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CNN Goes All In On Race

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  October 7th, 2008 at 10:34 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

First there was David Gergen tonight who said, “It’s too early to declare it over because Barack Obama is black.” Yes, he thinks the “Bradley Effect” could cost Obama 5 to 6 points.

James Carville then chimed in and subtly hinted at massive riots if Obama loses going into the election ahead in the opinion polls.

Then Paul Begala piled on calling Sarah Palin’s attacks on Obama “dangerous.” He had the nerve to cite the AP calling her attacks “racially tinged” saying “That’s the AP, not a Demcrat.”

Begala then said Palin’s praise of small town America hints at racism, the South, and killing Obama.

That, ladies and gentlemen, was actual political commentary on CNN.

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  • Michael_Newnam

    declared non-partisan and independent?

  • bs

    aaaaaaand not a peep about it from the GOP. So who is playing the race card?

    Idiots.

  • liberalrepublican

    It isn’t 1950.

    However, when McCain wins, expect this will be the accepted excuse.

    And the country will be even more divisive.

    Wonderful.

  • dbecraft

    just another pretend cause by the left… It has long since given up its significance to race or anything else for that matter… It is used to batter down the response to any issue.

  • OneCleverCookie

    the lowest common denominator is going to be the “Politics of Skin”.

    An Obama Presidency will open this wound and pour salt in it day in and day out. Obama in not “post racial”. If you think that America will become a color blind society, well, I got some ocean front property in Nevada I’d like to sell you.

  • spainishirish

    (and put pennies in our presidential candidate’s eyes’).

    It is time to prioriatize.

  • billcurtiss

    The real story on election day will be whether we have a dispositive answer on who the winner is the next day.

    Should we have another debacle such as 2000, we might very well have a racial pressure cooker on our hands by the time a decision is reached.

    And, of course, who is naive enough to believe that the Jacksons and Sharptons of the world won’t be stoking the fire?

  • speciallist

  • Common_Cents

    What else are the CNN guys sposed to talk about? obama’s experience? accomplishments? his poor plans for America?

  • tgharris

    And the difference is…..what?

  • pwest

    comments say is that CNN thinks the race, not race, is getting closer and they are trying to scare us into voting or make excuses.

    Erick, they actually said riots.

  • pwest

    have Rodney King?

  • jimmuy8

    You think they’d be making these preemptive excuses if they thought he was winning?

  • Rod_Patrick

    Michelle Malkin has reported the same meme about Palin’s wearing white skirts. Here.

    Democratic Underground called Palin as RACIST because she wore white.

    My take:

    Obama is racist too. His teeth are white.

  • BurkeanBadger

    David Gergen aside (I don’t know what he was thinking), I would be shocked if lefty talking heads did NOT pound home It attempts to de-legitimize the serious and relevant doubts about Obama’s past and his social/political connections. 2) If McCain does manage to pull off a victory, it de-legitimizes this win and explains it away. In other words, McCain won because he appealed to the ugliness of prejudice. AND ONLY because of that! There’s no other way THE ONE could possibly lose.

    I will not deny that race is a factor in this election. I believe there will be a “Bradley Effect” of some sort; the only question is how much and in which states? No one really knows; it may be minimal or it may be enough to shift a swing state or two to McCain.

    So yes, McCain will unintentionally benefit from this ugliness. But that’s no more his fault than Obama benefiting from hordes of America-bashing MoveOn, Code Pink types flocking to him. A candidate cannot control all of the reasons why someone is drawn to him.

    The point here is that John McCain and the GOP have run a dignified, honorable campaign when it comes to the race issue. McCain has gone to great lengths to avoid even implying anything that could be plausibly spun as racist. He is truly living up to MLK’s dream by judging Obama by the content of his character.

    The problem is, there are doubts about that character. McCain is raising those doubts and attacking aspects of Obama’s character that call into question his fitness to be commander-in-chief. Liberal partisans will always spin this into racism. For them, it boils down to this: Any criticism of Obama’s character or social-political background is racist. Period. Any doubt about these factors is tinged with racism. Period. This is a desperate effort to bluff McCain-Palin into backing off or at least distract attention from the actual substance of their attacks.

