James P Krehbiel

McCain and the Mob Mentality



Posted: Monday, October 13, 2008

by
Krehbiel Counseling

Barack Obama has become a metaphor for those who are considered culturally different. Many Americans who have followed John McCain's drum-beat of distraction, have referred to Obama as "the enlightened one," a terrorist, a Muslim, an associate of William Ayers, and a caricature of Adolf Hitler. Disturbingly, we have been down this road of racism, hatred and divisiveness before. Who can forget the chilling memories of America 's civil rights leaders being slain, segregation being fostered, synagogues being burned, black citizens being lynched, and law-abiding Muslims being shot and killed after 9/11.

This is the dark side of America that I'd rather forget, but once again it has reared its ugly head through the campaign discourse of John McCain and Sarah Palin. McCain and Palin's campaign rhetoric directed against Barack Obama has fueled the basest instincts of many misguided Americans.

McCain's effort to link Obama to a terrorist Muslim script is rooted in the most despicable form of hatred and bigotry. The fire has been stoked, and now his supporters are cheering on McCain and Palin with chants of "Obama is a terrorist, kill him!" Having crossed that ugly line, even the candidates themselves have been unable to stave off the damage they have wrought.

This pattern of inflaming the bigotry of the masses through divisiveness and venom is frighteningly reminiscent of the Nazi regime during World War II. Adolf Hitler and the German Nazis, under the elitism of white Anglo-Saxon Protestantism, sought and successfully slaughtered those who they perceived as ethnically and racially different. As Germany fell on hard economic times during the global depression, they looked for scapegoats to explain their financial decline. It wasn't long ago that the Jews, those associated with Jews, Russians, the mentally ill, the physically disabled, artists, and the intelligentsia were sent to concentration camps and murdered. The mob mentality had worked and "cleansed" Germany of those who were perceived as funny looking and different.

John McCain and Sarah Palin have sought out the politics of personal destruction. They have willingly tried to demonize Barack Obama by painting him as an evil outsider who is a threat to the security of our democracy. Confusingly, some Christians have made this a personal vendetta by suggesting that Obama is the anti-Christ. On the other hand, other so-called God-fearing Christians have suggested that he portrays himself as messianic figures that swoon's his uneducated sheep.

The myth of moral superiority is that those who lay claim to know it all by smearing and hatemongering behavior, are the ones who need to "take the log out of their own eye" as Jesus suggested. As Sarah Palin lays claim to being the moral compass of the McCain campaign, she has opened herself to scrutiny as a result of unethically abusing her power as governor of Alaska . She has even lied about the essence of the report.

When McCain finally called Obama "a decent" candidate, he was jeered by his own supporters. It is this vitriolic venom that should remind us all that this is a country still filled with ill-informed, frightening bigots, and that we must never allow such mindless people to create another Holocaust, because we turned our back and ignored those who would perpetuate a lie. As we have seen in recent days on the campaign trail, the hate-filled, spiteful mobs are still there to remind us all that we must be vigilant. We must speak out against the threats and fears generated by those who have the power to create the conditions for another genocide.

James P. Krehbiel, Ed.S., LPC, CCBT is an author, freelance writer and nationally certified cognitive-behavioral therapist practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. He received his post-graduate counseling training at Northern Illinois University. James has taught Master's level classes in counselor education through Chapman University of California.  He specializes in working with patients who have depressive, anxiety, pain management and autistic spectrum disorders.  James has written numerous articles on a variety of counseling-related topics, all available via Google searches.  His first book, Stepping Out of the Bubble, is available at www.booklocker.com.  James is in the process of having his second work published which is entitled, It Never Was About You:  Saying Goodbye to the Magical Illusions of Childhood.  He can be reached through his new, contemporary website at www.krehbielcounseling.com. 
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)
» left by jennifer cuddy
 3 years 89 days ago.
Great article! Good to have you writing again! A voice of reason in the be-wilderness..
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 89 days ago.
125 fans.
Well, it would be nice to get some traction on this article but I am not confident that it will.  Thanks for your kind comments.  Take care.
» left by Yangki Christine Akiteng
 3 years 89 days ago.
104 fans.
Great article -- beautifully articulated and well written,  James. If there is anyone still wondering what all the "fuss" about Barack Obama is, you nailed it right there... "a metaphor for those who are considered culturally different." I could take it further to "a metaphor for those who are considered different".  There is “something” about Barack that anyone who has ever felt different (and has been treated as different) for any number of reasons can identify with.  Every untruthful accusation and every insult feels “personal”.  And many people -- all races, religions and age - have told me that just watching him go through what he’s gone through and doing it with grace, dignity, great resolve and without any trace of bitterness or hatred, has lifted them up to levels that no preacher or therapist could ever do. That says a lot about the man.
 
