Our Racial Divide Will Widen Dramatically if Obama is Destroyed by the Media

[eeyore]

For the first time in our nation's history there is a realistic chance that a black person could become president. We all know the African American vote has been dramatically up this primary season. Thousands, perhaps millions, of black people have shaken off their fears and cynicism about how the white media and political establishment might react to a potential black president. They feared and probably expected something just like this.

Here we are today. Black churches have always been the safe place, the place where they could find strength in togetherness to overcome the struggle of their historical experience. White run media has decided to try to take down Obama over things said during a passionate sermon he didn't attend. Believe me, if they succeed in taking him down the racial divide will be worse than it has been since the early 90s.

Right or wrong, I believe there will be a lot of black people who just shake their heads and vow to never allow themselves to hope again. They went out on a limb for this one - it seemed possible this time. The Audacity of Hope.

If he is taken out by the media over something said in the heat of passion in a black church it will worsen the divides of the past, because this time they allowed themselves to hope and become involved. Somehow this time was supposed to be different.

Is this time different? Or will we watch a media lynching on a 24 hour news cycle?

[TwilightGardener]

1. Well-said. If Obama had done something wrong, then he would

deserve this sort of media attention for it. But to use tapes of an angry old black preacher against him is despicable, and it does worsen the racial divide by allowing "white" eyes to pry and judge what's said in a safe haven. How much crazy shit gets said in churches across the country every Sunday, white AND black, that never gets videotaped? Huckabee had a shot at the nom, and he said AWFUL things about gays. I am saddened by this.

[chimpymustgo]

4. The media MADE Barack Obama - and continue to fellate him.

This is fascinating to watch. We have to free media. It is blatantly agenda driven. It frightens and saddens.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Um, no.

[eeyore]

12. Like all of us, Obama made himself

His drive, ambition, and commitment got him to where he is today. The media caught on and accelerated his rise. They can destroy him just as quickly, right or wrong.

[high density]

20. Yes they were helping him out so much last summer when it was "everybody drop out, Hillary is

inevitable"

[JAbuchan08]

40. sexism

implying that positive coverage of Obama is sexual servicing is the height of sexism.

That sort of imagery is sexist. I know you would never here of positive coverage of Hillary Clinton described as cunnilingus.

[spotbird]

49. You've had some horrible

sexual experiences if you think what's happening to Obama is a blow job. Damn. I feel sorry for you.

[Captain Hilts]

2. The sexual divide sure is wider. Let's hope folks are learning something from all this. nt

[rucky]

21. That's why we all need to stand together...

and take their asses to task, instead of egging them on when it suits our immediate needs.

[eeyore]

33. Exactly.

Thank you!

This is about a hell of a lot more than this race. Unfortunately this is incredibly symbolic for both HIllary and Obama supporters. That's why it's so raw this time around. So much foul smelling water under the bridge until now. Let's see if it clears up!

[Captain Hilts]

52. They're both great candidates. Two of the best we've had in a LONG time. nt

[Kittycat]

3. The biggest Irony in all this - is Robertson, et al that went on tv after 9/11

And blamed america's sins for it.

[Bluerthanblue]

7. the irony is that even though they say it poorly- they speak the truth.

Actions have concequences-

Blow-back. Karma. call it anything you like. America does not live in a vaccum, nor shoulc we be allowed to.


peace~

[MNDemNY]

5. His lies and empty statements will destroy him.

[Bluerthanblue]

11. no- people who claim to be 'different'- 'better'- 'democrats' are doing

the destroying.

Pretty fucking sad when we eat our own.


We will get what we deserve in the end.


peace~

[Skidmore]

17. Blue. hi! Unfortunately, some of these are not our own.

We are a big threat to those who wish to keep the nation divided. The same vision that we all represent is exactly why RFK and MLK were removed. The dream does not die. It lives on to be realized, hopefully in our time.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. hey,

thanks for the encouraging words Skidmore-
Sorry to be so negative, and frustrated.

This whole primary...the stress of life in this world is a bit overwhelming at times, this is one of them for me.

Your words are true, and important.
I'll try and think on them for awhile.

Thanks for the reminder.
to you and yours.

peace~
blu

[MNDemNY]

30. This would be fatal to an Obama GE.

[Bluerthanblue]

31. this is fatal to any GE-

we are being stupid. We are making the CHIOCE to be stupid.
No one is doing this to us- WE control ourselves.

There will be no Dem in the WH if we don't get over ourselves.


peace~

[spotbird]

51. If only voting to get us

into war without even fucking bothering to read the intelligence would damn the others.

[barack the house]

8. When are folks gonna turn it off only Olberman matters on tv. Liberal radio is our saviour.

[flor de jasmim]

9. Right after TX/OH (?) Pelosi asked the SDs not to move --

it seems they listened - I wish she would release them from that so we can end this circus.

