Drew Westen on campaign ‘08: Get ready for racism
June 23, 2008 at 5:14 pm by Andisheh Nouraee in NewsEmory University professor Drew Westen predicts in The New Republic today that the 2008 presidential campaign will be the “nastiest, most racist presidential contest in modern American history.”
Westen says the only way McCain and the Republican Party can derail the Obama train is by insinuating that he’s a foreigner and reminding people that he’s black.
As evidence of how low McCain might be willing to go, Westen cites “The American President,” recent TV spots touting McCain as “The American President Americans have been waiting for.”
Westen explains:
The ad ends, “John McCain: The American President Americans have been waiting for.” Syntactically, that’s an oddly redundant conclusion. Why not, “John McCain: The President Americans have been waiting for?” Because, of course, that second rendering would not imply that his opponent is not American.
A professor of psychology and psychiatry, Westen’s most recent book is The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation.
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June 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
or they could point out the weakness of his foreign policy, tax (and tax and tax) policy, energy policy, criminal and radical inner circle, lack of integrity on campaign promises….
I can keep going, but that should do it…..
June 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
What is a radical inner circle?
June 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
People who blow up government buildings and say they wish they had done more, preach racial division and present the idea that 9/11 was our fault (if not an inside job), propose windfall profit taxes on corporations with a 9% profit margin on gas and diesel (even the Fed Govt makes at least double that for doing nothing) and until a few months ago had never been proud of the USA in over 40 years.
All of this born from radical Left politics.
I think that is enough for starters.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Maybe the first “American” in that phrase is due to the fact of his patriotism, that he was a war hero. An American war hero. Also, he has served America for 20 years. Wost case, it is a reminder of the lapel pin issue, or the refusal to put one’s hnand over one’s heart. That article is stretching a bit.
Does anyone else recognize the irony of a saying the other party is going to make the election all about race by calling attention to race? (ie. They haven’t attacked my race yet, so I will do it myself.) So far, the only ones who seem to call attention to race are those in the Obama camp. I thought he was going to be the great healer?
June 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
…or maybe they just see racism where there is not any because it benefits them in reaching their goal. I grew up in Birmingham and have long hoped that election of black officials would help us leave behind race based political schemes employed by both white and black candidates. Instead, we have elevated it to national office. Sad.
I think the McCain campaign is only emphasizing his major strengths, patriotism and service to the country. These days emphasizing your strength is “code” for bigotry.