Race and politics

[Mike Freese, left, and Waleed McFarland, right, discuss political issues outside Knology Park as they awaited Barack Obama to hold a rally Wednesday afternoon at Knology Park in Dunedin. Joseph Garnett, Jr.]

DUNEDIN -- Several hours before Obama took the stage, protesters clashed in front of the VFW Post 2550 across the street from the stadium. Waleed McFarland, 29, an African-American man from Tampa had a contentious verbal exchange with Mike Freese, 55, of St. Petersburg, who is white. Freese wore a camouflage hat with a rebel flag stitched on it, and the message "Git-R-Done." He carried a sign with a black-and-white duck referring to the fact that Obama is biracial.

"I've already been called a racist," Freese said, referring to the hat, but said he is not a racist. He tried to tell McFarland that the country is not racist, to which McFarland replied, "This is the most racist country in the world, and that is a fact. What about segregation?"

Freese replied, "I admit there was some discrimination."

McFarland got frustrated and walked a few steps away to talk to a reporter. "I have full confidence in Barack Obama's judgment," he said. "I've been following him since the 2004 Democratic convention. To me he represents the '80s, '90s and now. We've got reality TV, but we're further from reality than we've ever been," McFarland said.

McFarland said he is a volunteer for the Obama campaign in Tampa.

Eileen Schulte, Times staff writer

*

Comments

[Bob D]

Get ready for a November surprise.
Ron Paul takes it ALL!!!

Baaaaa!! Be a good sheep now.

[Bob Dole...]

Get ready for a November Surprise. McCain = Bob Dole.

I don't think America is the most racist nation in the world...ask Latin American nations their opinions on one another, or how the Japanese feel about Koreans and Chinese, our how Europe is scared of losing its identity to the "islamic hordes". American bigots say dumb things and fight - Hutus and Tutsis machete one another

I disagree MacFarland, America is NOT the most racist country in the world, we are the most PC country in the world which makes the differences pronounced but go live in China for a time....you will see some racism there or in Europe where gypsies are banned from nice eateries...but what do you expect an ill-informed public?

[I am your commander in chief]

Waleed, please give back the Scots/Irish name(McFarland) and get something more African.

127- I forgot about the japanese-

Mr. Macfarland- go ask a chinese person what they think about japenese people. I was out with one of my chinese friends last sunday, she told me that she "hated the japanese", so much so she did not want to eat japanese food!!!

Campaign staff or volunteers are not allowed to get involved in exchanges like this. Walk away!

This coverage is ridiculous. More than 10 posts since 10 a.m. about the size of the line? He went to the most liberal, small town in the state. See How many come in Clewiston, Bushnell, or Live Oak. He's going to lose Florida by five points.

11 threads on Obama today; what a slow news day or subjective reporting or what?

St. Pete Times-
first cousin of the NY Times presenting the liberal slant for America!

McCain Palin '08

Drill baby drill!

why do we put up with this? bunch these people in the face and watch them cry like the small feeble men they really are.

that stupid racist flag on i-4/i-75 has go to come down along with all this other crap.

NEVER TOLERATE INTOLERANCE

1:44 -- you do realize he is in town, right?

/wonder's why you want updated news if you can't even follow one story

1:46 - While you disagree with with the flag on I-10, it is on private property. They have every right to flag whatever flag they want. Did you wake up in Venezuela or Cuba today?

[Renee]

Freese shows that stupidity is alive and well in Tampa Bay.

[NObama08]

This minority REFUSES to vote for a socialist. The ONLY ones playing the race card are the Messiah and those in his camp.
Show me one prominent Republican stating not to vote for him because he is half black. Thats right, there aren't any.

As if on cue again, the hypocrisy of the Repulicon Party comes through once again!

Professing to be Christian, while blaspheming our Savior by calling Obama the “Messiah”.

Professing to be Pro-Life, while the majority of “Abortion-on-Demand” is by 25-35 year old professional Republicon women, wives, staffers, daughters, and mistresses.

