Zeitgiest Quote

From one of Ben Smith's sources who's canvassing for Obama in a working class white Philly neighborhood:  

"What's crazy is this," he writes. "I was blown away by the outright racism, but these folks are f***ing undecided. They would call him a n----r and mention how they don't know what to do because of the economy."

Remarkably, the intense cross-pressures of economic anxiety are so strong that they're literally bringing racism to the fore and then pushing it off to the side.

Comments

IF Obama gets elected (and frankly, I'm not sanguine this he's not one of us bit won't work given the shouts of treason heard at a Palin rally today) there is a lot of good that could come of it. Before Kennedy, there was a great deal of animosity towards Catholics and he barely squeaked into office. When he died, one of his legacies has to be the way he made Catholicism acceptable.

Thurgood Marshall did this on the Supreme Court; something Thomas has failed to put forward in his silence on the bench.

I think a good Obama administration that lifted the middle class would go a long way towards shifting unconscious biases and fears of black anger.

Posted by Rhoda | October 7, 2008 12:22 PM

I've seen this played out in a number of ways over the last year and a half...

Including some of my own relatives who -- though they believed he was trained as a Muslim fundamentalist as a child -- still voted for him in the primary.

It's not just the economic concerns. It's that many people just like something about Obama. He inspires a sense of trust that overcomes much of the smears being leveled against him.

But, regardless, it is still a remarkable phenomenon.

Posted by Vermonter | October 7, 2008 12:31 PM

Marc, you mistakenly identify Fishtown as a Philly suburb when in fact it is a white working class neighborhood northeast of center city. This is an important distinction, b/c I believe the lastest polls suggest the Philly suburbs (Bucks County, Delware County, Montogmery County, etc.) are in fact trending Obama.

Posted by William | October 7, 2008 12:41 PM

According to The Economist, when African-American Douglas Wilder was running (successfully) for Virginia governor in 1990, he told striking miners, “[I heard you boys] would vote for a n----r before you’d vote for a Republican, and I’m here to tell you that this November, you’re gonna get your chance.”

While I wouldn't expect Obama to use similar language, I think the Ben Smith canvasser's quote shows an opportunity for him. He should say something like, "You're not voting for who's going to be your best friend. We're unlikely to ever meet. You're voting for who you think has the steadiest hand to steer this country through the turmoil it's going to be facing for the next few years"

Even flat-out racists are recognizing the enormous gulf in economic competence between the two candidates.

Posted by Phil | October 7, 2008 12:42 PM

I am simply amazed at the fact that the media is part of this racist bigots. Why isn't MSM not reporting how McCain and Palin are creating 'lynch mob' atmosphere.

During a Palin rally someone said 'kill him'.

During McCain rally someone loudly called Obama a terrorist which McCain clearly heard but McCain remained silent. Has McCain really lost his mental balance?

Why is McCain loosing his honor than loosing election?

Media does not have balls instead they are dropping the ball. Shame on them for being a silent spectator to racism and hatred.

Posted by Ari | October 7, 2008 12:46 PM

I agree with Ari above. That was a sickening thing to watch. It's like the last 40 odd years of progress (albeit slow progress) in race relations in this country were pissed away during each rally Palin & McCain held. The look on McCain's face when someone yelled out "terrorist!" was startling. This is getting out of hand quickly.

Posted by Shaun | October 7, 2008 12:56 PM

Marc - Fishtown is IN Philly, it's not a suburb.

Out here in the actual Philly burbs, we run into outright racists as well as quiet racists (the ones who say "uppity boy" for example.)

Someone gave me the line, which I've used for the "quiet" racists: "So, I just have one question: when you go to the meetings at night, are you still renting, or have you bought your own white sheet?"

It doesn't change their minds, but at least it lets them know that **I** know they ARE racist.

Posted by Jessica | October 7, 2008 1:16 PM

I know others have said it, but Fishtown is very much in Philly, not a suburb. I say that only because in many ways, the Fishtown neighborhood is as culturally far from the suburbs as any black neighborhood in the city.

Posted by Naveen | October 7, 2008 1:26 PM

If you're on the Titanic out at sea and the boat is clearly going under, do you really care what color the captain of the rescue ship is?

That said, I do hope these people at least have the decency to thank the captain for getting them to safer shores once all this is over with.

Posted by Richardson | October 7, 2008 1:41 PM

Brownshirt-baiting? I too am disturbed by the reactions that McCain/Palin are eliciting from their "crowds" (mobs?).

"Kill Him" - "He's a terrorist" -- "Sit down, Boy"
(And, someone's now been shot for wearing an Obama t-shirt, albeit in the U.K.)

No response from Mc/Palin, other than to stoke it further with these spurious Ayers/Wright references and barely murky "he's not one of Us 'Mericans" statements from the candidates.

What's is going to be for our America? This is not a healthy road for the national discourse to take. And it is obviously a repulsive technique to employ to get oneself elected.

What does this heavy-breathing rabble do if McCain wins?

Or worse, if he loses?

