Is Barack Obama the George Wallace of the Left?
By Bud White on March 31, 2008 at 8:32 PM in Bamboozling, Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Harold Ford, Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther King, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Sheila Jackson Lee
The code words are different this time around. Instead of appealing to whites’ fears of forced integration by mentioning busing, Obama has elicited black prejudice by using terms like like hoodwinked, bamboozled, and okie-doke.
Can you imagine another prominent African American politician using this language? Can you see the dignified Colin Powell using this dog-whistle? How about the politically moderate Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, Harold Ford, Jr.? Or the passionate Congresswoman Sheila Lee Jackson? Never. To truly transcend race is to reject the use of race in a divisive manner. Not only has Obama not rejected using race divisively, he has given birth to a whole new justification for the use of bigoted and racially divisive language and innuendo. In fact, Obama is exploiting the pain of racism experienced by African Americans to manipulate the emotions of anger and guilt as rallying cries for his ambitious assent to power.
The decision by Obama to use race against both Clintons has been well-documented and brutally effective. Obama has elicited black racism and defended it by appealing to white guilt. His defense of Revered Wright’s anti-American, anti-white racism was political contortionism in the extreme. His comment following his speech that his grandmother was a “typical white person” solidified for many people that Obama was not just of Rev. Wright’s church, but also one of Wright’s most enthusiastic disciples.
In many ways, Obama is the opposite of who he proclaims himself to be. He claims to be from outside of Washington, even while serving in the United States Senate, and his candidacy is supported by the Party’s most powerful powerbrokers.
He claims to be post-racial while practicing racial politics. As Christopher Hitchens, no friend of Mrs. Clinton, writes about Obama’s excuses for Revered Wright: “[I]s it ‘inflammatory’ to say that AIDS and drugs are wrecking the black community because the white power structure wishes it? No. Nor is it ‘controversial.’ It is wicked and stupid and false to say such a thing. And it not unimportantly negates everything that Obama says he stands for by way of advocating dignity and responsibility over the sick cults of paranoia and victimhood.”
Because Obama’s candidacy is based on his biography and race, the Left - including most liberal bloggers, The Nation magazine, George Packer of the New Yorker, MoveOn.org - have endorsed Obama for offering a “transformative” opportunity. This is simply a code word for purifying the nation by electing a black man. It’s tokenism in the extreme, and it’s significant that none of the liberal elites have endorsed Obama for his policy proposals, which as Paul Krugman has pointed out are rather impotent and to the right of Hillary Clinton.
If we are going to elect someone because of their color, it should be because that person wants to heal the nation. For example, Nelson Mandela, upon becoming the first Black president of South Africa formed the Truth and Reconciliation commission, refused to hate the whites who imprisoned him and his countrymen, and insisted that one form of hate could not replace another.
Obama says “the anger is real” in the black community. If that is the case, we must meet our racist heritage with a genuine attack on all racism, including the racism that Obama is generating against non-blacks.
As PM comments on mydd.com:
What Obama has done is to open all kinds of wounds without offering remedies. He has successfully divided the Democratic Party by using race for everything as his campaign/political strategy for political gain.
He has painted both blacks and whites with very broad strokes, almost offensively — equating blacks like Mayor Nutter and others with his pastor or equating whites who have always stood up for the welfare of black people as a typical white person (by implication racist).
Large sections of both groups on either side have consciously moved to make race relations better. But here is a vile politician who when caught with his hateful pastor has brought back the worst of the two groups and calling that the state of the union for his own political gain. America is not full of Archie Bunker types neither is it full of pastor Wrights.
This situation of Obama and Wright is just between those two — the indiscretion of a guy (who perhaps never planned to run for the highest office) associating with a pastor who preaches anti-American sermons. If some people, most people find it unacceptable in a future president, that is their prerogative and right. This Wright scandal has nothing to do with race, I repeat, nothing to do with race. For him to have made it such, is something to be shunned.
