This is what Birth of a Nation, 2008 looks like, Pennsylvania-style

From TPM.com:

Feldman Speaks -- But Not About Hoax
10.26.08 -- 12:02AM
By David Kurtz

Bear with me. The intricacies of GOP dirty tricks in Pennsylvania take some unraveling. But this is too rich, and the best part comes at the end.

On Thursday the Pennsylvania GOP sent out an email to 75,000 Jewish voters in the state warning that electing Obama could lead to a second Holocaust, the AP reports:

"Jewish Americans cannot afford to make the wrong decision on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008," the e-mail reads. "Many of our ancestors ignored the warning signs in the 1930s and 1940s and made a tragic mistake. Let's not make a similar one this year!"
A copy of the e-mail, provided by Democratic officials, says it was "Paid for by the Republican Federal Committee of PA - Victory 2008."

It warns "Fellow Jewish Voters" of the danger of a second Holocaust due to the threats to Israel from its neighbors and touts Republican presidential candidate John McCain's qualifications over those of Obama.

The state GOP is now running away from that email as fast as it can. The AP leads with the state GOP's disavowal of the email, but it seems a bit more complicated than that. There doesn't seem to be any dispute that the state party or one of its committees sent the email. The party's defense seems to be that the consultant who the party hired wasn't authorized to send that particular email and was fired.

Except the AP got in touch with the consultant and that's not quite the story he tells:

Political consultant Bryan Rudnick was identified as the person responsible for it. Rudnick, reached Saturday night, confirmed that he no longer works for the party, which employed him a few weeks ago as a consultant to do outreach to Jewish voters.

"I had authorization from party officials" to send the e-mail, Rudnick said, but he declined to say who had signed off on it. "I'm not looking to drag anyone else through the mud, so I'm not naming names right now," he said.

That's a pretty good story in its own right: Another under-the-radar GOP sleaze tactic exposed and yet another low- to mid-level GOP operative scapegoated because he got caught on the wrong side of the McCain campaign's shifting line between what is just sleazy and what is too sleazy (a line that seems to get drawn immediately after the GOP gets busted).

But it gets better.

Like the state GOP, the McCain camp is running away from this email, and the spokesperson doing the distancing is none other than Peter Feldman. That's the same guy who on Thursday, the day the email went out, was pushing the mugging hoax to reporters as a politically motivated attack by a black Obama supporter, playing to the worst of white fears and racial prejudices.

Speaking of the email to Jewish voters and without any apparent hint of irony, Feldman told the AP Saturday night that McCain "rejects politics that degrade our civics."

Amazing.

No word on whether the AP asked Feldman about his role in pushing the mugging hoax.

Now, you can call me cynical, if you want.....but, it sorta looks 'coordinated', doesn't it? I don't believe there are enough 'coincidences' in the Western World for it just to be ' happening'.

The Racist Dogwhistle Is Working Overtime in Michigan

I had a feeling that this would be a tactic used by Rethugs. This is why Mr. Hip Hop pissed me off with his antics, especially since they were right around election time. I knew it would be an issue.

When it comes to Black politicians... there is always supposed to be this magical connection, just by virtue of the fact that they are Black (no real substantive connection is necessary). But with White politicians, it's not so easy to make such an assumption. You actually have to tie the white guys (or gals) together with some sort of connection...with facts, evidence of involvement, etc. Whites don't have the same burden of representing an entire group based on their race. They represent businesses, Parties... but they aren't usually held accountable for every !%#$-up who happens to be of the same racial/ethnic group.

That's why I say that Black politicians who reach any level of National status represent more than just themselves, their cities, their States or their district constituents. They represent an entire group....although that status may be forced upon them. It is what it is. This is what made the Hip Hop thug Mayor so damaging...and I knew that it would somehow find its way into the General Election. Let's face it... Race is at the heart of this strategy. If the Democratic candidate had been White, I don't think the commercial would have been made.

Whenever I would read or hear a story about the latest antics of Kwame Kilpatrick, I would always cringe for Obama.

Obama's Race May Be a Growing Issue In Michigan & Beyond

The issue or Race is leading to a tough fight for Obama in Michigan, as well as other States. Certainly the Kilpatrick debacle didn't help (which is why Idiot Kilpatrick should have been aware of the big picture and left the stage quietly, months ago).

