Gergen talks about the code for ‘uppity’
STOP THE PRESS!
There is such a thing as an honest Republican. David Gergen recognises that John McCain's campaign is playing dog whistle politics, sending racial signals which they are "scrupulous" about keeping "below the radar".
Gergen says that "as a native of the south" he recognises that anyone from the south would see that McCain's "The One" advert as saying that Obama is "uppity" and that "he ought to stay in his place."
I am currently reading Richard Reeves' biography of Nixon and R.N. was well aware when he said that he opposed busing that most Southerners took that to mean he supported segregation. McCain's campaign is working in a similar fashion, sending signals that play subtly on race.
Perhaps it's the Rovian team that McCain has grouped around him who are behind it, but it's a bloody disgrace that McCain is allowing this under any circumstances.
Good for Gergen for admitting the game that McCain is playing. Now the rest of the media need to follow suit and call this shit what it is. It's shameful that the media are pretending that McCain is not playing the race card. He's playing it. Big time. And from this exchange it appears that he's not as comfortable doing so as the people advising him to play it are.
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