Obama’s racial politics are not the overt racism of George Wallace standing at a school door and proclaiming “segregation now, segregation forever.” It is the more odious kind; it’s the accusation of racism when none existed, the implication, the dog-whistle, and the double entendre. It is perhaps more divisive and hateful because it’s nearly impossible to defend yourself from the accusation. Bill Clinton really was saying that Obama’s position on the Iraq War was a “fairly tale.” It really did take Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson to pass Civil Rights legislation.
As Sean Wilentz writes in The New Republic regarding Obama’s use of race: “A review of what actually happened shows that the charges that the Clintons played the `race card’ were not simply false; they were deliberately manufactured by the Obama camp and trumpeted by a credulous and/or compliant press corps in order to strip away her once formidable majority among black voters and to outrage affluent, college-educated white liberals as well as college students.”
The absurdity of the accusation regarding the Clintons’ alleged use of race brings into relief Obama’s repugnant racial strategy. In Democratic primaries and in the General Election, Clinton clearly would want to have as many black supporters as possible.
To paraphrase Senator Ted Kennedy speaking of George Wallace, Obama’s racial politics not only need to be repudiated, they need to be defeated. As Democrats, if we are to be congruent with who we say we are, we must wash the stain of racial politics from our party forever.
I could no more vote for Obama than I could vote for George Wallace, and the reasons are much the same.
Excellent diary. Wow. I find myself agreeing with every word you write. And I agree with your final comments. I can’t and won’t vote for Obama. I don’t care what the DNC does. Thanks for a very insightful and good read.
As clear a description of this contest as I have heard.
But what about the other shoe? WHEN does it drop? WHY are they running this campaign? WHAT is the end game?
WHO does it benefit (beyond Barack and Michelle)?
There IS something afoot here, and it has not yet been described.
I so agree with your observations. One of the things that angered me the most in his campaign, was BO painting the Clinton’s as racist. They are most certainly not. It is one of the reason I don’t think that I will be able to vote for him in the GE if he is the nominee. I’m pretty much thinking this man is one big hypocrite, says he is new politics, but he is the worst kind of “old” politics.
He proclaims himself one thing, but is quite different from what he proclaims.
well said Bud and well researched
thank you
Most excellent! One thing that was so telling about Obama. When he was on The View, he was defending his “mentor” and “spiritual advisor” Wright’s comments about “God Damn America.” Obama had a wide open chance to speak his heart and mind with one of the most softball of all interviews, and he said of America “it’s the greatest Country EVEN WITH ALL OF IT’S FLAWS.” Was that a bone he was throwing to his faithful that agree with Wright? Could he, like his wife, be unable to proclaim his pride in America without that caveat?
I’m tiring of being called an ‘undeducated racist’ because I don’t support Obama. If all it takes for someone to be a racist is not supporting a black candidate, then why in the world was Alan Keyes or Al Sharpton never elected at President? Where were Kerry and Kennedy then? How about Donna Brazille? Pelosi? Dean? Daschle? Richardson?
What? They didn’t support those guys? Well, then they must be racists! Oh, because they didn’t agree with their issues or didn’t think they’d be the best choice for the Country? I guess that only applies when it’s anyone but Obama.
Great coverage of all the nightmare issues created by obama and his cult campaign.
Just perfect!
bravo bud! way to strip down to the brass tacks.
Fantastic Bud White. I’ve recommended it over at MYDD too and joined your defenders as the Obamabots attempt to push down free speech once again.
To above commenter– I didn’t hear Obama’s “America, you’re likeable enough (in spite of your flaws)” comment.
Makes me want to vomit. His supporters hate America as much as he does, he seems to need to Keep Hate Alive!
Great post and I agree with all the other comments, too.
MLK said he dreamed of a day when all men would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama based on his inexperience and based on the LACK of character he has evidenced in this campaign.
I am looking at Cynthia McKinney becasue I just can’t bring myself to vote for McCain either. And I feel so disloyal and terrible about this. My maternal granparents, who came to this country from Hungry in the 1800’s, ALWAYS voted Democrat. FDR was a saint to them. My father too was a strong Democrat all his life. He would not believe what our country and the Democratic Party has become. I am torn to pieces by all this. And I can’t understand what is happening. I am sometimes glad they are not here to see this.
