even more horrific.
:)