When I watched the man in the audience propose “terrorist kill him!”, I sobbed loud like a kid.  Not for Barack Obama but because I was reminded of Matt 27:15-26.  Now, I know that is stretching it because Barack Obama obviously is no Messiah (ironic how all of a sudden “messiah” sounds like a dirty word) but I felt the same strong emotion I feel whenever I read about Jesus being called  “traitor” and the shouts of “crucify him”.  I was waiting for the Governor to say, "Why, what evil has He done?" but had to remind myself that this was a political campaign I was watching.
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 89 days ago.
125 fans.

Dear Christine,

 

Thank you for your comments and story. Sometimes, on this site, I feel like an abused woman who begins to doubt herself.  My 93 year old die-hard, West Virginian Republican mother (before her death on July 26th) had told me that she thought that Obama was a nice young gentleman.  It took her 93 years, but she got it!   All of the Obama nasty smears that I have sited in my article have been expressed by Searchwarp writers who have been rewarded with inflated ratings.  I recall you calling one of these writers “out” because she associated Obama with Hitler and gave “facts” about Obama’s personal history that were outright lies!  She obviously still hasn’t gotten it, like my mother did.  Rather, under the guise of writing about socialism, she recently tried to tie Obama to Louis Farrakhan, penned messianic mumblings, and suggested that the REAL reason that McCain followers were up-in-arms was over the economy!  Now you and I know that is just nonsense.  That’s fear and ignorance speaking.  As Obama has stated, “ENOUGH!” 

» left by Yangki Christine Akiteng 3 years 89 days ago.
104 fans.
I hear you James, I DO. I am so happy for your mother that even if it took her so long, she finally got there. 
 
Don’t doubt yourself.  It’s not you. The “narrow path” is usually lonely.  I am still in shock and just can’t believe that the same Christians who write about “love” can be so full of hate.  How can love and hate share the same heart? People are not stupid, it’s obvious -- except to the person writing and people of the same mindset -- when someone’s hiding behind “other things”.  The other day, I was practically called a terrorist on here-- Obama’s pal to be precise - for disputing some of the “facts” and hate spewing.  I read and watch TV and when someone says Obama is “palling around” with you -- they are saying you are a terrorist especially when you have friends and relatives who are Muslims and can recite the Kor'an.  But right now, I’d rather be called Obama’s pal and a terrorist than be called “a Christian”.  It must break Jesus’ heart to see all the things said and done in His name.
 
I remember your comment to me “stay on the high road”, I’ll say the same back to you.  That "abused woman" metaphor was funny though...
 
» left by Gregory Lewis 3 years 84 days ago.
138 fans. Follow Gregory Lewis on twitter!
Your words are very wise, Christine, and the kind of Christian words that make me love the Christian faith. Thank you for saying them. No, you are not wrong, crazy, or alone, even though sometimes you might feel that way. I will testify for you.

As someone from a mixed-religion family who has "palled around with" Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, and an eclectic and primitive animist or two, I find some of the thinly disguised religious and ethnic bigotry frightening. Maybe it's supposed to be frightening?

Honestly, I was sad from the beginning that Obama was boxed into having to practically denounce Islam (by asserting that he is really a Christian). We are in a shameful place, I feel, when we have come down to electing a religion rather than a wise and intelligent for all the people, who would preserve the beauty of a pluralistic society. Viva la difference!

