When Racial Politics is More Important than Our Country
By LisaB on June 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM in Barack Obama, Colin Powell
America’s racial problems are legion and of long standing. In fact, as a country, we’ve done many things to alleviate the issues, many times clumsily and without satisfaction for all. Still, there have always been people who try and find solutions no matter the current mood.
But many people are saying that a vote for HRC or McCain is a racist vote. Aside from the utter ridiculousness of THAT position, it brings up an interesting question. Why is racial politics suddenly the most important thing in a Presidential election?
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It is as if the far left only want to elect Barack Obama BECAUSE he’s AA. The attitude is he is somehow the only candidate who can “heal” our country.
From what? Racism? THAT’s going away if he’s elected? Or maybe we’ll just have more set-asides, more affirmative action. Then everything is solved and we can all just walk away? Yeah, right.
Is Barack Obama the “medicine” that “white America” is supposed to take to make things better? (And at what point are other racial groups allowed to weigh in - if ever?) Obama’s supporters constantly talk about racial politics, as if there were no other issues and as if it were a two-race discussion. At this point, it seems as if Obama’s campaign can ONLY talk about racial politics - the politics of anger, name-calling, and long-held grievance. This is our middle east.
Some people may think the rise of racial politics this cycle is due entirely to the tough race for the Democratic nomination. Don’t believe it. This will engulf the general election to the extent the Obama campaign can drive that process as well. It makes sense since Senator Obama is yet a relative lightweight on national-level issues to focus the race on what he represents rather than what he has done or might do. Race may be his true bona fide, so he has got to keep our eyes on that issue to the exclusion of others or bring it in wherever possible. Kind of counter-intuitive, but it has worked so far.
Here’s a bit of heresy: maybe racism is NOT the MOST important problem we have right now. Maybe energy policy or the Iraq war might just be a wee bit more important. And these issues affect everyone as equally as anything can.
But putting our internal racial struggles front and center instead of how our country will respond to global problems is indulgent to me. Any person with the skills and intelligence should be electable as President, female, male, race-whatever. But that person should focus on American politics and American problems AS A WHOLE. Fighting for this job based on racial politics should be a red herring. Many “I won’t vote for Obama” people would have voted for Powell. I want to know what a President will do to reconstruct our monetary policy, restructure our standing with other countries and spend our taxes as wisely and productively as possible. I want to know a nominee has thought of these things or worked closely on these issues before.
Quite frankly, I think it’s energy policy. That’s an arguable point, I’ll agree. Some may say the Iraq war and some may say global warming. That’s fine with me. But don’t you think any of these issues are more compelling right now than making “whitey” take his medicine? Will racial politics get Obama elected? If that’s why, then we’ll get what we deserve. More arranging of the deck chairs as the ship of state sinks ever lower.
Sorry for the OT but this is critical:
Clinton Spokesperson: She Is Not Conceding
Bite me trolls.
The center of democracy has always been education. When critical thinking skills are upstaged by media brain-washing, democratic decisions are impossible, on any level.
Go Hillary!
The GOP’s plan was to dismantle the education system in this country, starting with Raygun. With only a brief respite when Pres. Clinton was in office, the job has now been completed by W.
I weep for my country.
Here too:
From FOX:
PER AARON BRUNS
Hrc campaign aides say that she will NOT drop out of the race or concede tomorrow night at her speech in New York
YA BABY!!
Lost your house? Not important. Job outsourced? Not important. Can’t afford the gas to get to work? Not important. Predatory lending, which really affects the AA community? Not important. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan? Not important. Real universal health care? Not important. Think these issues are important? You’re a racist.
candyman — Well said!
What’s to concede…she has the most votes, she is the most qualified, she is not tainted by a bunch of epithet spewing, white bashing *spiritual* advisers, she is the most mature, she has the resume, she has the support of the people, she won all of the swing states, she’s about to trounce him again in South Dakota…she makes him look like the whining little boy that he is.
