Politics, Racism, and "That One"

During the Democratic National Convention, I was amazed at the diversity I saw.  People of all colors, cultures and religions came together for one purpose.  The hope of making our country better, of making a difference in the world.  I flew home on a haze of hope and comfort that we were headed in the right direction. 

Oh, how I wish I could get that feeling back.

During last night's debate, McCain, jabbed his finger across his chest and referred to Senator Barack Obama as "that one." 

My immediate reaction was to think "How disrespectful!"  I assumed John McCain was attempting to dehumanize the more human candidate by referring to him as a nameless "it."  My mind didn't jump to race until I was driving home from my debate watch party.

Race is a touchy subject for me.  I'm about as white as a white girl can get.  (I don't think I get any ethnic points for having a nice tan.)  I'm from the south, Louisiana originally, where my family has lived for several hundred years.  We all know the baggage that accompanies that heritage. 

Now I live in Southeastern Virginia, about 30 miles north of the North Carolina border.  I like to pretend that race is no longer an issue here.  That no one would dream of calling Barack Obama that hateful N word that I refuse to type, or call him "boy", or one of "those people", or "that one".... But while my surrounding neighborhood is pretty brown, a nice mixture of black and white, I can still drive down certain streets and see a Confederate flag flying in one yard while black children play in the yard next door.

Still, I often say and think that people who spew and display hate are an aberration soon to die out.  And then I hear about an incident like one that happened recently in Buchanan County in Virginia.  Apparently the treasurer of the Buchanan County Republican party, Bobby May, who is also a local newspaper columnist, thought that joking about Obama raising taxes to pay for drugs for his inner city voting base and putting Oprah and Ludacris on our currency would be funny.

I guess I missed the joke.

Perhaps this incident alone wouldn't bother me so much if it weren't for so many other things that have happened recently.  There were the racial slurs defacing an Obama campaign office in Virginia in May and those Obama waffles that I refuse to link to. We've all heard the disturbing reports about participants at McCain and Palin rallies shouting out things like "kill him" about Obama and shouting at a black press member in attendance to "sit down boy."

Palin says the "heels are on and the gloves are off."  Is race baiting what she meant?  Sure, she didn't make the remarks and may not have even heard them, but so many racially tinged incidents have been reported now that I'm curious as to why the Republican candidates haven't issued a statement condemning the use of race (or religion) as an issue in this election.  Could it be because race baiting helps them gain votes?  Are they so willing and determined to win that they'll use votes garnered through hate and fear to get what they want?

On top of that we have John McCain who won't look at Barack Obama or shake his hand.  Then McCain referred to Obama as "that one."  McCain might as well have called him "boy" for all the respect he offered his fellow Senator.

This is not the country I know.  These are not the people I know.  Even in my blue collar extended family, I can't recall ever hearing comments like the ones I've heard lately.  That's not to say that they didn't happen, but they didn't happen in front of me.  I've lived in my little racially harmonious bubble for the last 35 years and someone just popped it with a big stick.

I don't like what I'm seeing and hearing from the people in my state. 

I have requested press credentials for a McCain/Palin rally happening here in Virginia Beach on Monday, October 13th.  I'm hoping that the local campaign will let me in, despite my political leanings, so that I can see for myself what happens.  I don't want to see McCain or Palin redeem themselves on the race issue.  They never had my vote in the first place.  (Hell, I've already voted.)  I would, however, like to see how the people of my community comport themselves.

I'd like the people of Virginia to restore my faith in them.

All photos taken at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, during Barack Obama's speech at Invesco field.

Stephanie Himel-Nelson likes to pretend that she also writes on her personal blog, Lawyer Mama, even though crickets have been chirping there since the DNC in August.  In reality, Steph spends all of her spare time trying to turn Virginia blue and acting as the Deputy Director for Outreach for Blue Star Families for Obama.  Her normal life will resume on November 5th.

Comments

[Gunfighter]

"Could it be because race baiting helps them gain votes? Are they so willing and determined to win that they'll use votes garnered through hate and fear to get what they want?"

Yes, and yes, Steph... and it is nothing new.

It shocks me that people are shocked by this.

[Heather J]

Hello. I live in Virginia Beach, too, and I know what you mean. I had let myself slip into some fantasy world where race was becoming a non-issue in the world. Certainly, it was only in my own mind that it was happening.
You know how they work. It's the old, "divide and conquer" mentality at work again.

[kim]

My southern husband believed the same as you regarding racism. He usually dismisses the suggestion of people considering race when voting because to him the idea is so absurd and illogical. But recently said that the only reason Obama isn't winning by a landslide is because he isn't a white guy.

[Lawyer Mama]

Bill - And I feel like an idiot for having my head stuck so far down in the sand for so long.

