Dealing with racism on the campaign trail

I have dealt with racist rhetoric from many individuals throughout my life.  There are only a few ways to effectively deal with it when you're confronted face-to-face with a semi-anonymous racist.  Since many campaign workers seem to be dealing with this issue right now, here's a primer.

First, swallow your outrage.  I get upset when I hear racism or sexism.  I'm sure you do, too.  Just like me, I'm sure a big part of you wants to tell them how ignorant they are.  Don't.  It won't help.  You'll just widen the gulf there.

Second, let them speak.  If you hear something along the lines of "I'll never vote for a woman or a black person," ask the person why they feel this way.  If they state something along the lines of "you know what 'they' will do if we elect one of 'them,'" ask them what exactly they mean.  Listen to what they actually say.  Quite often, they'll be unable to answer.  Some will be able to formulate some sort of reasonable response.

Third, draw it away from the race divide.  Try to draw the responses to the racist rhetoric into areas of policy.  What often happens is that if you keep asking "why," the racial issues turn into class issues - and as Democrats, we have a strong upper hand there.

Fourth, be prepared.  Doing these things requires you to be strongly versed on the policy stances of each candidate.  Yes, that means McCain, too.  Be accurate - go to OnTheIssues.org and download exact quotes:
Barack Obama specific policy stances and quotes
Hillary Clinton specific policy stances and quotes
John McCain specific policy stances and quotes

I suggest actually preparing a binder with quotes from all three on specific issues - sort them by issue.  Get plenty of quotes, and mark the good ones - even for McCain.

Fifth, do not be a biased advocate, even if you are.  If their actual beliefs lead them to match well with McCain, encourage them to vote for McCain.  What you're after is trust.  What you're after is the idea that race and party truly don't matter.  Squeezing someone who authentically believes in McCain's ideals into voting for Obama or Clinton will just foster resentment, even if you find a vote for McCain to be abhorrent.  You're far better off being an honest advocate with the person you're talking to than possibly weaseling one more vote for your candidate.

At the end of the day, you likely won't erase the hardened racist views of someone.  What you can do, however, is put just the tiniest chink in that worldview.  Maybe you'll add to a few other chinks and a bit of rust already in place, and you'll eventually help bring about change in this one person, helping them get beyond race.

Remember at all times, this campaign has the potential to be about way more than partisan politics.  Remember Obama's speech?  "A More Perfect Union"?

That's what's really important here.  Keep it in mind.  Let them speak.  Guide them to finding real answers beyond race, even if they're not the answers you agree with.

That's how we'll build the America we all want.

•  Tips?

  Let's end racism the right way.

  by krark on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:05:37 PM PDT

•  Education, as you suggest here, is always...

  the best weapon against bigotry.  The problem is always that most bigots don't want to be educated.  They are hostile to any information that shows their views to be wrong.

  In the end, the best way to defeat racism and bigotry is to ignore it and marginalize bigots.

  That is why it is absolutely critical that we do not accept the kind of shit that Hillary Clinton has been peddling in this campaign.  

  She has done great harm to the party, and to our country by running a campaign that exploited and winked at latant and even overt racism.

  by David Kroning on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:09:23 PM PDT

  •  DK, haven't people been ignoring racism

    up until this point and look what we have?

    by Ambboogie on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:40:33 PM PDT

    •  We can't ignore "racism"...but we should...

      ignore racists.  Just like a plant, if you don't fertilize it, and you don't water it, it eventually dries up and dies.

      Hillary Clinton has given racists in this country lots of water and lots of nutrition by saying that it's acceptable to use race as a measure of how we choose our candidates.

      You know, the first amendment guarantees the right of rabid racists to say and publish all the racist shit they want.

      But, if we don't read it, and we don't cite it, and we don't diffuse their message, they remain marginalized.

      Hillary Clinton gave these people a greater outlet for their ideas than they have had in 30 years.

      Throw her out of the Senate.

      by David Kroning on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:46:35 PM PDT

      •  Maybe we're speaking about different things

        you seem to be speaking directly about Hillary's race-baiting, and I'm talking about racism in general... I don't see how we can eradicate racism if we ignore racists.

        by Ambboogie on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:53:26 PM PDT

        •  fighting racism /= fighting racists.

          You accomplish more by undercutting their attitudes.

          by ben masel on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:58:32 PM PDT

        •  We will never eradicate racism...

          from the human species.  There are biological reasons why we tend to stick to people that look like us.  We can, however, do a great deal to eliminate racist thoughts and activities.  

