Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) delivered a gracious, well-versed concession speech after losing to now President-elect Barack Obama Tuesday evening. McCain acknowledged the difficulties currently facing the country and pledged his support to President Obama. But, when he asked the crowd to offer their support to the new President, McCain was met with loud boos and very negative remarks. In contrast, when Obama admitted that John McCain was a formidable opponent during the entire campaign, the huge crowd in Chicago applauded to show their respect.
That brings me to my point: that crowd in Phoenix to me showed a total lack of respect to the new President-elect of the United States. They have had things their way for the past eight years and they anticipate sweeping changes that may impact their lives for what they think will be for the worse. Some of them are still playing on all the ignorant rhetoric perpetrated by the radical right-wing media (there is another eight-letter word for "rhetoric" I wanted to use but I will keep the blog as vulgar free as possible). And, of course, you have those who just don't like the idea of a non-white male President.
Without question, all this negativity from the McCain-Palin supporters is absolutely deplorable and condemnable. However, let me make this clear: Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) did not directly sow any seeds of hatred and division during this campaign. (This is where I disagree with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).) They did not create the climate that caused this manifestation of negativity and borderline racism from their supporters. I blame the radical right wing radio talk shows and biased cable TV news shows that could not find legitimate flaws in President-elect Obama's political history and chose instead to focus on his character flaws and questionable associations. Seeing so-called "Americans" react this way to the election of the first African-American man as President of the United States tells me that we have a long way to go before we totally heal the wounds of racial division in this country.
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