It Ain’t the Color of the Skin, It’s the Thickness
By Larry Johnson on April 22, 2008 at 10:37 AM in Current Affairs
Barack Obama’s supporters, fearing a blowout in Pennsylvania, are already “preparing the battlefield” for the spin war to come tonight. As Susan noted so brilliantly yesterday, the root of the racism that permeates Barack’s campaign resides in fear. A Hillary victory in Pennsylvania today will stoke their fears. They will attribute Barack’s poor showing to racism. You know, “white Americans don’t want to vote for a black man.”
What Barry Obama and his acolytes don’t understand is that today most Americans don’t give a damn about how much melanin you have. The days of Jim Crow are gone. The days of putting people with dark skin at the back of the bus are gone. It is not the norm. It was in the sixties, but the courage of Martin Luther King and other black leaders coupled with the action of white leaders, such as Lyndon Johnson and the Civil Rights Act, helped us start turning a corner on race relations.
Those of us who are over fifty can remember a time when it was unusual to have a black man or woman serve in public office. Blacks weren’t mayors, governors, or senators. But no longer. We don’t just celebrate black entertainers and black athletes. Dr. King’s dream is becoming fact. But Barack and his campaign have tried, with some success, to play the victim card.
He did this the other day when he performed his Jay-Z mime. (See this link for the full story.)
He and his campaign did it in January when they pushed the message that Bill and Hillary Clinton were racists. As reported by Sam Stein at the Huffington Post:
Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has prepared a detailed memo listing various instances in which it perceived Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign to have deliberately played the race card in the Democratic primary. [See the full memo here.]
The memo, which was obtained by the Huffington Post and has been made public elsewhere, is believed to have been given to an activist and contains mostly excerpts from different media reports. It lists the contact info and name of Obama’s South Carolina press secretary, Amaya Smith, and is broken down into five incidents in which either Clinton, her husband Bill, or campaign surrogates made comments that could be interpreted as racially insensitive.
The document provides an indication that, in private, the Obama campaign is seeking to capitalize on the view - and push the narrative - that the Clintons are using race-related issues for political leverage. In public, the Obama campaign has denied that they are trying to propagate such a perception, noting that the document never was sent to the press.
Bill Clinton, whatever his personal faults, has been a leader in trying to erase the remnants of racism from American society. And now, because he has the audacity to fight for his wife’s nomination as President he is vilified by many of Barack’s followers as a Jim Crow, KKK, noose-toting racist. Well, most white folks see thru this nonsense. We are sick of the race card. We don’t want to go back to separate but equal. We just want equal.
Unfortunately, Barack’s campaign pushes the message–sometimes subtlely and sometimes blantantly–that criticism of Barack is racist. If you have dark skin and don’t support Barack you are a self-hating black person. That’s the nonsense that is turning off many American voters.
It is not Barack’s beautiful chocolate skin tone that turns many of us off. It is the realization that he is thin skinned. His reaction to his poor performance at the last debate in Pennsylvania comes off as petulant, whiney, and juvenile. When Hillary confronts her previous tormentors–Richard Mellon Scaife springs to mind–she did not react like the stereotyped bitch the media promotes. Turns out she is gracious, charming, and can laugh at herself. It is these traits–being able to smile and remain calm when you are in the midst of a crisis–that Americans want in their President.
So Barack, you can stick the race card where the sun doesn’t shine. Toughen up and get some callouses. If our challenges to your candidacy chafes your ass, then you are certainly not ready for the bloodsport that is general election. Hopefully the good people of Pennsylvania send a clear message today that you need more seasoning, more grace, and more patience. It has nothing to do with the color of your skin. It has everything to do with you being too thin skinned.
“They will attribute Barack’s poor showing to racism. You know, “white Americans don’t want to vote for a black man.””
I disagree, Larry. It would be suicidal for Barack’s campaign to insult the white voters he will need in the future primaries and the general election by declaring that white people won’t vote for the black man. In fact, if anyone raises that issue, Obama will likely smack it down by saying, “no, white people voted heavily for me in Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia, etc. So, I don’t think that’s the issue.” He’s not a moron, despite what many here think. He knows he cannot win by alienating white voters in the manner Larry has predicted he will.
He already HAS insulted white voters.
Hello Uppity,
And by serious lack of judgment in his choice of mentors more specifically to me personally being a “typical white person” in two parts: garlic-nosed and whatever derogatory remark his mentors use against my Jewish half.
I was a Hill supporter long before that stuff came out, but I can tell you since it came out, it has strengthened my resolve to help defeat him.
And I try to live a life of equality: I would vote for a black President if and when a seasoned, mature, wise women or man with sound judgment is presented to us. BO is none of those things.
