GLARINGLY ABSENT NOW are discussions of a cult, of cultishness, of a hypnotized and dangerous mob. Now, when John McCain and Sarah Palin are whipping their followers into a sick, bubbling, dangerous tangle of elbows and fear and bubbling vitriol. Where is the talk of scary mobs? So often we mention Change. Let us not forget that with real change always comes resistance and pain.
I AM REMEMBERING THE HEAT OF THE PRIMARIES. When Senator Obama’s campaign was so much younger. Back when he looked younger! Without the frosting of white hair that is showing up in photographs nowadays. These shots of old, smiling, friendly Obama. The one who now feels so safe. So levelheaded! So thoughtful and calm…next to the other pair, those two crazyheads who either chuckle throatily while singing of bombing another nation, or wink and talk of deadly secrets lurking in an American Stealth Senator. You know who. Palin. McCain. The one who jokes about planting an IED under a talk show host’s desk, the one who flies into an elitist and murderous rage while gambling because an elderly woman touches his hand. McCrazy. McNasty. Rage McCain and Secession Sarah. The ones who fan flames of hatred in their rallies. Here’s one:
Yes, I remember those heydays of the 2008 Presidential campaign, the primaries. I remember when the Obama campaign was pretty much all about the positive energy that he can give off, the positive energy of his ideas, the positive energy he can communicate in his countenance, the positive energy of what was undeniably represented in his having a real shot at the Presidency of the United States of America. The positive energy inherent in the consideration that our nation might be awake enough at this point in time to elect what minds rooted in the Palineolithic era would think of as a very scary move—electing a man who is not white as our President. The positive energy in knowing we could say goodbye to the Bush years and the Republicans, these horrible horrible people who have been feeding, like termites, upon the world and the well being of so many people.
So much of it was uplifting, and very much so the well-publicized speech that will.i.am integrated into what still is one of the most discussed, shared, viral, and effective videos of the 2008 political season, Yes We Can.
Oh, I know I’m not talking gritty policy detail comparisons…no, I’m aware of that. Go somewhere like Corrente for that. I’m talking about one candidate who is inciting hate and violence and fear of Other. And one candidate who is not responding in kind, but who is offering us actual thought-out discussion and a good deal of participation in the process. And hope, true.
And yes, I’m talking about the supporters and what they manifest on the whole. Wow. Where is the talk of the Cult of Obama now? Why do we not hear lots of talk about the Cult of McCain? The Cult of Palin? Obamatons indeed! Cult? Please read some of those Hate-Fest Palin/McCain articles! Watch the clips of their rallies! Talk to me of cultishness! No, why is it the brown man who gets called the leader of a Cult? Why is it only the black man who gets called America-hating and a terrorist because of his fiery and dramatic preacher. These things don’t “stick” to criticism of a white man. ¡Que sorpresa! “It’s the White Supremacist values in our culture, stupid.”
Yes, remembering the early positive period. What a wave of intense hope. I felt it. I was there. Obama was shortly thereafter forced to defend himself against a barrage of attacks that are never hurled at white campaigners. As usual, the GOP candidate projects all their own failings—consorting with secessionists, radicals and terrorists being some of the harshest charges—against another. And since it is so easy for them to frame Obama as an “Other,” they are giving it all they have. The veneer is now stripped from the GOP attack machine and the racist, xenophobic, classist, primordial muscle fibers are twitching in the hot wind, fretting and slapping about trying to gain purchase…and there is no purchase for the most part. The GOP clearly cannot even pretend it is about anything anymore. They now just demonstrate all they lack. And they seem to be communicating the message “If we’re going down, we are going down in FLAMES!”
And for that, we come back to these emotional and archetypal shapes battling it out. Hate vs. Hope. Rage vs. Reason. Fear vs. Courage. Resistance to change vs. Change.
Buckle up, mis herman@s. Such choices are not made quietly or without heat.
