The fundamental racism of the American right

June 17, 2008 in Political Animals by meatbrain | 21 comments

On sale at the recent Texas Republican convention:

Obama Button

 

Nothing I could say could be more effective in demonstrating what these people actually are.

(hat tip: Think Progress)

UPDATE 06/18/08 11:07 AM EDT: David Neiwert points out that the whole GOP presidential campaign this year can pretty much be summed up as “Boogadah boogadah brown people!”

  1. Orion on June 17, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Kinda like all those pictures of Che Guevera on and around Obama supporters, or all those questionable associations Obama’s had for the past 20 years…You know, a racist preacher, an unrepentant terrorist, and so on…

    Nothing anyone can say could be more effective in demonstrating what Obama actually is…

    Orion

  2. Orion on June 17, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    And let’s not forget his advisers who get their ideas on foreign policy from Winnie The Pooh.

    Orion

  3. meatbrain on June 17, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    Once again, a wingnut demonstrates his fondness for the smear tactic of guilt by association. Actually discussing Barack Obama’s own policy proposals is beyond Orion’s capabilities.

  4. Orion on June 17, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    Yah, I’ve never done that whole policy thing…It scares me, of course. Never discussed his foreign policy, 2nd Amendment positions, record, energy policies, or anything else. Nope. Not even once. Just smears by association…

    Lesseee…..Meatbrain posts photo of an idiotic button, uses it to smear half the political spectrum…then, calls out someone else who points out 20+ year associations with terrorists and racists and images associated with HIS candidate for using “the smear tactic of guilt by association.”

    Pot…meet Kettle. I’m sure you’ll have lots to talk about.

    sighs You know, baiting you is really too easy. Can you, you know, try a little harder, please?

    Orion

  5. Randy on June 18, 2008 at 12:50 am

    I know this is an impossible thing to ask of Orion, but I would suggest reading “Dreams From My Father” by Barack Obama. It is more than clear on his views regarding race. It is certainly more informative than e-mails and political blogs. When you are done, you can read these articles:

    http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/

    They are a collection of articles that appeared in the Chicago Reader over the years regarding Obama. You get a pretty clear picture of who he is as a person. It will clear up some of the other misconceptions you have about him. Then, you can visit:

    http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

    and understand why he feels the way he does about his policies and how he may go about implementing them. You can read the “Audacity of Hope” for extra credit if you want. But please stop with the speculation of his intentions based solely on his associations without understanding what motivates the man.

    Also, the button is clearly racist. It ultimately damages the Republican party if they let that type of thing be representative to them in any capacity. It also insults the many people in Texas that aren’t racist.

  6. meatbrain on June 18, 2008 at 8:58 am

    Meatbrain posts photo of an idiotic button, uses it to smear half the political spectrum…

    Who was buying that button? How is it a “smear” to point out that it is Republicans who find such racist “humor” amusing?

    ...then, calls out someone else who points out 20+ year associations with terrorists and racists and images associated with HIS candidate for using “the smear tactic of guilt by association.”

    If Jeff “Orion” Burhans does not want his tactics exposed for what they are, he might consider changing them. Not, of course, that that is likely — smears and lies are just about all that Burhans has to work with.

  7. Orion on June 19, 2008 at 5:38 am

    I dunno – I didn’t see any sales figures. A tasteless button for sale by an unrelated vendor is a bit different than: a 20 year association with a racist preacher and church, association with an avowed terrorist, the comments of his wife, the actions of his cousin, fundraising associations with a now-convicted fraud, his presumptive National Security Adviser considering Winnie-The-Pooh as a primary resource, and personal-choice icons of Che Guevera around his supporters, don’t you think?

    Oh wait…you don’t think. Sorry. Silly question.

    Or do you feel that the buttons were somehow sanctioned by the Republican National Committee? Oh…Hmm…Hey, which party was it that tried to block the 1964 Civil Rights Act, anyway? Just curious.

    Orion

    (Randy, still sorting through the morass on those links. Same information as I’ve encountered anywhere else though so far, which is no surprise considering what they are. I’m unimpressed and still in opposition to his policies and positions, but I’ll finish the reading anyway.)

