Tuesday, June 24, 2008
McCain Woos African-Americans Face To Face
MERIDIAN, MISS, June 24 - In an appeal to African-American voters, presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain made a blackface appearance before members of Uncle Tom's Cabin Republicans (UTCR) in Meridian, Mississippi where civil rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were murdered 44 years ago.
"I'm here in the spirit of Al Jolson who warmed the hearts of white audiences during the first half of the 20th century," McCain told a stunned audience. "And today I come in blackface before an all all-black audience to identify with your struggles and those of the three slain Hymietown boys, and to promise there will be more Uncle Toms, in addition to the one on the Supreme Court, in my administration if I'm elected.
McCain cited his love for the old minstrel shows and preformed a credible imitation of Jolson singing Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody, receiving a tepid ovation. He admitted the line "Sing 'Old Black Joe' just as though you had me on your knee," still brought tears to his eyes. He said he would continue these performances in the White House where Republicans of all races would be invited to attend.
Although McCain opposes affirmative action and forced school integration, he said he would support federal funding for improved seating in the rear of public buses in the south and a "Shuffle Along" national holiday. He would also give preference to any African-American applying for a national identity card if they owned property and could pass a sixth grade reading comprehension test.
UTCR Spokesman Tarrance Chommis said he was initially taken aback by a presidential candidate getting down on one knee while singing about his "mammy." "If McCain is trying to be more Uncle Tom than the rest of us, more power to him. Maybe he can sway some of the Obama folks by posing as black on the outside and white inside," Chommis pointed out.
McCain's staff, anticipating the cookie analogy, served Oreos together with watermelon slices following McCain's plea to "vote for the man with the darkest tan." The candidate shook hands, licked the white filling off a chocolate wafer, and pledged jobs for any UTCR member who wanted to work on the White House housekeeping staff.
"I have a dream," McCain shouted, "that someday the White House and all of Washington DC will resemble the Old South," as he waved and walked to his limo. UTCR members were too busy to notice as they stuffed leftover Oreos into their jacket pockets.
"I'm here in the spirit of Al Jolson who warmed the hearts of white audiences during the first half of the 20th century," McCain told a stunned audience. "And today I come in blackface before an all all-black audience to identify with your struggles and those of the three slain Hymietown boys, and to promise there will be more Uncle Toms, in addition to the one on the Supreme Court, in my administration if I'm elected.
McCain cited his love for the old minstrel shows and preformed a credible imitation of Jolson singing Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody, receiving a tepid ovation. He admitted the line "Sing 'Old Black Joe' just as though you had me on your knee," still brought tears to his eyes. He said he would continue these performances in the White House where Republicans of all races would be invited to attend.
Although McCain opposes affirmative action and forced school integration, he said he would support federal funding for improved seating in the rear of public buses in the south and a "Shuffle Along" national holiday. He would also give preference to any African-American applying for a national identity card if they owned property and could pass a sixth grade reading comprehension test.
UTCR Spokesman Tarrance Chommis said he was initially taken aback by a presidential candidate getting down on one knee while singing about his "mammy." "If McCain is trying to be more Uncle Tom than the rest of us, more power to him. Maybe he can sway some of the Obama folks by posing as black on the outside and white inside," Chommis pointed out.
McCain's staff, anticipating the cookie analogy, served Oreos together with watermelon slices following McCain's plea to "vote for the man with the darkest tan." The candidate shook hands, licked the white filling off a chocolate wafer, and pledged jobs for any UTCR member who wanted to work on the White House housekeeping staff.
"I have a dream," McCain shouted, "that someday the White House and all of Washington DC will resemble the Old South," as he waved and walked to his limo. UTCR members were too busy to notice as they stuffed leftover Oreos into their jacket pockets.
