That One…

When historians look back on the defining moments of this election… when the question is asked about how a black man in America was elected president… when the topic arises of the ascendency of Obama to the highest office in the land, one moment will stand out amongst others.

The moment John McCain referred to Barack Obama as “That One.”

You see, dog whistle racism only works when you use coded language in a forum amongst those trained to hear it.  Using terms like “radical” or “unpatriotic” or even “doesn’t see America like us” are all codes for “black” that we’ve all been conditioned to accept.  But, when John McCain gets on a stage in front of millions of Americans and has the temerity and the unbelievable nerve to call the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, a fellow United States senator, and a grown ass man “that one” we have reached a level of disrespect that cannot be ignored and is now at the level benign racism akin to asking the American people whether or not a black man even deserves to share the same stage with him.

This is unacceptable.

If you lose the ability to properly address your opponent with the correct pronoun in regards to his existence and his merits, then you have indeed lost your bearings and are most likely to lose your support.  If I were out in public and pointed at and referred to other than my name, “this gentleman,” “the man right there,” or even “him,” I would take serious issue with the level of respect I’ve been granted.  To pull such a stunt of objectification and dehumanization of your fellow presidential candidate is strange, perverse, sick, and sad.

The question now isn’t who is Barack Obama… the question is, where is the real John McCain?

As a grown man, as a grown black man, as the scion of a struggle to earn equal rights, freedoms, and protection under the law I find this to be offensive to a level that has clearly passed the threshold of racism.

I dare any of you reading this post to refer to your friends, coworkers, associates, or even strangers as “that one” without some type of repurcussion or retribution in response to your disrespect.

You call a man by his name.

John McCain, you have lost.

You have lost this election.

You have lost your honor.

And I think you have lost your mind.

I’m finished with this shit, man.

And here’s his website: http://www.thatone08.com/