Why Arab is Accepted as a Slur

Campbell Brown wonders why being called an Arab is a slur:

Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.

Sen. John McCain: No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.

'No bias, no bull'

Now, I commend Sen. McCain for correcting that woman, for setting the record straight. But I do have one question -- so what if he was?

So what if Obama was Arab or Muslim? So what if John McCain was Arab or Muslim? Would it matter?

When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country? When did Arab and Muslim become dirty words? The equivalent of dishonorable or radical?

Whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim. And the media is complicit here, too. 

We've all been too quick to accept the idea that calling someone Muslim is a slur.

I'm glad the media is finally speaking out on all this hate mongering that's been going on. Whoever believes the media is on Obama's side or anyone's side is kidding themselves.

The media should've been fighting this a long while ago, not to support Obama but to be fair. Muslims have been unfairly smeared. 

The media seems to be firing back now in reaction to McCain Palin's thuggish supporters. Since they've come out of the closet, thanks to Palin, we can see more clearly how warped their thinking is.

The reason being called an Arab is accepted as a slur is because the McCain camp and the wingnut republican extremist have been fostering the notion that Arab = terrorist. The radical republicans believe that Islam is a bad religion. They figured if they could tie Obama to Islam then that makes Obama a bad person, a secret Muslim terrorist in the eyes of many. We have now taken for granted that whenever a republican calls someone an Arab they mean it as a slur.

Brown says:

I feel like I am stating the obvious here, but apparently it needs to be said: There is a difference between radical Muslims who support jihad against America and Muslims who want to practice their religion freely and have normal lives like anyone else.

But she's not stating the obvious. That's the whole ploy. While McCain and the radical republicans have been arguing against "radical Islam," what they're really against is Islam. But they won't say that out loud. You have to visit their websites and read their emails. 

Also, even if being Arab wasn't a slur, it wouldn't be an acceptable religion for a U.S. president because many Americans haven't benefited from our education system or a good upbringing. Many people grow up in families that foster hate. Being Arab or being something other than Christian is a little over many people's heads.