[Bullet1987]

10. I agree...

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. destroyed by the media? Where have you been when Clinton was

attacked constantly? Where? Is it ok to attack a white woman?

The double standard is amazing on DU. Anytime a story is aired, about Obama, it is an attack.

Whatever. He is lying and the media is letting him get away with it.

[eeyore]

22. This is a bullshit story meant to stir up white fear

Imagine a video "surfacing" of a feminist friend or professor of Hillary's speaking about misogyny in our country, quoting from Andrea Dworkin's views on men. Hillary probably read Dworkin, and probably went through some periods of being fairly disillusioned with men (thank you, Bill).

Would it be fair to take her out for that? I certainly don't think so.

[gulliver]

24. What if Hillary went to a Dworkin-led meeting every week for 20 years?

It's not a bullshit story, so handling it as bullshit is not handling it.

[eeyore]

28. My wife essentially did...

I sure like her plenty.

The problem is that white America can't handle hearing someone speak the truth.

[Evergreen Emerald]

26. hello--they have been digging up anything and everything about

Clinton. Can you tell me that WalMart is a story?

While Obama DU supporters cheered the press for any and all attacks against Clinton, we warned you that it is only a matter of time. I said, on numerous posts, that you are sleeping with the enemy who has been attacking a progressive Senator from NY. But you all rolled in the shit the media provided, laughing and celebrating her demise.


I saw the stories on this...and they are bending over backwards to give Obama free air time to put this to rest. They attacked clinton and pressed her every answer. They asked no questions of Obama who is obviously lying. He and his wife have had this bigot as a mentor for over a decade. Michelle mimicks his statments. The media is treating him with kid gloves.

[eeyore]

36. She's being attacked because she's a Clinton

I really don't think it has anything to do with her being a woman. There is a historical media-Clinton mutual vendetta that dates at least back to 1990. Hell, Hillary coined the phrase "vast rightwing conspiracy" about the media attacks they suffered.

Hillary transcends her femaleness, and is seen my most as first and foremost a Clinton, for better or worse. It's a love/hate thing with the media and our country as a whole.

By the way, you will never find a statement from me laughing at her demise. You'll find me shaking my head in disgust at Ferraro's statements, but that shit just isn't funny at all.

[barack the house]

14. I'd say it's differentkeep watching why be divided he is half white...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRYh3Ae-DoQ
.
.
.
.

[eeyore]

32. So, he should just say he really doesn't like his black half either...

He's more in tune with his white half, it's that damn black half that's always bringing him down!

[Ravy]

15. I am afraid you are right. The only saving grace might be the

way Hillary was crucified, not 48 hours earlier, for comments made by an honorary memeber of her campaign committee.

Now we have a catch-22. Hillary supporters will be able to point to the nearly identical issues, Ferraro and Wright, and look to see if the woman is treated differently than the black man. I don't mean to be insulting by phrasing it like that, but that is how it will be viewed by supporters on either side.

If Keith Olbermann and others use distortion and lies to present the Wright issue in the worst possible light, if his "Special Comment" on Monday night is basically a replay of this past week with the names changed, the Obama camp will be screaming loudly. If he doesn't, the Hillary supporters have yet another clear example of the media bias that is against her.

Many of the Superdelegates are counting on votes from both camps to be re-elected themselves. I don't see how they can choose one over the other right now without alienating a considerable number of their constituents.

I think a Unity ticket is our only way out of this.

Hillary has already said she would be on a ticket with Obama. Obama may reconsider his position with the shit storm that is coming. Both will need the other's voters to win in November, and a Unity ticket is the best way to do it.

[ruggerson]

16. Maybe Obama just isn't the right guy

I'm seeing a double standard here. When he's doing well, he transcends race, it has nothing to do with race. WHen he's not, the media hates him because of his race.

I think it has to do with him not being the person he presents himself as being. Nothing to do with his race.

When I was a tyke, I would have given my Schwinn bike to my enemies if Shirley Chisolm could have becoome President.

The one human being on this planet who SHOULD have become President was Barbara Jordan.

Just speaking for myself (but, I've noticed my views seem to be shared amongst some) I don't particularly trust Obama. I like him, but I don't quite think he's the person he pretends to be on stage.

If he goes down, it's not going to be because of his race. It will be because he wasn't believable about his relationship with this pastor, amongst other things.

[Skidmore]

18. I think the Obama is not the problem. Change comes hard to societies

and people need to have the will to change. After all the work of the 1960s, there was some change but there are always people who will cling stubbornly to the past, even the worst ideas of the past, because they fear a future they can't imagine.