Bud, I’m so happy to see this kind of analysis surface–and while you’re piece is contentious, it’s well documented and makes a real call to unity, not some glossy rhetorical tripe.
I’m intrigued by the venomous responses over at MyDD–I don’t go there often, seems like a juvenile site (I hope I’m not offending anyone) so maybe that explains why their calling for your head.
There are positive comments too, of course. One comment ask a question that I wish someone would look into–if there’s anyway to find out–he/she wonders if Obama didn’t distance himself from Wright, either in his speech or otherwise, because Wright has something on Obama. I think it’s an interesting idea and although it sounds a little conspiracy-theorist, it makes sense that Obama’s close personal tie with Wright, his pastor, would have made Wright Obama’s confidante.
Wright’s big house? Obama’s big donations to the church? I’m just saying.
Mary Jo,
Good Question. What I find intersting is that Wright’s house is 1.65 Million as was Obama’s.
Wonder if there was a realtor involved in the land sale? Who did the legal work? And, who is the Contractor for Wrights house, and a list of sub contractors would be nice.
I’d also like to know which lawyer set up Wrights trust after the sale of the land to Trinity Church!
What’s really fun is that prior to Rezko get arrested as a flight risk, there was 3 mil that arrived from the house of Auchi.
I would like to know which lawyer set up Wrights trust after the sale of the land to Trinity Church! as well!
This information is not on the web?
I want to know who the attorneys are who set up ita Rezko’s trust, Obama’s trust,Jabir Muhammad parents trust,Rev.Wrights trust, Rev Meeks? Ayers?
A tem million dollar line of credit for the church that is unaccountable, god for bid it is a slush fund for Obama….ok I know that kind of thing never happens…
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/23/113640/889
Obama’s defense of Wright and his un-American, racist hatemongering is a lot like a guy leaving a KKK rally and saying to his friend “You know I really like the Grand Wizard, but sometimes he’s controversial”.
I keep being amazed that Obama’s supporters, and apparently a lot of mainstream journalists, can see nothing wrong with Wright. Who the fuck are these asshats?
Thanks for your post, Bud White.
“Instead of appealing to whites’ fears of forced integration by mentioning busing, Obama has elicited black prejudice by using terms like like hoodwinked, bamboozled, and okie-doke.”
And it goes downhill from there. You start out w/ a premise that’s laughable and then chase inanity and innuendo straight into la la land.
Nicely done. Hmmmmmm… considering that Hillary has also used the terms bamboozled and hoodwinked, what does that say about her?
LOL
Bud, I agree that Obama is definitely working the race issue in this campaign, and I also believe that he and his campaign were the ones who “injected race” into it, as the saying goes. And I agree that’s it’s almost impossible to defend oneself against insidious accusations of racism. But to say that Obama’s racial politics are “more odious” and “perhaps more divisive and hateful” than George Wallace’s is an irresponsible exaggeration, and it diminishes the valid points you sought to make. That said, “Go Hillary!”
Great job, Bud. THANK YOU.
I would also like to say that I live in a city where this kind of politics prevailed — that is, the politics of the vindicated minority. What came to pass was a form of government and a municipal environment where reverse racism was the norm and was celebrated. EVERYONE suffered under this kind of system, and trust went out the window in the simplest of circumstances. The city was in the worst shape it was ever in.
You are so right: It will be devastating to this nation if Obama is given pass to usher this deepseated resentment into the White House — no less devastating than if we were to turn the clocks back 50 years.
I agree. Great job!
Ayers wants to take to the streets again.
[...] political attacks by insinuating that any criticism of him and his record is racially motivated. As Bud White pointed out earlier today Barack’s use of terms like “bamboozle” and [...]
[...] political attacks by insinuating that any criticism of him and his record is racially motivated. As Bud White pointed out earlier today Barack’s use of terms like “bamboozle” and [...]
