Get me outta here

By Kathy G.

This election is beginning to freak me the fuck out.

There was this video of McCain/Palin supporters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for example:

And of course this, a video of a separate group of McCain/Palin supporters from Strongsville, Ohio (H/T Melissa):

And then this, from a McCain/Palin event in Waukesha, Wisconsin:

I am seriously scared for my country. In my entire life I can't remember when the nation has been gripped by an angrier, uglier mood. And the worst of the financial crisis and accompanying economic meltdown hasn't even begun to hit yet. If this is what it's like now, what will it be like later? (And if you really want to cheer yourself up, get a load of this, which makes me sound like Little Mary Sunshine).

I'm trying not to be a drama queen about this stuff, but honest to God, I am very scared for Barack Obama. Just watch those videos again. Look at the faces of those people. Listen to their voices. I don't know what's scarier: the ranting hysterics, or the ones who, with cool, calm, unembarrassed certainty, aver that, oh yes, of course they know that Barack Obama is a terrorist who hates America.

Clearly, there are a whole lot of hateful, enraged, and very crazy people out there. No, I don't think the majority of McCain/Palin supporters are like that, but yes, enough of them are like that, that I think we all should be seriously disturbed. I don't think I've ever seen, or heard of, anything like it. And just a few, or even one, of those people are capable of inflicting incalculable damage.

Yes, throughout history there have been hateful demagogues of the Joe McCarthy and Father Coughlin variety, who appealed to the worst in people, and stirred up ugliness and hate. And yes, a series of Republican presidents, from Nixon, to Reagan, to Bush I, to the current president, have cynically exploited racial, sexual, and other cultural fears and resentments for their own gain.

But most of the time they spoke in code, and showed (a little) restraint. Certainly, I can never remember any previous president, or candidate for president, going who went anywhere near as far as McCain/Palin have. Or who took the country to such a dark place. We have a consistent, obviously deliberate pattern of speakers who, in their introductions to McCain and Palin, refer to the Democratic candidate as "Barack Hussein Obama." We have McCain's campaign co-chair going on the radio, sleazily calling Obama "a guy of the street," and slimily bringing up his cocaine use. We have Palin outrageously suggesting that Barack Obama is an America-hating terrorist (or terrorist symp, anyway) who doesn't care about the troops. We have Cindy McCain's vicious insinuation that Obama cares more for his own political gain than about the well-being of her son and the other men and women serving overseas. We have John McCain himself echoing the words of an infamous smear email and asking "Who is the real Barack Obama?"   

These people know what they are doing. They cannot be unaware of the frenzied audience reaction to these kinds of comments, with people in the crowd shouting "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" and "Treason!" at the mention of Obama's name, and turning on reporters by screaming obscenities and racial epithets at them. This is going on, and McCain and Palin well know it. Yet they continue with their inflammatory rhetoric, and their scurrilous ads which are designed to make Obama look as sinister and threatening as possible. When their supporters start screaming for the murder of Barack Obama, neither McCain nor Palin stops their respective speeches, and remonstrates these deranged individuals.

Oh no, no! On the contrary. Take the video of the Wisconsin event, for example. That ranting freak in the crowd grabs hold of the microphone and unleashes his bile about Obama and Pelosi being "socialists" and "hooligans." After he's done, the crowd wildly applauds and starts chanting, "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" And what does John McCain do?  He expresses his hearty agreement: "I think I got the message. Could I just say, the gentleman is right." He utters not a word of criticism. No demurrals to the effect that "now, now, I won't stand for those kinds of attacks, my opponent is a patriotic American too, but we have a fundamental disagreement over which policies are best for this country." Nuh uh. He just let the guy's  vile accusations stand without challenge.

Dark forces have been let loose across the land. The rancid rhetoric coming out of the McCain/Palin campaign is but one example. But there ae many more: there's the Protocols of the Elders of Zion-like attempt of many on the right to blame the financial crisis on greedy, lazy minorities. There's the conspiracy mongering and rank insanity over at the National Review's The Corner, where the leading lights of American conservatism seriously debate whether Barack Obama is a Maoist or Stalinist.

Ultimately, though, it is the McCain/Palin campaign which is setting the tone here. And they, more than anyone else, are responsible for enabling this horrorshow. Their words feed the madness, and stoke the rage. Overarching ambition and searing hatred have eaten away at them, leaving holes in the places where their souls used to be.

I watch and read this stuff, and I despair. It's not that I think it will actually hurt Obama much at the voting booth. In fact, I'm more convinced than ever that he will win. And not only that: it might not even be close. And he may win with enough of a commanding majority in Congress to actually accomplish something big.