  8. meatbrain on June 20, 2008 at 10:56 am

    I’m unimpressed and still in opposition to his policies and positions…

    And yet Jeff “Orion” Burhans chooses not to discuss Obama’s policies and positions, opting once again to employ the hoary and bankrupt smear of guilt by association. Typical.

  9. Orion on June 20, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Yah, never commented on any of those policies…Not like, hundreds of times or anything. Besides, I didn’t feel a discussion on policies was germane in a thread where you smeared the Republicans by association…

    Would you care to discuss his anti-2nd Amendment policies, his taxation policies, his energy policies, his foreign policies, or some of his domestic policies? The vast majority of which I disagree with?

    Orion

  11. dan l on June 21, 2008 at 9:24 am

    http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-fukudome-fans-racist-or-just-plain-stupid

    Not political. But interesting that in the right wing bastion of Lakeview – a particularly diverse neighborhood, sports mentality allows for blatant racism.

  12. Orion on June 21, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Dan,

    I think you’ll find racist morons EVERYWHERE. Chicago, LA, Ottumwa IA, France, Hungary, Japan (Gaijin, anyone?) – everywhere. Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Muslim, Aryan Nation, KKK – it’s as common as e. Coli and breeds as quickly.

    It’s not hard to find. As a funny bit of irony, I found more racism in the Arizona Green Party than I have in the US Army. The usual comment there is “We’re all GREEN.”

    Orion

  13. Orion on June 21, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Maybe we can discuss his opposition to the bills banning partial-birth abortion? (I’m pro-choice [even done clinic escort duty] and even I find that appalling!). Or perhaps you’d care to discuss his change in positions on FISA? Or his change in positions on public campaign financing? Or his lengthy opposition to firearms? Or perhaps his changing positions on Iraq? (I’d be interested in that one – I’ve only recently run across some info that says he’s been flip-flopping in accordance with Tony Rezko’s fortunes). Or how about his refusal to travel to Iraq or meet with General Petraus? How about his position that he will meet with our enemies ‘without pre-condition’? How about his tax plan, that will apparently increase the national debt by over 4 trillion dollars? Perhaps his unworkable health-care plan? How about his incredibly naive, unworkable, and dangerous energy plans? (I actually LIKE some of his educational proposals – especially ‘fixing’ (I hope removing!) No Child Left Behind)...

    Dealer’s choice…

    Orion

  14. meatbrain on June 21, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    I am quite certain that Jeff “Orion” Burhans would prove incapable of discussing any of the subjects he mentions above without lying. But he is welcome to try.

  15. dan l on June 21, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    I’d be curious to find out what on Earth Orion could possibly know about Tony Rezko.

  16. Orion on June 23, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Well let’s start with an easy one – Obama’s opposition to the 2nd Amendment…Care to comment, or do you agree with his positions? I find them unconstitutional, counter-productive, and foolish.

    Dan, what would you like to know?
    Here are some links that I found interesting although I’ve not dug into them to any depth:
    Powerline on Iraq/Rezko
    Pajamas Media on the same.
    Chicago Tribune on Obama’s trust of Rezko.

    Seems somewhat damning to me. Not quite on a par with McCain’s ‘Keating 5’ membership though.

    Orion

  17. meatbrain on June 24, 2008 at 7:16 am

    Well let’s start with an easy one – Obama’s opposition to the 2nd Amendment…

    Specifics, please. What is it exactly that you claim Obama opposes?

  18. Orion on June 24, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    Jesus your ‘style’ of ‘debate’ is tiresome. Do you want a complete recitation of his voting record on 2nd Amendment issues? Learn how to use a freakin’ search engine Meatbrain, or learn something about your candidate.

    For one who is always screaming about how your opponents never debate anything, you never seem to debate anything – All I’ve really seen you do is scream ‘Liar! Liar!’, complain about people posting links to other sites, insult, et. al.

