Whether you think this ports issue, and the subsequent outcry, is racist or not...the reality is that this is the PERCEPTION. Likely, the first thought of many Americans was "We're selling off our ports to a bunch of ragheads???" ( Pejorative courtesy of Ann Coulter) In Bush world, perception is reality. Like it or not, the corporate constituency chose to make a business deal without regard for the people that put them in power.
I'm starting to wonder if the corporate Republican oligarchy may soon regret hanging their hats with the deep-rooted racist voters in this country. This ports deal may be the catylist for a deep divide in the Republican Party.
The Rethugs aren't going to like it but Democrats are likely going to split off the racists from the corporates in 2006. Picture, if you will, an ad that looks something like this:
Open with a picture of stevedores and longshoreman, hard-working, gritty men working hard for a buck. A voiceover would go something like this...."As our economy falters, the Republican majority outsourced the American job of port security to a foreign country". Pan the shot do a street shot of the UAE and its citizens walking about in dishdash and abaya. End the ad with that lame Democratic tagline "Together, we can do better". (Hey, we're stuck with it for now).
An ad like this raises the ire of the racist without actually making a racist comment and at the same time ticks off the voter who is tired of seeing our country and it's infrastructure sold off to the highest foreign bidder.
The literal aspects of port security are irrelevant. I'm well aware that American workers will still be staffing our ports. It's the imagery that matters here, it's pulling the emotional heartstrings. So go ahead Rethugs, lash yourselves to George Bush. Then run yourselves right off a cliff. Buh-bye.