Christian & Pro-Life; so long as it doesn’t hurt the P&L Statement”

The Republicon Party; Hypocrisy Perfected!

This majority will REFUSE to vote for a senile, old, warmonger who thinks a milfwannabe should have the launch codes. The ONLY ones playing the race card are the McSame minions and those in his camp.

There are no prominent Republicans... Thats right, there aren't any.

[Lee]

The Obama campaign is playing the race card in expectations that he will lose the election in November (which he will most likely do).

The only thing is that he is going to lose because HE IS A SOCIALIST, A FAR LEFT LIBERAL, AND WANTS TO RAISE TAXES AND PROVIDE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

RACE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

“You can have your Tiger Woods (R-code for successful n-ger), we’ve got Senator McCain (R-code for old, senile, rich, white, and McSame as Dubya)”

McSame/Fail’n ’08! “Whites First; Country Last”

The McCain campaign is playing the race card in expectations that fellow KKK'rs will turn out in numbers. (which they will most likely do).

The only thing is that he is going to lose because HE IS A RACIST, A FAR RIGHT-WING-NUT, AND WANTS TO SEND MORE YOUNG AMERICANS TO DIE FOR CORPORATE PROFIT AND DADDYS REVENGE.

HONOR DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MCCAIN/PALIN.

[I am your commander in chief]

sept.24,2008 at 2:11 there you go with that racist thing again, it is McCain not McSame when you do that dising the Irish

“You can have your Tiger Woods (R-code for successful n-ger), we’ve got Senator McCain (R-code for old, senile, rich, white, and McSame as Dubya)”

McSame/Fail’n ’08! “Whites First; Country Last”

Keep up playing that race card, we'll see how well that works on election day.
Name one prominet Republican who has made a racist statement about Obama.

Is that crickets I hear?

The ONLY people injecting race into this campaign is Obama himself.

[Jason H]

Let's not forget that John McCain voted against the MLK holiday, twice.

A guy walks up wearing a black and white duck to highlight Obama's being biracial and it's Obama playing the race card? C'mon!

This race isn't about race but Mr. Freese's shirt and attendance sure is.

Please vote for the one you want without looking at skin color.

Really now; if everyone voted by skin color; McCain would blow out Obama.

But with 30% of white Democrats openly admitting in a poll that they will not vote for a black man; Obama has an uphill battle.

The white guy in the hat is one of those 30% of Democrats that will not vote for a black man.

It is sad that in this day and age, so many Democrats are still hung up on race.

I mean really; Clinton has an office in Harlem; Tiger Woods is the best athlete in the world; Ophra is the richest celebrity in the world; Condi Rice; Justice Thomas et al.

Democrats, get over it and stop being so racist. Lincoln freed the slaves; The Civil Rights Act was passed (thanks to Republicans); you have nominated a African American (maybe a white/African/Arab would be better description).

It is time to move on.

Barack Obama is a dirty RACIST just like Jeremiah Wright, Otis Moss, & Mike Pfleger.

Obama in definitely NOT right for America.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain wants rival Barack Obama to suspend their heated campaign and postpone Friday's debate because McSenile just found out that "Debate" wasn't that stuff you put on the end of your fishing hook!

McCain/Palin's new strategy; Hide the ho and run from the bro!

NEWS: John McCain has suspended his campaign & plans to delay debates to deal with our economic crisis. He plans to fly back to Washington D.C.

"COUNTRY FIRST"

Is "ME FIRST" Obama suspending his campaign?

NEWS: John McCain has suspended his campaign & plans to hide from the truth and pray the racists show up to vote!

McCain/Palin's new strategy; Hide the ho and run from the bro!

"COUNTRY LAST"

Is "ME FIRST" Palin suspending her affair with her husband's business partner?

How long is a debate? Few hours? Add in travel time...? A day total?

