An "articulate" "rock star". Hmmmmmmmm.........

[CatWoman]

Commentary: Referring to Barack Obama as a ‘Rock Star’ Gives People an Excuse to Not Take Him Seriously

Call me too intense, but here’s what bothers me: It bothers me to hear the media constantly compare Barack Obama to a rock star.

The label is obviously meant to be flattering for a man with a megawatt smile, Ivy League pedigree and a back story that seems to validate the idea of America being a land of opportunity -- that a man born of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas could ascend to this country’s highest office.

But unfortunately, in America, the labels that usually confer confidence toward white candidates tend to generate dubiousness toward black ones. Too many times, descriptions that ought to tell people we’re worth taking a closer look at becomes the stuff that says the description is all there is to us.

Hence my problem with all the rock star adulation.

First of all, you have white pundits who are quick to question the intelligence and substance of black leaders who either don’t speak the King’s English well or who don’t enunciate words well -- even as they praise George W. Bush’s inarticulateness as a mark of earthiness rather than idiocy.

Yet when a black man like Obama manages the task of speaking well, it isn’t seen as substance, but rather, as a cover for lack of it.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/weathersbee131

[Virginia Dare]

1. Very articulate post, CatWoman..

:hide:

Seriously, the marginalization of Obama is bothering me too. It's the perception that his "persona" is what makes him popular, rather than his politics or his abilities. And it's the inference that sure we'll elect a stupid white man, but we'd never elect a stupid black man, he's got to come off as EXTRA smart, EXTRA bright, EXTRA clean, EXTRA articulate, EXTRA attractive to even have a chance. Right out of a story book, man.

[AspenRose]

3. That's always been the case.

Blacks have to be twice as good as white people to get anywhere in life or be taken seriously.

At least that's the ideal my black father raised me to have.

[CatWoman]

4. articulate!!??!! ARTICULATE!!!???!!!!

:hi:

:)

[aquart]

2. The rock star talk always makes me queasy.

If I know anything, I know I don't want a rock star for president. An insult disguised as adulation.

[Clark2008]

5. Very well written, but here's a thought...

and I preface this by saying that I don't think this way, but, because I live in a red state, I know far too many who do:

If Joe Biden, a Democrat, a lovely man (really, he is. I've met him and worked with him), a smart, yes, articulate man, who has fought for civil rights along his way in the nearly 40 years he's been in the Senate.... If Joe Biden can think these things bold enough to speak them without even realizing what the hell he said... how are we going to convince millions of Americans NOT to think this way when they go to vote?

This is why I keep saying that, while I like Obama, very much, I can't see him winning a national election - because if the Joe Bidens of the world can't get past color, how do we expect some of the noodle-headed swing voters to do it? (Caveat: not all swing voters are noodle heads).

[AspenRose]

9. I agree.

Earlier today I was wondering how Bill Richardson has managed to escape racist labels, yet he's running for president too.

Part of me thinks it's because Richardson has more experience than Obama in many areas, and that's where some people are focusing. Instead of focusing on what Obama has or hasn't done, it's easier to focus on charisma or religion or race, or what's in a name (Barack HUSSEIN Obama).

But part of me also thinks that the country could swallow the thought of Bill Richardson as president or VP easier than Obama. Heck, even his name is 'anglo-sounding.' Yet we don't hear comments like "oh you sure speak great English for a hispanic" or "where's Richardson's accent?" or anything stupid like that.

I really don't think our country is ready for Obama. Or any other well-qualified black candidate. We just aren't.

[kiahzero]

6. Dean was referred to as a "rock star" too. (n/t)

[CatWoman]

7. and let's not forget Bill Clinton....

[kiahzero]

8. Exactly.

Why shouldn't pundits use the same words for Obama as they would for Clinton or Dean?

[Gato Moteado]

10. actually, the label "politician" is the one that would seem unflattering to me....

if i were obama, i'd welcome the "rock star" label over the "politician" label any day.

i rather like the idea of a rock star as president. it sure beats having a braindead, puppet, politician like we have now.

and maybe it'll charge the young voters to get up and vote.

some day obama is gonna be president. i really think so. 2008 might be too soon...our culture, especially in the south, just isn't evolved enough to elect an african american. too many racists and other types of conservatives. but the youngsters are coming of age. and the young generation doesn't have the same issues as the stodgy older generation. i think barack will be president some day and i hope when he does, he strolls into the white house like a rock star and becomes the impetus for radical change.

and he's from my home town. so i can't wait!

[thoughtcrime1984]

12. Ummm, by the time the racist, idiot assholes accept minorities...

....Obama and all of us will long be a memory. Stupid is as stupid does. I see it all the time, in a blue state, no less. Obama has every ounce of my support for the 2008(!!) Presidency.

[Gato Moteado]

25. hey....i'd love to see it happen in 2008

i just don't have that much faith in the voting public just yet.

[BuyingThyme]

11. Molly Ivins called it "Elvis."

Maybe it's all in the delivery.

[robertpaulsen]

13. The only time the "rock star" label bothered me was when MSM tried it on Condi.

I wouldn't get in a mosh pit with her if you held a gun to my head. Her music sucks.

[CatWoman]

14. OMG!!! What a vision!!!

:rofl:

[KG]

15. hey, didn't he used to play guitar in 'Living Colour'?

[CatWoman]

16. now

that's bad!!!

:hi:

[Guaranteed]

17. If he wants to be seen as someone with substance, that's what he needs to bring to

the table. He needs to shed the DLC/Clinton triangulation philosophy and put some courage into his work. Let's see some bold leadership- fearless, yet reasonable, ideas. Otherwise, he's just going to be another smiling, handsome face.

And I'd love to see him do it. But we can't do it for him.

[Brewman_Jax]

18. Rock stars are entertainment

and entertainers aren't meant to be taken seriously. Anything to downplay his viability for higher office, normally called the "glass ceiling" effect.

[Poiuyt]

19. An articulate rock star...like Ozzy Osbourne?

[CatWoman]

20. Minus the bleeding, headless bat

:)

[Nikki Stone1]

21. Hey, you're forgettin old Bill had that rock star quality. Playin the sax and all.

:D

[CatWoman]

22. scroll up

:D

[Nikki Stone1]

23. Oops. Great minds think alike. :)

:)

[treestar]

24. "Shrub" or "Chimperor" give me an excuse not to take a

certain person seriously, but those terms are generally understood to be perjorative.

How are we supposed to know what words we can and cannot use?

The "rock star" comment has nothing to do with race - any candidate could be called that, it is based on something else.

We really don't need one of our candidates portrayed as a victim. Especially by another one.