    But, the more they throw down the race card, the more likely it is to backfire…badly. The more Americans hear about Obama’s ties to Ayers, the more questions and concerns they have (just questions and concerns, mind you; they’re still willing to accept a plausible explanation if provided). The more the MSM and (tacitly) the Obama campaign implies that any such concerns are grounded in racism, the more many voters will be turned off. Calling someone racist for expressing legitimate concerns is a great way to lose his vote.

    The MSM, lefty talking heads and Hollywood blowhards may still lose this thing for Obama. Stay tuned

  • mscout99

    If you oppose Obama, you’re a racist. But yet we can make fun of McCain’s age and say he practically has a foot in the grave.
    If the liberals (and even CNN) are so confident and comfortable with the poll numbers, then why are they raising doubts about how people feel about race? They don’t have a substantial resume or experience by Obama to talk about, so we have to accuse Obama opponents of being racist.
    I’ll tell you one thing. If McCain wins any swing states, then they’re racist. If Virginia, Ohio, or Florida goes for McCain, then watch out! You’re all racist and should be ashamed of yourselves!
    Why anyone even gives CNN airtime anymore astounds me………

  • Pomme

    So that means Obama is…

    Wearing White

  • neum432

    This could be a built in excuse for when most polls show Obama up by 3-5pts nat’l then he loses by 1-2 pts nat’l and suffers a 2004 like electoral loss at the hands of McCain. Maybe they are setting the table for that. It could get ugly.

  • DaBoogieMan

    for Rodney King. The genius’ burned down their own neighborhoods.

    Obama will be the next OJ. A few may riot for his losing the POTUS, but in the end, he’ll be placed in jail where he, Wright, Ayers and Resko belong.

  • DaBoogieMan

    mode. They know this loser Obama should be up 15 points in polls.

    These polls mean nothing when we have the Luntz Duntz’s not knowing who they’ll vote for this late in the race. These undecided voters just don’t care about any of this garbage we see on TV.

    In the end, people will vote their conscience. Look what happened in 2004. People trusted W more than lurch. Those who trusted lurch just voted “D” no matter who was running.

    Who do I trust to lead the country?

  • Gumby87

    Completely agree that this looks like pre-emptive excuse making by the MSM.

  • TexasTom

    Tough. Bring it on. I have been settling my affairs in anticipation of unhappy commies crawling my neighborhood. I’ll extend a hand or a “get the hell off my property.” Their choice.

  • rbdwiggins

    Apparently, the Ayers, Acorn, Freddie, Fannie and Sub-Prime Mortgage Narrative is effective and it’s eroding Obama’s support.

  • DaBoogieMan

    coming. If their talk is “focused” on Obama riots, Obama death threats, voter fraud, disenfranchised voters, voter intimidation, etc…., they know Obama’s toast and the covering up has already begun.

    Pay close attention to NBC & CNN as they will be the leaders here.

  • Isaac7608

    Erick, did you not hear the things being said at McCain and Palin rallies lately (and NOT discouraged)?

    “Terrorist!”

    “Kill him!”

    I’d say there’s far more than racism going on here.

    And you’re concerned about what CNN is saying?

    Please man, we have to be honest with ourselves here.

  • Arminius

    Obama received 90+ percent of the African American vote in the primaries, even though his and Hillary’s positions on the issues were nearly identical. In effect, wasn’t Hillary denied the Democratic nomination because of racism?

    If racism propelled you to win the primary contest, can you legitimately cry foul if racism denies you the presidency? It appears to be a double-edge sword.

  • Husker

    I was just at a McCain/Palin rally Saturday, and I didn’t hear anything like that. The only people that were yelling garbage was some of the Code Pink losers. Do you have proof? Video Links?

  • Doc_Holliday

    then it favors Obama not McCain. It seems whites are the most divided if we grouped support by races, blacks are the least divided, the overwhelming majority of blacks support Obama over 90 percent.

    If I were Obama, I would make it very clear to my drive-by enablers to Shut the Hell UP! This riot threat was first brought up by some radical columnist, now CNN talking heads are issuing the same warning?

