Posted on 02/28/2008 1:56:39 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Shameless GOP Plots Disgraceful Attacks on African American/Female Candidate February 28, 2008
While Senator John McCain pledged on Wednesday to treat his opponents "with respect" and said that as the nominee he would "make sure that everyone within my party knows that this has got to be a respectful debate," the Republican National Committee is testing how far it can go in attacks against a potential woman or African American opponent. [Los Angeles Times, 2/28/08; Politico, 2/24/08]
After Politico reported this week that the "Republican National Committee has commissioned polling and focus groups to determine the boundaries of attacking a minority or female candidate," a new survey directed at college students has come to light that shows an attempt to finesse language to convey sexist and racist stereotypes. In the survey students are asked to rate how strongly they agree or disagree with a series of sexist and racist statements like, "when women lose to men in a fair competition, they typically complain about being discriminated against," and "I feel threatened when interacting with Black people." [wonkette.com, 2/26/08]
The tactic is nothing new for the Republican Party which has used the same kind of vicious, unethical approach to campaigning for years, from the notorious 'southern strategy' aimed at African Americans in the South, to the scapegoating of Hispanic immigrants in recent campaigns and at college campuses across the country. As the Politico noted in its report, the "secretive effort underscores the enormous risk senior GOP operatives see for a party often criticized for its insensitivity to minorities in campaigns dating back to the 1960s." [Politico, 2/24/08]
DNC Chairman Howard Dean, DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, DNC Women's Caucus Chair Mame Reiley, and College Democrats of America President Lauren Wolfe issued the following joint statement:
"It is disgraceful that one of America's two major political parties would spend money on finding ways to push the envelope in its attacks on African American and female candidates. It is also cynical that college students, the future of America, would be targeted in that effort. This episode is a sad reminder that the Republican Party's history of divisiveness and intolerance toward minorities and women is alive and well. John McCain owes it to the American people to denounce the RNC's efforts, and as the presumptive nominee of his party, to put an end to it."
Who’s the African-American female candidate?
Bill Clinton or Obama?
Oh my God!! They conducted research on peoples attitudes about gender and race! Oh, the humanity!!
Shows how desperate the Dems are. They have to talk about anything but their candidates because talking about them is a losing strategy.
The tactic is nothing new for the Republican Party which has used the same kind of vicious, unethical approach to campaigning for years....Very funny!
The pot calling the kettle black perhaps?.....
Which party's leaders and political hacks is it that constantly brings up the issues of race and gender?
McCain can take their candy away by nominating J.C. Watts or Michael Steele for Veep, who will not only partially solve his problem with the conservative base, but will also take off some of the heat - because then the Veep candidate can do what Veep candidates are supposed to do: slash and burn the other side.
Racists calling decent people racists.
Shameless, isn’t it? Almost as shameless as being embarrassed by one’s middle name. Just shameless!
This is from Scrappleface- right?
Selling politicians the same way they market soap..
And there it is, folks. A two-fer: the race card and the gender card. Expect the rest of the campaign to be just like this.
“John McCain owes it to the American people to denounce the RNC’s efforts,....”
If McCain takes this bait, I quit.
Gee, I wonder if McCain is going to scold Dean and the Democrats for demeaning Republicans with words and phrases like these, “vicious, unethical, insensitivity to minorities, divisiveness and intolerance, finesse language to convey sexist and racist stereotypes...?” Please Senator McCain, tell us how we can keep civility in this debate. Can we call Dean and his hoodlums race baiters, poverty pimps, liars, Marxist elitists who are out to stir up racial tensions and smear people who disagree with their liberal insanity? ...Oh wait, I’m sorry Senator McCain. You’ve done your share of name calling when it comes to conservatives who disagree with your policies. Why should we expect different from the other Democrats?
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