Holding on to Our American Dream

Like nearly all Obama supporters, I watched the debate Tuesday night reveling in the knowledge that Obama won the night and that the pundits barely stopped short of declaring him the next president.

Considering the tremendous gathering of human energy in support of Obama, which no doubt will go down as a defining historical moment, why do I feel so worried? The economy? No - this worry is rooted in my ever deepening awareness of the countervailing trend, the rise of extreme reaction demonstrated by the McCain campaign, with Sarah Palin leading the charge.

Palin’s charges that Obama consorted with a terrorist were too flimsy to last, blasted out of the water by every fact checking organization of any worth. Already, there are multiple reports that she has dropped that bit from her repertoire.

But there was more to it than that. Douglass Daniel of the AP pointed to the racist subtext of her charges, how in post 9-11 America, “terrorist” conjures up the image of dark-skinned radical Muslims attacking America even while Palin's word choice skirts overt racism.

“Whether intended or not by the McCain campaign, portraying Obama as "not like us" is another potential appeal to racism. It suggests that the Hawaiian-born Christian is, at heart, un-American,” said Daniel.

Palin relishes her use of the anti-American branding of Obama – “This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America,” she said this week. Obama “is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.” At the McCain/Palin rallies, speakers routinely refer to Obama as Barack Hussein Obama, emphasizing his middle name as if it’s an epithet.

Palin panders to the mob, exhorting them to rise up in anger, smiling all the while, the sweet smile of sadism perhaps. At Florida rallies this week, Palin supporters responded with yells of “terrorist” and one called out “kill him”.

While Obama supporters are no doubt encouraged by the polls, our enthusiasm is tempered by this palpable reactionary threat.

As far as the GOP ticket is concerned, truth doesn’t really matter – they know that the negative imagery will stick in people’s minds, fact-checking notwithstanding. A new Mason Dixon poll, reported by the Miami Herald, indicates that the “smut sticking effect” does work, with Florida voters who have been subjected to free media coverage of Palin in Florida this past week, looking more favorably at McCain and more negatively at Obama than previously.

Among Obama supporters, no one considers this a done deal. Let’s say we do win – as national polls indicate we should. We then have to contend with the vote counting mechanism and the very real threat of another stolen election. Another conspiracy theory you say. Well, I hope so. But this lengthy interview of Stephen Spoonamore, a lifelong Republican and cyber security expert may give you pause. Have patience – the interview is long, but it raises a serious call for alarm.

This all too reasonable fear is matched by the tremendous promise of the movement that is taking place. How amazing to see a candidate simultaneously supported by disaffected youth, Israeli generals, Deepak Chopra and Warren Buffet, to name a few. Even the reactionary elements of the GOP who might enjoin the idea of rigging the election may have to pause in the face of the sheer power of the support base gathering together for Obama.

In celebration of this motion, here’s the new internet favorite, An American Prayer.

Breathe deeply and get ready to fight another day.