Senator John McCain is not a racist

[grantcart]

I know that there is a fashion by some in here to demonize everyone who is not on our side. It is not only not very appealing it actually doesn't make good strategy as it undermines real differences and real attacks.

I have seen several replies in OPs that John McCain is a racist. He is not.

While he may have made some harsh comments about those that have held him captive; he was not captive to those feelings or statements.


1)Racists do not adopt children from other races in their families:

http://adoptiveparenting.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/mccain-and-adoption/
quote
This isn’t about who you are voting for so let’s all take off our partisan hats.

How many of you remember the snotty rumors last presidential election cycle that John McCain had a “love child” out of wedlock with an African-American woman? Oh the horror!

The truth was that his wife Cindy founded a group that organized trips for Arizona doctors and nurses to areas in need to medical assistance - think a Doctor’s Without Borders sort of group for disaster areas. On one such trip to Bangladesh, she fell in love with a baby living at an orphanage run by Mother Theresa - a child that needed more medical care than they could provide on the mission. So she bundled her up and took her home to the US with her, calling John from an airport to tell him he was about to having another child. Their daughter Bridget is now going on 17 and like most of the McCain children, kept away from the press for their privacy.
unquote



Racists don't advocate restoring diplomatic relations with countries that held you prisoner:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DF1038F931A25754C0A963958260
snip
The often loquacious Mr. Clinton spoke somberly for just under 10 minutes, ending with "God bless America." Several Congressional veterans of the war stood by his side as he made his announcement; Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who spent more than five years as a Vietnamese prisoner of war, was closest. Afterward, Mr. McCain praised Mr. Clinton for an "act that required some courage."

snip
and McCain did so while other Republicans were lambasting Clinton
snip
Senator Bob Dole, a veteran of World War II whose right arm remains withered from his wounds, denounced Mr. Clinton's decision from the Senate floor, saying the President had not addressed the "central question" of whether Vietnam is continuing to withhold information and remains that could be easily provided.

"The President ignored this question in announcing his decision for the very good reason that all signs point to Vietnam willfully withholding information which could resolve the fate of many Americans lost in the war," said Mr. Dole, the Senate majority leader and the leading contender for the Republican Presidential nomination.

Mr. Dole said the lawmakers would monitor the progress of relations with Vietnam, and he warned that Congress must approve funds for any diplomatic operations in Vietnam and that the Senate must confirm any ambassador.

Senator Trent Lott, the majority whip from Mississippi, said he would support efforts to amend appropriations legislation to stop the opening of a United States Embassy in Vietnam. "What's the reason for doing this?" he asked. "How do you justify recognizing Vietnam and not recognizing Taiwan?"
end quote



If you are going to call McCain a racist you are going to have to bring a mountain of evidence and not a couple lines that expressed his displeasure at those who were administering the skeleton wrenching rope torture that he was subjected to at length.

[KingFlorez]

1. People who aren't racist don't use slurs

There's never an excuse for ethnic slurs.

[grantcart]

7. Yes he hated the people who tortured them

He then went back and provided the cover for President Clinton to be able to re-establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of Vietnam. The government and people of Vietnam hold Senator McCain in high regard for being able to move past those feelings he once held.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/hongop.shtml
Thursday, March 2, 2000
On his campaign bus recently, Sen. John McCain told reporters, "I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live." Although McCain said he was referring only to his prison guards, there are many reasons why his use of the word "gook" is offensive and alarming.



To continue to take this comment out of context is ridiculous given the fact that he, more than anyone else, is responsible for reconciliation with the Vietnamese and the fact that although he lives in a very conservative community he, without reservation saved a dying Bengladeshi girl and made that girl his daughter.


Now do you have anything else?

[KingFlorez]

11. I understand he hated the people who tortured him

Anybody would hate people who tortured them, but there still is no excuse for using a slur that is offensive to an entire group of people. People who do that obviously harbor some racist feelings. That's the way I see it.

[grantcart]

18. Besides the decade old comment that was used by every POW for their

captors do you have any other evidence that Senator McCain regularly uses racist slurs?

[KingFlorez]

66. I doubt every POW has used slurs

I didn't make the claim he uses slurs regularly, my point is anyone who speaks that way must have some issues with race.