Heidi - I think you're right. And whenever a racial problem is pointed out, we get the people who scream that we're being overly PC or overly sensitive and it's all in our heads. Divide and conquer indeed. (P.S. You should send me your email if you're in Va. Beach! If you comment with your email, I'll get it & it won't be published!)

[Wily Trax]

Part of my decision will be based on Race.
I believe that the world is very tired of old white men running America and having too great an influence on the rest of them. (at least they used to)
I believe that America will be a much safer place when they have a leader that most of the world can better relate to.

http://www.wilytrax.com

[lildb]

My first serious encounter with bigotry was in Alaska, when I lived there for a summer season. The bigotry and hatred directed toward the Native Americans there is out of control. I was astounded, coming from the hippiedrome of Portland, Oregon.

Then I took a sociology (req'd) course at PSU. In Portland. And found out that Portland is so white because there was a law on Oregon's books to prevent other ethnicities, but specifically African-Americans, from living here; if they spent longer than two years living in Oregon, they were WHIPPED AND FINED. And forced to leave. That law? Was on the books until approx. 1930 (don't have time to dig it up right now; will come back later and vet).

My nice, hippie Portland? Kinda fucking racist.

That hurt to learn. It burst my bubble, most definitely.

But! It made me realize that we, our generation, and those that come after us, do not have to live that way. That we can make things change.

Look how you're making things change, Steph. You. With your work in BS4O, working it hard.

I'm so proud of you. I'm so honored to know you.

Your voice is so strong and so beautiful.

[stuperb]

Fantastic post!! I'm not sure I think McCain's comment last night had anything to do with racism, but I think this was an excellent discussion of race and politics in 2008. Great site!

[jaelithe]

Excellent post. You did your state proud. You want the best of Virginia to shine forth. That's a good thing.

I know there is still a lot of racism here in Missouri, and I know that some people here are foolishly allowing their racial prejudice to affect their votes. But I hope that there are also some people who have allowed their closed minds to open, a little, during this election.

[cynematic]

Lest anyone think Cali is racial utopia, in the 19th century it was the site of some of the most virulent and violent forms of racism against Asians and Latinos. Chinese miners and laborers were driven out from towns where they lived, and massacred, for example.

Anti-Asian anti-immigrant sentiment continued all through the 20th century, of course. And then that white supremacist dude Tom Metzger wanted to found the White Homeland in northern CA before he decided Idaho was more suitable.

There isn't a square inch of land in America that isn't stained by violent conquest, racism, and other kinds of shameful behavior. I just assume I'm culpable in some way, and work from there.

However, we don't have to relive our past. We are, as Obama points out and the Constitution says, "perfectible."

And every day that goes by that people live side by side in peace, and go to each other's kids' birthday parties, work alongside each other, have kids together, is proof that we can improve on our legacy.

[Jamie, expat in France]

I am Jewish, grew up in Florida and I've been living in France for 21 years, and I can't tell you how often people in the States ask me if France is a racist/anti-semitic as word has it. I tell them that I have experienced the "mild" kind of racism ("You're Jewish? You don't look Jewish" or "I have nothing against Jews, I think they are very "clever", but....), and my husband (not Jewish) has heard much more anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim racists remarks than I and way too often (he being out in the working world). But people are surprised when I tell them that my first experiences with racism/anti-semitism were in Florida! Surprise!
And you can't begin to imagine how horrified and ashamed I was to read about the racist remarks being yelled out in the crowd during Palin's speech in Clearwater, Fla. But last week I went on my old local paper, Florida Today, and checked out some of the comments following the article on Palin's visit, and I was stunned to read too many violent, racist comments. Sadly, it still is out there, and, as my sister said, McCain and the Republicans were after this vote (uneducated, redneck, trashy, pro-gun, anti-abortion) when they chose Sarah Palin, and it seems that they right.

[progressive gal]

After the debate watching party in Virginia Beach last night I was talking to Tom Palumbo, a member of Veterans for Peace, and just an all around great guy. We were talking about how race could affect (although, cynically, I believe the more accurate phrase is "is affecting") this election. He told me of a group out of Roanoke, Va - The National Socialist Workers, a Nazi organization - that has produced a magazine for distribution with Sen. Obama's head in crosshairs on the cover. I won't say the title as it contains a slur and I won't give the link as I don't want to give free publicity to such venom. I really couldn't decide if I even wanted to share this information because by sharing it I am giving them a wider audience.

I also felt a responsibility, though, to witness to such hatred and ignorance, and tell others that we can't underestimate how low others will go in order to win this election or have their agendas pushed through. I don't think that Sen. McCain meant "That One" in a racial way last night. However, I do think he is and will continue to pander to that base sort of belief from a segment of the population. And I certainly believe that is what Gov. Palin is actively doing.

I just look at them, sign, and remind myself to meditate for them.

