With Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford on "Today" declaring that, even after they heard and understood Obama’s quote in context, they still felt it was "unfortunate" and "disrespectful," a lightbulb went on in my brain.
The news media ... at least the NBC portion of it ... has been duly noting that McCain said the same thing about Hillary Clinton’s health plan, and that Obama was referring to McCain, not to Palin, and yet they continue to report on the "controversy." It’s tantamount to saying, "we know that what we’re reporting isn’t true, but it’s interesting, so here we go!"
The McCain campaign is attempting to lure or maneuver the Obama campaign into "disrespecting" a WHITE WOMAN.
They may have succeeded....
When McCain’s campaign manager declared that Palin would not do any interviews until they found a press member who would show "deference" and "respect" to her, a little alarm bell went off in my head.
I am currently working on a historical project dealing with the phenomenon of lynching in the early 20th century South. One thing that most lynchings had in common was that the black man who was lynched was accused of "disrespecting" or failing to show proper deference to a white woman.
Now, having laid a trap for him ... by pitting a "scary black man" against a "white woman," the McCainites will be on the lookout for moments when he can be seen to be threatening white children (thus the "sex ed" ad) or threatening, disrespecting, failing to show sufficient "deference" to a white woman.
By these actions and implications, they mean to evoke deep racial animosity and suspicion. Have no doubt: they know exactly what they are doing.
Does anyone agree or disagree with this theory? I am not sure what the Obama campaign can do about this other than what they are doing – and to be aware of the trap.