[Raejeanowl]

25. I Think I Love You, Ruggerson

I will go further and say I think Obama is a canned meat containing mysterious by-products. And I am with you re: Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan. If only....

[Bluerthanblue]

19. If Obama is destroyed by this primary- I cannot blame the media,

solely- Because the media only offers the food- we as individuals choose to 'consume' it- or throw it away.

I am amazed by the hate, bigotry, and selfishness of the Democratic party, as evidenced by the words and actions found here on DU.
We may only be a slice of the whole, but we have proven to be pretty rancid on the whole.

If Obama is destroyed by this primary, I have to think that it isn't so much going to cause division, as expose the divide that has been festering underground, and poisoning us quietly all along. It won't be good either way.
IMO


peace~

[Window]

27. K/R.

[soundguy]

29. Funny

Thanks for the laugh. Humans have a life cycle longer than a house fly. The thing you and those like you are missing is to be the PRESIDENT you need have already transcended race and religion. Even in his book Obama waxes on about spending a good portion of his life understanding his "blackness." Give me a break, we are all different and feel that way. It is not unique to race it is unique to human nature. To base your vote on race or gender is complete idiocy. Why do you think so many teens commit suicide? And quite frankly, as an agnostic I find all religions equally offensive, but some are more radical than others and this Wright guy is off the charts.

[NorthernSpy]

34. This may simply be as far as blacks can go in white parties.

If the response to even such a consummate bridge-builder as Barack Obama is a paranoid inquisition into the hearts of black folks, then forget it.

[milkyway]

35. Obama's crime: Churchgoing While Black.

I agree, if Obama is defeated, not by his own actions or words, but by the words of his pastor, it will confirm what many blacks have been afraid of: being black and a member of the black community is enough to disqualify you from becoming president.

[eeyore]

37. Exactly!

It's like they finally discovered he's black.

"Wait...You mean to tell me that black people sometimes voice their resentment of white people when they're together????"

[Voice for Peace]

38. Thanks.

I agree with this.

[hisownpetard]

39. Very insightful post.

But it isn't just black Americans who will become jaded and disenchanted if Obama doesn't make it, due to smear campaigns that have tried to discredit him.

It's college students who have, until now, been completely ignored because it was a widely held belief that they won't vote.

It's people who have wrung their hands and lost sleep over the direction our government has taken.

It's people who loathe the back-room politics and Machiavellian torque that's become the coinage of modern-day politics.

It's politicians who spit out well-rehearsed sound bytes in a Pavlovian style instead of thinking (and maybe even stuttering a bit) in order to honestly address the question.

And it's people who are sincerely being lifted up and out of their government-induced depression at the thought that maybe - maybe, maybe, maybe - it IS possible
to break the pattern of our elected officials using the people to achieve their goals, instead of serving the people who elected them.

[nell2323]

41. Kick

[K Gardner]

42. My fears, exactly. K&R

[boston bean]

43. There is no fault by Obama here, right?

[rodeodance]

44. WHAT a whin---!!

[2rth2pwr]

45. The logic, or shall I say the lack thereof, of people always amazes me

"The Media" is destroying Obama!

Get a grip, it's a real story that has real interest. If a media outlet promoted stories that people didn't care

about, no one would watch them, they would turn the channel, their ratings would slide, then the ad money would slide, people would lose jobs, etc.. etc..

How many posts here on DU? Did anyone make you post on it?

This story, as they say "has legs". The videos of the Pastor are what put it over the edge. Reading the same words does not have the same impact as

watching him speak.

[JoFerret]

46. But NARROW dramtically with

a democrat in the WH who addresses issues of the economy, jobs, health care, housing and education.
A dem who knows how to close the income gap, create jobs and get the engine of economic and social justice moving again.

Someone who knows how to get things done and has the determination to do them. Someone like Hillary.

[Liberal Veteran]

47. Which explains why we all have universal health care now....

...because she "knows how to get things done".

[VotesForWomen]

48. guess you're not concerned about the gender divide due to media destruction of HRC. how predictable.

[EFerrari]

50. How off topic. And for your info, Hillary is doing a good job

of destroying herself. She barely needs any help, @sshole misogynists in the media or not.

[metalluk]

53. What if

Obama is destroyed by his own naivete and inexperience? Would that make any difference?

[CatsDogsBabies]

54. Yes

I am a white woman and am completely ashamed at the way people are grabbing on to this story. It is disgusting and it says something really bad about this country. I remember reading James Cone's God o the Oppressed many years ago. Some things are hard to hear, but that doesn't mean they aren't true. I think Obama really does believe in helping to heal the nation and in bringing people together. Reconciliation isn't always easy. Shame on this country! Shame Shame Shame.