But, like Digby, I do worry that a toxic narrative is taking hold that will cause substantial numbers of Americans to see an Obama presidency as something that is illegitimate and must be destroyed. And honest to God, I worry about Barack's personal safety as well. He and Michelle are two exceedingly brave people. God only knows the thoughts that must go through their heads every day.

I'll be leaving for my London trip on Monday. Originally, I scheduled the trip for this time because I thought the race would be close and I'd be out of my mind with worry about whether Obama could pull it out. But now I just want to escape the madness. Getting the hell out of this country for a while will be a relief. (One ironic note here is that, for reasons I do not understand but will look into, the dollar is now much stronger than when I booked this trip four or so months ago. Back then, a pound was worth two bucks plus a penny or two. But last time I looked, it was down to $1.69).

Things seem to be rapidly unraveling in this country.  McCain, Palin, and the rest of the right-wing freakshow have unleashed and legitimized some of the darkest, nastiest elements of the conservative id. I'll be blunt about it: if anyone touches a hair on Barack Obama's head, McCain and Palin will have blood on their hands. And there will be hell to pay.

Comments

[Anna Granfors]

And if one were to look, even casually, for the common thread for all of these devolutionoids, one would find many, many hours reading and listening to Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Hewitt, ad nauseam.

Seriously, if we are ever so fortunate as to have a truth and reconciliation commission, the above-mentioned should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the poison they cynically disseminated. Along with the mega-media corporations who gleefully presented them to us.

[scott]

It's more open now than usual, as you note, but how is this different in kind (if not degree) than '92? Remember Bush insinuating that Clinton attended "foreign" antiwar rallies when he was at Oxford and the dark wingnut charges that he was some kinda commie? Whenever these folks suspect they're losing their grip on authority over others, the dark tides of the id start to roll. I agree that it's prudent to be worried, but part of me says let's get this stuff out in the open so that the public and our tame MSM can see it, possibly for the first time, and reach a lasting negative judgment about it.

[robertdfeinman]

If this was just some average Joe inciting a mob the Secret Service would be investigating since there are laws about this.

Do you think they might go after McCain or Palin for breaking the same laws?

[eric]

To me this actually feels a lot like 1992.

Back then I was in my early 20's. Prior to Clinton, the only other Democratic president I could remember was Carter, from when I was in grade school. For my entire jr. high, high school, and college years, Republicans held the presidency. It is hard to believe now, but back then I had never heard of Rush Limbaugh. I had never really seen the ugly side of the right wing. Why? I can only assume it was because their guy had been in office for most of my life.

So, when Clinton won, I was *completely* taken aback by how angry some people on the right were about it. And, yes, much of the rhetoric was similar to that of today. To them, Clinton was (supposedly) this hard core 1960's, dope-smoking, free-love, Marxist radical. And they were saying this about a guy who ran as a Southern Centrist, who had proudly and ostentatiously presided over at least one execution. As a liberal, I remember reading some of the right-wing smears and thinking to myself, "if only Clinton really was a liberal...." The cognitive dissonance was huge. This time around, it hasn't affected me as much, in part because I've seen this before.

I will admit that I don't remember seeing crowds that were this angry back in 1992. On the other hand, I remember a very angry crowd watching Pat Buchannan's speech at the Republican convention; the speech which started with the words, "We're fighting a Religious war in America!"

But I think the biggest difference between then and now is the age of youTube. The ugliest stuff would never have made it onto CBS news 20 years ago. It was probably out there, we just weren't in a position to see it. I think the age of youTube is really destroying the Republican brand every time this stuff gets out there.

It's having a similar effect to Buchannan's speech, which really hurt the Republicans back in 92. It is also, frankly similar to what happened to Bill Clinton during the primaries, or Geraldine Ferraro, or George "maccaca" Allen in the 2006 VA Senate race, all of whom were really hurt by youTube moments.

The Republicans (not surprisingly) haven't adjusted to the youTube age, and it is really hurting them. At any rate, that's how I see it.

[Rosco P]

I have seen and heard things exactly like this. In films about Germany in the 20s.And no,this is not exaggerating a point. If you don't know history you are doomed to repeat it.

[drip]

I have seen and heard things exactly like this at vote counting sites in Florida in 2000. Many of the faces went on to hold federal office.

[Historical Agent]

Saw something a little like this on my campus—a large public u. in a safely blue state. Weird guys way too old to be undergrads (outside agitators?) giving away T- shirts, yelling "Fuck Obama! Fuck Obama!" This was a couple days before the "terrorist" crap came out.