[GoldieAZ49]

118. all the nam vets used that word, and charlie for the enemy

[bhikkhu]

102. In Korean "gook" means person.

"hangook" (the romanization is arbitrary) means Korean person.

It is a bit ironic that this is the primary slur - "person". Used in the US it reflects malice, but to an Asian listener it reflects nothing so much as an odd disconnect between our intent and our knowledge.

[JuniperLea]

10. Hear hear!!! eom

[JuniperLea]

2. Errrmmm... this is DU

You know, Democratic Underground...

Why are you defending McCain? I understand the premise here, but is this really necessary?

[Noirceuil]

6. This Site Does Not Tolerate Dissent...

which is really ironic considering the last 8 years. I've learned that anyone who isn't in love with Obama is not a Democrat but a "troll" and "Freeper Trash". If this continues me and the other "trash" in Ohio and Pennsylvania will stay home in the general election if Obama is the nominee. We'll see how you like that!

[JuniperLea]

9. Neener neener to you too!

Fine... let McCain win... and we'll all know who to blame.

I cannot fathom the stupidity in being willing to let a Republican win just because you fought with some other idiots on an Intertubes message board... astounding.

[fascisthunter]

20. No... It Just Doesn't Defend Republicans (nt)

[grantcart]

8. Because I take Sen. Obama's call to a higher road of civil discourse seriously

and I believe this charge against Senator McCain a lie.


If we want others to stop distorting and lying about our candidate we should do the same against theirs.

I consider it a terrible attack on his charachter and it is not true.

[JuniperLea]

14. You could at least save it for the general...

And you could at least frame it in that manner. Your OP appears to be a campaign post on behalf of McCain.

[JuniperLea]

15. 'puter hiccup

self delete

[dano81818]

67. i agree with you and OP on this...

an obama-mccain campaign will be the most civil, debate and issue oriented campaign most of us have ever seen in our lives... i just hope he can win... he worries me in fl, mi, oh, and pa...

[leftynyc]

125. I think it's great that SOMEONE on this

board takes Sen Obama's positions to heart. Don't listen to the people insulting you for telling the truth. It's very admirable. I'd never vote for mccain but he can be beaten (esp with Richardson on the ticket) without resorting to right wing type lies. I admire your feelings on this.

[fascisthunter]

3. "....skeleton wrenching rope torture that he was subjected to at length."

You'd think he learn from that and be against torture.

[phrigndumass]

4. K+R

I think some people forget what the word "racism" means ...

[doyourealize1]

5. McCain is very popular in the Vietnamese-American community

He is a war hero in our community. He defended the south, and was tortured along with many of the Vietnamese-Americans here in America. His use of the word "gook" is not in reference to those Vietnamese-Americans here but to his captors. Many Americans use that term to speak badly of us, but he is not one of them. There's a reason that most Vietnamese-Americans (until recently) vote Republican, as sadly as that is.

[leftynyc]

126. Thank you for your input on this

I always felt he had earned the right to call his captors anything he damn well wanted to. His actions speak loudly enough and this is a loser issue because all it will remind people of was his service and POW status.

[woolldog]

12. I agree, McCain isn't a racist (nt)

[better tomorrow]

13. so then do you think he will vote for Obama?

:rofl:

[Alexander]

16. Yeah, he uses the word "gooks" because he's so tolerant.

Give me a break.

[doyourealize1]

19. maybe you should read up on it

you'll look like a fool when you do.

[grantcart]

25. Yes a decade old comment which he apologized for

http://www.asianam.org/mccain.htm

a) he was specifically referring to his captors
I'll call, right now, my interrogator that tortured me and my friends a `gook,' OK, and you can quote me,'' McCain said last week. Adding that all his fellow prisoners of war used the same term, McCain said his tormentors ``were cruel, mean, vicious, sometimes sadistic people. And `gook' is the kindest description I can give them, the most printable.'


b)he apologized for it 8 years ago.
I deeply regret any pain I may have caused by my choice of words. I apologize and renounce all language that is bigoted and offensive, which is contrary to all that I represent and believe,'' McCain said.



Do you have anything besides that?

[grantcart]

62. He used the word specifically against the guards that tortured him

and later apologized for it. Interestingly enough the only person in here to have identified himself as Vietnamese has come to his defense.

