Last week in North Carolina Sarah Palin said, "We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." In what may have been her "cling-to-guns" moment, Sarah Palin potentially alienated the large portion of America that does not live in small towns.
Some critics say Palin's comments were polarizing at best, and perhaps at worst a veiled attempt to say real America is white, not multi-ethnic like the cities. Jon Stewart found a positive edge – if McCain loses the "American" election, he can still be president of the real America that matters. Despite his attempt at silver lining, Palin's comments obviously upset Jon, who also said on last night's show: "I guess if you're from New York City and you signed up to fight in Iraq and died, it doesn't count."
Jon went on to issue a quiz to help viewers figure out if they're in fact "real Americans." To take the quiz with Jon, read more.
Source
Charles Tyrwhitt
Oh, how I wish I still had speakers...
1Way to go Palin! Just keep diggin'.
I remember hearing Gov. Palin make this statement live on TV and thinking, "Well, I wonder if I'm a REAL American in Real America?"
I'm guessing I'm not because 1) I'm not white and 2) I live in San Francisco. Double whammy bad American.
And she's very good at these code words. "Welfare"= black people - Gov. Palin would probably say 'colored people'.
"Real Americans" = Alaskans and republicans
"Socialist" = Anyone who's thoughts or actions are different from hers
"taxes" = democrats
"liberal" = democrats
"deficit" = democrats
"Joe Six-Pack" = the white dude with the Confederate Flag on his car, who yearns for the days when beating non-whites was acceptable.
2Oops I forgot
"Hockey Moms" = white women who clutch their purses tightly when a minority is too close for comfort.
"Pitbull in lipstick" = a failed beauty queen/journalist, with a unwed pregnant teenage daughter and a fixation on being perceived as being smart and sexy without actually being too smart.
3Oh, Jon Stewart. If things don't work out with your wife, please give me a call...
Michele Bachmann is nuts. I sent her a letter asking her to please stop embarrassing the state of Minnesota.
4Divided we fall Sarah. It is very disturbing that someone running for political office would even think to make statements like this.
5No kidding Ladyr...you'd think they'd have more class than that. It's so insulting.
6This would have gone under the radar if Pfotenhaur didn't dig a bigger hole claiming there was a "Real Virginia" or if Bachmann from Minnesota didn't start going on her McCarthy rant about anti-Americans.
And how about her going on today about VP's being "in charge of the US Senate"!?!?!?!
7wack: San Francisco!? She probably doesn't even think you guys have the vote, seriously.
Okay I'm trying to figure out if I'm a "real American."
Real American:
I currently live in a small town!!
On MAIN STREET! (Oh wait, is Main Street Obama's street?)
I like pizza!
I'd totally drive a Ford now!
I have a flag outside my house. I don't know why though...
I'm white. (okay okay, putting words in her mouth with that one)
I've only been to NYC, like, three times.
Move to Canada (you socialist!:
8There is no Walmart in my small town.
I like falafel.
I don't go to church.
I am a Democrat!
I'm a vegetarian.
I drive a Toyota.
I'm a student.
I lived in LA, and liked it!
Adrenalynn don't forget Joe McCain saying that Northern Virginia is "communist country."
9
-- I love you Jon!!!!
10lil - HE SAID THAT?!?!?!?!?! Wow....
11WTPFF !!! I'm soo using that now!!
12I thought Northern Virginia was Flavor Country.
13He later apologized and said it was a joke.
"WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain's brother made an apparent joke at a campaign rally this weekend that might not play well in parts of newly competitive Virginia.
Joe McCain, speaking at an event in support of his brother, called two Democratic-leaning areas in Northern Virginia "communist country," according to a report on The Washington Post's Web site.
"I've lived here for at least 10 years and before that about every third duty I was in either Arlington or Alexandria, up in communist country," Joe McCain said at an event in Loudon County, Va."
14http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hby_5Pku5ywmfC_rEtEV5BcYKR5gD93KDFPO0
[VP's being "in charge of the US Senate"!?!?!?!]
What -- like a hall monitor or something????
15Liberty -- you forgot to add the Clarification!!! Now that was funny!!!
16http://teamsugar.com/group/2385592/blog/2393424
A good number of people in the very conservative parts of VA look at Northern Virginia as the fake area of VA. They consider them liberal transplants from MD, NY, NJ, and CA. But, a lot of the residents in Northern Virginia come from other parts of VA.
17Jon Stewart is hilarious!
18I love how everything boils down to Communism or Socialism. If it isn't Capitalism it's ____________
19Oh, Dreamsugar pick my answer....
"...If it isn't Capitalism, it's Smuckers!"
Is that right?
20
21A for effort
There is nothing I love more than pissed off Jon Stewart.
22I hate the idea that some kinds of American are more or less American than others. I hate, hate, HATE it. Way to be divisive and manipulative.
23Also, way to fail at math and election strategy, since an overwhelming majority of Americans do not live in small towns.
24I felt that it was a transparent attempt to reignite the culture wars.
