I agree that the moment isn't unambiguous in the same way that Powell's critique of islamophobia was (within a nationalist context), but what surprised me was the fact that he didn't feel the need to go into liberal anti-communist defense mode, which probably would have been the strategy even four years ago. I think its absence is notable, although it is implicit to an extent in the rhetoric... robert wood
> sure. but i don't think that what is going away is the idea that socialist
> are scary. all they did was laugh at the idea that anything related to
> obama or the dems are socialist. the socialists are scary meme is more
> intact than it every was.
>
> B, when Colin Powell endorses obama he took McCain to task for saying "No,
> he's not a muslim. He's a good family man...."
>
> McCain said that the right answer was, "So what if he is?"
>
> Big difference between so what if I am a socialist or so what if he is a
> socialist (and then having a discussion about that) and saying, "Oh lord
> no! Obama is just a nice guy who shares his sandwich and thinks we should
> all share sandwiches. And we all know that's not scary socialism! How
> funny you people are to think he's a scary socialist. Castro is a scary
> socialist!"
>
>
>> I agree, and I think that Obama's response has been notable. He briefly
>> mocked it with peanut butter sandwich comment, and then moved on. I
>> think
>> that this may say more about certain cold war tropes losing rhetorical
>> power than it says about Obama. If that is the case, then there might
>> be
>> more possibilities in the future with organizing. robert wood
>>
>>> But doesn't the scary "socialists are bad" meme seem to be falling
>>> flat?
>>> It does to me.
>>> While the Dems have tried to distance themselves from the socialist
>>> tag,
>>> in this red state anyway, the socialist scare has no traction that I
>>> can
>>> see so it's quite unnecessary.
>>> The huge Wall Street pay-off really has helped to tamp down the fear of
>>> socialism in my opinion.
>>>
>>> John Thornton
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> shag wrote:
>>>> actually, the sucky thing about this incident is that, typical of
>>>> dems,
>>>> everyone did their best to distance themselves from being a socialist
>>>> therefore reinforcing the use of red-baiting and condoning the idea
>>>> that
>>>> no one in their right mind would want to be or be associated with
>>>> socialists.
>>>>
>>>> in re this being same old same old (discussed on another thread and
>>>> nothing charles responded to). i don't think this is like other years.
>>>> the
>>>> scary socialist meme may have been embraced by fringies years before,
>>>> but
>>>> this year, with a supposed moderate republican running, we have the
>>>> obama
>>>> is a scary socialist meme front and center as the republican
>>>> candidate's
>>>> primary message.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> CB:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Actually, socialists are glad to be identified with spreading the
>>>>> wealth.
>>>>>
>>>>> Wouldn't it be funny if Obama wins, and that means the majority are
>>>>> ok
>>>>> with some "socialism" ?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ___________________________________
>>>> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> ___________________________________
> %
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