Published on People For the American Way (http://www.pfaw.org)

Documenting Hate in the 2008 Election

A collection of some of the hate and bigotry on display during the 2008 campaign season.

People For the American Way gathered and documented examples of hate and bigotry that were exhibited during the 2008 campaign season. These things aren't easy to look at, but we've got to acknowledge that they're happening and call them out as unacceptable — and not evocative of the American way.

Spurring Supporters to Hatred

Blog and mainstream media accounts of the McCain campaign using incendiary language that triggers hate speech from supporters.

RNC: Barack Obama Is Not Who You Think He Is (Right Wing Watch, Oct. 30) [1]

ACORN Deluged with Threatening and Racist Voicemails and Emails (Right Wing Watch, Oct. 18) [2]

Video of McCain-Palin rally attendees in Ohio (Down with Tyranny, Oct. 17) [3]

Video of rally attendees in Johnstown, PA (Huffington Post, Oct. 12) [4]

McCain-Palin rallygoers in Ohio and Pennsylvania (Huffington Post, Oct. 9) [5]

Racist Incidents and White Supremacist Reaction

Accounts of incidents occurring across the country

Hanging Obama effigy found at Kentucky school [6]

Obama effigy found hanging from campus tree in Oregon [7]

Racist Obama effigy hung in Ohio (Video) [8]

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists publish ominous threats to Obama's life [9]

White supremacists hope Obama win prompts backlash [10]

Barack Obama targeted by extremists on the internet [11]

A racist and Islamophobic sign outside a hardware store in Mt. Washington. Note the star and crescent medallion and the Arabic-style script

"Obama Bucks," from a racist GOP newsletter being circulated in California

Media

Learn more about the Right's history of waging efforts to suppress the vote

Racist "Gimme Yo Change" sign being displayed at a hardware store in Mt. Washington [12]

"Obama Bucks": Racist GOP Newsletter in California [13]

Take Action

Fight back against intolerance.

Take the pledge to stamp out hatred and bigotry in your community [14]

Tell your friends to take the pledge [15]

Hide Right

Source URL: http://www.pfaw.org/issues/equality-for-all/documenting-hate-the-2008-election

Links:
[1] http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rnc-barack-obama-not-who-you-think-he
[2] http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/hate-you-can-believe-acorn-deluged-threatening-and-racist-voicemails-and-emails
[3] http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/10/if-it-walks-like-duck-and-quacks-like.html
[4] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/12/man-holds-monkey-doll-wit_n_133965.html
[5] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/mccain-palin-rally-attend_n_133240.html
[6] http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/10/29/Hanged_Obama_effigy_found_at_Ky_school/UPI-35651225310466/
[7] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26872774/
[8] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/19/racist-obama-effigy-hung_n_135971.html
[9] http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/77509/
[10] http://www.nypost.com/seven/08082008/news/nationalnews/white_supremacists_hope_obama_win_prompt_123634.htm
[11] http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/Barack_Obama.htm
[12] http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=documenting_hate_racist_sign
[13] http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/racist-gop-newsletter-california
[14] https://secure.pfaw.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=action_hate
[15] http://site.pfaw.org/site/TellAFriend?page=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.pfaw.org%2Fsite%2FSPageServer%3Fpagename%3Daction_hate%26amp%3BJServSessionIdr002%3Dy5qk0tj2s1.app304b