Obama is also struggling in Pennsylvania & Minnesota - States that had been a given for Democrats. Ohio, Missouri, Florida, and Virginia? Those may be lost at this point.... it would take a miracle for Obama to win one of the four. Right now, Obama has to concentrate on stopping the bleeding so that he can hold on to States that had been seen as safe for Democrats - Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota.

If he can hold on to those... he will likely have to beat McCain in November by winning Colorado and New Mexico.

Things could change in six weeks... hopefully they will change for the better. I keep hoping that Obama has finally bottomed out and will rebound at any moment... but that's not what the data is telling me. So far, the bottom is continuing to fall.
From a logic standpoint, I can't make any sense of it. But when you factor in the sickness of America and look at the whole picture, I understand it from a functional, technical point of view. But from a common sense point of view, it is driving me crazy because I can't wrap my head around it.

The impact that race is having on this election is even more than I had imagined. It's making me sick to my stomach.

One bright side might be the fact that Kerry also struggled a little in Minnesota and Pennsylvania in the polling (although not so much in Michigan). But then again I can't compare Kerry's performance to Obama's....and any "pundit" or "expert" who does is wasting their time... you can probably throw many of those conclusions out. Why? Because Kerry had the benefit of being White. Obama faces many more political and social challenges and the voting might be hard to predict in many of these battleground States. Kerry didn't have to worry about racist and xenophobic propaganda, didn't have to worry about the Bradley Effect, etc.

I am hoping that the debates will give Obama a small boost before the election... but then again, we saw John Kerry destroy George W. Bush 3 times in a row...and Bush still won. We are dealing with an electorate with a low aptitude for politics, for the issues, and are generally ill informed. So the debates may not necessarily help Obama. This is another factor that is driving me crazy.

Meanwhile, Obama is losing the propaganda war.... the Republican machine is destroying him so far. And the Democrats seem clueless, even though THEY KNEW about the Republican playbook ahead of time. How could they not be prepared? One big problem for the Democrats is that they don't have a propaganda machine or at least they don't have anything that comes close to the infrastructure and information network that Republicans have.

Snake Reminder - See the Forest for the Trees

Sometimes, I see comments that are so on point, and I don't believe any of the bloggers here could say it better that they should be lifted and put out front.

This wonderful comment from Manju was in my latest Bill Clinton Post:

McCain linking Clinton to the race-baiting charge was a brilliant tactical move, allowing him to exploit diviisons within the democratic party while putting Obama between a rock and a hard place.


Whats Obama to do? If he defends Clinton's accusers his hopes of uniting his party, and subsequently winning the election, are dashed. If he attacks them he ends up "admitting" that Clinton's accusers, and by extension himself since he benefitted, are Sharptonesque. Both are losing cards.


The Clinton's are powerful. There's a huge swath of the democratic party that's simply not willing to admit that they played a southern strategy. They're ideologically bound to the notion that that is resricted to the Republicans, to Nixon and Reagan. Even those who have written extensively on southern strategies, like Paul Krugman, cannot bring themselves to make this admission, despite all the evidence, lest they end up admitting that much of what the VRWC said about the Clintons was right all along. Such an admission would undermine almost 2 decades of work. Its unthinkable.


The Clinton's know this and its in their best interest to keep the party divided. Obama must lose the general in order for them to reclaim the party and power. Thus, Clinton bought up racism all by himself, knowing it would hurt Obama. Howard Wolfson, Clinton old campaign manager, is on Foxnews now making Obama out to be a racial McCarthyist. Expect Gerry Ferraro to make a reappearance in the coming months.


This is precisely why party insiders wanted Clinton to quit the race when it became obvious she couldn't win. The Clintons scorched earth policy gives McCain cover to launch all sorts of attacks on Obama, and not be blamed for it--or even have dems defend him when he does it--b/c they originated from the Clintons. Obama as race baiter, as not fit to be commander in chief, as sexist, as out of touch with hard working white Americans, and finally as election steeler who lost the popular vote.


All these charges are false and incendiary. But still very dangerous territory for Obama.

