Ayers, ACORN, Race, Liberal outrage/hate, etc -- let's stay focused!

[Essene]

These are all calculated ploys to make the election about "character" and to tap into fears.

Let's call them what they are: baiting the people from honest discussion about real issues.

Too many folks on the left have taken the bait in the last week, Lewis included. The Republicans/Fox have desperately sought to paint the Obama campaign as a bunch of rabid radicals filled with outrage and hatred.

Irony? Yes.

But when we keep babbling about the same stuff in some absurd need to "confront it," we just feed it.

The media is spineless and will always seek polemics, folks. If they show hate on one side, they will feel compelled to show "both sides" and thus equate anything they can find on the left. If Mccain is running 100% negative ads, they will talk about how the handful of attack ads on the Obama side "code the same amount." The problem is that mainstream american can and will swallow hate on the right side a lot more easily than they can swallow hate from the left. Let's get this straight. 1 calm statement from Lewis and the MSM is freaking out, ok? Hate rallies on the right? Not so interesting...

The cards are especially stacked against black candidates, as this culture fundamentally gets anxious (the left as well) when blacks criticize it. The IMMEDIATE and assured response is an accusation of "playing the race card," and to insist that it's the black candidate's fault that race is the issue. We saw this game *cough* in the primaries. So, let's not be shocked when Lewis now becomes the issue and is blamed for "making this about race." That's how it works. Some of us have been calling it like it is for a while now, saying not to take this bait for a reason.

"I told you so" doesn't really buy anything, though.

Obama remains high in the polls and must manage to do his usual calm stroll through the mess in the media. We need to talk about the economy and the issues. We need to keep shredded Sarah Palin's record. It's fine to slam Palin and Mccain for their hate mongering, and i think we ought to point at the race baiting they've been doing for a month+ to name it (i.e. rather than call it outright racism call it race baiting).

The next debate is coming and we have to focus on the message.

All those who are about to hit reply with "you don't appreciate racism" and "you're a coward for not wanting to confront racism" are not catching my drift. There is no room for a constructive, healthy discussion about racism in this context... in the national media right now. Let's not be naive. Shining the light on hate mongering is fine, but getting suckered into an ongoing debate on race and "the radical left" is a disaster.

[billyoc]

1. I caught your drift, but I don't want "a constructive, healthy discussion about racism".

I want the racists on their backs in a pool of blood.

Are you catching MY drift?

[Essene]

3. I catch your drift. More hate doesn't make hate go away...

[Triana]

2. The lame$tream media and the Repigs - a whole lotta pretentious hypocrisy and projection..

...that's what it is. Live with an abuser for a few years, you learn to recognize it.

[Essene]

4. Hmmm. Indeed, reactionary culture and media truly is abusive in a sense.

I had never thought of it that way before.

To equate a legitimate gripe from Lewis WITH the hate mongering itself... is nothing short than abuse, for those who care about truth.

[Triana]

5. It's projection. Blame, minimize, project. It's what they do.

Abusers often will claim THEY are the ones being abused. They like to play 'victim'.