[rohms3]

No words for this one...

And yes, I know this program was in place before the Obama administration.

[BKsBimmer]

If anyone does not know what is meant by "dog whistle" politics here is a blatant example of it.

Republicans are masters at it and employ it often just as you see here.

The intent of this video is to suggest that all or most Obama supporters are uneducated unemployed minorities on public assistance.

Dog whistle politics attempts to be effective by suggesting and/or reinforcing negative stereotypes in the minds of viewers or listeners that are often racist and xenophobic.

Bravo to the OP. You've learned well. You must be proud of yourself

[Fox128i]

Originally Posted by smohr33

The funny thing is you're both so quick to turn this into a "republicans are often racist and stereotype". I'm not a republican.

Neither am I. With that said, they (Republicans) certainly don't own the rights to racism either. Plenty of folks with a D on their voter registration card who would qualify as racist in one way shape or another. I've seen it firsthand. Bigoted and homophobic come to mind as well, but I digress.

[MiddleAgedAl]

Fact: Obama didnt create the free phone program, but despite that, he certainly appears to be enjoying full and exclusive credit for it here. They seem to be basing their support on 1 issue, and their understanding of that is in fact backwards. Stating that is racist?

If you vote for Obama because you like something he actually did, fair enough. But, if you vote for him because of something he didnt even do, man, that just casts the entire system in an unfavorable light. Would you Democrats be thrilled to hear that someone and their friends were vigorously campaigning for Mitt because they really liked the way Romney worked tirelessly to repeal Dont ask, dont tell? Probably not.

Granted, it's not the most flattering portrayal of people in a certain socioethnic group. Having said that, there does not appear to be any elaborate post-production editing or anything going on here, where the director uses technology to twist their words around in a deliberate attempt to mislead. Nor is it clear to me this whole thing was the result of some elaborate ruse set up to lure folks into a controlled and contrived situation, cleverly calculated to make them behave differently than they would normally, like Candid Camera, or What Would You Do? or some show like that. If that were the case, then yes I'd agree that it's unfair and wrong.

This seems to be an unvarnished, candid portrayal of these people's honest, unscripted position on a certain issue. The reporter encountered these people on a street, already acting of their own volition. Not everything is the result of cold, calculating racism.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by smohr33

The funny thing is you're both so quick to turn this into a "republicans are often racist and stereotype". I'm not a republican.

I never said you were a republican. I have no idea what your political affiliation is. I simply said this is an example of dog whistle politics which is often employed by republicans and I stand by that. And I do think it's despicable and divisive no matter what your political affiliation is.

By the way what were you hoping to accomplish by posting the video?

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by MiddleAgedAl

This seems to be an unvarnished, candid portrayal of these people's honest, unscripted position on a certain issue. The reporter encountered these people on a street, already acting of their own volition. Not everything is the result of cold, calculating racism.

It may seem to be unvarnished, and candid but you really don't know that do you? It could easily have been staged. Wouldn't be the first time for such a thing. Andrew Breitbart comes to mind.

I only saw one person speaking so I'm curious why you might assume you know what "these people's" position is?

... See how dog whistle politics works? You've already made a lot of assumptions and you think you know what a lot of people are thinking when you've never heard them speak.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by Fox128i

Neither am I. With that said, they (Republicans) certainly don't own the rights to racism either. Plenty of folks with a D on their voter registration card who would qualify as racist in one way shape or another. I've seen it firsthand. Bigoted and homophobic come to mind as well, but I digress.

Name one.

[Fox128i]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

Name one.

Name who? A Democrat who is a racist, bigot, or homophobe? I can name you several, doubt you know them though.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by Fox128i

Name who? A Democrat who is a racist, bigot, or homophobe? I can name you several, doubt you know them though.

Oh, okay. I can name you several republicans who you would know who are all 3.

[Fox128i]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

Oh, okay. I can name you several republicans who you would know who are all 3.

Did you assume I meant someone on the national level? Nope, I'm talking about the local yokels.

[MiddleAgedAl]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

It may seem to be unvarnished, and candid but you really don't know that do you? It could easily have been staged. Wouldn't be the first time for such a thing. Andrew Breitbart comes to mind.

I only saw one person speaking so I'm curious why you might assume you know what "these people's" position is?

... See how dog whistle politics works? You've already made a lot of assumptions and you think you know what a lot of people are thinking when you've never heard them speak.

True enough, it COULD be staged. I dont know for sure, and neither do you.

If you dont want me making assumptions about what you are thinking, then please tell me.

I'm curious, I take it you do you believe this video is staged then ?

The premise that it's an elaborate setup, cruelly calculated to malign a group of people is the more likely or plausible explanation in your mind, than the possibility that there could actually be people in the country who really act this way, and this is simply an unvarnished portrait of them ?

[MiddleAgedAl]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

Name one.

If you want someone who is famous enough that you could google them, then Rev. Jeremiah Wright is the first name that pops into my head.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by MiddleAgedAl

True enough, it COULD be staged. I dont know for sure, and neither do you.

If you dont want me making assumptions about what you are thinking, then please tell me.

I'm curious, I take it you do you believe this video is staged then ?

The premise that it's an elaborate setup, cruelly calculated to malign a group of people is the more likely or plausible explanation in your mind, than the possibility that there could actually be people in the country who really act this way, and this is simply an unvarnished portrait of them ?

You're now making the assumption that I care about what you think about what I think. I don't. I was simply pointing out how effective dog whistle politics can be by bringing to your attention the assumptions you made after viewing the video.

The video may or may not be staged but that is not the point. The point is that the intent of the video is to lead you to have certain thoughts and make certain assumptions about the person or people being shown and you obviously did have those thoughts and you did make those assumptions. So it worked.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by MiddleAgedAl

If you want someone who is famous enough that you could google them, then Rev. Jeremiah Wright is the first name that pops into my head.

How do you know he's a Democrat? Another assumption, perhaps?

[mspeasl]

Al Sharpton
Jesse Jackson
Louis Farrakhan
past Mayor of DC
Past Mayor of New Orleans
Etc.

To name a few more well known than others

[MiddleAgedAl]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

How do you know he's a Democrat? Another assumption, perhaps?

Bishop McKenzie, who actually spoke at the Democratic National Convention, also spoke at Wright's retirement. Speaking at the DNC is a pretty big hint and a half that someone is a democrat, obviously. If I was planning a retirement bash for someone, I sure as hell wouldnt get a speaker who embraces an opposite political view of the person being celebrated.

So, yes, it is a bit of an assumption, but it's hardly a wild, irrational guess.

[MiddleAgedAl]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

I try not to make assumptions about what other people might know or not know. I wait for them to show me. So far he hasn't shown that he has that understanding.

Oh, I get how the double standard works now. Sorry, I'm a bit slow.

Asking the question about naming a racist democrat is fine, and answering that question is fine, but only if the person doing the answering is black. Yeah, that doesnt sound racist at all..

[MiddleAgedAl]

Very enlightening comments lately. Now I'm starting to really grasp the true genesis for the strong Obama support exhibited by certain people here.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by mspeasl

Al Sharpton
Jesse Jackson
Louis Farrakhan
past Mayor of DC
Past Mayor of New Orleans
Etc.

To name a few more well known than others

The only thing the people you mention have in common is that they are black. Of those you have only named 2 known Democrats and I don't agree they are racist. People who you can't actually name don't count. After all the point was to name Democrats who are bigots.

Tell me why you think Al Sharpton is a bigot.

Tell me why you think Jesse Jackson is a bigot.

I do think Louis Farrakhan is a bigot but I have no evidence he is a Democrat.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by MiddleAgedAl

Oh, I get how the double standard works now. Sorry, I'm a bit slow.

Asking the question about naming a racist democrat is fine, and answering that question is fine, but only if the person doing the answering is black. Yeah, that doesnt sound racist at all..

Then obviously you don't get it at all my friend. You are making another assumption.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by MiddleAgedAl

Bishop McKenzie, who actually spoke at the Democratic National Convention, also spoke at Wright's retirement. Speaking at the DNC is a pretty big hint and a half that someone is a democrat, obviously. If I was planning a retirement bash for someone, I sure as hell wouldnt get a speaker who embraces an opposite political view of the person being celebrated.

So, yes, it is a bit of an assumption, but it's hardly a wild, irrational guess.

You admit you made an assumption. That's progress!

[mspeasl]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

The only thing the people you mention have in common is that they are black. Of those you have only named 2 known Democrats and I don't agree they are racist. People who you can't actually name don't count. After all the point was to name Democrats who are bigots.

Tell me why you think Al Sharpton is a bigot.

Tell me why you think Jesse Jackson is a bigot.

I do think Louis Farrakhan is a bigot but I have no evidence he is a Democrat.

Marion Barry - DC - Dem
Ray Nagin - New Orleans - Dem

Well lets see? Guess Jesse would like us to forget New York?
And Al, come on you need examples?