Superdels get off the nobama lemming bus…it’s going to go over the cliff in November…and if Hillary’s not the nominee, I’m going to help push it over!
Agreed. Hillary will be the nominee. I was hoping she would dispel the MSM myths she was conceding and she has. I will be celebrating this eve by making a donation to Hillary!
Hillary ‘09 + ‘12
Me too! Off to Hillary’s website to contribute, happily, once again! Woohoo!!!!!!!
Glad to hear it people
I put my donation on Recurring, every month for a $100 since she won PA…
It’s the first time I’ve ever given to a Polician…
Of course, if I was around for Bill I would have donated to him too!
Who doesn’t want a black president? I mean, really?
But a GOOD one would be nice. Sheila Jackson-Lee, maybe. She’s way ahaead of Barry Obama on my short list.
Someone who doesn’t NEED coddling, excuse-making, and who knows how many states make up our union and where the Great Lakes are located.
Don’t forget–that Harvard Law degree means very little. Alberto Gonzales has one of those, too.
This idea that a mixed race clown who doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground, who associates with sleazy politicians, who is married to a woman who quite plainly has a massive chip on her shoulder and who is ANGRY–at Whitey, or whomever–is somehow going to “heal” our nation is fucking LUDICROUS.
All he’s going to do is make “Whitey” believe that we have to accept inferior, untalented black people in positions of importance (and that isn’t true, but Obama will reinforce that false paradigm BECAUSE he is a shitty, inferior, and untalented candidate) and it will INCREASE the divide. Black people will be pissed off when Barry doesn’t deliver anything to their community except a “Shut the fuck up–if a black man can be President, you have nothing to bitch about!”
He’ll be a one-termer, if he even makes it (and that is highly unlikely) like Carter, only not as good as Carter. At least Carter had INTEGRITY, and IDEAS.
Forty years in power, and the fucking DNC has given us what? Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Now, which of those two knew how to make it work? And who do we suppose HELPED old Bill over the rough spots?
It wasn’t Michelle Obama, now, was it?
I hope Hillary doesn’t suspend, or does anything except say “I’ll see your ass in Denver.”
I want to vote for Senator Clinton, the MOST qualified candidate.
“Forty years in power, and the fucking DNC has given us what? Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.”
Point of order, the DNC did not want Bill Clinton to gain the nomination then much like they don’t want Hillary to get the nod now.
Come to think of it, they really didn’t want Carter either.
The DNC loved candidates like Humphrey, McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis and Kerry. All of them honorable men, and two of them certified war heroes, but presidential prospects? Hardly.
This election seasion is about getting rid of the Clintons because, well, because they are not beholden to the pissants of the DNC.
Yeah…nice guys, but LOSERS. Makes you wonder what party those DNC assholes worship in the deep dark recesses of their craven hearts.
They can’t lead, they sure can’t follow the lead of the electorate, so what they need to do is get the fuck out of the way. They are both stupid and evil. Like Bush, only they should know better. The fact that they don’t leaves me so disgusted with them that I’ll “move on” to becoming an Independent after the general election.
I’ve decided that I really do like that PUMA idea–PARTY UNITY, MY ASS.
You don’t correct bad behavior by continuing to enable it. I’ll rely on a Democratic Congress to correct Johnny Boy if he goes too far afield. But Barry ain’t getting my vote, the DNC ain’t getting my checks, and I’m through with working my ass off every four years. The Obama Crew can call those potsmoking little shits out of their mamas’ basements, and see how well they do calling little old ladies and ecouraging them to GOTV.
The Carters and the Clintons were “outsiders, rubes, and hillbillys.” Not of the DC Elite. Of course the ‘powers-that-be’ didn’t like them intruding on their fiefdom. I say throw all the buggers out and start over!
President Nutter?
