What's racist? An election-day case study

Published Nov 04 2008, 01:45 PM by Adam Reilly

I have a running argument with a friend about which anti-Obama attacks are racist. For example, I thought the McCain camp's Obama-disrespects-Palin ad played on toxic racist sentiments involving black men and white women. My friend didn't see it.

So I'd be interested to hear what readers think of Fox News's coverage of pro-Obama excitement in Kenya, his father's country of birth. A story headlined "Kenyans Pray for Obama Win, Plan Parties" is currently the top item in FoxNews.com's "Latest News" section. Here's the story's lede:

KISUMU, Kenya -- Believers across Kenya are praying for Barack Obama -- literally. They're making sacrificial offerings to help ensure his victory in a nation where the Illinois senator is considered a native son.

And here's the first image from the accompanying photo slideshow. FYI, the caption is, "Men and women dance and sing the praises of a sacrificial rock shrine called Kit Mikayi ("First Wife") 20 miles from Kisumu, Kenya. A dozen worshippers have come to make sacrifices for Barack Obama at the shrine, its attendant said":

In fairness, I should note that CNN has its own story on pro-Obama excitment in Kenya. But if you watch it, you'll see that it's heavy on images of Kenyans crowding around newspaper articles on Obama's candidacy, and includes zero (0) references to sacrificial rites.

This difference--plus the fact that Fox News is currently hyping a story (relayed from a Republican poll watcher) on Black Panthers (allegedly) intimidating voters in Philadelphia, and the fact that Fox was all over that Obama-hate-crime-hoax a few weeks back--makes me inclined to say there's a whiff of racism here. But maybe I'm being too harsh.

Thoughts, readers?

Filed Under: Barack Obama, John McCain, race, Election08, CNN

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3 Comments

Michael Source said:

"hyping a story... allegedly intimidating..."

Allegedly, the video, allegedly posted on what is allegedly Youtube, shows an alleged man allegedly saying he is allegedly security and allegedly brandishing what is allegedly a knightstick

Allegedly, two alleged police officers removed this alleged man and allegedly arrested him.

November 4, 2008 2:34 PM
Adam Reilly said:

Michael, two points:

1. Any thoughts on the Kenya coverage?

2. I haven't seen the YouTube video you're referring to, but the following is from Fox News's write-up (all emphases added):

In Philadelphia, FOX News' Rick Leventhal RECEIVED A REPORT from Republican poll watcher Chris Hill that two Black Panthers had stationed themselves at the door to a polling station and were intimidating voters. One held a nightstick, HILL SAID.

HILL TOLD FOX NEWS that he went to talk to the men, and they told him white power didn't rule there.

The man REPORTEDLY carrying a nightstick was escorted away from the polling station by police. Outside, FOX News found another Black Panther who said he was a certified observer. Police asked him and the FOX News crew to leave the polling station.

November 4, 2008 2:49 PM
Doug Shugarts said:

I find all of the Reverend Wright ads to be blatantly racist.

I can think of no Catholic politican who's been smeared because of his/her membership in a church that enabled priests in its charge to molest children.

I know of no evangelical politican who has been forced to answer for the comments made by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell immediately after 9/11.

If Wright and his congregation were mainstream (read: white), as most Catholic and evangelical churches are perceived to be, then Obama's religious history never would have been an issue.

November 4, 2008 3:06 PM

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What's racist? An election-day case study

3 Comments

Michael Source said:

Adam Reilly said:

Doug Shugarts said:

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