    If the drive-bys keep this line up, it will be a free October Surprise for our side! I say so for these reasons:

    1) it is a complete insult to African-Americans to predict they will riot over a free and fair election. Funny how these white lefty loon commentators have such lack of respect, and low expectations for those that don’t look like themselves.

    2) Americans do not take too well to threats. Didn’t we have an OSAMA threat against voting Repub in 2004? I don’t think an OBAMA threat against voting Repub will work either.

    Finally, it is sad the left sees everyone skin deep and part of some oppressed group, minorities, women, gays, poor people etc. or some other group of oppresors aka Repubs. It is a shame they can’t see people as we do, as AMERICANS!

  • RichChatfield

    Its always been my expereince that those who truly make a difference in the country are those who do things rather than just talk about things.

    This will be made clear at the voting booth. I guess Obama’s wife will just have to go back hating America.

    On that note, I think her comments about how for the first time in her life she can take pride in america is about as telling as Obama’s relationship with Ayers and others like him. It seems Obama married a woman who shares those hatred views of America.

    I think that is just another example of those closest to Obama sharing these radical feelings of hatred for America.

  • OccamsRazor

    Race is such a loaded word that Obama stands on the precipice of abusing us all, and governing us all…because of it.

    There are so many intricacies to it that we dare not ask the consequence most of the time.

    I was trying to explain to a Vietnamese friend of mine-his father served the CIA in Vietnam, what Political Correctness was.

    In his eyes (eyes that, as a child he sacrificed so much), he didn’t understand the word (the Man is fricken’ 40 today).

    Ya see, his father served America in a way Foster and Matthews never could understand.

    Bush senior allowed citizenship of our allies in Vietnam, which fought arduously against Communism.

    Clinton went out of his way to discontinue that practice because the Vietnamese migrating to America (after service for America) were too conservative.

    That galvanized them.

    Iraq: If you want to be free, conservatives have, do, and always will stand by you.

    I have more to type, as the conversation arises. :)

    Good night and God speed, all.

  • blooch

    An oldie but goodie:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/sliegory/2541520161/

  • blooch

    Corrupt cronyism, rank inexperience, marxist underpinnings, denial of terrorist associations,intimidation of free speech, voter fraud,illegal campaign contributions, refusal to release medical records….yes, we can continue, but we hope that’s enough for us.

  • zsmvf6

    There were riots in the streets. Obama campaigned for that nut.

  • ILLINOIS_CONSERV

    should be a clear indication of who is the racist in this campaign. Imagine CNN and the MSM if it was learned that either McCain or Palin even once attended a church or meeting that spoke to the evil of black people. We all know what the fallout woud be.

  • ILLINOIS_CONSERV

    Who would have someone like J. Wright baptize their kids anyway? Is his message something you would want your kids to embrace? Seriously disturbing.

  • Vegas_Rick

    Is it commies? Is it the VRWC? Are the black helicopters coming for us? Is Obama going to capture us all in his evil mind meld? What?

  • Rod_Patrick

    The pic is funny indeed.

  • law33

    This discussion sheds light on the use of dog whistle racism in today’s politics!

    We’re tracking political race baiting at www.stopdogwhistleracism.com. We find the good, bad and ugly from across the political spectrum about race in the race. Visit us today for a non-partisan take on the race card, and the race card card, in today’s politics.

    Hope to see you at StopDog!

  • David123

    MLK: “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

    John McCain has excellent character; which he demonstrated under very trying circumstances as a POW.

    Barack Obama’s character is questionable, which he demonstrated by associating with Ayers and Wright.

  • krisi

    however, we both know who MLK would vote for. I hope McCain wins this election, but I know its going to be an ugly situation no matter who wins. The way I see it if McCain wins, there will be riots because everyone supporting Obama will say the results were rigged because all the media has Obama leading. However, if Obama wins, I think there will be elderly people (who lived with racist views) or KKK members who will want to take action…so either way this is a tough situation. We have to pray to God for guidance and trust in him to protect us and our country from evil.