Most people are not racist, but virtually all people have preconceived notions about what it means, to be a member of a different race. These beliefs drive our behavior toward people of different races. These beliefs are called stereotypes.
There are some sophisticates among us, who know our racial beliefs, and they know how to trigger these beliefs to inspire us to relate to people as stereotypes, instead of as individuals; thereby, obliterating their identity. One such person is Karl Rove.
Karl Rove revealed his identity obliterating skill when, in an open letter to Barack Obama, he advised Barack to "find a way to gently belittle" Hillary Clinton.
Gender, like race, carries a set of stereotypes that inspire devaluation. But unlike with race, kid gloves are required, because women are loved, and they inspire protection. Therefore, disparaging them must be done covertly, and the behavior involved should not reflect blatant disrespect.
By contrast, racial disparagement encourages flagrant disrespect, as part of the racial definition, often emphasized by harsh and disrespectful tones. Karl Rove demonstrated how to do it, when he turned from instructing Barack in identity obliteration, to using those tactics on him. Karl Rove used words of racial triggers, to describe Barack - words that sound like a parody of a 16th century description of a slave:
He is often lazy, given to misstatements and exaggerations and, when he doesn’t know the answer, too ready to try to bluff his way through.
John McCain is on point with the Karl Rove handbook. He began identity obliteration of Barack Obama by assuming inappropriate authority, disrespect and dishonesty, behaviors which, when openly expressed, signal the racial identity of the object. The goal is to trigger unconscious racial beliefs, that inspire others to relate to the object, as a stereotype, rather than as an individual.
Recently, John McCain heightened identity obliteration of Barack, by specifically defining him as a servant, under authority.
In his speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 18, 2008, McCain very carefully sets up his language to place Barack under identified authority, instead of describing him as the independent actor that he is. And significantly, his words infers that Barack has no choice but to obey.
According to John McCain, Barack Obama's actions are the product of:
(P)arty leaders in Congress order(ing) him . . ..
(H)is bosses (causing him to) walk away . . .
Congressional leaders . . .giving (him) his marching orders . . .
Whoever heard of a senator, who has achieved his party's nomination for the presidency, as under the authority of leaders and bosses? It's all so reminiscent of a master, or a boss man . . .
