He Must Be Un-American....He's Black, His Dad Was a Foreigner and His Middle Name's Hussein

For months, Obama we have subtly and not-so-subtly been beaten over the head with the theme that Obama just isn't "American enough" to be President. This tactic reeks of racism from days gone by and inherent fears and hatred of the unknown "other." It's a sad commentary on America that this has worked with some people.

But it's more than just a tactic. It's a Rovian like strategy that plays on the fear of the different. This fear popped up more than ever after 9/11 and although it's died down in a lot of major ways, it's been pervasive in our foreign and domestic policy ever since. For those who say it hasn't, I need only direct you to the detainees at Gitmo to prove my point.

It still amazes me, I guess because I've yet to become totally cynical, that this strategy works. It does work, though, and it works well. Obama has been labeled a Muslim as if that were a bad thing--as if his religion detered him from doing a good job as president. Obama's been labeled an elite--as if knowing the difference between nuclear and nucular is a bad thing. Obama's been labeled too flashy even though he's probably one of the least flashiest people I can recall. Underneath all of these comments, lies a sickening truth...America is racist.

So the news today that McCain is trying harder than ever to link the word "terrorist" to Obama's campaign is not surprising. In fact, it's sadly reassuring that McCain is going this far because it shows he's strugling badly. Nevertheless, the fact is that certain segments of White America falls for these divisive tactics more often than not.

How does this relate to foreign policy? Well, if America is inherently racist, and we elect a president who plays on those ingrained fears, how does it stand a chance of actually discussing the issues with countries like Iran and North Korea? We don't. That's why McCain won't discuss whether he'll talk to Iranian officials--because he won't. Diplomacy is not a characteristic of a McCain Administration. And if we recall, that's how we got into this quagmire of never-ending wars in the first place.

McCain claims to speak softly and carry a big stick, but if the words and tactics you are using speak louder than words, it makes no difference what you say.

And that, my friends, is just another reason not to vote for McCain.