I'll remind folks of a theory by a poster on JJP, who routinely reminds us that Senator Obama is still in a fight for the nomination, and you can poo-poo that if you want, I STILL believe it's completely on point and accurate.

Unity-my-ass.

Nobody in Camp Clinton is interested in Unity. They've been clowning from the moment it became obvious that Hillpatine couldn't win (the night of the WISCONSIN PRIMARY) unless she STOLE it from Obama. And, the clowning hasn't abated one little bit.

I am sure that the Obama Camp understands this, but I post things like this from time to time, to remind folks to take that long range perspective and SEE exactly what Senator Obama is up against. When a Republican like Michelle Bernard has given Barack Obama more respect than 85% of the folks that show up on the tv claiming to be Democrats----step back and see the forest for the trees.

Manju is also on point about so many of the Clintonistas are mad as hell that not only were the Clintons called out for their racebaiting, but folks aren't backing down from it, and it's out there. And, if true, that the GOP is about to begin presenting commercials using Hillary Clinton, then what will come out of their mouths then?

Just yesterday, Bill Clinton was asked if Barack Obama was ready to be President, and he gave a thoroughly bullshit non-answer that could have been given by any REPUBLICAN.

Snake. Snake. Snake.

Obama should win or lose on his own terms. But, I believe a whole lot of his critics, not 'haters', but critics, don't want to acknowledge the den of vipers that he has to pass over - in his supposed ' own party' - to get to the White House.

Bill Clinton Says He's 'Not A Racist'.....hmmmmm

Well, I thought I might be able to let this one 'be'.
But, I couldn't.
Bill Clinton's been talking again.

Hat tip-posters at Jack and Jill Politics.


From ABC.com

Bill Clinton to ABC: 'I Am Not a Racist'
By Anne E. Kornblut

Former president Bill Clinton has been trying to keep his political opinions in check in order to turn back to his international work.

Still, he got a little testy in an interview Sunday with ABC's Kate Snow, telling her he is "not a racist" even as he avoided delving into specifics about what happened in the Democratic presidential primary. The interview, taped in a quick stop in Liberia, will air Monday on "Good Morning America."

Snow asked Clinton, "Do you personally have any regrets about what you did campaigning for your wife?"

With his arms folded and looking a bit tense, Clinton replied, "Yes, but not the ones you think. And it would be counterproductive for me to talk about it."

Barely pausing for a breath, he added, "There are things I wish I'd urged her to do, things I wish I had said, things I wish I hadn't said. But I am not a racist, I never made a racist comment, and I didn't attack him personally," a clear allusion to Sen. Barack Obama.

I'm going to let White folks in on a Black truth -Black folk could care less if YOU believe that you ' aren't a racist'.

IFFFFFF

You are willing to use racebaiting tactics against a Black person....

WHY are you delusional to think that Black people will make that delineation?

It DOES NOT matter.

IF, when your back is against the wall, the ONLY solution you can come up with to defeat your opponent is using racial attacks on a Black person....

Nobody Black cares if you believe yourself NOT to be a racist. There's not that much ' sophistication' in the world for Black folk to mark the difference. And the ones that tell you they've done it- ask them what they've been PAID.

As a commentator on CNN remarked tonight, it wasn't even the question Clinton was asked. It was totally random, unsolicited. I never believe that anything The Clintons do is random. It's always purposeful. It's always with an ulterior motive behind it.

You can believe it if you want, that these words just HAPPENED to be uttered by Bill as Senator 'Straight Talk' is accusing OBAMA of 'playing the race card'.

Uh huh.
Coincidence.
Sure.

Bill's still mad that Black folk busted his ass. Going around pointing the finger at Barack Obama - that OBAMA is the reason for his dropping numbers in the Black Community.

Got news for Bill. The most accurate thing Obama's said in months that was absolutely ' for real- no chaser', is the quote coming out of the meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus about how he BIT HIS TONGUE.

Indeed he did.

Obama was Jackie Robinson as Camp Clinton racebaited him from coast-to-coast.
Got news for Bill Clinton.

Barack Obama isn't the reason for your approval numbers dropping in the Black Community.

Make no mistake, Barack Obama BENEFITTED from the Dogwhistle Racial Politics of Camp Clinton, but he didn't make an issue out of it, until it became so egregious that he was looking like a fool for NOT speaking up.

