McCain Supporters Who "Don't Look Right"

At a McCain rally in Cedar Falls, Iowa, McCain's staff escorted several attendees out of the area before the rally began. Evidently the McCain staff has begun "profiling" its supporters, and those that do not fit what they think is the "look" of a McCain supporter, those whom they think might disrupt the events, based on looks alone, are expelled from the area.

And just what is the demographic of these unwanted audience members? The young. Those who are college-aged.

Laura Elborno, who had protested at other McCain events but who said she had no plans to do so this time, was escorted from the event. She also said that had she begun protesting, then she would have understood the actions of the McCain staff. Others, however, who were escorted from the event were McCain supporters:

“I saw a couple that had been escorted out and they were confused as well, and the girl was crying, so I said ‘Why are you crying? and she said ‘I already voted for McCain, I’m a Republican, and they said we had to leave because we didn’t look right,’” Elborno said. “They were handpicking these people and they had nothing to go off of, besides the way the people looked.” (from: Dylan Boyle, "Pre-emptive Ejection: Audience Members Removed from McCain Rally in Cedar Falls," The Iowa State Daily, October 28, 2008.)

Hat tip to Steve Benen at The Washington Monthly.

Perhaps the McCain Campaign will apologize, just as they did in this situation.

Update: Ummmm.... okay....Maybe this helps us understand (if not agree with) the McCain campaign's dissing college-aged attendees at McCain rallies: a list of the college newspapers that are endorsing Obama:"BMOC: College Papers Back Obama -- by 79 to 1," by Dexter Hill, posted on Editor and Publisher, Oct. 31, 2008.) Hat tip to Steve Benen, Washington Monthly.