Listening to NPR right now

[binro33]

There's a debate on whether McCain was racist when he told a black guy that he'd probably never heard of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before this crisis

Comments

[lostarcadia]

I agree, he wasn't being racist. Though as I was watching the debate, and McCain made that comment, I thought he might be accused of that later.

[binro33]

People are way too thin skinned.

[likethebeer]

I didn't think he was racist. He was being folksy.

In fact, given that an underlying republican line is that the financial crisis has been caused by Fannie & Freddie giving mortgages to minorities, it would have been racist/some Repub. signal, if McCain had begun by saying, "Well, I know you what Fannie & Freddie are...."

Additionally, I don't think saying, "That man," is racist, or condescending (that's some of the implication going around today). I heard it last night and, in my mind, I could see that McCain was using it as a speaking tool, something that would end out his point the way he wanted it to.

[binro33]

I heard the clip and I agree, he was trying to be folksy.

[binro33]

I've heard that from other sources. Implying that Obama helped cause this when he helped in a lawsuit to make these subprime mortgages equally available to minorities.

or you can go w/the longer view

[likethebeer]

Some Republicans (such as mda's mother) blame Carter. Somehow he did something that made it easier for minorities to get mortgages.

This argument is so silly it gives me a headache.

[jonthedull]

I don't think he was being racist. I thought he was trying to connect with people. I think the comment to the guy sayign that he probably never heard of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac was slightly condescending, but probably not intentional. I think McCain was trying to be funny when he said "that guy" and pointed.

[binro33]

Likethebeer said it well. He was just trying to be folksy.

[drunk_bohemian]

I want to puke from the whole "folksy" crap. Why are people so afraid of intellectuals? Didn't anyone learn their lesson from the "I'm voting for Bush: he's the kind of guy you can sit down and have a beer with"?

[binro33]

I've heard Palin and even some Republican talking heads use the word "intellectual" as a pejorative.

Bush make a virtue out of being stupid and if being stupid is good, then it follows that being smart is bad.