a political post

Hi everyone,

I'm not given to posting on politics, not because I don't feel strongly about issues but because (in part) this blog is more personal and because I don't feel that I'm exceptionally well informed. However, I need to express a feeling and opinion here.

I'm very angry about John McCain's tactics in the present campaign. I'm an Obama supporter, so naturally I'm inclined to look more critically at McCain. However, in the past I have admired McCain for his departure from Republican positions when his conscience dictated such. For instance, his criticism of the current administration's employment of torture (which in fact even many conservatives, some within the administration, disagreed with) was commendable. (By the way, the Bush administration's degradation of our government through its conduct should just appall Repblicans and Democrats alike.) However, his attacks on Obama have been both offensive and plainly dishonest.

All one needs is to look at the recent ad attacking Obama's celebrity status (the one in which Obama is compared to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton). It's hard to count just how many things are offensive about this ad. First, it clearly is intended to stoke fears of "black power" through the soundtrack's "Obama" chants. That is, we're asked to fear that Obama will lead an irrational mob of un-Americans into an assault on our country's putatively pure values and practices. Second, that same chanting soundtrack is clearly meant to evoke comparisons of Obama to fascist dictators. Third, comparing Obama to Spears and Hilton is not only silly (a more legitimate critique might compare him to charasmatic political figures or some other kind of figure) but is deeply sexist. What is implied here is that Obama is shallow and without substance -- like these women are supposed to be. The ad is clearly meant to feminize Obama and tag him with sexist stereotypes (lack of depth and practical ability) usually attached to women in the dominant misogynist culture in which we still live.

To top it all off, McCain's ad claims that Obama said he would tax electricity -- a simple, out and out lie.

Speaking of lies, I keep hearing on the news that many people STILL think Obama is Muslim and fear his election for that reason. First, it's sad that Muslim faith could be cited as a reason not to vote for a candidate. Isn't that simply overt religious prejudice? Second, as anyone with an IQ above 3 who has payed more than 1.1 second of attention must surely have discovered several times over by now, Obama is NOT a Muslim. He's a Christian (as if that should make a difference).

I don't think this post will accomplish anything. Obviously political discourse is complex and to ask for total honesty from any politician unrealistic. However, McCain's lies and misogynistic, racist advertising tactics are disappointing, to say the least. People should vote their convictions and make up their own minds. I don't like telling people how to vote. But in my utoptian vision of our public sphere, such lies would be unthinkable, in part because voters/viewers/listeners could simply see through them.

Thanks for listening...