Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 02:12:55 PM EDT
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That is the headline of a release from the Shulman campaign containing this passage:Friday, "a woman told McCain: "I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab."
Rather than express the view that there would be nothing wrong if Obama was Arab - or correcting the misperception that he is Arab, which sadly does benefit McCain politically - McCain said, "No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man...[a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about."
"We need leadership in the best tradition of America, leadership that embraces our diversity and recognizes that we cannot idly stand by and hope to benefit from bigotry," said Dennis Shulman, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District. "Senator McCain needs to forcefully speak out against those of his supporters who seek political gain by appealing to hate and making Barack Obama appear to be un-American. I believe that Senator McCain needs to explain his behavior to allies like Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire, who also happens to be Arab American. When elected, I will provide this district and my country with the kind of ethical leadership we need, which emphatically includes a willingness to speak out against bigotry." The McCain campaign has tried to walk a fine line and failed miserably. It's amazing that 3 weeks out, they now have to "clear up the confusion" and tell their supporters he is actually a citizen. They are reaping the results of the fears they have stoked. |
| Jason Springer :: Rabbi Shulman criticizes McCain for condoning bigotry |
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