Regardess where you stand on who should be the next President of the US, or what you think of the New York Times (and Dad, I even watched Hannity’s America last night trying to understand the other side), I found this OpEd piece very upsetting.  John posted a link to it originally.  I haven’t been watching the news very much, so I had only heard a little bit about the blatant racist-speak taking place at McCain/Palin rallies.  I’ve seen two clips - one of Palin smiling while the crowd chanted the usual “Obama is a terrorist” and the less usual but more frightening “Off with his head”.  The second was of a McCain supporter holding a Curious George doll with an Obama hat on it. I’ve chosen not to link to the video because I don’t want to give it any more attention than it has already received.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying McCain is a racist.  He is, however, allowing this stuff to happen at his rallies.  And if I could dislike Palin any more than I already do, watching her freakshow grin while extremists scream for execution of her opponent put that last nail in for me. 

Apparently I am naive and jaded.  I assumed, wrongly, that although racism is rampant still, we as a country would put on our pretty clothes and pretend otherwise.  To see large groups of people chanting and screaming because - and let’s really call it what it is - Obama is black - really disturbs me.  It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen the mob mentality with racist overtones.  In other words, if the group is big enough, it’s okay to let all our uglies hang out. 

McCain and Palin aren’t responsible for people’s behavior at their rallies.  What I do take issue with is their unwillingness to speak out against this behavior.  If I was speaking in a public event and racial epithets were being thrown, you can bet your sweet ass I’d demand for it to stop or have the offending party removed.  As the piece points out, silence in this instance is akin to a stamp of approval.