Comments on: As Economic Crisis Worsens, is Racism a “Luxury” Whites Can No Longer Afford?

By: revived

revived — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:57:54 +0000

“this is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up,” as Janeane Garofalo said the other night” only like 3 ppl were racists bastards at the protests… i wish it would have broken out in a riot!

By: Roschelle

Roschelle — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:05:17 +0000

McCain refers to his supporters as My fellow prisoners!

By: M.

M. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:26:34 +0000

Explaining a bit more what I’m getting at in @5 (requested by @6):
Sorry, I meant the Smith post, not the Stein post.
Explaining the idea:
I think the idea that whites with some racist beliefs who vote for Obama are doing so because they cannot “afford the luxury of racism” is a very inaccurate description. For one thing, describing racism as a “luxury” makes it sound like whites lose economically by racist actions–thus it is a “luxury” that must be given up in hard times. But that’s contrary to the argument elsewhere on the website that racism upholds white privilege rather than that whites have to make a sacrifice to keep it going. For another, I don’t think whites are thinking “I’d rather vote for a white person but I need to vote for Obama to save the economy,” as this phrase implies. If anything, racist beliefs would make them think McCain would be more able at managing the economy. A more plausible description is that white people who are racist may not like Obama, but they also don’t like McCain because they connect our current economic failings with Republicans. Likely result: some whites with racist views choose not to vote (this last point is made in the comments to Smith’s blog post).

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:43:46 +0000

yeah, i watched the video, and i don’t really see the handshake….wonkette covered it pretty extensively from the c-span version, and they saw a clear dodge. i find the whole idea that we even have to have a discussion about whether or not a presidential candidate shook his opponent’s hand completely surreal. mccain wouldn’t act like that with an opponent who was white. he’s behaving as though he’s offended at the “uppityness” of obama….which is probably exactly what he thinks.

i think “luxury,” while a problematic word, is perhaps the correct one. it’s a luxury that white privilege affords one, because white people can choose whether or not to care about the oppression of non-white people. it’s a totally screwy idea, but one deserving attention i think.

nicole- i think you’re totally on point to bring up the “beat the b****” comment. it’s a measure of john mccain that he not only hasn’t spoken out against blatant sexism, but has also conducted himself in a completely misogynistic manner (calling his wife a “c-word,” telling rape jokes, etc.) he only cares about sexism or racism when he can use those in a disingenuous manner to make himself look compassionate. it’s disgusting.

By: RacismReview: As Economic Crisis Worsens, is Racism a “Luxury” Whites Can No Longer Afford? « Stop Dog Whistle Racism!

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:47:24 +0000

[...] As Economic Crisis Worsens, is Racism a “Luxury” Whites Can No Longer Afford? As the economic crisis worsens (and the forecasts look pretty gloomy), some people are speculating thatundecided racists may no longer be able to afford the “luxury” of racism (image source). [...]

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:26:26 +0000

It looks to me that McCain didn’t notice Obama’s hand so I assume he wasn’t aware of what he was doing. I wish I could easily assume the same thing about the “that one” statement. I read that the McCain campaign refers to Obama as “The One,” criticizing his “messianic tendencies.”
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/US_Elections_2008/0,,2-10-2339_2406658,00.html

However, I find it hard to believe this was just a one word slip up since he actually pointed to Obama when he said it.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that supporters at McCain’s rallies shout out racist comments without being reprimanded by McCain or Palin. Did you ever see the “How do we beat the b****?” video. McCain was talking to a certain group and an elderly woman asks, “So how do we beat the b****?” How does McCain react? He laughs…and comments that that was a good question. Its appalling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XBlxvA7AA

By: Jessie

Jessie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:02:10 +0000

Hi M. – the post from Stein? I’m not sure I follow your point.

By: M.

M. — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:44:16 +0000

Saying white voters cannot afford the “luxury” of racism isn’t the right way to put it. The post from Stein seems to suggest more that the economy is souring them on McCain as a choice, not that it somehow makes any racist beliefs or feelings about Obama they hold weaker or makes them suspend those feelings. The commentators to Stein point more toward the likely possibility for these voters: that they stay home rather than vote for McCain, whom they would otherwise vote for, because they blame the Republicans (including McCain) for the economy.

By: Jessie

Jessie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:20:53 +0000

Hi Sarah, thanks for your comment. Yeah, the clamor to “kill him” (and, just as seamlessly, calling him a “terrorist”) is just bone-chilling. WRT to the handshake: I watched it as well and it looks like a dodge to me. But, as you note, others disagree. It’s a minor point, I think. The larger point that still remains is McCain’s individual racism and the campaign’s race-baiting tactics, both of which are well-documented.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:14:45 +0000

in the interest of fairness (i agree with everything you said), mccain did, in fact, shake obama’s hand at the end of the interview. andrew sullivan originally thought otherwise, but edited his blog once he watched it again on DVR. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/mccain-wouldnt.html

a handshake, however, has nothing to do with the profoundly racist attacks that the mccain campaign has been engaging in over the last few days. the elements of the republican base that the mccain/palin ticket are appealing to are not only repugnant, but dangerous. the secret service is already investigating the dude that said, “kill him” at the palin rally on sunday. then there was the racial slur directed toward a black camerman. where does it end? i wonder if mccain and palin will take responsibility for their words if those words inspire physical violence….