John McCain and Sarah Palin are inciting mob mentality that could lead to violence very soon. Will they only stop when there is blood on their hands? Is this putting “Country First?”
At Sarah Palin rallies, in response to her fear-mongering, people are yelling about Obama, “Treason!” and “Kill him!”
At a McCain rally in New Mexico, he baited the crowd and a man yelled out “Terrorist”.
In Pennsylvania Wednesday, a woman yelled out, “Get him! He’s bad for our country!”
A racial epithet was used against an African-American TV cameraman at another rally.
McCain’s former strategist, John Weaver said Republicans have a responsibility to stop this. He said:
“As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain,” Weaver said. “And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive.”
David Gergen, who has been an adviser to several Republican presidents warned about the unadulterated anger being unleashed at McCain-Palin rallies:
“There is a free-floating sort of whipping-around anger that could really lead to some violence. And I think we’re not far from that… I think it’s really imperative the candidates try to calm people down.”
31 Comments
October 10, 2008 at 9:08 am
With 25 days to go – the market in freefall…I agree with this prediction and I hope the Secret Service is paying attention.
One gunshot … and McBush is finished in this country forever for it will be HIS responsibility. These nutjob, wingnutters, and haters are HIS people…how proud he must be.
Send McBush and Palin home….unless you believe tyranny, oppression and violence are what you want for your future.
Blood on his hands? Oh yes…something is going to happen and if it does, McCAIN is responsible.
Americans CAN and WILL hold this filthy dirtbag responsible for any violence they incite. I thought HATE CRIMES and INCITING RIOTS were illegal?
October 10, 2008 at 9:09 am
…just one quick thing…as well.
IF anything violent happens, the Republican Party will be held 100% responsible for not reigning this in. The American people do not like or approve of political violence. McCain will pay a price -
October 10, 2008 at 9:14 am
Here’s the problem if this goes unchecked: these people now need to unleash their rage. So they will themselves beat and kill blacks in their communities, or will in turn, incite others to. (A black man was attacked in Pennsylvania 2 weeks ago just for wearing an Obama hat).
Now as local crimes are committed, spurred on by McCain and Palin hate rallies, they’ll never be tied to the campaign, and in most instances you and I will never even hear about them. I bet you that already there have been acts of violence committed as a direct result.
October 10, 2008 at 9:17 am
This is nonsense. Who has been warning us that if Obama is not elected, there will be riots and mayhem? Not the Republicans.
Who has sown the seeds of racial division? Not the Republicans.
Who cries, “Racism” anytime there is legitimate criticism of Obama’s actions and words? Not the Republicans.
Your premise is false.
October 10, 2008 at 9:24 am
I don’t hear the hate being stirred up in Obama rallies. I don’t hear calls for McCain to be killed.
You can really say with a straight face that the Democrats are the racists.
No one cries “racism” when there is a legitimate attack. McCain has used racism in some of his ads and he’s been called on it. And not just by Dems by the way – by YOUR party. And obviously you just don’t like admitting it.
Your mentality is exactly what is to be feared. No responsibility and no accountability.
Again, look at who is calling for McCain to stop the racist hatred: your fellow Republicans. If you really were a “patriotic American” as you call yourself, you’d join with those Republicans calling for it to stop.
October 10, 2008 at 9:41 am
This is a microcosm of the whole, ugly, outdated, pathetic McCain-Palin worldview.
They play to peoples’ fears, hatred, and lower nature.
Obama plays to peoples’ better angels, to hope and a desire for transformation.
It’s important we all speak out about this unacceptable situation. And the Alaskan legislature needs to release the TrooperGate findings!!
Go Bruce!!
October 10, 2008 at 9:43 am
Bruce: Obviously patrioticamerican is a Republican stooge – he probably sits in his garage and collects 15c for every post he gets on a liberal blog.
McBush is a racist pig … he’s a jerk, and a loser. Even for him, his stoking the hatred of the Johnny Six-Pack (do we even know someone who is like this?) low education level, violent individual. Johnny Six-Pack isn’t a Republican…he’s a tool.
Just like patrioticamerican – the only difference is that hatred and violence aren’t sneaky…and trolls are.
Congrats Bruce – you’ve arrived. You’re attracting the attention of the HATERS.
October 10, 2008 at 9:47 am
By the way patrioticamerican…how’s that 401(k) lookin’ these days by golly!
At 15c a post…you must be just a’rollin’ in moolah…
Heh Heh Heh…
Bush screwed you…you just haven’t figured it out … ya betcha!
