Identity and politics

Not identity politics, thank you very much. I'm not going to go into the problems with that phrase here, but let's just all agree that most people's identities play a role in their political choices.

Anyway.

The thing that has bothered me most about this race is the nasty attitudes coming out about Sen. Obama (and to a lesser extent, Sen. Clinton and Gov. Palin, but I want to focus on the other thing right now). People have problems with him that they would never have about a white candidate — he has been accused of being an Arab and a Muslim (and, to paraphrase Gen. Powell, so what if he was? Young Americans who happen to be Arab or Muslim shouldn't dream of one day being president?), his image has appeared in racist propaganda — including proposed "food stamp" bucks that portrayed his face with a bucket of fried chicken and watermelon — and rumors have swirled that he "hates white people" or "wants to enslave white people" (that last one even showed up on PostSecret).

Ouch. Do people forget that he had a white mother, or that he was raised by his white grandparents? Do they forget that their values are the ones he learned? Anyone who has read "Dreams From My Father" or listened to him talk about his childhood knows that his mother and his grandparents were just as important to him in his formation of his identity.

I grew up in a similar situation to Sen. Obama. Though both of my parents are mixed, my mother's family identified as German and has for generations. They are the people who raised me, and I grew up mostly identifying myself the same way — but never have I been more aware of my mixed heritage than in this election, where it has become quite clear that people who are not "pure" can be horribly mistreated in public opinion with very little opposition or even attention. And when they point it out gently ("They're going to say I don't look like those presidents on the dollar bills" — and, ironically, one of the McCain campaign's ads does just that), they are accused of playing the race card.

And then a few days ago, I read an article that interviewed Democratic McCain supporters — and many of them gave Obama's heritage as their reason for supporting Sen. McCain. One person even said that he felt it was a sin to mix the races.

Ouch again.

I have no problem with people voting for the candidate of their choice, and in fact encourage it. I don't expect everyone to support the same person I do. But I wonder if people know how incredibly hurtful it is for those of us from similar backgrounds to hear their opinions on Sen. Obama's background? I wonder if they realize that attitudes like this are why so many of us who are part-white identify with our non-white ancestors more? I wonder if they realize that this kind of attitude is just as much "identity politics" as anything else?

And it's really hurtful to see people you thought well of use these tired, racist insults without even thinking that they might be offending or hurting someone.