Shaking My Head

Two hat tips on this one …

First, to maidensong of the Huckabee Alliance for her post, which I read this morning. She made mention of the outrages being committed by Republicans, against which Mike Huckabee spoke. (By the way, her post is great, you should really check it out.) One of them was:

How about telling that to the Texas republicans at their convention who wore buttons saying ‘If Obama wins the white house, will it still be called the white house?”

I wanted to see one of these buttons, so I went looking, and found that Jamelle of The United States of Jamerica had already found such an image.

Tell me again how there’s no racism in the campaign.

The Republican Party needs to stop dancing around this stuff. If it wants to be taken seriously, the leadership of the party must come out and condemn this kind of action — whether it’s being done by Republicans or not. Yes, this would make Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and other people who make their living off of being divisive angry. It will bring up charges of “political correctness.”

Let’s be honest … there are people who rebel against political correctness so much that they have become crass, irresponsible, and bigoted.

Were I in control of anything in the Obama campaign, I would make sure that everyone in the US saw these buttons. I would present them with a choice — the Republican Party that thinks this is appropriate, or change from the hatred of the past. How, I wonder, would the GOP try to refute that?

The Republican Party has made itself vulnerable by allowing this kind of childish behavior, and it has passed childish and crossed lines into flagrant racism. It must stop, and it is the responsibility of the Republican Party to stop it. Yes, this was something that happened at a state convention. Still, it was done under the name “Republican.” If you think that anyone is going to let it drop at the Red River, you’re out of your mind.

In 2004, Republicans used the “purple band-aids” to deride Sen. Kerry’s purple hearts. Now, they’re using buttons to deride Sen. Obama for being a black man.

In 1992, 1994, and 1996, the Republican Party ran campaigns using the slogan “Character Counts.” Does it?

Does it matter what is right and what is wrong?

If so, then take action. Now. If not, then understand that this is why I left the Republican Party and have rarely thought of going back.

Also, understand that the American public isn’t going to be swayed by racist appeals. Quite the contrary, I expect a backlash against the Republican Party that will assure the Democrats the White House as well as continuing their majorities in each house of Congress, and probably a strong showing on governors and other state offices. Well done.