    His current campaign statements on his ‘support’ for the ‘individual right’ aspect of the 2nd Amendment are NOT supported by his VERY lengthy history of voting for every gun-control measure to cross his desk or his statements calling for a renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban, nor his F rating from the NRA, nor by how ‘happy’ the Brady Bunch is with his positions. For example, his voting for a measure to limit handgun purchases to one a month, or his support for the DC gun ban.

    Here’s are some links for you to get you started.
    Novak at the Washington Post
    More info.

    Orion

  19. meatbrain on June 24, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    Do you want a complete recitation of his voting record on 2nd Amendment issues?

    I want Burhans to explicitly describe the positions he claims to oppose. I am not interested in discussing anything with someone who cannot or will not demonstrate that he knows what he is arguing against.

    Learn how to use a freakin’ search engine Meatbrain, or learn something about your candidate.

    It is a notable characteristic of wingnuts that they expect their opponents to find the facts that the wingnuts cannot or will not look up for themselves. It is Burhans’ job to explain specifically what he finds objectionable about Obama’s positions — not mine.

    His current campaign statements on his ‘support’ for the ‘individual right’ aspect of the 2nd Amendment are NOT supported by his VERY lengthy history of voting for every gun-control measure to cross his desk or his statements calling for a renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban…

    Which statements? What history? There is no reason to take Burhans’ assertions here at face value.

    Specifics, please.

  20. Orion on June 24, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Well, I gotta give you credit on one thing – it’s certainly FASTER to ‘argue’ this way. For you, at least.

    Didn’t bother with those links now, did you? I’ll add to my previous assertion that you learn how to use a search engine and learn something about your candidate: Learn how to click on a link. Then, learn how to read.

    Do you see why people mostly ignore you, Meatbrain? You don’t provide anything more interesting than a constant sense of outrage. When someone honestly attempts to engage you in a discussion, you scream “liar! liar!”, or demand endless amounts of data. When the data is provided, you ask for MORE data. Then when THAT’S provided, you fall back on deliberate misinterpretation, mis-reads, or brick-wall ignorance.

    Are you even REMOTELY capable of a discussion? It surely doesn’t seem that way.

    I’ve provided you with MORE than enough specifics, links, and information for a response. I’ve suggested half a dozen topics and asked you to pick one. Then, at your request, I picked one. Then I started the discussion, then at your request, I CONTINUED the discussion. Discussion requires at least TWO participants, meaty. (Reminds me of THIS post)

    Ball’s in your court.

    Orion

    PS: I can only imagine a discussion with you on some scientific topic – You’d require a complete recitation of the reasoning behind the Euclidean postulates followed by a unique derivation of the fundamental laws of geometry and mathematics, an original restatement of ‘Principia Mathematica’ and then claim you were only asking for specifics.

    PPS: snorts “Specifics” I’m guessing that the specific references to his campaign’s well-known quotes about supporting the ‘individual right’, the specific reference to his voting fo the handgun purchase restriction measure, the ‘F’ Rating, and the Brady Bunch reference just aren’t specific ENOUGH!

  21. meatbrain on June 24, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Didn’t bother with those links now, did you?

    No, I didn’t. If Burhans cannot make his own arguments, I am not the least bit interested in who he chooses to argue for him.

    Thus far in this thread, Burhans hasn’t cited anything specific that Obama has said that Burhans disagrees with. Vague whinings about Obama’s “voting record” or “campaign statements” are not an argument.

    When the data is provided, you ask for MORE data.

    Burhans has yet to supply any data about Obama’s position in this thread. I have no intention of sifting through links trying to figure out specifically what Burhans doesn’t like. If he does not know how to quote someone, he can always find a bright fourteen-year-old to teach him.

    I’m guessing that the specific references to his campaign’s well-known quotes about supporting the ‘individual right’, the specific reference to his voting fo the handgun purchase restriction measure, the ‘F’ Rating, and the Brady Bunch reference just aren’t specific ENOUGH!

    Burhans made no specific references. He merely made assertions for which he expects someone else to look up the supporting information. That seems to be all he knows how to do.