Ideas Have Consequences

In her blog "The Obama Witch Project: RAAAAAAAACISM!" Michelle Malkin defends the racially charged attacks on Sen. Barack Obama by the McCain/Palin Camp. Malkin, occasional co-host of the O'Reilly Factor and the author of "In Defense of Internment: The Case for 'Racial Profiling' in WWII and the War on Terror" and other right wing books, tries to make the case that the McCain/Palin Camp isn't being racist, they are just painting Obama as the "outsider" he really is. And the democrats are "a parade of... witch hunters " who see racism where really there is nothing more than a logical argument and/or question. Malkin's argument is especially troubling because none of her information can be challenged factually, but her refusal to acknowledge the serious violent consequences of mentioning Hussein (Obama's middle name) and "terrorist" in the same sentence, has no doubt contributed to the fervored pitch of hatred directed towards Obama. Not to mention countless other statements made by or on behalf of McCain campaign with racial undertones.
Instead of empathizing with certain feelings critical of this approach and maybe even making an effort to understand them, Malkin explains why John McCain should be able to address Sen. Obama as "that one." She even cracked a joke saying "[n]ext time just call [Obama] 'the one'." I must say in John McCain's defense he is really old, he probably just forgot that slavery was abolished and all human beings (yes John including a black man who is beating you in the race for the presidency) deserve respect. This of course is a joke but it should never be acceptable in the political arena to address your opponents as "that one." Even if it wasn't his intent to make a racially charged comment, as a senator of 26 years, he should understand how this could be perceived by others. McCain is already under scrutiny for his many votes against making MLK day a national holiday, therefore one would think he would be cautious about how he adresses an African American man.
Malkin also mentioned that members of the liberal media hinted that Sara Palin was eerily reminiscent of a klansman in her all white suit during a speech. Now, although I have found no proof that this statement was made I don't know who Malkin considers the liberal media. It might be some blogger like you or me. There are plenty of radicals on the left who might compare Sara Palin, a gun toting, moose hunting, tongues speaking, anti-abortion supporting woman dressed in all white to a klansman.
My main problem with Malkin's argument which is obviously aimed at the conservative base of the Republican Party is this: I believe that it is the oppressed (not the oppressors) who get to name the oppression. What I mean is this. Yes, maybe the McCain/Palin tactics aren't intended to be racially charged but the refusal to acknowledge how others, especially those who have been oppressed and singled out in the past, will respond to these types of attacks is not only irresponsible but it can have far reaching effects (hopefully the losing of the election for them). The fact that John McCain is now defending Barack Obama against attacks from his own (McCain's) supporters invalidates Malkin's entire argument and shows that ideas
(especially bad ones) have consequences.