McCain Ad Shows Racism Remains Part Of America

August 20, 2008

Kathleen Parker's Aug. 11 column correctly analyzes the racism that lives in America as illustrated by McCain's campaign ad showing Barack Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Parker writes, "Apparently, a black male cannot be viewed in the same frame with white females without a suggestion of racist undertones. ... Their (Hilton and Spears) value as examples of celebrity is overshadowed by their sexual symbolism. ... The first association ... might well be celebrity, but the second connection is surely sex. Despite racial progress in this country, the black man/white woman sexual taboo still burbles just beneath the surface of America's unconscious mind — and easily roils to the top ... where racism is easily tapped."

The Statesman Journal appears to adopt Parker's analysis and to forward racism in the cartoon accompanying Parker's column. It depicts Obama with his arm on Paris Hilton's back, his eyes ogling her, his lips exaggeratedly thick and his forehead very low. Hilton's comment, a triple-header, seems vacuous, sexual and implies lack of sophistication, as she compliments him as being "totally hot in his suit."

How hypocritical of McCain, who uses the race card big time, to accuse Obama of it when Obama merely joked about not looking like the man on the dollar bill.