Seen over the weekend at a vendor’s table at the Republican state convention in Texas: A button with the question, “If Obama is president … will we still call it The White House?”
Another reportedly said, “Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Deportation.”
Lovely stuff, that.
Not surprisingly, as word is getting around many are fanning the flames of outrage and implying that this somehow proves that Republicans are racists.
- Brad Friedman: “Who says Republicans don’t have class?” (This, in a post titled, “If You Lose the White House Do the Rest of Us Have to Allow you to Stay in our Country?”)
- John Aravosis: “At what point do we hold John McCain responsible for fraternizing with racists? You don’t see John McCain ever saying that he’s no longer going to meet with, fundraise with, any state parties that promote or tolerate racism (like the folks in NC and TN).”
- Dr. Slammy: “Good, good. But don’t hold back. Say it. You know you want to. Call Obama that name, the one that begins with “n” – you know, the one you only use when you know you’re around others of your kind.”
- Alex Koppelman: “It seems not everyone in the Republican Party is sticking to the message and helping to portray the party as modern and, well, not racist.”
- Marc Ambinder: “It’s 2008.”
So it is. Is there still racism in America? You betcha. Is it going to play some role in an election featuring the first black man with a legitimate chance to be president? No doubt.
But let’s not pretend that one yahoo selling some buttons is emblematic of much of anything. One doubts that GOP officials screen each and every item sold at vendor booths for good taste. One suspects a similar trip to Democratic conventions, let alone state conventions, would find plenty of tasteless buttons and bumper stuckers for sale.
That’s the price of free expression.
via memeorandum
