Letters to the Editor
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AFedUpMom on what is amazing
He is amazing and part of that - in the American psyche - whether it's politically correct to say it or not -- has to do with him being black.
"Barack Obama is amazing because of what he has accomplished as a black man in America" is a teensy weensy bit different from what Geraldine Ferraro said, which is that Barack Obama doesn't really deserve to win, because he's just using being a black man as a gimmick.
You see that, right?
There are plenty of second-wave sisters who (correctly) see in Obama's success the same progress, the same success of liberal ideals, as in Clinton's success. The idea that it's reasonable to expect white women of a certain age to all share Ferraro's opinion — because heck, you can't help being a relic — is demeaning to the intelligence of white women.
And as for criticizing a public figure who says something worthy of criticism, in public, for the benefit of public consumption? Hell yes. Every time, no apology. That's why it's called "public discourse."
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Not racist but viciously opportunistic
wckdwoo: You are exactly right. Hillary and Co. are not racists and Ferraro is not a racist. But they see using race will benefit Clinton politically. Its a Republican-type wedge issue that will cleave off some votes for her. That's all that matters. Its a cold cynical political strategy that may be appropriate when dealing with enemies, but Obama is a competitor, not an enemy. And you're also right that Clinton's scorched earth policy will bear no good. What deceit. What totally self-serving shamelessness. What a destructive of human values strategy. Hillary is not a good person.
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True PC
I often hear stone-cold racists, wife-beaters, what have you, throw around the phrase "politically correct" to complain that they cannot spew hate openly. But in this case it is apt. Barack Obama may win the nomination of his party, then the general election, then go on to become a successful president. That said, what would we say about a white male candidate running on such thin credentials, i.e., two years in a Senate seat that he basically won by default? Geraldine Ferraro was right.
And further, the PC-police also owe Joe Biden a huge apology. If we'll remember, long before the press typecast Obama as "the orator" was Senator Biden was accused of racism for describing him as "articulate."
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I Know, I Know!!
"That said, what would we say about a white male candidate running on such thin credentials, i.e., two years in a Senate seat that he basically won by default?"
It's been said before, but if that candidate and done and said exactly everything Obama has done and said this campaign, we'd be calling him the Democratic nominee for 2008 and we'd be talking about how onetime candidate Sen. Clinton would be on his short list for VP candidates.
We also wouldn't be hearing this constant bullshite about his not being properly vetted or that he lacked experience.
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I agree that Obama's credentials are thin...
But how are Hillary's better?
Her first time in office was when she became a Senator.
Sure, we assume she was involved in the White House, but I'm not sure that equates to more than Obama in the end who was also in a state legislature right?
There's sort of an assumption that Hillary has more bona fides here, but I don't think it pans out when you look at it more carefully.
I will give you she seems to have done more in her tenure as a Senator, but they've both been involved for similar amounts of time in that regards.
Anyway, the key word is "only" here, which is what Ferraro said and others have echoed. It seems to me that word is what makes it offensive, but he doesn't have much if any less "claim to fame" for the job than Hillary?
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Guess Who Agrees with Ferraro?
Barack Obama. And he's so proud of this opinion, he uttered it to the Chicago Tribune and put it on his Senate website:
"Obama acknowledges, with no small irony, that he benefits from his race.
"If he were white, he once bluntly noted, he would simply be one of nine freshmen senators, almost certainly without a multimillion-dollar book deal and a shred of celebrity. Or would he have been elected at all?"
http://obama.senate.gov/news/050626-when_it_comes_to_race_obama_ma/
When will Obama apologize to Obama for making racially charged remarks about Obama and his "post-racial" message of hope and unity?
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Joe Conason
A dishonest journalist despises the honest politician. One is all too common and the other all too rare.
Dishonest journalists despise Nader, Paul, Kucinich and now Ferraro.
Dishonest journalists prefer corporate shills and cardboard cutout "leadership" for war.
Joe Conason, if you love war so much, enlist and may Obama send you to Pakistan rather than some poor kid who doesn't know any better.
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scathew on buyer's remorse
In any case, after watching stuff like Ferraro here, I have huge buyers remorse I can tell you.
Why? Where does it say that if you vote for Clinton you vote for Ferraro?
Hillary Clinton is a good politician, and like all good politician she pays attention to what people think of her and her actions. As she sees the backlash from her attempts to appeal to the "Archie Bunker" constituency (the dog-whistle metaphor is very apt) she'll learn that it's worth more votes to ignore them than to woo them.
So, go easy with the remorse. With politicians, as elsewhere, you get what you ask for. Ask for better from Clinton and you'll get it.
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Taliesen on what we would say
Cossackathon:
what would we say about a white male candidate running on such thin credentials, i.e., two years in a Senate seat that he basically won by default?
Taliesan:
We say he freed the slaves.
Zing!
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What are Obamites running away from?
What do you all think? A bit of campaign advising in my future? -- lateagain
In a word yes. Your answer was about 10 notches higher than Obamas.
No, she should NOT apologize.
I intend to vote for Barrack Obama in November. Go ahead and call this Obama supporter (me) a racist, but one of the reasons I'm voting for him is because he's black. -- Beth_W
No you are not a racist you are using honesty and common sense. Why wouldn't a black person vote for a qualified black candidate? Why shouldn't being black be an advantage? I have no issue with Obama being black or getting the black vote, or re-enforcing being black as an advantage. Duh, it is an obvious advantage in relationships with the Middle East to have an American president being dark skinned with a Muslim name. Or is it so bad for black men to eventually be associated with excellent speaking skills?
I have a number of issues with Barack none of which includes him increasing the stature of being black in this country.
Obama is fearful that by claiming being black as an advantage, he will inflame divisiveness. Too bad. True change would be as Late_agin suggests mean accepting his blackness as an advantage, not political weaseling and pandering around the racist elements in and around our society. The political weaseling and race baiting is what is causing divisiveness. Would an Irishman run away from being Irish if politicking in an Irish neighborhood?