Is it possible that the racist callers were Republicans?

the quote says Obama supporters but means Clinton supporters, right?

I'm repeating something I posted on another thread, but it's more relevant here. Doesn't the "group polarization" effect the Cass Sunstein describes over on Open University help explain the hateful fanaticism displayed during this primary? By certain Obama supporters as well as by certain Clinton supporters (though the latter have been more loudly and visibly fanatical of late)? Here's Sunstein's definition of the effect:

"In investigating group dynamics, people often speak of 'groupthink,' but the term is vague and it's not clear whether it points to a testable hypothesis. A more helpful concept is 'group polarization,' which predicts that like-minded people, deliberating with one another, will typically end up in a more extreme point in line with their predeliberation tendencies. For example, French people who are suspicious of the United States will, after talking to one another, become more suspicious; people who tend to be racist will, after speaking with one another, become more racist. Common consequences of deliberation among like-minded types include (a) more extremism and (b) greater confidence."

Seems to me that during this primary web sites like DailyKos and TaylorMarsh have helped amplify this effect.

I'm fairly certain the idiots who do stuff like this don't understand the finer points of shoe-tying, let alone image management.  

Hear hear, Michael!  Of course, any sufficiently large political group has its weirdos.  At the St. Paul Obama rally, I heard one guy say into a camcorder he was using to record the event that he was "here for [his] father, who's not yet a believer."

A "believer?"  Seriously?  Of course, most of the people I talked to were reasonable, but there certainly were nutters.

On another note, upon reading the quote, I've realized that I will never be able to hear a group of people described as "bitter" in the same way again after this election.

I am very surprised given the high tone and general uplifting tenor of Senator Clinton's campaign that it should have inspired overt racists to support her.  I am sure she never imagined that part of her support could be coming from people who overtly express hate other Americans because of the color of their skin.

"Sow the whirlwind .  .  . "

Michael ,

Why don't you write about  Obama supporters campaign to  intimidate few courageous Black superdalegates who supported Clinton.

I  am very surprised given the high tone and general uplifting tenor of Senator Obama 's campaign that it should have inspired overt racists to support him. and intimidate his opponents.

I feel it will take some time to wind down the most exhorbitant supporters, but HRC said it herself, her differences with Barack were small compared to differences with McCain. She can play a key role in this healing. And I know that some acuse Obama supporters of being 'religious' about it, but maybe we are just ready to try a diferent kind of candidate. Maybe we have justifiable differences, worth discussion instead of ridicule. Whatever, we should be able to agree that McCain should not be contolling mideast policy when he cant even remember who our allies are. Or the economy during a potential recession. Or go it alone McCain healthcare, or let him and Brownback pick the next Supreme Court Justice.

Okay, a reality check:  There are Clinton supporters who will jump ship and vote for McCain just to vote against a black man twice, and some who voted for Clinton because they hate men, just as there are some Obama supporters who believe that war itself will end and everything will be like Eden when he’s elected, and some who vote for him because they believe he’s a Manchurian candidate who will end up destroying Israel.

There are also elites in Manhattan who believe that everything between the coasts is populated by idiots, people in West Virginia who marry their sisters, servicemen who think all Muslims are evil, television producers who would put rape on TV if it got ratings, Alabamans who want the South to rise again, Neo-Nazi Ron Paul supporters, women who use abortion as birth control because they can’t be bothered to take a pill or carry around condoms, people who advocate gay rights because they think it will lad to the acceptance of sex with barnyard animals, Minutemen who just want to shoot foreigners, Arab Americans who would gladly blow themselves up in a supermarket, oil executives who would gladly support terrorism if it meant a $100,000 bonus, beer and cigarette advertisers who intentionally market their products to kids, animal rights activists who would rather save a couple white mice than cure cancer, those who would punch Lieberman because he’s Jewish, Texans who believe that they should have their own country, people who are on welfare just so they don’t have to work, and people who advocate stem-cell research so eventually we can create an army of super-clones and “human-animal hybrids.”

But, the vast, vast, VAST majority of all these groups aren’t that way at all.  People are reasonable.  Stereotypes don’t develop for no reason, but they are still stereotypes, and are harmful to decent conversation.  I’m an Obama supporter, but when I talk to Clinton (or McCain) supporters, I don’t assume I’m talking to the stereotype.  I know I’m talking to someone who, even though they disagree with me, are reasonable in their thoughts.  I hope we can all be civil.

bigfish,

I know plenty of people, including my own self, who use "believer" in all sorts of ways, sports in particular. I don't think the use of that word in that instance *necessarily* makes that person a wild-eyed cultist.