Sounds like delaying the debate to me. This crisis is not new as of today.

"I voted with the President 90% of the time..."

It's the democratric led Congress under Pelosi & Reid that is bickering away and not getting anything passed.
You can watch the bickering on CSPAN or CNBC. McCain is showing Presidential leadership by heading to D.C. instead of to the debate.

We are in an economic 9/11.

I say delay the debate for 3 or 4 days and get this bailout plan done.

Obama & Biden should go to Washington too. They are Senator.

This is a pure example of "Country First" or "Me First"

Hey look why should Obama try to actually do something instead of blow hot air.

And besides; by passing on actually doing something; he can continue pandering and trashing all things conservative.

Watch the liberal news tonight to see how they spin this in favor of the do-nothing Obama.

Obama is so smart, in his mind DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM is actually fixing it.

His vote on the mess: Present

I am waiting for the Obama campaign to issue a new statement:

Its the white guys fault.

I am waiting for the Obama caompaign to issue a new statement:

Its the white guys fault.

Yep, McCain swooping in NOW will fix the problem! Nevermind that he is not on the committees or anything, his presence alone is enough to solve this problem!

This is about the economy alright - and his transparent desire to avoid that topic during the debate. It's as transparent as why he chose his running mate.

Racism takes generations to mitigate.

Racists keep racism alive.

[Gilbert Ford]

If by chance we care to really look at things, OPENLY, race will ALWAYS be a question mark.

Sure, Senator(s) McCain and Obama have an idea of how they will lead this country, but the mere notion to think that America has come full circle with its racial history is an absolute farce.

Injecting race, while people are losing thier homes (both African American and Caucasian) shows the callousness of our American Society. Sure, Senator McCain voted against a Martin Luther King Holiday. Senator Obama voted against modifying the College Entrance Reform. Both pieces of legislation that ironically, sided with the opposites ethinicity. Are we to let, race decide what or how our children will learn or honor arguably one of the greatest Americans to have lived?

I, believe then, as I do now, that we need someone who can get our economy back on firm footing and have a strategy so we cannot fall victim to apathy as we did 9/11/01.

Lastly, I am a African American and a Republican, I have voted my party line for the last 30 years. These last 4 years has caused me to closely examine nearly every detail, however, race does not and will not help me decide, the economy, Iraq, and immigration will!

[kurt]

This is in response to Lee's comments.

Yes he wants to raise taxes... for the UPPER 5% and give all that back to the middle working class. This is what america has been BEGGING for for 50 years. They finally got it, the millionaires are getting taxxed more and the country can live off their backs, not Joe Smith.

Why are you so against universal health care? You seriously enjoy paying HUGE medical bills to wait longer and get horrible service for which you must pay for as well?

It's sad how much you've been brainwashed by your republican gods. Here in Canada, we enjoy FREE health care, EXTREMELY LOW wait times (avg 15 mins ANYWHERE in Manitoba)... and again, FREE! This is universal health care. It's going to save you money and keep you healthy, what the heck is wrong with that?

You REALLY want to not see someone elected that is going to bring money back to the working class?

Are you a corporate CEO? That is what this sounds like to me, a whiney rich person afraid of having to pay more money and actually CONTRIBUTE for once.

[wut]

In response to :

"

Hey look why should Obama try to actually do something instead of blow hot air.

And besides; by passing on actually doing something; he can continue pandering and trashing all things conservative.

Watch the liberal news tonight to see how they spin this in favor of the do-nothing Obama."

I think you're forgetting one point, he can't do ANYTHING if he has no POWER!!!

It's still the end decision of the senate, governors and of course, G Dubbya.

At this point Obama is powerless to do anything, McCain has the backing of every corrupt person in the country and can literally show his power by asking Dubya to do him a favor... and Obama is still winning people over.

For a guy that can't do ANYTHING, he's certainly doing a good job proving that he has what it takes to do something POSITIVE once in power.