[Danger Mouse]

17. The 'gooks' line will still hurt him. It was a stupid thing to say.

[dano81818]

69. old news, might get a day or 2 play outta that...

gonna have to hammer him on iraq and economy

[rucky]

21. Yeah, he's just nuts. n/t

[EFerrari]

22. So we can forget about that whole "I hate the gooks" thing, right?

[grantcart]

88. Well like the Rev Wright comments you can get the right context and then decide

It was aimed at his guards and not at the vietnamese people

``I'll call, right now, my interrogator that tortured me and my friends a `gook,' OK, and you can quote me,'' McCain said last week. Adding that all his fellow prisoners of war used the same term, McCain said his tormentors ``were cruel, mean, vicious, sometimes sadistic people. And `gook' is the kindest description I can give them, the most printable.''


After the Vietnamese community objected to the use even in this narrow context he apologized:


I will continue to condemn those who unfairly mistreated us. But out of respect to a great number of people whom I hold in very high regard, I will no longer use the term that has caused such discomfort.

I deeply regret any pain I may have caused by my choice of words. I apologize and renounce all language that is bigoted and offensive, which is contrary to all that I represent and believe,'' McCain said.




A Vietnamese DUer down thread talks about how McCain is held in high regard in the Vietnamese community and is in turn called a racist.

[EFerrari]

92. The Reverend was very clearly talking about the American government.

McShame only qualified his remarks later when he tried to reframe them.

[mattclearing]

23. McCain is a Republican Senator, and has supported countless economic policies, that,

by design, hurt low-income, urban Americans. He may not be racist, but the results of his policies hurt black people. You can't be a Republican supporter in the past thirty years and claim innocence to racism as far as I'm concerned.

[grantcart]

86. That is a different argument that all republican politicians are racist

and I understand that and would probably agree with the general. Every once in a while somebody like Jack Kemp comes by and actually wants to do something in the inner city and they make sure he doesn't get anywhere. If Austin Texas had been hit instead of New Orleans there would have been an entirely different result. For reasons discussed in the thread the particular charge that McCain is a racist based on a particular comment that was aimed at a very specific group of people given his own personal history is a low blow and beneath us.

[grantcart]

87. duplicate

[JI7]

24. McCain and Wright are kind of in a similar place

you need to understand their background and experience. that's what Obama does. he looks to people's backgrounds, their experience and tries to understand where it comes from.

[grantcart]

28. and of course that was my subliminal message thank you

[EFerrari]

30. No. McCain expresses hatred for an entire people.

Rev. Wright express indignation for a government that practiced genocide.

There is not comparison.

[grantcart]

32. Threre is no record of him ever expressing hatred for an entire people

http://www.asianam.org/mccain.htm
He was specifically referring to his interrogator and torturers


``I'll call, right now, my interrogator that tortured me and my friends a `gook,' OK, and you can quote me,'' McCain said last week. Adding that all his fellow prisoners of war used the same term, McCain said his tormentors ``were cruel, mean, vicious, sometimes sadistic people. And `gook' is the kindest description I can give them, the most printable.''


and he apologized

`For 5 1/2 years, I was mistreated by Ho Chi Minh's henchmen. My fellow prisoners were treated even worse,'' McCain said in his statement. ``Although I will never forgive my prison guards for the atrocities they committed against my cellmates, I have always held the people of Vietnam in the highest regard and have worked in support of the Vietnamese-American community in this country at every opportunity.

``I will continue to condemn those who unfairly mistreated us. But out of respect to a great number of people whom I hold in very high regard, I will no longer use the term that has caused such discomfort.

I deeply regret any pain I may have caused by my choice of words. I apologize and renounce all language that is bigoted and offensive, which is contrary to all that I represent and believe,'' McCain said.


and had you read the reply upthread by the Vietnamese DUer you will have learned that he is in fact held in deep affection by the Vietnamese community her and in Vietnam.

[EFerrari]

36. If he didn't express hatred for an entire people, why did he apologize?

And, more recently, why is he singing about bombing Iran?

No sale.

