What frustrates me the most is that Palin/McCain's support is based on false information.

[mwb970]

When Democratic voters criticize McCain, we say things like:

* McCain showed poor judgment in choosing the unqualified Palin.
* McCain is old and out of touch, still fighting the Vietnam War in many ways.
* McCain has a hotheaded temperament and is feared by his own colleagues.
* McCain has run a dishonest, negative campaign.
* McCain has been erratic and impulsive in response to the financial crisis.
* McCain and Palin want to extend all of bush's failed policies.

Note that all of these statements are objectively true, and represent legitimate reasons to oppose McCain's candidacy.

In contrast, when Republican voters criticize Obama, they say things like:

* Obama is a Muslim.
* Obama is an Arab ("50% white, 43.5% Arab, 6.5% black", I heard on the radio today).
* Obama is not an American citizen.
* Obama is the antichrist.
* Obama is a Socialist.
* Obama wants to start a race war.
* Obama will bring about the end of Western civilization (also heard on the radio today).

Note that not one of these statements is true!

A battle of competing truths I could handle. That's the way we used to do it, before the rise of right-wing media propaganda aimed at ignorant, low-information "real Americans". But when one side has the truth and the other side has only "Obama is the antichrist" and the like, it's not a fair fight, particularly since no amount of evidence or proof can shift any of these false beliefs one iota once they get lodged in these people's little minds.

It broke my heart to hear Palin/McCain supporters interviewed on NPR this morning. One backwoods-sounding man (the one with the "43.5% Arab" comment) was asked where he was getting this information. "From the Internet", he replied, adding that "my wife uses Yahoo and I use Google". I imagine them issuing searches like obama arab muslim terrorist and then unquestioningly eating up everything that comes back as if it were Biblical truth.

The sheer depth of the butt-ignorance in "real America" is simply breathtaking, and it's killing our country. The truth doesn't stand a chance. It's all so very frustrating.

(end of rant)

[Vinca]

1. I really don't get it. I can't figure out how the Republicans manage

to reel in people to vote against their own self interests. It's as if they campaign specifically to the stupid people. Let's hope an Obama presidency will turn them around a bit.

[yellowdogintexas]

3. Simple. They play to FEAR and anxiety, of which there is an abundant supply

already. If it were HIllary, it would be a different set of untruths based on fear but they would still be there. Their base is for the most part already pre programmed to distrust anything we have to offer because of the 'god,gays, guns and the flag' mantra of the last umpteen election cycles. Add into that fear of Obama's ethnic heritage and they are going to bite .

[NC_Nurse]

2. Sad, isn't it? I find it frustrating as well, but there it is. Every election there are

some people who respond to bullshit like the slimy robocalls and even outright lies.

Wouldn't it be great if they didn't? Then it would stop. As long as the Repubs think they can get a few votes this way, it will continue.

I just donated again since I can't work in the field at this point. I hope it helps counter their utter lack of shame.

[thunder rising]

4. Only the WILLING can be propagandized ... it's an old saying from WW2 ... and it's true

Part of the blow back from the voters at this time is that they feel used and guilty about being stupid in 2000 and 2004 and feel motivated to "set things right". The problem is they are still just as stupid.