[progressive gal]

LOL - I do "sign" with my middle finger sometimes...but I meant to say "sigh" in this context ;-)

[defiantmuse]

great post, Steph. And beautiful photos.

can I say though, I'm glad you seem to have avoided hearing our uncles (one in particular) racist and bigoted remarks but I've been listening to them as long as I can remember. And it's pissed me off for equally as long. You should hear them when they get started, dude. It's pretty appalling. I've called them out on it many times as I've aged but for all the good it does.....

[abbyjess]

I guess the reason this post is so shocking to me is that you've compiled all the bits and pieces of racism into one post and there's a LOT.

I can't trackback with Blogger but... http://unst.blogspot.com/2008/10/ignorance-and-racism.html

[Lawyer Mama]

Celeste - Yeah, I know. I've thus far managed to avoid it. I think because I didn't spend as much time around them unsupervised by rational adults. Because you lived in the same city, you got to hear it all the time. Lucky you.

Vivian - That pamphlet makes me skin crawl. And yes, I sign frequently as well!

Last night it occurred to me that McCain may have simply forgotten Obama's name, what with the dementia setting in & all. But the disrespect he showed is the same, whether motivated by race or not. It's just a shame that the McCain campaign hasn't turned that spotlight back on their own actions.

[Daisy]

The unconscious racism is almost worse. Whether McCain meant "that one" to be racist or not, it came across that way. If he meant it in a subconscious way, it's even worse yet.

[Annie]

I live in Central Florida and can tell you that among a 'certain element' in this community - racism is alive and well, and blatant.

Comments on articles on my local newspaper online include, frequently, that Obama is a foreigner, a Muslim and many refuse to use any other name for him other than Hussein. I posted and called out the blatant racism and bigotry and was told I needed to be careful because certain people can find out who I am and 'get me fired' - which is funny considering I'm a SAHM - but nonetheless - thoroughly sickening.

[Jason]

The comments of you and others like you are the reason racism is so rampant in today's society. Michelle Obama was asked last night by Larry King if she took offense to her husband being referred to as "that one" and she said no. She was again asked, "Did it in any way offend you" and she replied that she was not offended.
When I read articles and hear comments like this it makes me wonder if the real reason you make these comments is that you are feeling some sort of guilt for the racism you feel inside yourself. In an interview tonight I heard an African American professor say that Sarah Palin was also being racist because she referenced "hockey mom" and Joe sixpack". She obviously uses the phrase hockey mom because it is relevant in her case. The most common sport played in "that state" is hockey. If she lived near me in South Carolina she would have said "football mom".
If you want to know true racism and hate look at Jeremiah Wright, Father Flager, Louis Farrakhan, and William Ayers. They are all personal contacts of Barack Obama and proven hatemongers, however you choose to take an otherwise innocent comment and alter the meaning in order to advance a political candidate who is more white than I am. Yes, I am a black man and I am voting for John McCain.

[Lawyer Mama]

Jason, however you took the "that one" comment, it was disrespectful. Whether or not it was related to race is still up in the air. I said in my post that the only thing that made me think that were other things that have been happening recently. Particularly here in Virginia. And have you watched those videos from McCain/Palin rallies we have up on the site? Racism is alive and well among McCain supporters and apparently they aren't ashamed of it.

I've heard the "racism within you" comment is one the McCain people are fond of parroting. Interesting argument. I abhor racism because I am a latent racist? I can only laugh, particularly since you don't know me. (-;

Although I have to admit that I completely confused by how my comments make racism more prevalent. I suppose you'd be happier if no one ever called anyone out on racism? Would you enjoy the back of the bus?

And I'll believe you're a black man when you vote for Obama. Or are you a self-hater? (Since you had to throw in a completely implausible argument, I had to throw one back at you.)

[cynematic]

Jason, do you feel comfortable in those mean McCain-Palin crowds?

I wouldn't. I feel queasy just watching the videos of that vitriol.

Agree to differ? Yes. Agree to hate? Never.

[Mary G]

LM, this is really good stuff. Love it. I'm rooting for Obama partly because of his race because I think it is time for the US to show the progress it has made in racial harmony. Affirmative action, yes indeed.
Up here in Canada we have the luxury of appointing people from visible minorities to positions of prominence -- the Governor General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governors of the provinces, for example. We have been appointing women, Canadian Blacks, First Nations people, Asian Canadians, people with visible disabilities, for some time. Even though the posts are largely ceremonial, the message, I truly hope, makes a difference.
I also like it that Obama is intelligent and certainly appears to think about his answers and use shade and nuance, thus mitigating the most valid concern about him, his inexperience. The foaming-at-the-mouth type detractors can't find much about him that they can use, either. Also nice. And I really admire his long-suffering wife. I am looking forward to watching her as First Lady.