tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596260.post9039618280506576578..comments2023-10-23T12:25:03.006-04:00Comments on Ramblin' with Roger: LINKORAMA: Yet another conversation about politicsRoger Owen Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596260.post-25130452515591354342008-10-23T22:56:00.000-04:002008-10-23T22:56:00.000-04:00Since I'm a lefty hanging out with lefties, I hear...Since I'm a lefty hanging out with lefties, I hear pretty much uncensored commentary about the right all the time. But in terms of hate, nothing compares to the email a cousin sent me, showing photos of the two candidates circa 1968...McCain in his uniform, Obama in an Indonesian hat and tunic. The text: "If you're voting for Obama, is your head up your ass?" And that's mild compared to what we've been seeing at Palin's rallies.<BR/><BR/>The "hatred" I see on the left is disgust and fear at people whose policies are genuinely threatening. As an atheist married to a Jew with a gay stepdaughter, living in a southern city which had cross burnings only a couple of years ago, people stoking hatred against people who don't subscribe to a certain racial/religious/ideological profile is not a frivolous concern. And that hatred is definitely coming from the right side of the spectrum, not the left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596260.post-53092250110796237722008-10-21T15:49:00.000-04:002008-10-21T15:49:00.000-04:00I think GayProf is right, though I think much of t...I think GayProf is right, though I think much of that falling back is kind of covert–the "he's not one of us" variety. Which is not to say that overt racism isn't there—it is, just look on any wingnut site. I also agree with GayProf about not understanding how anyone could vote Republican (and I'm an ex-Republican), but that's another topic entirely.<BR/><BR/>What struck me, though, was the claim you mentioned that there's hatred on the Left. It fascinates me that some people really believe that's true, as the Republicans keep claiming.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure that there are some hateful things said on far left sites—just as there are some extremely hateful things said on far right sites. If the Republicans want us to not lump all rightwing sites together, then they're equally obligated to not lump all leftwing sites together. Compare apples to apples.<BR/><BR/>In the main, liberal and leftist sites just don't display the level of hate speech—veiled or direct—that supposedly "mainstream conservative" sites do. We don't question the patriotism of either Palin of McCain, we don't suggest that either isn't a "real American" or that they're not "pro America". Republican rhetoric is completely different than liberal and Democratic rhetoric. I'd offer this advice to Republicans and conservatives: Claiming to be a victim doesn't make it so.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you about the polls. One thing I noticed about Obama's record-breaking fundraising in September is that most of the new contributors were either young or older (which is a hopeful sign for Florida). If young people are motivated to donate to a record-setting tally, and they're not being counted in opinion polls, then the polls could be way off in many places—but in a good way.<BR/><BR/>The trouble is, Republican vote suppression efforts in other areas may counterbalance that. We need every vote we can get—early or not!Arthur Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596260.post-3815408226325595462008-10-21T10:58:00.000-04:002008-10-21T10:58:00.000-04:00Obama represents a significant moment in the histo...Obama represents a significant moment in the history of race in this nation. I have been disheartened by the number of people who have fallen back upon the same ol' tired racist images because (I think) they are afraid of change.<BR/><BR/>Then again, I am truly confused how, after the past eight years (not to mention the fiasco that was Reagan/Bush I), the Republican party gets any votes -- ever.GayProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289510184782252498noreply@blogger.com