Posted by SamSinister | October 7, 2008 1:41 PM

"Even flat-out racists are recognizing the enormous gulf in economic competence between the two candidates."

What, in your mind, demonstrates Obama's "economic competence"? His promise to send every American a $1,000 check? His association with former Fannie Mae chiefs Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson?

Posted by Fred | October 7, 2008 1:46 PM

Seriously Marc, somebody needs to get the lynch mob mentality that's being fostered by Palin and McCain into the news. It's sickening and disgusting. This is what our country has fallen to? Torture, war, economic collapse and lynch mobs? It makes me physically ill.

Posted by central squared | October 7, 2008 1:59 PM

Fred writes: "What, in your mind, demonstrates Obama's "economic competence"? His promise to send every American a $1,000 check? His association with former Fannie Mae chiefs Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson?"

The very best endorsement of Obama's competence is that people like Fred - diehard supporters of Dumbya Bush - are opposed to him. Since Freds are wrong about everything, they're wrong about Obama.

Freds are reverse policy canaries. When a proposed policy makes them faint, you know it's safe to proceed with the policy. When the policy excites them you know it will end in disaster.

Don't be a Fred.

Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | October 7, 2008 2:12 PM

My 84-year-old step-father is a lifelong racist. Growing up in California, the son of Mexican farm laborers, he felt that blacks were given a hand up never offered to Hispanics. During WWII, he spent four years on the Eastern Front and was present at the opening of a concentration camp. Still, his bigotry remained.

A lifelong Democrat, he voted for HRC in the Texas primary. When she failed to win the nomination, I was certain that he'd throw his allegiance to fellow vet, John McCain. His bigotry was such that he'd turn off the TV rather than watch Obama. My mother, a huge Obama supporter, kept her mouth shut.

Mom now reports that Papa is planning to vote for Obama. One simple fact drove him to, for once, push his bigotry aside: Under Obama's plan, he and my mother will no longer pay a tax on their limited income.

KNOW HOPE!!!

Posted by Judy | October 7, 2008 2:13 PM

Fred- It is Obama's demeanor, thoughtfulness, and steadiness in a storm of chaos that people are finding reassuring. When McCain claims Obama does not understand Iraq, Obama shows the nation (in the debate) that he actually is knowledgeable of foreign affairs. Now, we don't have to agree with him. But, McCain's schtik has always been 'Obama lacks experience, accomplishment, and breadth'. What has been impressed upon many American voters, especially in the last couple of weeks, is that he is not as dangerous and risky as Mac has painted him out to be. Obama has demonstrated what kind of leader he'd be if elected. And unfortunately, mcCain has too... That, imho, is why McCain finds himself in the pickle he is in.

Posted by Angelica | October 7, 2008 2:14 PM

Billmon has this right.

Once you accept an individual as acceptable, even if you reject whatever group they belong to, then they're always acceptable. If people that would have rejected Obama due to being black, educated, Democrat, whatever, are now on the fence, then McCain has truly lost because his personal attacks (reminding people that he belongs to some undesirable group) simply won't work any more. The only way to win them back is on substantive issues, which he seems to be completely forgoing.

Posted by Martin | October 7, 2008 2:29 PM

the intense cross-pressures of economic anxiety are so strong that they're literally bringing racism to the fore

Come on, Marc. It's Palin & McCain bringing it to the fore. And they're doing it on purpose.

John McCain must be so proud. His Sarah whipped up the crowd to the point where they screamed out: "Kill him!"

When do the white robes get pulled out?

Posted by katerina | October 7, 2008 3:24 PM

after McCain asks "Who is the real Barack Obama?" the first, loudest voice can be heard answering "Terrorist!"

Judging by McCain's slightly startled reaction, he clearly didn't anticipate that reaction, and McCain's in no way responsible for the utterances of anybody in his audience.

But isn't he responsible to, having heard it, say something against it? Or do we think our leaders should just smile and nod now when people shout "kill him"?

Respectable campaigns refrain from this stuff not just because it's dishonorable--but because it's DANGEROUS. McCain is a very reckless man who is taking us down a very dangerous road. And it's clear he is already ignoring the warning signs that this will get out of hand.

Posted by anonymous | October 7, 2008 3:40 PM

Sarah Palin won't hold a press conference but the media spews her hate 24/7. If the media quit hanging on her every racist, inflammatory word maybe she'd have to answer a question or two about herself. I fear the hate and bigotry she is fanning will end in violence abetted by the media.

Posted by Gail | October 7, 2008 5:11 PM

The word is "zeitgeist". That spelling error at the top of this post is approaching six hours old.

I know this is just a blog post, and that it hasn't been pored over by an editor or proofread, etc., and that there's more important things to talk about, but it's worth taking a minute to point out that it shouldn't be that difficult for journalists to reach the minimal standard of accuracy that is SPELLING WORDS CORRECTLY.

Posted by El Caballo de Sangre | October 7, 2008 6:05 PM

Obviously the racism is disappointing, but frankly, I don't care what they call him as long as they vote for him.

Posted by Laura | October 7, 2008 7:38 PM