- "Paling around with G"
» left by Christine Akiteng from Toronto, Canada 3 years 83 days ago.
Thank you G… means a lot to me to read your kind words -- been a little “unfriendly” here lately… Thank God I have a life that’s full of “difference” :-)) 
 
I am not surprised that you’re from a mixed-religion family.  There is that “different” about you that only comes with an open mind, human warmth, unconditional acceptance, and intellectual curiosity.  Something that distinguished Jesus from those of His time…  And they said He too was wrong, crazy… different!
 
I too felt sad that Obama, although he is not a Muslim was forced to somehow say “there was something wrong with being Muslim”.  I was more saddened by McCain’s response to the woman who said she thought Obama was an “Arab”.  I can excuse the woman for asking (misguided ignorance) but I can’t in me understand McCain’s “irresponsible” response.  Aren’t Arabs decent family people?  You can’t be trying to put out a fire by stacking it. 
 
It's very frightening.  Here in Canada we have our “problems” but I’ve never been exposed to this kind of blatant religious intolerance and pure bleeding hate for those who are "different".  I am sure that is why I am having a harder time with it than most people.  It’s a rude awakening…  My prayer is that this does not lead to a world wide backlash against "Christinaity" as not all Christians have "issues" which to me I think are "personal" rather than "Christian":. . You can tell them by their "fruit". 
 
The past few months though have shown me just how BLESSED I’ve been because I am different.  I knew it before, I am just more THANKFUL now!
 
Viva la difference! You’re my kind of person -- I’ll pal around with you anytime…anytime!
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 83 days ago.
125 fans.
Christine,
I don't know whether you heard Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama this morning.  He eloquently laid out his case, but the most telling part came when he mentioned the issue of Muslim Americans.  He very passionately told the story about a Muslim young man who gave his life for this country and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  I believe there was a magazine picture of a grieving Muslim mother next to her son's burial stone.  Powell said, "So what if Obama WAS Muslim?  Would that preclude him from being President of the United States based on his religion?" (paraphrased).  The perspective of many Americans is embarrassing to me.  It is all too sad.  I'm in for this pal stuff!  LOL
» left by Christine Akiteng
from Toronto, Canada 3 years 80 days ago.
I saw and read about Colin Powell's endorsement.  To me, the part about the Muslim young man was the most powerful part of his endorsement.  The picture of a grieving Muslim mother next to her son's burial stone was surreal. I didn't see a Muslim mother, what I saw was a mother mourning her son!  One knows "true humanity" when one sees it.
 
Welcome to the "palling around" bus.  Colin Powell is already being attacked for palling around with Obama! LOL!  This is so comical - you can't make up this stuff.
 
 
» left by Michelle Mackin
 3 years 88 days ago.
Excellent James! I am glad to see that you wrote this and posted it. I couldn't have said anydthing more than what you and the respondants have already wrote. Especially Christine regarding Matt. 27:P 15-26.
 
God bless all,
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 88 days ago.
125 fans.
Michelle,
Thank you so much.  It means alot to me coming from you.  Be well. 
» left by Gregory Lewis
 3 years 84 days ago.
138 fans. Follow Gregory Lewis on twitter!
"Stay on the high road," I like that. I enjoy finding the thoughtful, gentle-minded folk on SearchWarp, such as yourself and Christine. In a blogosphere filled with incendiary rhetoric and double-talk, yours is a refreshingly persuasive perspective, James.
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 83 days ago.
125 fans.
Greg,
Thanks for the comment and for writing to Christine.  It's nice to have fellow travelers down a path that many do not wish to understand.  I listened to Representative Michelle Backmann's interview with Chris Matthews and was horrified.  To suggest, in McCarthy style, that the media should investigate members of Congress to see which are pro-American and those who are not?   How divisive and inflammatory is that?  Thanks again. 
» left by Tex Norman
 3 years 73 days ago.
46 fans.
There can't be enough voices speaking out against talk that inspires hatred and violence. I enjoyed this article very much.
 
Thanks
 
tex
» left by James P Krehbiel 3 years 73 days ago.
125 fans.
Thank you Tex for your kind comments.  Be well.
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