Mayor Nutter and Sheila Jackson Lee are two exceptionally brilliant, competent, qualified, brave, dedicated Democrats would go be Prez — they’d have my vote any day. I live in San Antonio, too bad I don’t live in Houston, so that I could vote for her.
I love Mayor Nutter. I think THIS is the ticket: Clinton/Nutter ‘08
Obambizoids can’t call us “racists” then…unless you’re only a racist if you don’t vote for Obambi?
That is THE TICKET — Exactly!
LisaB, good piece, but one note is that the GOP won’t care in the least about the racism used in a GE, nor will they care what attempts might be made by Michelle is Obama is the Democratic nominee, the GOP never gets the Black vote in any numbers anyhow!
The GOP if against Obama will be courting the Latino vote, a larger potion of the population than the Black vote is and definately the female vote with constant reminders of the sexism given by Obama during the DNP nomination run!
It is unfortunate that a divide has occurred through all of this, and people will remember the starting of it by Michelle Obama!
But one thing is evident, on Issues, the worst candidate might get the Dem nomination, on substance, the worst again, and what is really scary is this goes beyond possible POTUS, but full control over the Senate by the GOP based on coat-tale associations!
to all of you concerned about repubs in congress, let me ask you this. what have the democrats done for you lately in fact for years. the answer is not one dang thing. think about that also. so just because they run as not bush doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. they have let us down badly and it is just now beginning to sink into the voters’ hearts and minds. look for real trouble for dims in november. heck of job, dnc!
lets look at the whole picture, We have a Pastor who is angry at the united states goverment, We have a Priest who thinks hilary is entitled because she is a woman and white, he has a unabomber living down the street and a slum lord friend that donates money to his campaign. Do any of you have more interesting things going on in your life ? now i,am a racist HILLARY OR McCAIN ??
One little tweak there — Pastor Wright hates Whitey too, and Hillary for being White… remember? “Bill was riding dirty…” UGH.
The fight is about and against Axelrod’s Rovian tactics and the DNC’s Rumsfeldian strategy.
Obama is only a puppet.
Why can’t your candidate win without vote stealing? Why is the “presumptive nominee” being beaten like a red-headed stepchild in primary after primary? Oh, and have you seen his approval/disapproval ratings lately? Youch. In this political climate, a sack of lentils should have been a lead-pipe lock to win against a Republican, but it ain’t happening. Your boy is struggling.
I am greatly looking forward to the full onslaught of the GOP slime machine. For the first time in my life it will not be directed at my candidate and I will cheer every negative ad, every slimy innuendo. And I will make a point of watching your sobbing and whining and clutching of blankies and your rage at the “stupid racist” voters who refused to buy into your delusions. Don’t forget to blame Hillary when your guy goes down in flames.
Honestly I have long predicted that BO would win five states, max. I may have to revise downward.
I hadn’t thought of the bright side of Obama stealing the nomination.
I think you’re right. We can figure he will probably win IL. However, he’s gonna have to “claw, Sweetie” for Massachusetts. It’s one of those states with a declining population of OLDER people, and they REALLY aren’t feeling the Barack Love.
Diehard Dems are saying “McCain” before Barry. They aren’t enthused, but they’ll go for even a bum with experience over a flouncing greenhorn with sleazy associates and an obviously padded resume.
Clinton can win MA without breaking a sweat, Barry is going to have to spend time and money. And he still may not win.
NH might go for Johnny too.
What other “racial groups”? If it’s not Black or Hispanic it doesn’t get “air time”, unless it’s some negative or stereotype. Crap, even “AA” is hijacked and used to describe “African-American” instead of “Asian-American”.
As a Hispanic, I can say how disgusted I am that this country speaks in terms of Black and White — like the rest of us are invisible. Given the fact that Latinos have proven to be a major factor in this Primary, and have contributed immensely to Hillary’s success, it would be nice to be respected for our accomplishments to this country, and not simply be viwed as the “Illegals.” Asian-Americans are rarely mentioned, as well. Frankly, I’m sick of this whole racial, racist, race-card CRAP. BO and his Homies are directly responsibile for ALL of this negativity. Just one more reason, NOT to vote for him.