[DakotabornKansan]

I share your fear. We should all be very afraid. Dark forces are being unleashed across the nation. Millions of Americans are enraged at being deserted by the economy. The middle class are frightened and beleaguered. The bigotry, resentments, and hatreds that exist beneath the surface of our democracy are being stoked. What is truly evil is not the crowds we see, but the McCain/Palin campaign that is mobilizing and unleashing these dark forces. They are ruthlessly manipulating the fears and despair engendered by this economic meltdown and the underlying dark forces for their own political gain, and they are in danger of losing control of what they have unleashed.

Heed the words of Vice President Henry Wallace in 1944:

"The really dangerous American fascist…is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power.

They claim to be super patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise but are spokesman for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjugation. “

[zhak]

The Republicans have been reminding me very forcibly of the National Socialists in the early to mid-30s for years now. I know no one is supposed to bring up the Nazis, but here's the thing: one of the children's primer textbooks that was approved for use in Germany after the Nuremberg Laws (racial purity & such) was all about how to tell the difference between a person & a Jew. The idea behind it was pretty simple & primal: dehumanize the Jewish race to the point where they ceased to be recognized as human beings. Something way-too-similar for comfort has been happening for many years courtesy of our friendly Republican party. They repeat various things, over & over & over, and appeal to the one thing these under-educated (& probably quite stupid) think they have: true patriotism. The idea is that Democrats or anyone that does not actually agree with their mindless adulation of the flag & the authoritarianism of the right is not a real American.

Obama's name & skin color make it all too easy to ratchet the rhetoric up & whip these brainwashed fools into a frenzy.

This has happened before.

[johnbpt]

While I'm not one to trigger Godwin's Law lightly, I must say that the only thing these volk didn't do was blame the Jews for all the problems of the world. But I'll bet if there wasn't a convenient "Muslim" stand-in, they would have.

[distributorcap]

I do worry that a toxic narrative is taking hold that will cause substantial numbers of Americans to see an Obama presidency as something that is illegitimate and must be destroyed.

exactly how i feel === what a scary but important post ==

so many of us are feeling really queasy about the evil Palin and McCain have unleashed. he might try to rein it in - but it is too late. the parallels to germany 1933 are too frightening. bad economic conditions (remember the wheel barrel of money in the Weimar Republic) - racial politics and fear of the unknown. Germany was a loser in WW1 and we are losers in the middle east.

i go on to say kristallnacht was 70 years ago right after election day --- and we all know how the right wing loves anniversaries -- like the Okla bombing on HItler's birthday

there is a lot to be scared about -- and if we dont talk about the parallels we are deluding ourselves

[Burr Deming]

Before we make a choice we may regret for the next four years, the accusations against Barack Obama should be carefully considered, as they are here:

http://www.FairAndUnbalanced.com?http://www.testimoanials.com/blog/blog1.php/2008/10/10/the-difference-between-jefferson-davis-a

[Sir Charles]

Kathy,

Enjoy your trip and try to relax. I had some thoughts on this subject too:

http://www.cogitamusblog.com/2008/10/on-republican-r.html

Ultimately I am very optimistic about where we stand electorally -- but these irredentist types worry me too.

[andy]

"While I'm not one to trigger Godwin's Law lightly, I must say that the only thing these volk didn't do was blame the Jews for all the problems of the world."

Jews, Arabs, they're both Semetic peoples- same difference, really.

And you realize the christianists only like the Jews right now because they hope and pray (natch) that they somehow set off armageddon, and jesus comes down with a pony and the "good" Jews convert to christianity and the "bad" Jews don't and get cast down into the flaming pits of hell and then all good christians go to heaven with jesus and have ice cream with him forever and ever amen.

Well, that's what they think ain't it, really?

[james]

Before the McInsane campaign went off the tracks I think the plan was to manipulate enough votes and disenfranchise enough minorities to get him and crazy Sarah into office where he would either be encouraged to leave for medical reasons or killed if he refused so little miss sunshine could take her ordained place as head theocrat.

The insanity that both GOP candidates have displayed to the American people, the ones still conversant enough with reality to know crazy when they see it, has just about handed this election to the Democrats. Now we have to be vigilant for Republican harassment at polling locations on election day.

Everyone who isn't planning to do anything on election day and who doesn't have a job to go to should seriously think about contacting their local Democratic Party organization and volunteering to be a poll watcher, election inspector, video operator, whatever it takes to ensure that Gestapo tactics and phony challenges at the polling locations won't prevent people from voting.

[btezra]

Darwin is simply not doing his job weeding out the asshats from the gene pool.

Seriously.

I've not seen blatant racism like this in quite some time.

[btezra]

Darwin is simply not doing his job weeding out the asshats from the gene pool.

Seriously.

I've not seen blatant racism like this in quite some time.