The Post-Gazette's Don Hammonds -- who covers the auto industry and is a former P-G editorial board member -- gives us his reaction to McCain calling Obama "that one" during the debate in Nashville:
One of the things that I will take away from yesterday's debate was the incredible " that one" remark by Sen. McCain. When it happened, he wouldn't even look at Sen. Obama, gesturing at him in a way that was at the very least, dismissive and disrespectful, possibly even racist as well. Regardless of intent, it showed Sen. McCain to be culturally ignorant, and completely unaware of the implications of what his off the cuff statement meant to people of color.
Whether Sen. McCain meant it that way or not, if you are a person of color, and someone trots out the "That one" remark, you instantly take it as racist. I know that I did, and was deeply offended by it.
In sum, I think that people will remember that remark long after the debates are over--it ranks right up there with the "There you go" remark made by President Reagan, and the "You're no John Kennedy" comeback that Lloyd Bensen had for Dan Quayle.
(UPDATE) Some Obama supporters are having fun with the statement, and putting it on T-Shirts.
Posted
Oct 08 2008, 10:59 AM
by
Timothy McNulty