Are Obama supporters exercising double-standards?

Question

I've been watching both Democratic and Republican conventions and eagerly look forward to the debates. I am not one to rush to take sides and believe both parties should have equal airtime, regardless of the integrity of a politician's promises.

I have noticed many glaring double-standards being practiced during the two. For example, many African-Americans support Obama purely on race alone, yet if that stance were to be adopted by White-Americans, it would immediately be labeled white supremacist. As evidence, pundits on CNN and other stations have brought up Hermann Goring (a n**i) when observing the large white turnout at the Republican National Convention. I have heard pundits saying that this election is all about getting a black person into office. If the same were to be said about a white candidate, people would surely protest.

Michael Moore said something to the effect of "Does McCain think just by picking a woman, the Republicans will win over women's votes? How stupid does he think women are?" But at the same time, isn't that exactly why there are so many African American votes for Obama?

The attacks and constant scrutiny on the private life of Sarah Pallin's 17 yr old daughter is downright vicious (Despite Obama's admirable and gracious call to leave this issue out of the campaign). But supporters of the opposing party would immediately cry foul when anyone were to constantly harp on Obama's half brother living in a hut in Nairobi.

Democrats pride themselves in equal treatment of Americans regardless of race, creed, physique, and class. But then many of them mount an all-out offensive on the McCains, their wealth, their old age, and take relentless and offensive jabs at Cindy McCain's looks.

I'm a registered democrat, and it offends and embarrasses my sense of fair play and good manners. Is this hypocrisy or is it politics as usual?

And if it is politics as usual, then why do Obama supporters pride themselves in being about "change?"

Answer 1

Duplicity is the First Commandment of liberalism.

Answer 2

I think you will not get a lot of answers that are even civil, much less responsive to your query.  I will tell you this, though:  I completely agree with you.  Liberals with puffed out feathers, squawking that Sarah Palin should "stay home and take care of the babies" is a ridiculous sight.  If taking care of young children is a criteria for staying home, then Obama should high-tail it back to Chicago and tuck in his children.  Surely, these liberals don't mean it is only a WOMAN's place to do that?

Whatever, the fact is you're right.  It is offensive and embarrassing.  And it was the virulent and often racist attack upon Hillary Clinton's femininity that began to really form cracks in my faith in the Democratic party.

See, when I was growing up in a family of hard core Democrats, people we knew always treated women with respect.  You might not like them, you might not support them, you might want nothing to do with them, but you treated them with respect.

Calling Clinton a "white 'ho" like so many on this site did, was certainly not necessary in a debate about political differences.

Neither has been calling Palin's husband a child molester, calling her daughter a s**t, calling HER a s**t, etc.

Attacks upon Obama's children have so far questioned their parentage.  I'm sure there is more and worse on the horizon.  The younger voters don't seem to realize that seeing who can hurl the worst insults has nothing at all to do with a political election.  Do they think anyone is convinced to vote their way because of their insults upon the opposing candidate?  If anything, it backfires.  

Most of these people have never progressed beyond the jr. high school level of big talk from big mouths, waiting for the buses to run.

No, this isn't politics as usual.  Politics is usually conducted by adults.  These are ruthless, feckless children playing at being adults.  I don't care if some of them are in their thirties, NONE of them have learned to be adult.

I, too, am a registered Democrat.  I am voting for John McCain this election.

Answer 3

Your question is based on the assumption that Obama's candidacy is mere tokenism, I'm sorry but it's not.

He has run a fantastic campaign and has been tested repeatedly by the media, the McCain camp, and the Clinton camp, and has passed all those tests to remain leading in the polls to this day. He has demonstrated fortitude, campaign ethics, and fantastic leadership ability to unite people for a common purpose. In short he deserves to be where he is today.

Palin on the other hand, IS tokenism. She was plucked right out of her governorship in Alaska to pander to women voters (whom I must say Repugs must think are morons) and to right wing freaks. She's the epitome of tokenism.

Answer 4

No, is just a Republican"campaign"

Answer 5

I am democrat,just smart politics,nothing to do with stand red.you republican twist words just like bush.blood for oil people.

Answer 6

"support Obama purely on race alone"

More Republicon BS.

Answer 7

anytime  you  have  different  races  there  is  always  a  double  standard

Answer 8

Obama supporters did everything they could to steal the nomination and I am sure that they will do anything it takes to win the election. The way they stormed caucus states with so much money when Hillary had none shows they will stop at nothing to get this nothing of a candidate elected.

Answer 9

Interesting your not upset about Obama being attacked because he is an elitist, a muslim, non-patriotic, a muslim plant to overthrow the government, is married to an angry black woman, etc., etc., etc.  Yes, it's hypocrisy - something the Republicans are experts at.  Registered Democrat my ***.

