“That one” is slightly less demeaning than gook, but not by much

Senator John Mccain once got into hot water for his insistence on using the word gook to describe his Vietnamese captors ( and alleged torturers) during his 2000 presidential bid. After many asian groups protested, and after trying in vain to explain that he meant “gook” as a term reserved only for certain kinds of Vietnamese, Mccain finally apologized. Perhaps because the convoluted logic seems to suggest that Chink could be used only to imply mean Chinese and not all Chinese and so on.

One could tell, however, the senator only apologized out of reluctance. Gook – in Korean it actually means country – was an common term used among American military personnel in the Korean and later Vietnamese theater- a derogatory word that unified the US by demeaning its enemy- and no one seemed to cared.

That need to dismiss and demean one’s enemies in war time, alas, has lent itself into the American political life this campaign season. But it now seems that it has become an impediment to the senator’s effort toward his last glory- the American presidency. At one point during his second debate against Senator Barrack Obama, Mccain dismissively gestured toward his opponent in a reference to an energy bill sponsored by Bush and Cheney that he voted against, while “That one” voted for. Indeed, in the tepid debate where little blood was drawn, and fewer zingers were to be had, much will be made of that gesture as the 80 self-proclaimed independents in the live audience winced—and presumedly much of the rest of the country cringed. It is – “a reference that … seemed likely to go down as the debate’s most memorable moment,” according to the UK Guardian. Other papers followed suit with similar opinions. And rightly so.

While Senator Obama has been more than deferential to senator Mccain, the opposite is true of the older man ( or should we say, old man?). He seemed to barely able to control his anger, and his cordiality seemed terribly forced. The man could barely look at senator Obama during the first debate and he couldn’t bare to mention his opponent’s name in the second. Hidden behind his wary demeanor is a man about to throw a tantrum as he watches some young “upstart” taking away his crown jewel. He is a man at war with himself.

But even if the senator seemed to be relatively more comfortable in the town hall setting – reportedly Mccain’s strongest format— there’s something to be said when one loses one’s respect for ones’ opponent when respect is largely due—And especially when one’s opponent is formidable and has the upper hand and is respectful toward him. After all, to disrespect a dignified opponent ultimately reflects badly on one’s own character and self respect.

Indeed, the question of respect has been at play for a while. Disrespect was the term the Republican camp used against OBama last month when it claimed that the senator “disrespected” governor Sarah Palin when he used the “Lipstick on a Pig” expression, even when there was no evidence that he was referring to Palin whatsoever. Mccain has been fond of that expression himself and has used it last year, when Hilary Clinton was still a contender.

The erstwhile barely veiled racism of Mccain’s anti Obama attacks have now become overt. His VP ticket, Sarah – gloves off- Palin, as she stomped, repeated this mantra about Obama: “This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America,” and she claimed that he was “palling around with terrorists.” This is a reference to Obama’s old association with William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground.

The demagoguery is ironic since it seems to suggest that it is ok to say “That one” instead of someone’s name, and use the word “Gook” to put down one’s enemies, and to air ads that call Obama “Dangerous” and “dishornable” – but it is not ok to say lipstick on a pig, even as figure of speech if you are black or brown.

What you have at play is this strange, double standard – respect is only one way when it comes to white in relationship with the rest of colored America.

Not only is its racism is now overt. It is far uglier than lipstick put on any pig.

But it may also backfired big time, my friends. For when you don’t have an economic plan and all you want to have is victory in Iraq, when you dismiss others not like “you and I,” and when you can’t say the word middle-class, you’ll probably isolate and dismiss half of America itself.

btw, check out Keith Olberman’s reaction to Sarah Palin’s attack on Obama. Very biting indeed…

also see:

How McCain Became MacBeth

NAM election 2008 coverage

and last but not least watch McCain straight talk derailing: