Letters to the Editor
little lord baltimore
Published Letters: 189 Editor's Choice: 9
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@Katetex: The black code?
[Read the article: A look at exit polls from the Mississippi Democratic primary]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm sorry, but I missed how Obama was "talking-in-code," and I'm black.
He did use the words "bamboozled" and "hoodwinked" and yes, Malcolm X is quoted as using those words as well. Is that the black code? Is the assumption that Malcolm X has such a powerful grasp on the black psyche that any reference to him will stir up militant sentiments in black populations?
For what it's worth, Malcolm X spent the last years of his life renouncing racism in all forms, renouncing violence, converting to traditional islam, embracing the pacifism that he read in the Quran and renouncing what he considered the lies taught by The Nation of Islam.
It's not February anymore, but there's your black history minute.
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@Rosenkavalier: C'mon
[Read the article: Clinton campaign manager congratulates Obama on Mississippi win]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hillary didn't give Obama a "pat on the back. Her campaign manager made a statement that tried to reinforce the idea that this race is not about how Obama has more delegates and more of the popular vote, it's about Pennsylvania. And this is after Hillary's conspicuous silences after Obama's wins in many, many other states.
If I were being really cynical, I'd mention how Hillary's team decided that Maggie Williams, a black woman, was the best woman to deliver the "congratulations" in a primary that was so racially polarized.
Either way, save the spin for a forum where the Obama supporters are not at least as politically savvy as you are.
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@KateTex
[Read the article: A look at exit polls from the Mississippi Democratic primary]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The clips that your "video" are taken from are from Obama's response to the idea of a Clinton/Obama "dream ticket." If you actually watch the original video and not a pro-Hillary series of clips that show Obama dancing and comparing him to Denzel Washington in a Spike Lee movie, you'll see that he makes no mention of race. In fact he legitimately dismisses the idea of a Clinton/Obama ticket, based on facts and actual election results.
He is being sarcastic, just like Hillary was being sarcastic when she did that whole thing about "the heavens will open, and choirs of angels, etc . . ."
You can see the real video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Sbz8XzsWs
I have not lived in NOLA so I guess I don't know as much as you do about speaking in code, or about how white people do it . But I do know that there is no such thing as a black code and I know that Obama wasn't using one.
I don't know anyone who thinks the Clintons are racists. The Clintons still enjoy enormous support in the black community. Hillary's campaign manager and long time friend is black. Many of Hillary's most prominent supporters are black. I have a lot of respect for her and for them. I do think that Hillary has used some pretty divisive language in her campaign so far. I think Bill's comments in SC are one example, the fact that Harold Ickes echoed his comments a month later is another example. And the fact that Geraldine Ferraro has been going on radio and TV shows for the last 3 weeks saying that Obama's lucky that he's a black man, or we wouldn't be talking about him, is pretty startling as well.
I, for one, completely agree with you that it makes no sense for Hillary to alienate black voters. Which is why it's astonishing and disappointing that the evidence would indicate that she's done just that.
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Alex, there's more to it than that.
[Read the article: Ferraro resigns from Clinton campaign]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm relieved that Alex finally posted something about this controversy, although I did find it a little odd that something this potentially damaging and newsworthy was posted after 10PM (and in the middle of Top Chef), especially after the drubbing that Power's mild by comparison comments got from the War Room.
But Ferraro's comments, her history of racially charged comments, and the lack of response from Hillary are much, much worse than Alex presents here.
Ferraro has a history of race baiting comments: On April 15th, 1988, Ferraro said "if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."
Ferraro actually made he first comment about Obama being "lucky" that he's black on February 27th on a radio talk show, nearly 3 week ago. I find it hard to believe that no one in Hillary's campaign caught wind of her comments until 3 days ago. Was she encouraged by Hillary's people to keep on commenting or did Hillary's campaign just hope that Ferraro would sanction herself?
Now Ferraro is saying that she deserves an apology, that it's Axelrod's fault that this is even an issue, and she went on Bill O'Reilly to plead her case:
"O'REILLY: I absolutely know they can take you out of context, but do you believe that Barack Obama, if he were a white man, white senator, would not be in the position?
FERRARO: Absolutely"