Ciao,
G-N-G
>>> garlic-nosed and …my Jewish half.
Got any sisters?
Ah, a chow hound’s fantasy: a Jewish girl who can (and will) cook.
quite true.
“quite true” was to Uppity’s remark that Obama has already insulted white voters.
I thought that was his game plan, to insult/shame white voters into voting for him.
It’s all about the content of his character.
Zero. Zip. Nada.
Yeah exactly. That’s about all he does. Or QED: wee Barry can’t get these demographics so his tactic - if it exists - must be an utter failure.
You give Obama way too much credit. His blogosphere supporters will call PA white voters racist. NC is coming up. Every time there is a primary with a lot of AA voters, the Obama camp yells racism. They will do it again to galvanize the AA vote in NC.
Of course the question remains for them — “So if Democrats are racists, you think independents and swing Republicans won’t be in the GE? Really? You think only white Democrats are racist? You think you can get the white vote against McCain? Say that again?”
thing that they don’t realize is it’s also going to galvanize the white vote in NC. I don’t consider NC to have a large black population, everything that I have seen indicates in the 20 to 25% range, and all of those are not eligible to vote. There is also a large and growing hispanic population. At least in my city, they probably outnumber the black population.
where are you from barbh? I live in Durham.
Lots of hispanics in Durham. Huge numbers. Sounds like Hillary votes if they’re legal.
Jeff….Obama is ALREADY saying it is because White won’t vote for him… you know the racist whites won’t vote for him. That is what the BITTER comment was about. The prelude to the comment was an explanation of why he may not do well in PA. You see there is nothing wrong with him, only everything wrong with the Typical White Voter… especially in small towns where they are bitter and clinging and can’t accept anyone different than them.
He plays it both ways.. some whites (the smart opened minded ones) will vote for him. The poor uneducated ones will not.
They have played on the guilt of the white person to not vote for the black man. That a white person has to vote for a black man to prove he/she is not racist.
This game is and has been playing out….open your eyes… he is already doing it.
ABO
Anybody but Obama
RISE HIllary RISE
Well he’s right. I would never vote for him. The sexist pig.
Percy said “They have played on the guilt of the white person to not vote for the black man. That a white person has to vote for a black man to prove he/she is not racist.”
I think that works well for the latte liberal elite whites who see Obama as cleansing for them. But the rest of white America (middle and working class) is not motivated by guilt. Those tactics will backfire.
Yes but they still try. I’ve seen the tactic used around the globe. Indiscriminately. I am SO sick and tired of it. Sirens go off right away too.
Or course when very few Blacks vote for white Hillary, that is not a form of racism. Gander….. Goose…how does that go? (Tongue in Cheek)
When people like Mayor Nutter make it okay to vote for the qualified, I don’t think that any of us have to seek permission. Just one woman’s opinion.
This white NC person will vote for the most qualified candidate. It is not my fault that Obama isn’t that candidate.
“Obama is ALREADY saying it is because White won’t vote for him… you know the racist whites won’t vote for him.”
direct quote please? Where does he say exactly what you state, not that’s how you’re interpreting it.
Kevin
Put 2 + 2 together and go figure it out. You continually ask for quotes, quotes, quotes. Some things are transmitted implicity and through a variety of conversational avenues, i.e., body language. We aren’t children here and have lived long enough to pick up on communication cues.
You are always petulant with these demands for quotes. You remind me of a child asking his mother, “Why?!” to which the mother says, ” Because I said so!” Okay! Take it on faith even if you can’t stomach it. We can sense this guy stinks from everything he’s said and done. We weren’t born yesterday.
Sorry this isn’t good enough for you. But I don’t give a shit.
“body language”???! if you’re going to make a charge as the commentor did, then back it up - rather than blow it up with hyperbole - otherwise you’re as bad as the opposition supporters you regularly kvetch about.
Your body language comment is almost as silly as the whole “he flipped her the bird thing”… geez.
And by the way hope, thanks for sharing your opinion, but as the question wasn’t put to you I could care less whether or not you give a sh*t or not…
Oh Boohoo Kevin.
Archie Buker? Didn’t Obama call his loss in Ohio due to Archie Bunkers? That is racial stereotyping.
Well this typical white woman will not be voting for him.
I WOULD vote for his grandmother though.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect with Obama, the DNC, and Obama’s supporters, about the fact that there is still a GE to contend with.
Perhaps they’re being too optimistic or naive to realize that they’re burning bridges that will come back to haunt them if Obama succeeds in getting the nod, and faces a moderate Republican.
The endgame for Obama’s support seems to be getting the nomination. Period. Should someone clue his supporters that the nomination is only half-time?
No they think the Republicans are going to stay home so they won’t need the rest of us.
I think your absolutely right Uppity, I think that they are delusional.
Actually, I have been told many many times by Obamabots that soooooo many Republicans and new voters will drive Obama into the White House that my vote is irrelevant. The sad thing is, they really believe it.
Well….The weather is good on Fantasy Island….
Ignorance is bliss.
Well they think like fools then. We will turn on them. I’d rather have McCain in there then this
snot-nosed elitist. He needs to be sent home with his tail between his legs then made to sit in the corner of his bedroom with a dunce cap on his silly little head.
I sometimes think that the uber-plot is to get the nomination in order to lose the GE.
Hmmm. I have been saying for a while now that the only way that Obummer makes sense is if he is a ringer. Then we are left of two dreadful choices…thank you Karl Rove.
But Mighty Hillary will save us all even those who do not deserve it.
I predict today is going to be a huge victory for Hillary and Obummer will have to stay in hiding for a while longer.
“I have been saying for a while now that the only way that Obummer makes sense is if he is a ringer.”
Right. No way he’s just a better politician who has out-campaigned her, out-fundraised her, and out-fought her.
He’s definitely out fund raised her. But that isn’t accomplishing much. He certainly is the dirtier campaigner, but I’m not sure that I would be bringing that up. As for out fighting her …. if she had won 11 caucuses in a row, do you think she’d have lost the BIG STATES? Come on, I know that the accoustics are better up your ass, but you aren’t seeing the truth.
“He’s definitely out fund raised her. But that isn’t accomplishing much”
ROFLMAO… c’mon Bee - stick to the substantive stuff, there’s plenty to work with. To suddenly discount the fact that he’s out fund raised her just because he has - with a flippant, “that isn’t accomplishing much” is beneath you
Kev…Baby-O is headed for POLITICAL OBLIVION either way you cut it…
Too bad he just didn’t send it to a worthy cause, cuz he certainly didn’t get much traction in Pennsylvania outside of Philly. I can’t wait to hear the media do a per vote break down on the OBSCENE amount of money spent.
Too bad he couldn’t trouble himself to get Rezko to spend a couple buck to fix the heat in those slums in Chicago.
We will see who gets the last laugh Jeff. Even if he gets the nomination he’ll have to pay up. Then we shall see just how good a politican he really is when the big boys come after him. He hasn’t paid his dues yet.
Jeff –
BO is much better at bullshit –that’s a fact. As far as out-fundraising… tell me you really don’t believe that millions of minions have been contributing to him? More like hundred of Bundlers, Lobbyists, Bundlers and more Bundlers from Wall Street, and obviouosly, San Francisco and Beverly Hills.
Out campaigned her? Please more like obscenely flashing his money around, squandering it on T.V. Ads and slime mail-outs. You know, he’s gotta flash that bling-bling around to show was a Baller he is.
Yup and he spent 4 to 1 in PA and she is about to whoop him there. I’m telling you Kev, “It’s The Women, Stupid”. You folks just don’t want to believe it, but you will in the end.
I don’t think some people truly understand the depth of loyalty we women have to Hillary. It goes deeper than a political penchant.
My thought is that Obama is being funded merely to keep Clinton out of the GE.
IF Obama “wins” the nomination — then I expect to see his unlimited funding dry up.
Hillary will win the nomination. The Obamabots won’t riot — that would take the brats away from their computers. It’s an empty threat.
There is a serious rift in the party beyond Hillary and/or Obama. The left centrists and elite have taken control through the use of super delegates and keeping Fla and Mi out of the counting UNTIL AFTER Hillary is defeated prior to the convention.
The game plan is obvious. Obama’s connections to Wright,Ayers.etc were necessary for him as an opportunistic politician to gain traction in Chicago where it is “cool” to be radically chic, and successful politically.
Now it may haunt him as it is sure to in the general. His high handed manner with the media will eventually cost him as well, but for now he is being made inaccessable to protect him from error, or explanation as he needs to CLOSE. He has trouble closing against a formidable opponet and fighter like Hillary.
The party is TERRIFIED about losing their Black Voters. Without them, Democrats feel they will be sorely disadvantaged, and Blacks demand that Obama get the nomination NO MATTER What. Black caucus is all powerful in Dem Party, and Dean,Kerry,Pelosi and the rest are all going left centrist with the young left voters. Unsurprisingly neither Obama or any of the cabal within the party attempting to coronate him are leftists, but will kiss ass to get their votes.
