If Obama Were White, He'd Be Hit Twice as Hard

Palin's Obama rhetoric fans racist flames

(NEWSER) - The McCain campaign has crossed the line from negative campaigning to “inciting vigilantism” with racist tactics that should raise alarms about Barack Obama’s safety, writes Frank Rich in the New York Times. Particularly troubling is Sarah Palin’s repeated linking of Obama to “terrorists” and her refusal to quell the frenzy—and cries of “kill him!”—her rhetoric incites at rallies. More»

'Wimp' columnist climbs into the mud with 'pig' radio host

(NEWSER) - Going so far as to call him a “pig,” Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell has launched a full-on war of words with Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh called Mitchell a "racist nutball" and ridiculed her and other “drive-by journalists” for saying Sarah Palin and John McCain should restrain supporters at their rallies, some of whom have shouted "kill him" and "terrorist." More»

They're trying to turn Obama into Willie Horton, Dowd writes

(NEWSER) - Before Karl Rove, Maureen Dowd reminds us, it was Lee Atwater who masterminded the Republican smear campaign, and his demolition of Michael Dukakis was his greatest, dirtiest success. Atwater painted the 1988 candidate as a weak Harvard-educated elitist with a weird last name, a man who supported "the Scary Black Man" and was not on "the American side." Watching John McCain's ugly campaign, the New York Times columnist asks simply, "Sound familiar?" More»

AK gov. steals Dems' after-glow; could attract indy, Hillary voters

(NEWSER) - John McCain turned heads by choosing Sarah Palin today as his running mate, and the Weekly Standard explains why she’s the right woman for the job.

• Democrats just wrapped their glitzy convention, but the Sunday talk shows will be abuzz with Palin chatter.
• The mother of five softens McCain’s “crotchety” image and revives his reputation as “fly-boy and gambler."

But she loves Simon Cowell

(NEWSER) - The presidential election is two years away, but Sarah Palin is already taking off the white gloves. She slams First Lady Michelle Obama in her new book for attending controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church for years and "listening to his rants against America and white people." Barack and Michelle Obama disassociated themselves from Wright after the media revealed statements by the clergyman that many considered racist. More»