October 10, 2008 at 9:51 am
I went to a forum with a panel of doctors and surgeons that agreed Senator Obama’s healthcare plan was a big step and one of the best things to happen to America when he becomes elected. The audience was mostly democrat, but there were no bad comments about republicans. Its a bigger cause than that, its not about democrats or republicans. It was about how we could come together to help the country as a whole, both republicans and democrats. The fact that McCain and Palin are desperate and have completely forgotten about the issues is sad. McCain and Palin’s careers should be over for their immature handling of their campaign, and John’s radicalism.
Senator Obama’s campaign is financed by the American people, and he taught constitutional Law at the university of Chicago. If you look at the people at Senator Obama’s ralies, it represents the true population of America.
October 10, 2008 at 10:39 am
It really concerns me, the level of anger at the McCain rallies. The Washington Post had a piece on this, this morning. “Kill him!” That’s the level of discourse on the right. But then, I didn’t really expect much more from the party of Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, and Steve Schmidt.
BTW, my IRAs are down about 35%. I am NOT pleased.
October 10, 2008 at 11:56 am
[...] has a responsibility to discourage this extreme behavior. If they don’t, there could be blood on their hands. The McCain campaign — and their surrogates and crowd warm-up speakers [...]
October 10, 2008 at 12:56 pm
John McBush LOVES violence – I’m waiting for him to slug someone….it appears his meds are failing. And obviously that Ambien addiction has some consequences too.
He’s turned into a dangerous caricature.
But Bruce is right – when the Pigs cause the violence, it will be the Republican Party that pays. People don’t LIKE violence. Most Americans just want to send their kids to school, figure out how to feed their families and no one wants their child to turn out to be a schoolyard bully.
We have many issues in this country – and racism has always been below the surface. The party that encourages these violent actions will – I repeat WILL, be held responsible by the American people.
John McBush has crossed a line and he will be held to account for it … by the voters.
October 10, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Bruce, good post and lots courage. I just finished something about this very topic. I turned off the comments because I just didn’t want to read any more hateful words.
I’m ashamed of the people in Bethlehem Pennsylvania that spoke all those vile words to Obama supporters. It’s not right. It’s really divisive… Americans hating Americans. There’s something very wrong with that. Our country is falling apart and if we want to save it, we must work together for in unity there is strength and a house divided cannot stand.
October 10, 2008 at 3:51 pm
But to the exasperation of many in the party, Obama’s pastor, the most damning of all his associations, remains off-limits, at the express desire of McCain. Palin ignored Wright and focused on Ayers when she was asked about the two in an interview Thursday with conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham. And McCain focused on Ayers only when he was asked an open-ended question at the town hall about Obama’s “associations.”
Rev. Wright is off the table because the Democrats will pull out Palin and the Witch Doctor.
October 10, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Bruce, this is an excellent post – thank you!
This is a real DANGEROUS situation, real dangerous.
In 1963 two days before JFK was assassinated a Dallas newspaper had on its front page: ‘JFK is a traitor’.
Two days later JFK was assassinated.
John McCain should know better. This kind of frenzy and agitation MUST STOP IT IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS!!!
October 10, 2008 at 4:38 pm
This country really doesn’t like assassinations….it is a horrible thing to have happen and it would cause a civil war like you’ve never seen in your lifetime.
Palin and her witch hunting pastor ARE a bit of a problem…
Again, I believe some of the idiots at the rallies are PLANTS…put there by the campaign to stir the pot.
October 10, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Thanks, Bruce, for your thoughtful blog. I wrote an entry about the ugliness too. check it out when you get a chance…
http://expatforobama.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/xenophobes-for-mccain/
October 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I have been waiting for McCain to have a public melt down. What is taking so long? I think McCain and Palin should be publicly cautioned for inciting people. Why is it legal to incite people to want to kill a Presidential candidate (or anyone). That doesn’t seem right.
October 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I have been saying for days that the Palin rallys are inciting mob action and may lead to full blown riots if the flames of hatred are not quelled by the Republican party and/or the secret service. People were arrested for voicing dislike for George W.. More hypocrisy. I would hope that if this leads to rioting and violence that McCain and Palin would be held responsible. For almost 8 years the Repbublican administration has been coated in teflon. We need to scour the teflon away and ensure accountability of those who permitted and encouraged this hatred.
October 10, 2008 at 11:32 pm
It really has gotten out of hand. The ignorance is really mind boggling and for McCain and Palin allowing this to go unchecked is completely irresponsible and threatening to our American way of life at worst.
I do give Senator McCain credit for taking the microphone from the woman who said that Senator Obama was an Arab, yet if he really believes in his country first mantra, he would have taken that microphone and said, “Enough is enough. Let’s set the record straight. Barack Obama is an American Citizen and a Christian. He loves this country as much as I do and this campaign is about our differences in opinion about policy…that is it…I don’t want to hear any more lies about Senator Obama being a Muslim or about him not being an American Citizen. Period. We are not the party of ignorance…case closed.”
To be fair, Senator Clinton used some of the same implied fear tactics in her campaign when she said things like “Barack Obama is a Christian…as far as I know”.
We are tired of personal smear politics. That is why Hillary lost the primary and that is why McCain is going to lose this election.
October 11, 2008 at 12:42 am
It’s funny to have someone who committed Treason (ie advocate succession from the republic) call someone else a traitor.
October 11, 2008 at 12:47 am
To be honest, the more angry and ranting McCain becomes, the higher his blood pressure will shoot, and the more likely he’ll pop an aneurism and die…. So I’m kind of torn about the McCain anger fest….
October 11, 2008 at 7:00 am
A truly disturbing and disgusting mode of thought that McInsane and co. are running. I am all for people expressing their differences, civilly. But to incite this bull? Come on! Obama is going to be president, you whackos are just going to have to deal with it! Just like how we had to deal with Bush for 8 years and watch our prosperity, and even the barest necessities of life, slip out of our hands!
October 11, 2008 at 9:50 am
I think that you will see a pattern of 8 years with Dems, then 8 years with Reps, then 8 years with Dems again. No matter who is in control the corruption of the country, greed and power will always prevail over the people.
No one can fix this. Not Obama, not McCain. It all has to start with us, how are we going to change.
Obama can’t change it and McCain cannot change it, who are we kidding. Come on folks, things will always be the same.
We have heard promises from Clinton, Bush and now the new candidates.
They are just promises to get elected.
Both sides are wrong, both sides have lied, both sides have flung mud.
I do not think anyone can site a riot of blood shed, if they do, it is not them the candidates who are to blame, it is again us. Who are we now as Americans???
We need to start over from square one. It does not start at the top, it starts at the bottom down here with us the people.
October 11, 2008 at 10:14 am
[...] Republicans warn McCain he may soon have blood on his hands Jump to Comments [...]
October 11, 2008 at 10:20 am
You are so right with this very important and urgent message to the Republican party! I only hope and pray someone gets this message to McCain & Palin… they are on very dangeous ground. I posted this comment on obamawatcher1a… Keep up your great work Bruce.
October 11, 2008 at 7:20 pm
What is truly sad is that McCain/Palin are dividing this country with half truths and innuendos instead of facts.
October 12, 2008 at 12:48 am
I just love these “true patriots”. One of these maniacs just vandalized my car because it sports an Obama sticker on it. Here’s the kicker, I have served 14 years in the U.S. Armed Forces (Ranger 3rd Bat, 75th Ranger Reg.). Nice. These low life scumbags are now attacking Veterans. I only wish they would have done it when I was present. Maybe not though. My kids still need their Daddy around, not in jail for (fill in the blank).
October 12, 2008 at 1:41 am
Anonymous, that’s disgusting.
Thank you for serving our country and what a shitty thing to have happen.
I think you’re right. It’s good you weren’t around. These people aren’t worth it.
You’ve fought for America’s freedom and this is how the people you fought for “honor” freedom. “Patriots”… they don’t know the meaning of the word.
I tell you, I’m still so angry at McCain and Palin I can’t see straight. And if Obama and Biden had been stirring up fear and hatred like that, I’d be pissed at them, too. Republicans need to take some responsibility.
October 12, 2008 at 9:57 am
Anonymous: On behalf of several blogs, I’d like to offer an apology to you for your car vandalization. I don’t believe all of our society is sick – but we did mainstream our mentally ill…and it seems some of them react very strongly to HATE messages. Please accept my gratitude for your service.
Bruce: I agree with you – and you’ve said it a lot! No right thinking human being advocates violence, (especially racial) and assassination of a political opponent. This is NOT ROME (altho we are well on our way).
These people are closet racists that have just opened their doors and come out. Racism in this country is rampant…for some reason, our freedom breeds contempt to people who are different from ourselves.
Johnny McSameSame appeals to the lowest common denominator in society – obviously. The ones who never even got a “B” in school, can barely read, HATE anyone who doesn’t play with guns….you know….”THEM”….(see we can do it too!)
I’d be angry if Obama/Biden acted this way or said these things…..isn’t it interesting how ignorance is so very very apparent???
October 15, 2008 at 12:12 pm
basheert,
It’s interesting that you would lump together all McCain-Palin supporters as the same, you said “These people are closet racists that have just opened their doors and come out.”
I don’t know but that statement sounds a bit ignorant and narrow minded to me. I am a M-P supporter and I am not a racist, I am the oppositie.
I have 10 black sponsored children. I serve once a year in Haiti working with yes “blacks” and I love them very much.
To stereotype us as all racists and gun totting ignoramuses is just as insane as doing the same to the O-B supporters, being all elite, un-realistic, artsy, over-educated, nose in the air snobs.
Please…………can’t we all give each other a break.
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