[grantcart]

49. He apologized because people in the Vietnamese community asked him to

Thuan Nguyen, president of San Jose's Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, said of the apology: ``It's the right way to handle the situation. We understand his anger, but the word choice is not appropriate.



http://www.asianam.org/mccain.htm

[EFerrari]

116. So, apologizing wasn't even his idea.

You may just be a much better person than I am.

This man is as corrupt as they come. Remember Don Siegelman? McCain hid evidence about Abramoff that would have led Congress to see the connection between Abramoff and the Siegelman political prosecution.

He's trash. Racism is almost the least of it.

[JI7]

34. his wanting to open relations with Vietnam was not hatred, it showed

he actually does care.

[EFerrari]

38. Maybe after he bombbombs Iran, he'll want to open relations with them, too.

[JI7]

45. well, he is a warmonger , i wont deny that

[EFerrari]

47. War is dehumanizing. Before you kill other people, first

you have to forget they are human.

[Texas Hill Country]

26. agreed. he is not a racist.

[Justitia]

27. He's a Republican POS all the way around, why defend him in any capacity?

And his "gook" stmts stand all on their own, sorry.

[grantcart]

37. Yes they do and unless you have some other references they were specifically aime

at his captors - and even in that case he apologized for it

http://www.asianam.org/mccain.htm
He was specifically referring to his interrogator and torturers


``I'll call, right now, my interrogator that tortured me and my friends a `gook,' OK, and you can quote me,'' McCain said last week. Adding that all his fellow prisoners of war used the same term, McCain said his tormentors ``were cruel, mean, vicious, sometimes sadistic people. And `gook' is the kindest description I can give them, the most printable.''


and he apologized

`For 5 1/2 years, I was mistreated by Ho Chi Minh's henchmen. My fellow prisoners were treated even worse,'' McCain said in his statement. ``Although I will never forgive my prison guards for the atrocities they committed against my cellmates, I have always held the people of Vietnam in the highest regard and have worked in support of the Vietnamese-American community in this country at every opportunity.

``I will continue to condemn those who unfairly mistreated us. But out of respect to a great number of people whom I hold in very high regard, I will no longer use the term that has caused such discomfort.

I deeply regret any pain I may have caused by my choice of words. I apologize and renounce all language that is bigoted and offensive, which is contrary to all that I represent and believe,'' McCain said.


and had you read the reply upthread by the Vietnamese DUer you will have learned that he is in fact held in deep affection by the Vietnamese community her and in Vietnam.
Buddhist Democrat

[Justitia]

42. Why are you working so hard to salvage McCain's reputation?

Just being a tried and true stalwart Conservative Republican is fucking bad enough.

And again, sorry, I have trouble believing that anyone who uses terms like that (unapologetically in the original context) doesn't harbor some deep hostilities. Whether you think it is understandable in regards to his specific experience is really immaterial. He had no trouble spouting it off in public, off the top of his head, from emotion and not reason. I don't want someone so reactionary for president.

[Texas Hill Country]

70. He is an honorable man with incorrect political viewpoints.

[Justitia]

83. "Honorable"??? In what way? Scamming the Treasury? Throwing his 1st wife under the bus?

You know, the disabled one who patiently waited for him to return from Vietnam while raising his kids?

Throwing his 2nd wife & kid under the bus by embracing their attackers to advance politically?

By advocating TORTURE?

That makes him a little less than "honorable" in my book.

[better tomorrow]

29. John McCain...zzzzz....is not.....snore....a racist....zzzzzz......

[grantcart]

31. because it will not help us in making a case to lead the country

by using something that is not true, and I take to heart the leadership of Senator Obama who has called us to a higher level of political discourse.

Can we complain about the MSM media repeating the youtube ad nauseum (or some other Clinton red herring) when we do the same here?

[better tomorrow]

41. sorry, it is afternoon for me and I do best at midnight.....

it is easier to debate with the satiric crowd on there. You folks in the pm are too intelligent for my discourse, but carry on....maybe I can learn something.

GoBama...

[lastknowngood]

33. Neither are Bill and Hillery but sure can't tell here

n/t

[SoonerPride]

35. Didn't he vote against making Martin Luther King Day a holiday?

Or am I wrong about that?