25Am I an American? Lets see...
-I was born in Los Angeles, and I now live in Portland
:( 
-I am Agnostic/Atheist on some days
-I'm a Democrat
-I'm of Cuban/Afican/Japanese American descent
-I don't agree with McCain's "message"
-I support freedom of religion (read: I understand Muslim doesn't equal terrorist)
-I pay my taxes
-I have citizenship
-I volunteer in public schools
-I go to a liberal arts college
-I consider myself to be intelligent (most days) and I don't think that makes me an elitist
Hmmm I could go on, but I've already wacked up a sh*t ton on sad faces...I guess I'm not American.
26A joke?!?! Well I just read Palin went on CNN to apologize for her pro-America statement. How sad....
27Jessiebanana - no.
28For not being "Real Americans" Jessie we do get a lovely parting gift though.
29All the grief you can carry. Wait grief and French Fries.
What the pfu*ck? I thought this "if you have something negative to say about government then you're anti-America" garbage was going to end with Bush. I can't believe Palin would start some sh*t like this. I rarely curse, but I swear these kinds of devisive tactics are below the belt and make me so angry. They attack the fundamentals of our government and try to silence the opposition. No one wants to be labeled anti-American, so if you don't want that label you better what? Get with the program?!?!?!
Whatever happened to the beginning of the campaign when McCain said he wouldn't challenge anyones love of America, just because they disagree with him...
30He needs to check his party and his VP candidate.
Jessie:
-I pay my taxes
"Joe Biden calls higher taxes patriotic. But Joe the plumber and Ed the dairy man, I believe that they think that it sounds more like socialism. Friends, now is no time to experiment with socialism."
http://voices.kansascity.com/node/2482
-"I volunteer in public schools"
I certainly hope you don't organize anything in your community though!
I believe that being a Democrat and not supporting McCain would also make you not part of "real America."
They really should provide a list though, it's awfully confusing.
31I missed the sad face next to Democrat...
32This "real America" bullsh*t is infuriating to me. She needs to shut her fat mouth.
33Snowbunny your right...I'm real torn up that I dare imply paying taxes or volunteering with unsuspecting influencable children was patriotic.
Oh and I missed the sad face next to not supporting McCain, must be a freudian slip...
34Jon is awesome.
I remember seeing him at LAX waiting to board a flight to NY. I know this because I was getting on the same flight, economy class of course. He's not very tall, probably 5'8" at most but probably really 5'6, 5' 7.
Just some random info for y'all. I've been full of it lately. Randomness, I mean.
35I'm not American either:
-I support someone who "pals around with terrorists"
-I lived in an exotic country (Philippines) when I was young
-I don't believe in God
-I'm pro-choice because I DO BELIEVE the health of the mother is important
-I don't like people who kill wolves from airplanes
-I watch MSNBC
-I believe Muslims born and raised in American can one day be President
-I heart Canada (Banff & Whistler!)
-Acorns I'm ok with, but squirrels are nothing but rodents
36oh, jeez. relax. everyone says things tailored to the audience they are speaking to, including obama. and murtha. everyone has to jump to conclusions about this...pro-white, pro-whatever. there are plenty of minorities in big cities and small towns alike. semantics.
anybody ever walked into a store with a "women's" section and gotten all worked up?
37I love you, HF
38Middle America hears insults all the time. "Fly-over states" comes to mind. People use that phrase daily like it isn't an insult. Well, it's an insult if you live in a 'fly-over state.' Add that to the 'cling to guns and religion,' and this pales in comparison (unless you assume everything wack posted is true).
IMHO, it's a political speech. Politicians try to connect to their audiences through their words. Jon Stewart makes his living panning politicians, and to me, this speech was such a benign issue. Was anyone there to verify that there wasn't a single non-white person in the room? Then that point is moot. Plenty of small towns have a diverse population.
39I love YOU Jude!
40Wait a minute...are we making lists not about why we're SO unAmerican? Trust me...my list would be longer than all of yours.
Maybe Jude's could rival mine though. I challenge you to a list-ing duel, Jude! May the best
non-American win!
41Oooooh what are the rules indie?
42word, choo. and is anyone with me on the "women's" section?
43The rules are...there are NO rules.
Oooh.
44ChooChoo she implied that if you don't live in a small town you're not a real Americans. It's not just a political speech. It's devisive and insulting.
45kath the women's section refers to the type of clothes you'll find. Misses (0-18), Womens (18-24+/plus sizes), Juniors (tween-teen)styles and sizes, kids (infant-tween), Mens (men's clothing all sizes), jewelry(earrings,watches,etc.), housewares.
46No rules is the only way I play!!!!
47and implying that if you do live in a small town, you cling to guns & religion isn't insulting? they are all politicians. it's what they do. frankly, until we all get sick and tired of it coming from both sides, nothing's going to change.
48I think both statements were insulting, but the topic discussed here was Palin's "pro America statement".
49i'm familiar with the sizing rules. i was making an apparently too-subtle point.
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