The party is corrupt, ill run, and has shown appallingly bad judgement. Should Hillary by a miracle get to the convention and fight for and get the nomination,she will be tagged as illegitimate by the black voters and by the GOP.
The Democratic party leadership has once more shown its inability to lead or rule. Obama could win in the general, but I feel it is unlikely as the Rezko baggage has yet to reach a crescendo which it certainly will. While nothing will turn off Obamacons, there are others to whom this will matter a lot.
Let’s hope for a miracle.
If her margins are large and she keeps winning (as I suspect she will from now on) they can’t complain.
She will have the POPULAR vote and will be statistically even in delegates.
If she only barely wins in PA and loses NC, Ind and Oregon by big margins……
she will have to either take the VP spot or bow out and then
McKOOK is Pretzeldent.
sigh
what a fight
it’s a crime all this info on BHO didn’t come out a friggen YEAR ago! Shame on the MEDIA BIAS!
The demographic truth is that balcks are not as necessary a voting block in the Democratic party as they used to be. Women and Latinos have far greater numbers. But the old-school party apparatchniks like Dean have given AAs disproportionate power in this primary.
The demographic truth is that this may be the last time that black voters have real relevance as a block in the Democratic party. This is their last chance. And if their guy gets the nomination, but they can’t help him deliver the country in the GE, the Democratic party will have to switch its focus to women and Latinos. That the party leadership doesn’t seem to recognize this is astounding to me.
If Obama is the nominee, there will be headlines after McCain is elected reading “Women, Latinos deliver McCain victory.” And the Obamabots will say white women and Latinos are just racist and it’s all Hillary’s fault. And the Democratic Party willl have to purge itself of the influence of these old-schoolers or the Republican multigenerational hegemony will continue.
It is Obama who is old school.
are you saying that Hillary could win without Black support? just as Hillary’s supporters point out that Obama will need the support of “Hillary’s people” - the same goes the other way.
Ok, the Dems lose the black voters– to whom? The GOP? Sister (Souljah?sp), where are you now?
they won’t vote, or they will vote their pocketbooks, like my AA neighbor has the last two elections when she thought GWB was going to bring taxcuts home to her.
I think they just stay at home.
unlike the clinton supporters who’ve sworn to vote for McCain if Hillary doesn’t win.
I never said they lose black voters. I said black voters won’t be decidng the nominee.
I never said they lose black voters. I said black voters won’t be deciding the nominee.
Spot on. Given the margins that Democrats win in contested states and districts they cannot afford to lose even 10% of the AA vote.
Just look how close the votes were for most of new Democratic senators like Tester and Webb to name but a few.
Now losing the AA vote in gerrymandered districts and hard blue states is pretty much irrelevant. But in the big scheme of things the Dems need to keep the AA voters on board if they don’t want to go the way of the whigs.
Obama cannot win the general election because there are too many people like me who will NEVER vote for anybody who divides the country or the party by race is order to gain an advantage. That is too dangerous to our country and I will vote for McCain before I vote for Obama.
More like preseason football players when the “not ready for prime time” players are let go….
Uh Jeff, his minions started calling us racists months ago. I was called one over at KOS just because I asked that we not start eating each other.
I care about racism like they care about sexist. Let me know when that changes and I will get right on it.
“Uh Jeff, his minions started calling us racists months ago. I was called one over at KOS just because I asked that we not start eating each other.”
Being called a racist by Obama supporters at Kos is a world apart from Barack Obama himself having said those things. Hillary Clinton supporters here at No Quarter have called me racist, sexist, and many other unprintable slanders. I certainly don’t take from those experiences “Hillary Clinton called me racist and sexist”!
People here need to get some perspective on this glaring difference.
“thas alri” go twist your own knife Jeff.
he insults white people regularly. also women.
i know you say he couldn’t possibly be dumb enough to insult large groups whose votes he needs. sadly for you and gladly for the country, he is dumb enough.
Generally he leaves the race baiting and racist labeling stuff to his followers so as to appear above the fray.
Yobama more than happy to let people like Kos, Sirota and Marshall fling the racist card at whites.
Of course yobama can’t really hide his own racist views of whites. How could he when he was mentored by the bigot and black separatist Wright for the last 20 years. It slips out now and then, in his book the Audacity of Hope where he repudiates his white half and in his comments where he compares his grandmother to that black David Duke Wright, to calling whites born racists.
The funny thing if any white Democrat ever uttered the same comments toward AA’s or had the friends Obama they’d be lynched by the very same liberals supporting yobama.
what’s the implication of “yobama”, my friend?
It must be racist. Stick it.