[Justitia]

43. Yes, he certainly did. -eom

[grantcart]

51. I found one procedureal vote against the holiday but I could not find

records of the final vote that had 22 republicans voting against it.

Arizona was famous for oddly being the most resistant state to it - which in part was because of Rev. King's opposition to the Vietnam war.

[Life Long Dem]

39. I didn't hear anyone accuse McCain of being racist.

Hillary supporters on the other hand who go to McCain over Obama (leaving the dem party) appear racist. Whether you like it or not.

[grantcart]

52. Its come up but all you have to do is read upthread and you can see

despite rather substantial evidence that an objectional remark that he made 8 years ago was aimed at his prison guards and the other facts of adopting an asian child and his work on reconciling the two countries they still call him a racist.

[grantcart]

73. Here is the thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5175993&mesg_id=5175993

[NNN0LHI]

40. He watched as Bush's thugs used racist slurs against his adopted daughter and then hugged Bush

What a real stand up guy, eh?

Don

[NNN0LHI]

91. Here is the photo

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. "I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live."

"Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran"

Who else are you going to defend? David Duke?

[grantcart]

61. No I am being very specific

He hated the captors and called them gooks

When his friends in the Vietnamese community asked him to stop calling the guards gooks he did so and apologized

He still has an Asian daughter.

He still is the man most responsible for America and Vietnam having full diplomatic relations.

Now do you actually have something substantive or do you think that the same kind of smearing of Dr. Wright that is now going on in the media should be repeated in here, repeating false charges based on a manipulation of a quote.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

63. And Jesse Helms had a black lover.

Are you going to defend him too?

[grantcart]

74. Why would I living in a racially mixed marriage with childred of different

races having spent most of my life living in communities where I am the only one of my race defend a racist?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

76. I don't know.

I've no idea what you're hoping to accomplish by defending bigots like McCain.

Are you planning on voting for him and are hoping to justify it?

[grantcart]

80. where is there any evidence that John McCain has been bigoted against a race of people

are you planning on slandering people who are in a different party even if there is no evidence. And will you support racists even if they are Democrats

I suppose that since I have a similar experience of adopting children of a different race I feel that totally unsubstantiated attackes on his charachter should be denounced. I am kind of like that I don't really care who is the object of unjust hatred.

Now do you actually have some evidence to back up what you are saying or do you just attack without actual evidence.




Having spent years in refugee camps working with the aftermath of war I am supporting the candidate who will most likely not start another needless war, Senator Obama - but that is completely irrelevant to the OP.

[BlooInBloo]

46. Anyone who says they hate "gooks" is racist. Likewise anyone who says such a person isn't.

[doyourealize1]

48. except when the Vietnamese-American community loves him n/t

[BlooInBloo]

50. No, no such exception. Among other things, they're like Cuban-Americans in that way...

... For another, they're among the most racist people walking the planet, and so fall under the scope of my first post.

They being racist is hilarious of course, given how chinese, japanese, and koreans look down on them as being an aboriginal people. OTOH, that might explain it.

[doyourealize1]

55. "They"

You're calling me racist?

[grantcart]

57. I apologize for him - he is an idiot

[BlooInBloo]

58. I don't recall doing so, no.

[doyourealize1]

60. digging yourself in a pretty deep hole

No, no such exception. Among other things, they're like Cuban-Americans in that way...

... For another, they're among the most racist people walking the planet, and so fall under the scope of my first post.

They being racist is hilarious of course, given how chinese, japanese, and koreans look down on them as being an aboriginal people. OTOH, that might explain it.
______________

I am Vietnamese, and you're calling me one of "the most racist people walking the planet"?

Don't get me started on how "hilarious" it is to be treated like an "aboriginal" by "chinese, japanese, and koreans".

[BlooInBloo]

64. Just because a group has a property doesn't mean every member of it does...

.... "Dogs have 4 legs" isn't rightly taken to contradict there existing a 3-legged dog somewhere (poor puppy!) - unless the person is simply looking for an argument, of course.

[grantcart]

82. Your reply #50 is far more racist than the remark attributed to McCain

in as much as his group was aimed at defined set of people and not a race.

[BlooInBloo]

85. No it's not.

[Hottest Housewife]

65. Barry's supporters are hateful.

Everyone's a Racist..but them.

