thatone

So-what John McCain is 72, and has grandparent tendencies, Barack Obama is a United States Senator, a presidential nominee, a father, and a human being.

What's most interesting to me about the "that one" comment is that it's not necessarily the comment that's indicative of the underlying racial meaning, it's the use of it with Senator Obama.  Saying "that one" to a white male (or a real child) would be relatively fine in context, but if it's a woman, a racial minority, or other underrepresented political group member (e.g., disabled person), it's closer to an "ism." 

But, to be clear, there is a difference (in social scientific thinking) between "racism" and "racialized" behavior; they are not one in the same.  Racism rests on an ideology of a group's biological superiority/inferiority, whereas racialized behavior is an action that calls attention to race, bringing about consequences that can be intentional or unintentional. I’m not denying that racialized behavior is not influenced by racism (that would be naïve), but McCain’s “that one” statement is closer to racialized behavior.

However, by no means should we look at McCain's "that one" behavior in a vacuum.  His "that one" comment, in conjunction with the personal attacks (e.g., "who Obama is" and a lack of reciprocal admiration for Obama's storied background), and a refusal to look at Obama along with other very cold interpersonal behavior (e.g., no real salutation at the handshake) are all indicators of McCain's apparent discomfort or antipathy toward Obama.  McCain definitely does not respect Obama. We know this because he hasn't apologized for anything he's done or said recently. 

My point is that John McCain is not racist, but regardless of what most people might think, at the very least John McCain displayed a social dominance orientation targeted at something about Barack Obama. Perhaps it was Obama's height (i.e., Obama is taller), or his party affiliation.....or maybe it's just plain okay to say McCain sees more of Obama's race than he thinks (or knows… shout out to all my psychologist friends).

David C. Wilson