Do we speak English or that one?

It appears the John McCain has angered some people by his use of "that one" during the debate. To quote from an article on the subject:

Don Hammonds of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also took offence.

"Regardless of intent, it showed Senator McCain to be culturally ignorant, and completely unaware of the implications of what his off-the-cuff statement meant to people of colour," he wrote.

"Whether Senator McCain meant it that way or not, if you are a person of colour, and someone trots out the 'that one' remark, you instantly take it as racist. I know that I did."

OK, I'll bite. What are the implications to a person of color? These are two extremely common English words. I had never heard of them having racial overtones. "That?" "One?" Put together as "That one?"

It wasn't perfect style. The contrast should have been "Him and me," or "That one and this one," but instead he said first, "That one" and later "me." But apparently this transcends rhetorical style and reflects, somehow, on McCain's psyche.

In fact, it says nothing about him at all. It says much more about the people who have taken offense. McCain was indeed trying to show that Obama was the "risky" candidate but not because he is black. He's the Democrat. McCain would have tried the same tactic on Hillary. It's simply politics.

The word "racist" springs immediately to the lips of many people with holier-than-thou attitudes towards anyone they consider to be less sensitive. The effect has been to trivialize the word, and by extension the reality of racism. Kathleen Parker, who wrote in the Washington Post that, "McCain supporters have tried to explain what he meant, but there's a reason it was so stunning in the moment. I'm don't think it was racist, as some have argued. But it was objectifying. "That one" isn't the same as "that man." One is an object; the other is a person. A human being. 'That one' has a dehumanizing effect and one is right to recoil."

He used a freaking pronoun. What exactly does "objectifying" mean? A "dehumanizing effect?"

Obama wants the big one. Many people don't want him to get it, and would think so if he were defined by his 50% whiteness rather than his 50% blackness. They are not obliged to give him special treatment. I rather think Obama knew this going in, although his supporters don't. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.