Your remarks are very interesting. Thank you.

[grantcart]

56. you do realise of course that poster # 48 is Vietnamese and you have

just called him a racist.

[BlooInBloo]

59. Ah - that explains where the previous comment came from - thanks!

[grantcart]

53. He didn't say he hated gooks. He said that he hated the people that tortured him

and called them gooks. And then he apologized for using that term. He still hates the guards. He still has an adopted Asian daughter and he still is the man most responsible for America and Vietnam having restored diplomatic relations.

[BlooInBloo]

54. Good 'nuff.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

77. That's like those people on the daytime talk shows.

"I don't hate all n******, just the bad ones."

[grantcart]

81. No he hated a very specific group of people that tortured him and his friends

[Major Hogwash]

68. McCain told Sean Hannity he wouldn't even condemn what Obama's preacher had said.

Because Obama's preacher is a private person, that was preaching to the congregation in his church.

Wright was not on the campaign trail talking to journalists or on teevee like Ferraro was when she said that Obama was lucky to be black.

Let's see them spin that!!!!!

[grantcart]

72. was that McCain or Huckabee

[Major Hogwash]

78. McCain. He was interviewed by Hannity before he left for his tour of Iraq.

Sean tried to get McCain to condemn Wright, but McCain wouldn't do it, he wouldn't have any of it.

[grantcart]

84. wish i had a youtube of that - god that has been completely missed by the media

[matcom]

71. Mr. McCain is that YOU?

:hi:

you are old and you suck ass.

other than that I'm not voting for you fucker.

[kevinmc]

75. You Sure Post alot for a Newbie ... Looks kinda Freepy

grantcart

Member since Jan 05th 2008
Number of posts 5269

[grantcart]

79. well I wore all out all of my neighbors

did you actually have a point on the OP

[rocktivity]

89. According to Democrats.org, racists DO:

Vote Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday

Flip Flop On The Confederate Flag, First Calling It Offensive And Then Calling It A Symbol Of Heritage

Endorse George Wallace Jr.,...A "Committed Conservative Reformer," Despite Speeches to Hate Group

Have Senior McCain Strategists Who Approve Racist Ads

(Have Spokemean Who)...Criticize the MLK Holiday as "Vitriolic and Profane"

link (Democrats.org)

:headbang:
rocknation

[ElsewheresDaughter]

90. AHAHAHA

"I hate gooks"


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[angie_love]

99. WHY IS THAT FUNNY??

[GoldieAZ49]

93. Thank you, but it will fall on deaf ears and make those calling him a racist look like the idiots

that they are.

The will sway more votes for McCain and make the democrats look like uninformed children (not that this primary hasn't done that effectively enough)

There is no question to be raised against McCain on racism or patriotism

Age isn't going to work well either, once McCain uses Reagans line it's over on the age question



But hell, I am beginning to wonder if the dems will even have a candidate for the GE

[angie_love]

98. Oh fuck off . How dare you defend McCain for saying he hates "gooks"

and demonize Obama for what his pastor said. So fucking hypocritical. I Highly doubt you're a democrat. I highly highly doubt it.

[GoldieAZ49]

113. LOL, like I said, the OP's words would fall on deaf ears - Thx for proving that

it's not like it would be the first mistake made in this election cycle by the dem party :hi:

get the American public defending him so the GOP doesn't have to do a thing

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[angie_love]

114. Either you're a hypocrite of the highest magnitute, a freeper trying to stir trouble, or just stupid

Choose your poison. Probably all 3.

"get the American public defending him so the GOP doesn't have to do a thing"

That comment says it all, I long suspected you of being a freeper coming in here to cause trouble. You've been caught.

[GoldieAZ49]

117. objectivity allows you to see the strength and weaknesses of both candidates

obama mania eliminates objectivity, as you have demonstrated, please carry on, I know you are in the midst of meltdown

feel free to continue to call names and use profanity, it may be therapeutic for you



maybe next time we will get a real candidate, we will have 4 to 8 years to find one

[angie_love]

122. Whats laughable is that you think you're being objective

Does going to a war based on a LIE thats killed thousands of innocent lives MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU??!!?!!?? A war that Grampa McCain SUPPORTED?!?!?!! A war thats destroying our economy? Thats created fertile ground for terrorist groups? IT OBVIOUSLY MEANS NOTHING TO YOU! Whats more important to you are superficial elements like a freakin pastor then real issues facing this country. To me that doesn't make you objective, it makes you fucking stupid. Do issues mean anything to you?? That you could just choose mccain over Obama so easily, it is easy to assume you care nothing about issues. Why don't you head over to free republic you might be more comfortable there. Just so you know, this site is called "democratic underground". You are going on ignore now, I refuse to engage with freepers any longer.