Of course, Hillary is MAGNIFICENT and eloquent as she was in her victory speech in Puerto Rico. She is always conscious of what is going on in this country. People from all over the U.S. and world respect and love her for good reason.
Are you kidding me? Obama has set race relations in America back twenty years. He is a divider not a uniter.
Obama’s followers have played the race card throughout the campaign, beginning with the strategy of calling President Clinton a racist. Obama’s followers wanted the AAs who were loyal to Clinton because of all the good Clinton did for the Black community during his terms in office. They played dirty and won their AA vote. As a result of their tactics, however, they have alienated a large portion of the White community, a group that in the beginning was very accepting of his candidacy.
Unfortunately, Obama seems to have missed an important life lesson that can be applied to his campaign, which is stressed in Matthew 12:25:
“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand….’
Obama divided us, and he is stuck with the consequences.
Obambi might have been more familiar with that passage from the Bible if he had actually gone to church…or if he did go to church, he apparently wasn’t LISTENING to anything.
Are you kidding? He WAS listening to the tripe being shoveled out at “church.”
well, there sure are alot of racists out there ! because the definition of racist is you are one if you dont get behind barack…..so, i am proud to be a racist because i never will. first, i am an american, second, i left the democratic party saturday when they showed their racist preference. reverse racism is dividing this country……thank you, obummer…..screw the aa’s and the eggheads, and your presumptive nominee…….i pray for a new centrist party to be born this year.
Thanks to all of you who replied to my earlier post with intelligent and well reasoned responses. My past experience here is that the most one could hope for when not onboard the USS Hillary was a reply that didn’t say much more than “suck it troll”. I’m pleased to see responses to the contrary.
I agree with the poster who said that Bill Clinton’s remarks in South Carolina were taken out of context. What I don’t understand is why Obama gets blamed for the media’s transgressions.
I can’t agree with the comparison of Obama to George Bush. Bush actually had experience running a government, albeit a state government. He had had the opportunity to observe the presidency at close quarters during his father’s term. He had access to his father’s experienced, and to an extent, competent advisors. Bush’s problems have never been about experience, but intellect. Namely, he has none.
True, Obama lacks relevant experience. The same charge was made by an earlier Illinois legislator by the name of Abraham Lincoln. But, unlike Bush, and perhaps like Lincoln, Obama has the intellect and instincts. On the most important foreign policy issue of our time, Clinton got it wrong and Obama got it right.
I again submit that the policy differences between Clinton and Obama are not that great. Certainly, they pale in comparison to the differences between Clinton and McCain. I realize this has been a difficult period. Certainly, i have had ample opportunity to get angry with Clinton supporters and I have also felt at times that i could never vote for Clinton. But, when we get beyond the emotion, we have to think about the future of this country. Do you really prefer McCain’s vision for health care over Obama’s? Do you really want to see US forces in Iraq indefinitely? Do you really want another right wing Supreme Court justice?
We all know that some of the most difficult battles are fought between family members. That’s what has happened between us. It will not be easy, but at some point we need to come back together.
Obama’s campaign rode the bill racist train all the way until now. I emailed obama and asked him nicely to please come out and say that it was not racist but he did not. My eyes opened that day! I watched all his campaign people make it an issue…
Obama’s healthcare plan is flawed, I don’t think it will do enough for everyone to have coverage and his left wing of the party doesn’t have the balls to get anything done in congress anyway (look at the last 2 years). Hillary is a fighter, she has worked with the republicans and she will work against them. McCain is my choice over Obama, I dissagree with Obama’s foriegn policy, and I see nothing in Obama’s record or in this election that proves to me that he is anything other than an oppurtunist! I can’t believe that he is not involved with the Nation of Islam, I am an independant thinker and have come to this conclusion on my own, hearing all sides. Alot of stuff that I am concerned with, the far left doesn’t really dispute, they just think it is okay for him to have little experience and his radical ties. I dated a Muslim and I know you don’t choose to be Muslim. You are born a Muslim. So Obama can’t say he is not or was never a muslim in my eyes. He was given his name because he was born to a muslim man. That is just how it goes, I don’t care if he is Muslim but be honest at some point he converted to something else. There are so many examples of Obama lying. And he is rude, a snob… he acts entitled, an attitude he got from Wright, no doubt! Brushing his sholder, flipping off Hillary.
