Alcee Hastings Says Palin "Don't Care Too Much about Jews and Blacks"

Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL) on September 24, 2008, made the following statement [ABC News: Florida Congressman: Palin 'Don't Care Too Much What They Do With Jews and Blacks', CNN: Florida congressman points to Palin to rally Jews to Obama, Post Chronicle: Alcee Hastings Attempts To Scare Jews About Palin] about Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), the Republican vice presidential nominee:

"If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention ... Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."

He also said:

"Just like Jews, blacks care about affordable health care, energy independence, and the separation of church and state ... And just like blacks, Jews care about equal pay for equal work, investment in alternative energy, and a woman's right to choose."

Hastings is accusing Palin -- along with "anybody toting guns and stripping moose" -- of racism and anti-Semitism. He is also implying that -- unlike "Jews and blacks" -- Palin and people like her don't care about "affordable health care, energy independence, and the separation of church and state ... equal pay for equal work, investment in alternative energy, and a woman's right to choose."

Hastings' accusations of racism and anti-Semitism are baseless and demonstrably false. Likewise his claims that Palin and people who carry guns and hunt don't care about affordable health care, alternative energy, etc., as opposed to Jewish people and black people.

There are plenty of gun-owning hunters who aren't racist or anti-Semitic, and who DO care about energy independence and the separation of church and state, etc. Similarly, I'm sure we can find a fair share of Jewish people and black people who DON'T care about these things.

Hastings is advocating stereotypes that are both false and malicious. It is easy to prove that these stereotypes are false -- I'm sure we'll be treated to a slew of examples over the next few days -- and the stereotypes serve to demonize his opponents.

If Hastings wants to stand by these stereotypes, he should be expected to provide evidence backing them up. If he can't -- or won't -- defend these stereotypes, then it's fair to denounce him for making false allegations of racism and anti-Semitism.

That is, he's engaging in malicious, dishonest identity politics (also known as "race-baiting" and "playing the race card").

(Reports indicate that that Hastings' comments were met with laughter and applause. His audience also deserves the be denounced for encouraging Hastings, rather than defying his remarks.)