Obama knew the double standard and the evil of racebaiting; the MOMENT the Black Person speaks up and points out the racebaiting, THEY are accused of ' Playing the Race Card'. WE know that game, because it's played on us daily.

No, the reason for your approval numbers dropping in the Black Community is because Black folk, despite the ' common wisdom' in this country, actually DO think for themselves.

We have survived in America for generations because of those thinking skills. And, one of the skills of survival that has been passed on from generation to generation in the Black Community is the How to Hear the Call of the Dogwhistle.

We know the pitch; we know the tone; we know the code.

And guess what, we don't need White folk to tell us when the Dogwhistle has been blown; we hear it louder and clearer than the designated recipients of the racial appeals ever will. We know the nuances of it; the subtleties. Despite what you might think Bubba

- You weren't subtle, and you sure in hell weren't slick.

Black folk saw through the call of the Dogwhistle QUICK.

As I keep on reminding folks, the first true sign of acknowledgement of the Dogwhistle was in the sham Michigan Primary, when ' Uncommitted' won 70% of the vote in DETROIT. By the time South Carolina came, as they say, ' it was on'.

WHO busted you- Bill Clinton, and Camp Clinton on the racebaiting?

No, it wasn't Barack Obama.

It was the common Black man and Black woman, who sat back, silently observing what was happening. It was finding out about the incidents through talk radio, Black radio, and from blogs such as this. It was the common Black man and woman, who could read, and keep track of the racebaiting, creating the ClintonAttacksObama Wiki that grew to FIFTY INCIDENTS, and was actually incomplete.

THAT is who busted you.

And Bill, please stop clinging to any delusions that you will be received with adoration within the Black Community.

Black folk ain't studdin' you, or your wife.

When you decided to racebait the first truly legitimate Black Candidate for President of the United States...

What the hell did you think would be the response of the Black Community?

Last word will come from our fellow poster,Truthseeker, who was so on point:

He's in RWANDA ....the scene of his crime, trying to atone and salvage his black street cred.

While he's hobnobbing with the poor blacks in Rwanda, he's putting out statements to smear the first black candidate.

The new racist will fly to Africa and help poor black farmers with their cassava crops while putting out statements via blackberry to attack the first black candidate in the shiny, modern USA.

Mental derangement.

Guess Who's Back? - Tavis Smiley

Guess who's back?

Yes, Tavis is back.

From HuffingtonPost.com:

Tavis Smiley Tackles Obama And Race
KINNEY LITTLEFIELD | July 21, 2008 04:14 PM EST

LOS ANGELES — Tavis Smiley is all wound up. His voice is rough from too much vocalizing, but the host of public television's "Tavis Smiley" talk show and public radio's "The Tavis Smiley Show" is on an oratorical roll about race, politics, and his fellow African-American, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

"There is no such thing in America as race transcendence, and Obama's going to find that out real soon," says Smiley, leaning into his words. As he sermonizes, he sheds suit jacket, tie and belt in succession, getting comfy in his spacious suite at KCET in Los Angeles after taping two installments of "Tavis Smiley" (Monday-Friday in various time-slots on PBS stations).

Despite the peaceful vibe inside his sanctuary, with its African masks and scented candle, Smiley frowns. "There's no such thing as 'post-racial' in America, because if you push the envelope too far, you're going to hear about it."

Smiley should know. For months he has been the object of an Internet firestorm for his perceived negative comments about Obama on commercial radio's syndicated "The Tom Joyner Morning Show."

Smiley found himself between race and a hard place when he criticized Obama on-air for choosing not to appear on Smiley's annual State of the Black Union cablecast on C-SPAN in February. Smiley's remarks sparked a blaze of invective by African-American bloggers, who questioned Smiley's loyalty, motives and ego.

Rest of article at link above.


We're going to take it point by point.

"There is no such thing in America as race transcendence, and Obama's going to find that out real soon,"

Uh huh.

I didn't know precisely why this bothered me until taritac wrote this:
Tavis sounds like a broken record. What in the hell does he mean about Obama finding out about "race transcendence?" Obama is no fool. I am sure he recognizes the racism that has come his way during this campaign, but he sure as hell understands that crying "racism," even when it's true, only shuts white people's ears off.