Answer 10

I relate to what you are saying, but most people are going to tell you that both parties exercise double-standards. I'm a registered Republican, and some of the tactics of both sides offend and embarrass me.

I'm embarrassed that I voted for GW. He took away veteran medical benefits because they hadn't been using them. Many veterans who became civilians and had medical insurance through their new work did not use the VA benefits they could have used. Now that they are retired, they are finding that GW took them away from them so that he could balance his budget. McCain supported GW on that issue. Is this hypocrisy or is it politics as usual?  

Answer 11

Good post.  I'm with your 1st paragraph 100%, and have noticed some of the same hypocrisy you have.

The right can't claim only the Democrats are hypocritical though.  I'm sure many of the people claiming "foul" over the Palin attacks gleefully read or forwarded some of the unfounded Obama slander I've seen.

Both campaigns are grossly misrepresenting the other's comments and positions in commercials.  factcheck.org has some good articles on that.

Hopefully the debates will be more substantive than the schleck we're hearing now.

Answer 12

You can't support voting for someone who is white because of his skin to someone voting for a Black candidate because of his skin.   Why?  Because voting for a black man is a vote against the the awful history of racism in this country.  It is a vote to move forward.   White people have been the president of this country since the founding, and those white people lived in a whitehouse built by slaves.  By voting for a white man based only on his skin color you are not making a statement about the status quo.  You are merely saying you think white people are better, and that is racist.

People aren't voting Obama just because he is black.  They are voting for him because they like him.  In my opinion the fact that he is Black is a bonus.

Answer 13

The first thing that makes your argument weak is the fact that you ASSUME that just because Obama is black then most of the supporters who are of the same race must be voting for him purely for that reason. Eeh! Wrong! I was a Hilary supporter until she started basing her campaign on personal attacks instead of the issues at hand. Yet, you have the nerve to call someone else a hypocrite when none of your "facts" are based on anything solid. When you can provide some actual statistics to back that up instead of appropriated guesses then please feel free to try again. With that being said, according to your logic it could be said that a lot of people are voting AGAINST Obama because he's black. Would you stand behind that assumption because it's just like the one you stated in your "question". Talk about hypocrisy.

Now why is it that when Al Gore was running for president the Republicans were harping on his military history and saying that he was using his Purple Heart Medal as a way to draw in sympathy votes. Yet, for McCain him being a prisoner of war makes him the most noble of the two. No one brings up the fact that his wife at the time stood by him for those five years and when he was finally set free he dumped her for his current wife. Real noble person that is.

I also notice that none of the Republicans bring up the fact that when McCain was asked how many homes he owns, he couldn't even come up with a valid answer. The reporter was told to check with his staff and his campaign said that he owns "at least" four. Yet, this is the same man that took a low blow at Obama calling him an elitist and a celebrity. Yes, I'm sure he would be able to relate to the failing economy and what the average middle and lower class American citizen goes through on a daily basis. That ad in itself was an embarrassment to the Republican party. That's why YOU didn't bring it up and that's why other Republicans act like it never happened to begin with.

This is one the main thing that truly bothers me about Republicans. I have no problem admitting that there are faults within the Democratic party. Republicans on the other hand, think that they're perfect. If a Republican said it or did it, it must be right. When scandal breaks out in their party, they try to quietly disregard it but the minute the same happens in the Democratic camp they're all over it. Talk about hypocrites.

Of course, I can't generalize and say that ALL Republicans are this way but just from on the ones on yahoo answers alone, it's apparent that they are the more arrogant and self-righteous party. I hardly come to this section for the fact that as a Democrat I feel as if I'm always on the defensive. Why? because Republicans are always spouting off about the "Liberals" and how everything is their fault.

If you're a registered Democrat, I don't think we would feel any loss with you becoming a Republican. Seeing as if you're doing as most of the Republicans I know and seeing only faults with one side then that is perhaps the party that is better suited to your needs.

Answer 14

You have made some excellent points. Can't wait to see how the democrats respond to this.  I'm guessing most won't....not easy to accept being hypocritical.

You did of course forget to mention all the hate and nastiness that comes from their side whenever they're pressed about an issue. Instead of answering a question, they insult the person asking.  Peace and love and equality for all? Nope...just the people that agree with THEM.  They're quick to scream that people for McCain are "racist" but I haven't heard one of them defend John McCain for Godforbid being over 70 and running for President. Age discrimination is a crime as much as racism is in my opinion.

Answer 15

The Change is a change of standards. Oh well what can be expected from the Harvard elite!

Answer 16

The more things change, ... yadda yadda yadda