          And yes, sometimes "ignoring" certain people does have the desired effect.  You know the Nazi party exists in most Western nations.  We won't get rid of them.  But, when is the last time anyone in the media did a story on them?

          This is what was so harmful about Hillary's campaign...she gave voice to ideas that had long been marginalized.

          by David Kroning on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:02:03 PM PDT

          •  I think it's human nature to

            stick to people who look like us.... racism is a whole nother level IMO.

            by Ambboogie on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:16:31 PM PDT

•  I remember a story by Tom Harkin......

  I was a summer intern 20 years ago for Senator Harkin, my home-state Senator.  Once over a lunch with all us interns he told a story about the first time he ran for Congress in 1972 (he lost, then won 2 years later).  The seat was in southwestern Iowa:  rural, conservative, and completely white.

  Harkin and his wife Ruth were going door-to-door in a small town when Tom came upon an old man at the man's house.  Tom gave his pitch and was about to hand him his campaign brochure, when the man asked, "Yer a Democrat?"  Tom said yes, I'm a Democrat.  The old man said, "I don't like Democrats."  Tom asked, "Why don't you like Democrats?"  The old man replied, "Because Democrats are fer them commies and niggers and...[can't remember the rest of the list]"  Tom balled up into a rage and yelled, "You know what you can do?  You can take this brochure and stick it up yer ass!"  Ruth promptly ran over, grabbed Tom, dragged him away, and told him never to do that again.

  It's bad enough when a volunteer does something like that.  Tom was the candidate.

  But he won 2 years later, and the rest is history.  :-)

  by DCCyclone on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:18:17 PM PDT

  •  LOL

    on the other hand a little of their own medicine might get their attention too

    But krark's suggestion likely is safer in the long run =)

    by sara seattle on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:21:09 PM PDT

  •  Nah. Tom was right. (n/t)

    by catfood on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:41:56 PM PDT

•  krark

  It is my guess that you already have recruited many voters for Obama.

  Thank you for a perfect primer - perfect suggestions.

  by sara seattle on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:18:35 PM PDT

•  EXCELLENT advice

  And even if the person does vote for McCain, perhaps he/she won't be as disappointed when Obama wins.  

  by flor de jasmim on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:25:16 PM PDT

•  Excellent! Recommended.

  Water wears down mountains.

  by Wee Mama on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:36:33 PM PDT

•  "and I'm proud of liberal Supreme Court Justices

  like Douglas and Thurgood Marshall, who've guaranteed your views the same Free Speech protections as mine."

  by ben masel on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:50:35 PM PDT

  •  My biggest poroblem with "hate speech" laws

    is they take away this educational tool.

    by ben masel on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:53:54 PM PDT

•  I add my kudos to those before me.

  Real change does take work and the swallowing of outrage, and inviting people into different frameworks.

  Once, teaching a class of English to Speakers of Other Languages, I found a big divide between the African and the Eastern European students which threatened increasing problems. As part of my solution, I taught a class on gender, divided the men from the women and had them discuss the difficulties they faced as a result of their gender.

  Closed that class with a male vs. female competition. Result: much laughter & teasing and students from different geographic regions bonded over their commonalities.

  Added to that, some deeply felt concerns over gender issues were aired and heard.

  That was the beginning of the end of the problem. Working groups of any kind that involve people of different backgrounds can be a mighty bridge. One more reason why the continued segregation of many of our neighborhoods and places of worship is so deadly--and why the new model of Obama's campaign, bringing people together across many divides to work for a common purpose, will yield dividends at every levels of American life.

  by lizabroad on Sun May 11, 2008 at 02:54:26 PM PDT

  •  I Think Your Example Supports...

    What I have believed for several years.

    We obviously have some true racism.  But mostly what we have is people that are looking at the other persons "culture".  

    If we have common areas of interest or culture we are more likely to feel comfortable around them.

    Most of the people that say they would not vote for an african american only say that because they view the candidate as culturally different, a part of the general african american culture.

    If they had a co-worker or member of their church that was african american and was running for school board would they vote for them?  If yes they are not a racist, just someone unfamiliar and uncomfortable with someone elses culture.

    by in the Trees on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:39:56 PM PDT

•  Great Diary. Recomended!

  by rapcetera on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:33:01 PM PDT

•  To add insult to injury..

  Check out this sobering article...

  Democratic country keeps its distance from Obama

  Basically talks about what we & Obama are up against in West Virginia & for that matter rural America. But with this collation of open minded individuals of all races, genders and religions I think we can overcome this outdated, hateful type of thought.

  by wlfpack81 on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:50:19 PM PDT