Tavis is uttering his same nonsense. Obama will find out that there's no ' race transcendence'.

WILL FIND OUT?

Color me clueless, but I would have already bet that Barack Obama already KNOWS about that.

And, he didn't find out through anything that the GOP has done.

No, we stopped the race transcendance train due to the Dogwhistle Racial PoliTRICKS of Camp Clinton.

Tavis is trying to perpetrate, everyone.

He's trying to perpetrate that the Dogwhistle Racial PoliTRICKS of Camp Clinton didn't happen.

That the incidents at the ClintonAttacksObama Wiki Page, were all our 'imagination'.

Because, if they DID happen, and he was a MUTE during this time, then what does that say about his ' Race Man' credentials?

Ah yes....

Uh huh.

GOTCHA, Tavis.

And, you have to love folks trying to do the shorthand version of what happened between Tavis and the TJMS audience.

Black folk have never had a problem with 'constructive criticism' of Obama.

But, Tavis ran into the following:
1. It began to be perceived that it went PERSONAL for him and Obama.
2. Then, it began to be perceived that it wasn't even personal for TAVIS, but that he was doing it for Camp Clinton.
3. Then, he disrespected the offer to send Michelle Obama to the SOTBU, and LIED about it. And no one remotely believes that if it had been reversed - if BILL Clinton had been offered, HE would have been turned down.
4. When Hillpatine gets to the SOTBU, he was MUTE and didn't 'challenge' her on #($*. Nada.
5. You wanna talk about someone who was talking down to Black folks...rerun those TJMS commentaries for the last 6 months. He acted like Black folks had no sense.

THAT is why the TJMS audience told Tavis to go somewhere and sit down and take a chill pill.

NOT for simple-simon ' Obama didn't go to the SOTBU' nonsense.

Blog Alert: Michelle Obama Watch

Gina M of What About Our Daughters is at it again - thank goodness.

When discussing the infamous Michelle tape at WAOD, Gina had the following observation:

Volunteer Michelle Media Monitors

This whole infamous tape stuff is just a sliver of what Michelle Obama is going to face in the media. So because I predict getting a flurry of emails from now until November, I am going to be proactive and start a separate Michelle Obama blog to track every article, blog post, youtube clip that pops up and provide you an opportunity to respond. Because if the past is any indicator, the campaign has no problem with her being turned into a verbal punching bag, I DO! IF you want to volunteer and want to post updates on the blog, send an email to the gmail account in the right sidebar. Its going to be a LONG hot SUMMER!

Whether you support her husband or not. Let's be clear, any and every Black woman that walks in her footsteps can expect the same treatment so we might as well pull a Gandolf, draw a line in the stand and yell "THOU SHALL NOT PASS!" This ain't about Barack, its about every professional Black woman that has had to smile on the days she didn't want to for fear of being labeled ANGRY.

Gina kept her word, and has now created Michelle Obama Watch.


I know there are many here at Mirror On America who form that protective circle around Michelle, so I thought I would spread the word.

Hillary BLACKENS UP Obama in Ad?

What is this, a repeat of Time Magazine & OJ?

From DailyKos

Hillary's ad: debate footage doctored to make Obama blacker
by Troutnut
Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 12:19:22 AM PST
In case you needed yet another reason to despise Hillary Clinton and her vermin strategists, she's now running an ad blatantly lying about Obama's subcommittee. Her ad includes debate footage heavily doctored to make Obama blacker.

I guess this is the "fun part."

Judge for yourself:


Thoughts?

McCain Supporter Launches Personal Racist Attack On Obama

McCain Supporter Disparages Obama; McCain Apologizes

By Michael D. Shear

CINCINNATI -- A supporter of Arizona Sen. John McCain repeatedly used Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein, while ridiculing him as a terrorist sympathizer in an introductory speech for McCain at a rally here this morning.

Immediately afterward, former Ohio congressman and former Bush administration official Rob Portman praised the supporter, talk show host Bill Cunningham, as an "extremely important" part of the McCain campaign.

Cunningham, who is known for his right-wing, fiery rhetoric on the radio, challenged the media to "stop taking sides and begin covering Barack Hussein Obama" as they do Republicans.

