Inside the mind of a McCain supporter--Obama is an Arab terrorist

by: Salaam

Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 07:55:27 AM EDT

Salaam writes: Gayle Quinnell is the woman in the video  above who calls Obama an "Arab terrorist" during a recent town hall event for McCain in Minnesota. The following is a transcript of an interview with the same woman after the event conducted by several reporters. This whole interaction is like the distilled essense of Razack's theory of the racialization of Muslims-"He's still got Muslim in him."

Noah: And just to be sure to make sure we got your quote OK, you called Obama and Arab terrorist?

Quinnell ardon?

Noah: You called him an Arab terrorist?  Is that correct?  Why do you think he is an Arab?

Quinnell Because his dad is.   If you... I'll send you the paper.

Female reporter: His dad is Muslim  His dad was Muslim.  Barack Obama has never been a Muslim.

Quinnell No but he's....

Dana Bash of CNN :he's a Christian.

Quinnell He's not an Arab either, he's a

Bush: His father was Muslim, and he's a Christian.

Quinnell Yeah , but he's still got Muslim in him.  So that's still part of him.  I got all the stuff from the library and I could send you all kinds of stuff on him.  In fact....

Bush: What did you think about McCain said.  He said he's a decent person.

Quinnell Well he did  have didn't have (unintelligible)  I think McCain  wanted to (unintelligible)  I don't think he wanted to say anything against him.   You know he didn't want to cut him down.  That was my way of thinking.  I don't think he wanted to cut him down.  So he just kind of brushed me off.

Reporter:  Plus he criticizes Barack Obama plenty himself, so why wouldn't he do it now?

Quinnell Well I probably brought up something that he didn't want to talk about.

Reporter: Do you think John McCain thinks that he's Arab?  Do you think he knows this stuff that you're saying you know is fact?

Quinnell I don't know.  I don't know.  Maybe he doesn't want to bring it up then.  I don't know why.    Is there some way I can get to you more information.

h/t Paul Rosenberg