No one told me to vote for Hillary, I decided on my own. No one can tell me to vote for Obama, not even Hillary. I have to make up my own mind and I like McCain… my memory is longer and older than many Obama supporters. McCain is a friend, Clinton is a champion and who is this Obama guy and why is he here… ?? He is a puppet for others, he is a cult of personality… he will be anything you want him to be.
I recall MEchelle bashing Bill about it, too.
Perhaps this will explain why Obama gets blamed for the media’s “transgressions.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/12/obama-camps-memo-on-clin_n_81205.html
@josgirl
Thanks for the link. Its interesting that the subject of the memo is “Key S.C. figure takes issue with Clintons”. That is an odd title for a plan to use divisive racial politics in a campaign.
If you remember, just before that memo appeared, James Clyburn (D-SC) — the highest-ranking African-American in Congress — had said he might abandon his position of neutrality and endorse Obama because of remarks by the Clintons. I believe the obvious conclusion is that this memo was meant to provide examples of the type of remarks that upset Clyburn. The author over-reached a bit in my opinion because Clyburn did not say he was bothered by anti-Obama remarks, but by what he considered remarks that diminished the role of civil rights activists. Indeed, the the memo lists several such statement by the Clintons and their supporters. However, including the anti-Obama remarks put the type of spin on the topic that I imagine would upset Clyburn just as much as the Clintons. Perhaps that is why he still has not endorsed anyone (though it is rumored he will do so today or tomorrow).
The irony is that the above quote is itself racist. It’s been like that for the Obama campaign. They accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of.
I don’t think that Obama’s campaign so much talks about race as they use race as a weapon against anyone who won’t vote for him. I don’t hear Obama talking about how he is going to improve race relations, or how he is going to help the AA community in any way. If you notice, he’s made no such promises. He promises only change, like a huckster trying to entice patrons to a circus sideshow. But we’re not talking about the circus, we’re talking about the office of POTUS.
Sometimes you have to glean hints from a politician’s background, and Obama is dangerously close to the NOI, Farrakhan, Black Liberation Theology, and Marxists like Ayers and Wright. Is that the basis from which he would govern? What would a government that espouses Nation of Islam and Black Liberation Theology even look like? What might the results of such a government be? Would Barak Obama qualify for a high security clearance? What does that mean for the security of our country? All I have is questions. And the possible answers are keeping me up at night.
This just in: Cheney and Obama both agree a gas tax holiday funded by a windfall-profits tax on Big Oil is bad.
Dick & Barry… together on energy policy again.
The race baiting in this campaign can definately be laid on the Obama doorstep. Thank you, Axelrod, Michelle’s Southern stump speeches (to mostly black audiences), Rev. Wright, Fr.Pfleger and other surrogates.
With the Obama campaign’s news releases that put a negative racial focus on the Clinton’s remarks, the news media hardly has to work if they copy/paste the campaign release.
You know the argument that Abraham Lincoln had very little experience, (just like Obama), and just look at how well everything turned out–Are you out of your freakin mind? The world has grown by quite a bit since then, and the issues have become very complex in nature. What a joke to try and compare those times with the present. Really-you can’t be serious. Obama does not have the experience to be President, and most of the time, he doesn’t seem to have enough experience to be Senator.
Really? How can you tell?? He hasn’t done anything so far.