[GoldieAZ49]

123. see now the Iraq war would be what you take him to task on

with the gaffs made on his recent trip with references to Iran

[angie_love]

103. and yes Grampa McCain is OLD OLD OLD. It will be an issue and voters have said that it is an issue

in polls. If you don't like that then tough shit. It will be implied over and over again thats hes going senile for his repeated mistakes over foreign policy statements.

[fujiyama]

94. His use of the word "gook" is just plain stupid

Understandably he holds resentment against those who tortured him and treated him inhumanely. Unless someone has been tortured, I doubt anyone will understand the kind of anger that would cause toward the perpetrators of such crimes.

But McCain's use of an ethnic slur to describe the captors just seems like stubbornness and in a sense, immaturity. I think there are a million different words to describe such criminals, who would try to commit such acts of evil and purposely inflict that sort of pain on another person, without resorting to their race or ethnicity.

I can understand why Asian-Americans might be uncomfortable with his use of the word. It is unnecessary and if he isn't racist (and I don't think he is), he should find another way to describe the captors that isn't offensive to a particular race or ethnicity.

[grantcart]

101. The word "gook" he used 8 years ago. and he apologized for it

[fujiyama]

111. Ah OK, I did not know that. That's good to know.

In that case, as far as I'm concerned, it's not terribly relevant then. McCain's work toward opening relations with Vietnam shows that he was willing to put his past behind him and I never believed that he's racist anyways.

[workinclasszero]

95. Gee, you would expect a defense of McCain at freakrepublic

But seeing it at DU just boggles the mind.:crazy:

[readmoreoften]

96. Non-racists don't call people "gooks."

And 25 years after his imprisonment doesn't count as "still in shock." He said it in 2000.

Racism is the belief that one race of people is SUPERIOR to another race of people. It doesn't mean you won't give "charity" to foreign nations, restore diplomatic ties, or adopt their kids.

[grantcart]

107. He didn't call a people 'gooks'. He was speaking specifically of his captors

He later apologized. He was angry not in shock.

[cooolandrew]

97. That is true actually. Plus hed defended Obama the other day...

http://media.myfoxmilwaukee.com/live/index.html

[angie_love]

100. I completely disagree with your OP and am frankly disappointed

I take extremely high offense to someone of his level of politics saying he hates "the gooks". I'm half asian and it infuriates me how he could make such a stupid, racist statement. You know, i'm really Sick of democrats with weak backbones, the repugs have been demonizing us for years and all some of you can say "well we don't like it when they do it so we shouldn't do it either". What bullshit. Mentality like that is going to make it impossible for us to EVER WIN THE WHITEHOUS AGAIN!

[grantcart]

105. Eight years ago he used the word to refer to the people who brutally tortured him and

not to any race of people.

The Vietnamese community asked him to apologize and he did so.

He is responsible for bringing the US and Vietnam together and he has adopted a dying Asian girl saved her life and adopted her.

If I am going to object to the picking of a few phrases from Rev. Wright's sermons as an unfair charachterization of what he has said in 30 years, I think that the same standard should apply to Senator McCain. I simply do not think that there is evidence that he is a racist.

Senator Obama does not have a "weak backbone" and he is calling us to a different, more civil kind of political discourse. It is that discourse that will not only get us the White House but help us govern.

Do you think that we are more or less likely to get people like Senator McCain to cooperate with us after the election if we have defeated them on civil terms with respect or if we make a reckless and untrue charge against him that slanders him?