Bud I agree with you 100%. I’ve been horrified by how the Obama campaign has been calling the Clinton’s racist. And then to hear him say that I’m a typical white person, pushed me over the edge. I’ve never been racist my whole life, and in fact I’ve fought against hate of all kinds. It’s amazing how one month can change how you feel about a person. I don’t trust Obama’s motives one bit, and he certainly does not deserve to be President. I’ll never vote for Obama for your same reasons. John McCain is a far greater American than Obama will ever be.
Wonderful post! Thank you Bud White. I especially liked your comparison with Sheila Jackson Lee, Michael Nutter, Harold Ford.
Obama’s corruption, phoniness and opportunism
are brought into sharp relief when you compare him with these people.
The evil brilliance of those who devised this character and charlatan campaign is matched only by their total lack of ethics, morals and humanity.
Shades of Karl Rove indeed!
Absolutely awesome, Bud. Thanks!
Bud White, grounded research well stated.
In reaction,
Obama;Man of La Mancha
Meanwhile, Michelle (Don Quixote’s niece) has gone with Obama’s housekeeper to seek advice from the local priest. But the priest wisely realizes that the two women are more concerned with the embarrassment Obama the knight’s madness may bring than with his welfare. The three sing “I’m Only Thinking of Him.”
ALDONZA
Why do you do these things?
DON QUIXOTEObama
What things?
ALDONZA
These ridiculous… the things you do!
DON QUIXOTEObama
I hope to add some measure of race to the world.
ALDONZA
But Rev Wright said, “The world’s a dung heap and we are maggots that crawl on it!
DON QUIXOTEObama
My Lady knows “gimmie some” in her heart.
ALDONZA
What’s in my heart will get me halfway to hell.
And you, Señor Don QUIXOTEObama-you’re going to take
such a beating!
DON QUIXOTEObama
Whether I spin or bamboz, does not matter.
ALDONZA
What does?
DON QUIXOTEObama
Only that I follow the quest. (of extorting the racial divide)
http://www.hanania.com/profiles/Rezko06-08-05.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/manoflamanchadonquixote/impossibledreamthequest.htm
Obama is a demagogue, pure and simple, who is only interested in rising to power and hanging on to it.
Best writing I’ve read this morning explaining in better words than my own why Obama is not a golden child, he’s just a human child along with the rest of us and if he wants to be president he has to pass all the same tests as everyone else. He isn’t a golden candidate, he’s just a candidate and if the Democratic party wants some credibility going into the GE against Saint McCain it is time to display credibility and act with decency. I have read every sort of pathetic smear against Clinton in the blogosphere, most of the blogoshpere needs to be ashamed of the crap they put out there and are now starting to be called on. Please keep clearly defining this horrible mess and writing pieces like this. I can’t believe the justifications that the smearers came up with for putting the garbage out there that they did and it is going to take a few more words like these to shake some people out of their reverie…they have so many justifications for staying in it.
Excellent writing, said much better than I could. He isn’t a golden candidate, he’s just a candidate. I’m really ashamed of the Hillary smear stuff I’ve witnessed out there coming from Democrats. Stuff ranging from her hairsytles to declaring that she and her husband aren’t a “normal” couple. I thought the Democratic party was working to lose that “normal” couple definition so that all couple’s who love each other could be couples. I change my hair all the time, maybe I need therapy for my identity crisis. People seem to have lost their minds and all sense of perspective and principle as well.
There’s a lively debate going on about Sen Obama being anti American over at riledup:
http://riledup.com/debate/1629/is-obama-an-anti-american-at-heart
I am assembling a whole list of vocabulary words that were perfectly acceptable without even a thought of racism before this racist became a candidate.
The man’s contacts are simply astounding. Simply astounding. The MSM has covered up for him. The republican party won’t. This man has no intention of ending the war, he just plans on reversing the direction of the fire.
[...] shut up and sit down or vote for him, else you are a racist. What we are seeing here is that Barack Obama is the George Wallace of The Left and it’s pretty [...]