Well, what’s the implication that you derive from the nickname “Yobama”? Perhaps rwc’s comparing him to Yoda? Spell it out for me.
Can you explain “shillary” to me?
So you admit this is offensive to black folks, just as “Shrillary” is to women? Very well.
yobama makes perfect sense spoken by a philadelphian…
Wouldn’t that be a compliment from a Philadelphian?
Not in the manner of “yo mamma,” as I recall, but hey you go!
“Generally he leaves the race baiting and racist labeling stuff to his followers so as to appear above the fray.”
Then by your logic, Hillary the candidate is personally responsible for the most whacked-out comments of the posters on this board.
He did it in Ohio
According to this morning’s New York Times — the comment might have been lost because it was buried in an article talking about how the “older voter” will vote for Hillary in Pennsylvania … but here’s the real issue that no one is allowed to bring up if they are white:
Only race is a stronger predictor of voting than age, and then only if a voter is black, not if he or she is white. How come its okay that 90% of AA’s vote for him and no one seems to have an issue with that? Just askin’ and not sayin anything ….
jeff — the problem is Obama IS thin skinned. He has attacked white people as racist many times. You don’t attend that hate filled house of worship for 20 years without picking up some of the lingo.
“He has attacked white people as racist many times. “
OK, now when he has ever “attacked white people as racist”?
Ok Jeff how about his grandmother the typical white person? Or maybe telling a San Francisco fundraiser that the people in the small towns of Pa will never vote for him because they cling to their churches and their guns and would never vote for someone with a different skin color. If those aren’t racist remarks than what is?
“Ok Jeff how about his grandmother the typical white person? Or maybe telling a San Francisco fundraiser that the people in the small towns of Pa will never vote for him because they cling to their churches and their guns and would never vote for someone with a different skin color. If those aren’t racist remarks than what is?”
Obama is half-white. He has as much right to call his grandmother a typical white person as any other white person does. He was obviously explaining that her behavior and attitudes were normal–not racist.
“Or maybe telling a San Francisco fundraiser that the people in the small towns of Pa will never vote for him because they cling to their churches and their guns and would never vote for someone with a different skin color.”
He never said this. He never said that gun owners and church-goers of small towns would “never vote for him”, and he never said they “would never vote for someone with a different skin color”. You are projecting your own opinion onto his remarks, and distorting them.
Wrong Jeff–If you are running for the Presidency of the United States where the majority of the population is white and you want to win the majority of the votes — you don’t attack white people.
Obama has a thin skin. You don’t vote for me and you’re against me. Thats total crap. If Obama wants the biggest job in the world he needs to suck it up or get out of the race. Where is all the HOPE? Sheeeeeze the guy is getting on my nerves. We cannot worry about what mood he’s in on any given day — its HIS problem to worry about us.
The person who is the CANDIDATE…is ultimately responsible for the words and actions of subordinates….OBAMESSIAH through Axelrove and his minions played the race and sexist card. The buck has to stop somewhere…That is universal whether you are GWB or lil baby-O
I am a lifelong Democrat, and I will NEVER vote for Obama.
“I am a lifelong Democrat, and I will NEVER vote for Obama.”
Fine, just as long as you stop going around telling everyone you’re a “lifelong Democrat”.
jeff, i’m also a lifelong dem who will never vote for obama. and i can call myself that, or anything else i want. last i heard it’s still a free country.
Dont you dare pull that on anyone here. WHo the hell put YOU in charge of what a real democrat is. You should be ashamed of yourself for even typing that.
I submit you are not a Democrat. Democrats aren’t fascists who tell other Democrats what to think. And the VAST majority of them aren’t hanging off some marxist cliff either. That’s the fringe that has sullied our party, just like a fringe sullied the Republican party.
I’m sorry, wasn’t Obama supposed to be a crypto-Republican a few posts ago? You folks make it difficult to keep up sometimes.
That fringe is you.
Aha - so the 50+% of the Democrats who favor Obama in the tracking polls constitute the “fringe.” Fascinating.
“You should be ashamed of yourself for even typing that.”
Oh, get over yourself. More faux outrage, just like “Bittergate”.
Your permission is not necessary.
You see that’s the most offensive problem with the Obama campaign. They are arrogant, snotty, bossy, pushy and threatening. Every word that comes out of their mouths or off their keyboards helps convince me I not only do not want to be associated with this campaign, I DEFINITELY do not want to know it’s smarmy leader who has effectively figured out how to send his little pigletts out to threaten, insult, bully and derail everyone else who doesn’t agree with them. Every time I see barack obama, the back of my head gets chills. Screw him, the pig. He will NEVER be president.
Yiou mean insults like “pigletts”??????