[angie_love]

108. You know I don't see the point of your OP. He may not be racist but he said a racist comment.

How would ppl feel if Obama said he "hates gooks". It would end his campaign. I don't see how Obama's pastors comments are more important than a racist comment from McCain. Sorry McCain doesn't get a free pass from me. Maybe you give him one but I sure as hell don't. And to downplay his use of the words "gooks" is annoying as hell. I saw another post on DU saying ppl shouldn't distort McCains "100 year war" remark. Unbelievable.

[saltpoint]

104. The adoption point you raised here is properly raised and its example

well-taken.

My objection to John McCain isn't the remark he made regarding the collective population of Vietnam, as clumsy and unfortunate a slang noun as it was.

My objection to him is his abominable right-wing voting record and my own sense of the man that he's the sort of personality who purports to "leadership" roles while at the same time refusing to be fluid enough with all ideas in the spectrum to EARN those leadership roles.

[grantcart]

106. His remark was aimed only at his captors

``I'll call, right now, my interrogator that tortured me and my friends a `gook,' OK, and you can quote me,'' McCain said last week. Adding that all his fellow prisoners of war used the same term, McCain said his tormentors ``were cruel, mean, vicious, sometimes sadistic people. And `gook' is the kindest description I can give them, the most printable.''


And after that he apologized for that

I will continue to condemn those who unfairly mistreated us. But out of respect to a great number of people whom I hold in very high regard, I will no longer use the term that has caused such discomfort.

I deeply regret any pain I may have caused by my choice of words. I apologize and renounce all language that is bigoted and offensive, which is contrary to all that I represent and believe,'' McCain said.

http://www.asianam.org/mccain.htm


And you are right about his record. He used to be very independent and now he has kowtowed to the far right in many ways.

[saltpoint]

109. We are in accord, grantcart, a position made possible by your

scope and depth and analysis.

Thank you for keeping it real this evening, as always.

[Avalux]

110. Maybe not, but he kisses the ass of a man who is pushing for war and armageddon.

John Hagee - John McCain's new best friend:

Hagee is equally outspoken when it comes to the state of things in America. He compares the leadership of Bill and Hillary Clinton to that of Ahab and Jezebel. Dismayed at society’s moral decay, he warns that, from the White House to the average American home, "as a nation, America is under the curse of God." While Hagee earnestly exhorts his followers to "take America back to biblical principles," and strives through his television ministry to "saturate the airwaves with the gospel message," he also believes that judgment is coming, and the church is running out of time. A dispensationalist with a B.A. from Trinity University, a Masters degree from North Texas State University, and an honorary Ph.D. from Oral Roberts University, Hagee believes that Christ’s return is imminent. He calls humanity in the ’90s "the terminal generation."

Asked in an interview whether Jesus might return within the next few years, Hagee replies "Absolutely. We are living in the closing moments of the Dispensation of Grace." For evidence of this, he points to the restoration of Israel in 1948—something he interprets as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. He also cites Scriptures that seem to foreshadow the "knowledge explosion" and moral corruption of the 20th century and a nuclear exchange in the Middle East—a disaster Hagee believes could happen any time. Tragedies like Yitzak Rabin’s assassination in 1995 only add to his sense of foreboding, feeding the fire of his zealous desire to see America saved.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Dr. Hagee serves as the president and C.E.O. of Global Evangelism Television and is the author of 14 books, including Knowing the Secrets of God, Devil's Island, its companion in The Apocalypse Diaries--Avenger of Blood, Attack on America, and From Daniel to Doomsday.

http://www.christianbook.com/html/authors/1603.html

[grantcart]

115. and I could not agree with you more

It is a shame to see what he was a few years ago compared to the snivelling the republicans have put him through.

Hagee is the worst of the worst. He is not fit to carry Rev. Wright's scandals.

My comment was very narrowly directed at a single charge that has been unfairly attached to him.

[Avalux]

124. lol - so in your mind, McCain is a victim of the Republicans?

That's one absurd notion. Might be a good idea to take your misguided defense of McCain elsewhere.

[walldude]

112. You're right, he's not a racist...

he's just an asshole.

[IsItJustMe]

119. McCain is a Bush Republican. All I need to know. Nuff said.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

120. rephrase your post McCain is trying to push Obama into a corner

the gop is trying to make him blacker. I doubt that McCain is racist himself!

[cynatnite]

121. He's a bush policy supporter, but not a racist...

Totally agree with you.