UPDATE: Here are clips of the actual rallies being referenced:
UPDATE: Johnny Boy flip flops again! Now telling his disciples that while all his ads urge them to fear Obama—while his own words insinuate there are dark secrets hiding in the Senator’s past and thus in his present and future, while his VP pick calls for even stronger attacks (this is one scary individual, my friends)—Mccain supporters do not, in fact, have anything to fear from this good family man Barack!
The level of vitriol is being noticed by many, I didn’t mean to say it wasn’t being discussed. I am glad it is, it’s out of control! It’s just worth remarking upon, over and over until it can no longer be invisible, this tendency of certain values and words “making sense” in our minds when talking about certain kinds of people. How certain attacks only resonate when leveled in one direction down the power ladder.
And not to feed fear, but some reports of these incidents make you wonder if Mister McCain will be able to stop the brooms from dancing, now that he has set them in motion. (Assuming he wants to, which I do not believe he does.) I remember one of the reasons I became very angry with Hillary Clinton was because after her remark using the A-word, she pretended not to be aware of the societal implications of the tremors she kicked into motion—and I am NOT remarking on her original intent here—and she’s smarter than that. Just as McCain is at least smart enough to appear to be concerned about the wildfire quality of violent energy and hate, backpedaling on the hostility and Othering he and Palin have been mucking with as of late.
John McCain, I call on you as a self-proclaimed principled person to douse this emotional energy you and your campaign has facilitated and continues to instigate, even if it means cancelling the rest of your campaign.
Put your country first, Senator.
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thank you! good to see you here.
You know, I hadn’t noticed the graying of Obama’s hair, but you’re right. In truth, I think this nasty campaign is aging us all, I’m sick of it, everybody I know is sick of it and I can’t wait till Nov. 4, for it to be over with, one way or the other.
i’m right there with ya.
WHAT IS THE REASON that we feel we need settle for one of these two? [Or, I should say, two of these four.] They kept Nader out of the debates but they haven’t removed him from the running! I have to say that hearing him talk, he’s the only one who’s making any sense. Is there ANYONE out there who really thinks Nader would be a lesser choice than McCain or Obama? Really? REALLY?
ah, you beat me to it! It is amazing to think that so much hate still lives on in this country since the time of colonization. It has not dissipated, but rather it has been interwoven so well into every seam of government, institution, structure and society that individuals have not only lost the ability, but the RIGHT to think thoroughly and critically and have only increased in our love of power. The uncertainty of this election is a scary thought. Lo unico que nos queda es la esperanza.
You know, it finally occurred to me that the Palinistas are just dumb-shits. There is a CONGRESSMAN who is African-American and Muslim… and the ying-yangs are confusing the guys — ie, all the black guys look alike to them.
I’m sorry if this is a pussy thing to say, but I don’t know if I can tolerate being as scared as all the things I’m hearing about, and seeing, are making me, and aside from leaving this comment here, I”m mostly trying to do like my cat Felix and hide under some imaginary covers until the noises go away. Hope whatever it is just leaves without hurting anybody. Palin and McCain and the people whose rage they want to harness and supersize - it is unbearable to even think of the ends they are seeking.
And still, I’m glad you wrote this.
the saddest part to me is how little it takes to open the flood gates on the fear and hate, proof it’s there, just waiting in the reserves. thanks for the post and reminders…
this best read in the light of day, i find out the hard way, and do not suggest this for a bedtime story.
thank you all for expressing so well my own feelings/reactions, to these ways and means being used, to influence/secure the choosing of our representation for leadership in this country. scary times.
the only thing i know to fight hate with is love…don’t give in; stay strong everyone. please receive my love and spirit that come with this reply…
peace, kathi
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I have seen more mention of the scary mobs lately, here (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14445.html), for example, and on various political blogs. But not enough.
And I’ll take this opportunity to say that I sure do dig your writing. Keep up the good work.