He used Obama's middle name two more times and referred to him as "a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who's picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you're going to have in your pocket is change."

He then mocked foreign policy statements of "Barack Hussein Obama," calling him the "fraud from Chicago" and saying that if Obama were to be elected president he would meet with the leaders of enemy nations. He said the "world leaders who want to kill us" will be "singing Kumbaya together around the table with Barack Obama."

Later in his comments, he said there is a big difference between Secretaries of State "Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright, who looks like death warmed over. I think there's a difference between Condi and Madeleine. "

He also referred to retired Gen. Wesley Clark as a "Clintonista."

McCain did not mention Cunningham's comments in his speech to the enthusiastic crowd. But afterward, in comments to reporters, McCain apologized profusely for "any disparaging remarks" made about his Democratic rivals.

"Whatever suggestion was made that was in any way disparaging to the integrity, character, honesty of either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton was wrong, and I condemn it," McCain said. "I will take responsibility and I apologize for it."
Pressed by reporters, McCain said he will "make sure nothing like that ever happens again" and said, "I absolutely repudiate such comments."

A spokesman for Obama, Bill Burton, said: "We appreciate Senator McCain's remarks. It is a sign that if there is a McCain-Obama general election, it can be intensely competitive but the candidates will attempt to keep it respectful and focused on issues."

Portman said after McCain's speech that Cunningham is "often controversial" and that it did not surprise him that Cunningham would have made news with his comments at the rally.

But on stage earlier, Portman was effusive about Cunningham's speech. "Willie, you're out of control again. So, what else is new? But we love him," Portman told the crowd. "But I've got to tell you, Bill Cunningham lending his voice to this campaign is extremely important."

The sarcastic speech by Cunningham followed comments by another supporter, a prosecutor from the Cincinnati area, who mocked Obama's lack of military service and his message of optimism.

Joe Deters called Obama the "presumptive Democratic candidate" and predicted that Obama's success will quickly fade as people see through his rhetoric.

He said that will happen "after the vortex of love for this candidate stops -- and I feel so badly for the Clintons about this, don't you? -- and everybody sobers up and says, what does this guy really stand for?"

Deters whipped up the audience of about 400 by accusing Obama of supporting policies that Republicans hate.

"How about raising your taxes? How about that?" Deters said, prompting loud boos from the crowd.

"How about universal health care?"

More boos.

"How about the Democrats fighting with each other on how quickly they will surrender to the terrorists in Iraq?"

More boos.

Deters then questioned Obama's lack of military experience. He cited McCain's well-known history of having spent five years in a Vietnamese prison cell and having two sons serving "in uniform," and then accused Obama of having never risked anything.

"The only thing he has ever risked was a filing fee for reelection," Deters said. "That's the only thing he ever risked."

Source: The Washington Post Blog

**************************

However, McCain later tried to "distance" himself from the remarks.
I think this will be the beginning of a long trend of McCain "distancing" himself from the attacks launched by his people....knowing full well what they are doing. It looks like this will be a part of McCain's campaign strategy.

Clinton Launches Nasty (racist) Nuclear Attack on Obama

I am unable to type... I'm afraid I will write something that will get me into big trouble. Just follow the link.

But I will say that it's time for Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel, Harry Reid, Clyburn, Durbin, Hoyer and all the rest, to get off of their butts and intervene to bring this to an end. I can't imagine that they will wait much longer, especially after this.

This is worse than anything that I can recall from even the Republicans.

At least with the NAFTA dispute.... IT WAS A DISPUTE ABOUT THE ISSUES. And Clinton cannot run from the past, when she has been qouted supporting NAFTA. (I will get to that later today). But in response, she turns around and goes outside of the actual issues, and counters with a racist, fear based smear campaign, to attempt to play on fears of White voters in Ohio and Texas...fears based on race and religion.

Pelosi, Reid and others should ask her to step aside. In fact, all of the Superdelegates should show their disapproval by abandoning her right now. By sticking with her after this attack.... Clinton's Superdelegates are indicating that they are co-signing this smear effort.

Should I start making a list of who these people are? The world should know who supports Clinton's Smear tactic.

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