Mike,

Hillary's image is already damaged, because she made a decision in the final weeks of her campaign to become the darling of the racial resentment crowd - Ferraro's "Reagan Democrats" - the hard-working "white Americans" whom she claimed were "invisible" to Obama and deeply disrespected by his campaign...the good people who candidly told exit pollsters that their vote was based on race.  In making her appeal to these folks, she took her image into the gutter.

These nutjobs making ugly phone calls are just a shade worse than the nutjobs pasting "nobama" bumper stickers on their cars.  It's one seamless garment of racism, and Hillary wears it proudly.

Neil

Woody, point taken.  It was more of a you-had-to-be-there kind of thing.  It was just the way he said it and other things he said later.  But you're right: it doesn't mean he was.  I don't think Al Michaels was making a religious statement when he asked "Do you believe in miracles?!" when the US hockey team beat the Soviets.  Maybe I just didn't like him because he unashamedly told those around him that he had cut in line (which was 1.6 miles long) to get in, whereas I got there four hours early to get a good spot.

However, it's in saying things like that that Obama supporters can get a bad wrap, especially young-ish ones.

Yes, Michael, please tell us all about those insipid Obamabots and their merciless assault on black superdelegates who aren't towing the negro agenda! We need to know all about those overt black discriminators that the media has been hiding like a stained blue dress!

I have to agree with adaglas on this.

P.S. "Oy"? When does a man named Michael Crowley say "Oy"?

It will be interesting to see if Hillary's supporters will support Obama, or if they are so bitter and resentful that they will support McCain. Of course, if they allow their emotions to cloud their judgment then they will have themselves to thank each time "President McCain" appoints a Supreme Court justice; and they can blame themselves for every year that the war in Iraq continues. Let's see what's really important to Hillary's supporters.

clumsymohel, when does a man named Michael Crowley say "Oy"? When he has a boss named Marty Peretz.

I lived in Jersey in picked up a lot of yiddishisms, even though I am Irish Catholic.

Four friends are sitting in a restaurant in Israel. For a long time, nobody says anything. Then, one man groans, "Oy."

"Oy vey," says a second man.

"Nu," says the third.

At this, the fourth man gets up from his chair and says, "If you guys don't stop talking politics, I'm leaving!"

matthawk ,

Many Clinton supporters will McCain. Please continue to intimidate and insult Cilnton and her supporters.

Thank you for helping McCain.

I wonder who suggested Clinton supporters that they don't have to vote for any Democratic nominee.

Michelle Obama: I'll "Think About" Supporting Hillary.

We can think too.  Chicken Comes Home to Roost.

Oh, I hate line-cutters. You might say I'm an Obamarama line-cutter hating creep.

Jacob, I love John McCain, and actually agree with him on more issues so this election is both win-win for me, but at the same time lose-lose since one of these two must lose. I would also feel a little guilty for voting against one, so I want to thank you for voting for McCain, now I can vote for Obama guilt free since in a sense you are my proxy and I get to vote for both candidates. Thanks.

Good plan, jacob.

A hundred years in Iraq, disastrous economic policies and some John McCain appointees to the Supreme Court will certainly teach that damn mouthy Michele to watch what she says!

I am very suprised that the tenor of Senator Obama's high-minded campaign has resulted in bilious supporters such as roid.

Actually, I believe Roid already explained that it was from dealing with taxonomers like yourself as a part of his day-job, libref.

Crowley,

Clyburn is from the center of South Carolina. It's 100 degrees and everyone is pissed off. It's more than likely a bunch of redneck Republicans from the district angry about a black dude getting the nomination.

The part I found most enjoyable about the post was the suggestion that the Clinton crowd from New York was different from the rubes from the rest of the country. Small wonder the rest of the country thinks the press is out of touch and condescending.

Crowley, have you ever been to a giants game? Is that the "high-end" crowd you were talking about?

WoodyBombay  ,

What's wrong with a hundred years in Iraq, Germany, Japan or South Korea?

Nothing Jacob, at 8 billion a month we can afford to stay in Iraq forever. At 11-15 percent interest, the Chinese will bankroll our time there for at least another decade. The only thing missing is warriors such as yourself to fill the spots vacated by those 4,000 slain and 20,000 wounded.

Please go see your local recruiter. They can have you in Baghdad in less than four months.

There should be plenty of troops available.  At the 04 Republican convention there were thousands of delegates hooting and stamping in favor of the war and wearing fake purple hearts to mock Kerry's service.  Surely they are lining up to serve.

Gsphynx: That is high praise indeed, coming from such an insipid poster as you. I merely have been calling down the indentity politicos out here and citing the hypocrisy and double standards. Look in the mirror, g.