African Americans For Obama: ...Celebration or An Abdication of the Civil Rights Movement?
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by FrenchieCat (a host of the Barack Obama group).
President Barack Obama this month launched “African Americans For Obama.” This video shows Obama with an articulate and moving message tied to African American month, but is it the right message? There is no question this is a direct appeal to race as a unifying theme with supporters — a move that would be denounced if tried by his white opponents. In the video, Obama states “I don’t think there’s a better time than Black History Month” for this effort, but some view this as the worst time for an open injection of race as a motivating factor in politics
It has long been a touchstone of American politics that appeals to race are dangerous and divisive. That certainly does not mean that race is not a factor in politics. However, the common open references to race that marred prior elections in the sixties and even the seventies were considered things of the past. If African Americans are united by their racial bond with Obama, does that mean that other candidates can appeal openly to white communities? Clearly other communities organize around their common identities from Cubans to Koreans to Italians. However, organizing solely on the basis for skin color should raise some legitimate concerns and objections, in my view. Indeed, we have strongly condemned past candidates who made even veiled references to race.
One answer could be that blacks have a shared history of oppression that whites lack. This history gives them a special bond not found in other communities. I do believe that argument has merit. Yet, this is a significant change in the long-standing aversion to open appeal to race as a unifying theme.
BTW, that video has 1,000 likes and 10,000 dislikes with the top comments being condescending ones like "For you to receive your "fair share", you need a job and contribute to the economy. Not sit back and freeload off of the hard working people of this country. If you want something, WORK FOR IT!!!!" So I'd definitely say an abdication.
3. I didn't think it was possible, but somehow, someway
Johnathon Turley continues his downward slide towards complete incoherency.
If African Americans are united by their racial bond with Obama, does that mean that other candidates can appeal openly to white communities? Clearly other communities organize around their common identities from Cubans to Koreans to Italians. "However, organizing solely on the basis for skin color should raise some legitimate concerns and objections, in my view. Indeed, we have strongly condemned past candidates who made even veiled references to race.
If this gargantuan idiot doesn't see the difference between someone of a race speaking in positive uplifting terms to other members of the same race and the thinly veiled racism from white candidates a la Santorum and Gingrich and their "blacks need to reject welfare," then this man is even more absurd than I'd initially gathered. And that is TRULY saying something.
And then he tosses in the "If African Americans are united by their racial bond with Obama" as if to infer that we only support the president because he is black ignoring that blacks have overwhelmingly supported Dem presidents for over 50 years. So we get a piping hot bowl of blinding stupidity full of grated arrogance with some racial cluelessness sprinkled on top like paprika. Yumm.
To that end, I think that the President is being irresponsible in organizing part of his campaign along racial lines.
Then it's a very good thing that most people couldn't less what you think about anything, Mr. Turley. And that includes your comments about this president and other black historical and non-white public figures.
4 replies
African Americans For Obama: ...Celebration or An Abdication of the Civil Rights Movement? (Original post)
msongs (30,794 posts) 
