Although we are just about on the tail-end of this story about some of the nastiness at McCain rallies, some thoughts come to mind watching this video.
Let's leave aside for a moment the issue about the length of time that these people interviewed have known of either Obama or Palin, what I find breathtaking is the first part of the video.
The supporters who believe Obama is a "terrorist" or a "one-man-terrorist cell" reminds me of the appalling polling numbers which show that Americans - mostly the right-wing, who believed that Iraq had a hand in the 911 attack. Patently false of course. Yet, there remains a number of people (around 18% if I recall correctly) that continue to believe this nonsense.
A person's beliefs are not born in a vacuum. They exist because they have been convinced. We needn't look any further then in our own community for the seeds which sows these contemptuous beliefs. To paraphrase Sam Harris, a belief is like a lever. In this case of James David Adkisson, that lever was pulled, ending disastrously.
While McCain may not personally exist in the same world as his campaign, agitating right-wing pundits, or those who actively spread fear because of Barack's name (as this video attests), there appears that there are many that live in an entirely different world than many reasonable conservative or pro-McCain supporters do. (By the way, my name, Matthew, is as every bit as Semitic in its origin as Barack is.)
It's sad that xenophobia, sexism and racism - as well as homophobia, continue to be as seductive as they are in our society.
Policies and party aside, whatever the outcome of the election - as a society we still have much work to do.
Decide.
Which world do you want to live in?