Lewis Diuguid: Biggest Moron EVAR

[RAMSTORIA]

Shame on McCain and Palin for using an old code word for black

By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

The "socialist" label that Sen. John McCain and his GOP presidential running mate Sarah Palin are trying to attach to Sen. Barack Obama actually has long and very ugly historical roots.

J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI from 1924 to 1972, used the term liberally to describe African Americans who spent their lives fighting for equality.

Those freedom fighters included the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who led the Civil Rights Movement; W.E.B. Du Bois, who in 1909 helped found the NAACP which is still the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization; Paul Robeson, a famous singer, actor and political activist who in the 1930s became involved in national and international movements for better labor relations, peace and racial justice; and A. Philip Randolph, who founded and was the longtime head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a leading advocate for civil rights for African Americans.

McCain and Palin have simply reached back in history to use an old code word for black. It set whites apart from those deemed unAmerican and those who could not be trusted during the communism scare.

Shame on McCain and Palin.

http://voices.kansascity.com/node/2493

Amazing.

*changed thread title because it's an editorial piece.

 

[homeland]

why is he a moron? didn't read the article yet, but from the excerpt i understand his logic. With the Mccain/Palin campaign using terms like "real americans" and "pro americans" they are saying that there are others that aren't americans...basically liberals.. substitute liberals for communist and there u go. Isn't far fetched with them labeling dems and liberals as socialist, one step from communist.

 

[SpazX]

Well it was, but yeah I don't think they're using it that way. They don't need to.

 

[Trancendental]

Ahhh the low-hanging fruit.

I see you're not touching the "paling around with terrorists" or "pro-America vs anti-America" rhetoric.

 

[RAMSTORIA]

[quote name='camoor']Ahhh the low-hanging fruit.

I see you're not touching the "paling around with terrorists" or "pro-America vs anti-America" rhetoric.[/QUOTE]

those two statements are both idiotic as well, but thats your job, youre the liberal right?

 

[Trancendental]

Ram, it was a nice try but the quotes I paraphrased above were coming from the Republican candidates themselves. Now, if you want to expand that outwards we can dive into Republican groupthink and come up with some real gems like:

“Folks, there’s a real America, and liberals hate real Americans that work, and accomplish, and achieve, and believe in God.”
- U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., warming up a crowd for a McCain rally

http://www.ajc.com/services/content...008/10/21/liberals_hate_real_americans_1.html

We can also talk about Michele Bachmann if you like. All the McCarthyists, bigots, and racists are sure coming out of the closet now, and all the spin in the world isn't going to save them from their big fat mouths (just ask good ol' George Allen)

 

[RAMSTORIA]

but... i was serious. i realize they are both real quotes. and i said they are both idiotic. dont mistake my not-posting-every-idiotic-quote as support for those tools.

 

[Trancendental]

[quote name='RAMSTORIA']but... i was serious. i realize they are both real quotes. and i said they are both idiotic. dont mistake my not-posting-every-idiotic-quote as support for those tools.[/quote]

Sorry about that.

I get a little carried away Esp since seeing that congresswoman who was looking for an investigation into "anti-Americanism" in Congress

 

[bmulligan]

I didn't know Mykevermin was black. Does he look like anyone on a dollar bill ?

 

[depascal22]

We really are heading to a split aren't we? I don't think the left and right can ever get along even though they differ on just a couple key issues.

 

[mykevermin]

There are two points Diuguid is making:

1) "socialist" was used as a means of quelling key elements of the civil rights movement during the mid-20th century. By labeling black actors as "socialist" or "communist," people in positions of power and influence were able to dissuade/eliminate general public support or empathy for those actors in the civil rights movement. (BTW, I mean "actor" as "participant," not as in "hollywood people.")

2) That the same meaning is being activated by the McCain/Palin campaign as "code" language to speak to their base in a "dog whistle" sort of manner.

I would agree with the first, as it's pretty well-documented historically (not that "socialist" always meant "black," but in any case of dissent during this cultural epoch, it sure as flying was effective at quashing those who might be a threat to the status quo). The second? Nope.

Really, though, do y'all disagree with the first? Would you really disagree that 50-60 years ago, simply uttering the word "socialist" was a lethal hit on someone's political career and public legitimacy?

I don't think the second half is a valid argument, though; one well-rooted in history for those who care to investigate it, but as an op-ed, something that doesn't convince me of the second half of the argument. There's enough overt racism vis-a-vis the "Is he a secret muslim?" stuff that, with others, simply wouldn't even be a palatable argument were the candidate white. It would have lasted as long in the mainstream media as "Is this candidate an alien from Mars?!?!?!" But "socialist" as activating McCarthy-era racism? I don't buy it.

 

[bmulligan]

Thank you for the history lesson, myke. I don't think there's any disagreement.

This guy's REALLY out in left field if you don't agree with him.