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February 13, 2012
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Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
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Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Oct. 3, 2008
/ 4 Tishrei 5769
Obama's lowball attacks: Suggesting that McCain is a bigot runs afoul of the high-minded unity tripe
By
Kevin Ferris
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
What exactly is the change we're supposed to believe in this election year?
That Barack Obama represents a new kind of politics? Or is change tied to hope, as in we hope he re-morphs from typical negative-ad-slinging pol back to magical new Obamassiah once he's safely elected president?
Does Obama even know?
In his ad "Plan for Change," Obama decries the "petty attacks and distractions" of the campaign. "Bitter partisan fights" won't solve our problems, he says. What will?
"A new spirit of unity and shared responsibility."
That ad is in English.
In Spanish, he has a very different message, one much closer to sleazy race-baiting than the spirit of la unidad.
The intro to the ad talks about "insults" and "intolerance" toward Hispanics, how they've been "marginalized." Inflammatory quotes from Rush Limbaugh are shown. And then, "John McCain and his Republican friends ..."
You know you're in trouble when even ABC News and the Washington Post come to the defense of Limbaugh, and both have pointed out how Obama took the talk-show host's quotes out of context.
But John McCain intolerant toward Hispanics? Is there anyone in his party who has pushed back harder against anti-immigrant sentiment? Backing a comprehensive reform bill - co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy - almost sank McCain's presidential bid.
Yes, he's now putting a higher priority on border security, but is that the basis for suggesting the Arizona senator is a bigot? Interesting that McCain's tolerance became suspect just as Gallup had him rising to 35 percent support among Hispanics.
What happened to transcending race?
Obama regularly complains that his opponents say he has a funny name - actually, he first brought this up in his 2004 Democratic convention speech and he hasn't shut up about it since.
He says the other side suggests he doesn't look like the other presidents on U.S. currency. McCain never mentions this, just Obama.
Obama claims that "they" are trying to scare Americans by noting he's black. Only he brings this up. And on other issues - spreading misinformation about McCain on Social Security - Obama is fine with scaring voters.
There have been stupid moves by some conservatives; case in point the Obama Waffles served at a recent "values" summit. But most criticism about McCain and race is off base.
Consider Time magazine's accusation that McCain subtly played the race card with an ad criticizing former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines. The ad showed a picture of Obama and then Raines (who is black) and then a "vulnerable-looking elderly white woman." All racial code, Time suggests and then asks where were the shots of the white former Fannie Mae chairman, Jim Johnson, who was an Obama adviser? Well, as it turns out, Johnson was in the very next McCain ad on the subject.
Time wasn't so quick to rebuke Obama's blatant and code-free "intolerance" ad.
Sure, Obama is serious about winning. And sometimes race-baiting works. Look how John Street's reelection campaign turned a City Hall corruption probe into a black mayor's crusade against a white Justice Department. Never mind those indictments and jail terms.
But by calling McCain a bigot, what signals is the Obama campaign sending about an Obama administration? If you're against his tax policies, it's because you think he has a funny name? Is opposition to his Iraq plan purely intolerance? If you think he's wrong on immigration, is that simply code for racism?
Does he really want to suggest that's how he would govern?
Racism and prejudice exist. But while attacking them with a broad partisan brush might score political points, it also worsens the fears and divisions among us. Often the accusations encompass so much - from individual attitudes to complex and difficult issues such as housing, education and health care - that no real solution is even possible.
And maybe that's the intent. Don't actually solve anything. Just keep the issue alive as a societal scab to pick as needed.
That way, the intolerant "they" - Rush equals Republicans equals conservatives equals McCain - are forever guilty until proven innocent. And guess what? There's no way to prove innocence - though temporary absolution might be possible if you vote for Obama.
Is that the point of an Obama campaign? To elect the first victim-in-chief and indict the opposition as bigots when the polls are close or when he doesn't get his way?
Perhaps that's change, but it's not unifying or responsible.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
Kevin Ferris is commentary page editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Previously:
09/06/08: It's unlikely that a President McCain would be driven by political ideology
09/04/08: Bold McCain will sharpen the contrasts
© 2008, Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
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