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In reply to the discussion: Any thoughts why Cornel West always finds it necessary to refer to the color of the Presidents skin [View all]woo me with science
(32,139 posts)54. See, this is one reason why the Third Way is so malignant.
Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2014, 05:33 PM - Edit history (6)
You wrote:
The thing to remember about our expectations: they are OURS.
No, expectations come from what the candidates promise they will stand for...the direction they promise to take the country. Your response here echoes the familiar Third Way talking points that attempt to reshape Americans' expectations of what they have a right to expect from our political process and our politicians. A drumbeat of antidemocratic propaganda suggesting that:* our votes are owed through party loyalty
* politicians don't need to earn our votes or prove that they will be representing our voices
* criticizing politicians is rude, disloyal, or a sign of working for the other "team"
* lying to citizens in campaigns is to be expected, because winning is the goal
* citizens should cheer, or at the very least restrain all criticism during election seasons, so as not to disturb the delicate plans of our candidates
Obama campaigned as the anti-Bush, and he has done the opposite. He has not "stabilized" the dying patient; he is aggressively assaulting it by continuing and escalating the very same direction of policy.Mass spying on Americans? Both parties support it.
Handing the internet to corporations? Both parties support it.
Austerity for the masses? Both parties support it.
Cutting social safety nets? Both parties support it.
Cutting food stamps? Both parties support it.
Funding farm bills with "pension smoothing? Both parties support it.
Corporatists in the cabinet? Both parties support it.
Tolling our interstate highways? Both parties support it.
Corporate education policy? Both parties support it.
Bank bailouts? Both parties support it.
Ignoring the trillions stashed overseas by corporations? Both parties support it.
Trans-Pacific Job/Wage Killing Secret Agreement? Both parties support it.
Drilling and fracking? Both parties support it.
Wars on medical marijuana instead of corrupt banks?
Deregulation of the food industry? Both parties support it.
GMO's? Both parties support it.
Militarized police and assaults on protesters? Both parties support it.
Indefinite detention? Both parties support it.
Drone wars and kill lists? Both parties support it.
More war in Iraq and Syria? Both parties support it.
Funding Israel to carpet-bomb Gaza? Both parties support it.
Targeting of journalists and whistleblowers? Both parties support it.
Private prisons replacing public prisons? Both parties support it.
Unions? Both parties view them with contempt.
Perhaps the corporate-purchased parties themselves have something to do with this conclusion by the American people:Poll: Half of Americans dont care which party controls Congress
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024988821
The Third Way fiction that Obama has been trying to reverse the Bush agenda but has merely been obstructed is just that: fiction. It is a baldfaced lie, as has been documented over and over and over again by the president's own PROACTIVE and AGGRESSIVE actions to defend, entrench, and sustain it. Do you really need me to post the extensive lists of those actions again, that had absolutely nothing to do with Republican obstructionism?
Claiming that criticism of those betrayals comes from unwarranted expectations is, to put it quite simply, horseshit. I call it, "Third Way blase," this attempt to treat as utterly normal the fact that we are routinely lied to by those who pretend to represent us. That corporate money drives the direction of policy now, instead of the people's voices. That, in the words of Jimmy Carter, "America no longer has a functioning democracy."
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Any thoughts why Cornel West always finds it necessary to refer to the color of the Presidents skin [View all]
still_one
Aug 2014
OP
Maybe he's racist? Maybe he doesn't like Obama? I really don't know why he does that.
Autumn
Aug 2014
#1
If you don't like Obama that is one thing, but what does that have to do with the President's race?
still_one
Aug 2014
#4
I think he's just still pissed off that he never made it into even the outer circle of advisors.
MohRokTah
Aug 2014
#2
That is a probable reason why he is bitter, but always referring to the President's race inter-
still_one
Aug 2014
#5
I'm trying to think of an ex. of a repug white guy talking shit like that about George Dumya.
JaydenD
Aug 2014
#107
Tavis & West were the "go-to" folks for black thought back in the day. As you say, Obama stole.....
Tarheel_Dem
Aug 2014
#76
stalking? I'm responding to your remark about 'a hidden secret Colorism' in THIS thread
bigtree
Aug 2014
#29
You seem to be determined to follow me all over DU today to respond to my posts
HipChick
Aug 2014
#34
personal attacks? e-bullying? Are you suggesting that I've no right to respond to your slur?
bigtree
Aug 2014
#41
If you feel you've been 'personally attacked' then ask a jury to take down my posts
bigtree
Aug 2014
#45
I am disgusted and disappointed in Cornell but your comment was beyond offensive
Number23
Aug 2014
#85
If you think that then you show that you don't know the black community one damned bit.
ancianita
Aug 2014
#48
I believe that 100%. When Corny said that Obama "fears free black men" he lost me FOREVER
Number23
Aug 2014
#83
Then give me one to prove your 'Corny said that Obama "fears free black men"' quote.
U4ikLefty
Aug 2014
#111
Aren't you and your demands precious. And as unnecessary as they are laughable
Number23
Aug 2014
#112
You may make demands of your family members without a "please" but I ain't your family
Number23
Aug 2014
#114
Lots and lots and lots of people have posted lots and lots and lots of comments
Number23
Aug 2014
#116
Thank you, greyl for doing the poster's work for them. "..Obama has a certain fear of free black men
Cha
Aug 2014
#120
You could have taken the 2 seconds it took me to find it. And it's even worse in context.
pnwmom
Aug 2014
#147
"Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men,” West says" Others are doing your work for you.
Cha
Aug 2014
#121
http://www.eurweb.com/2011/05/video-cornel-west-believes-obama-fears-free-black-men/
raven mad
Aug 2014
#151
Wow, frazzled! Maybe that's why Dr West didn't get invited to the Inauguraton.. could not be.. but,
Cha
Aug 2014
#108
That is true, but doesn't really answer the question, unless it is for shock value
still_one
Aug 2014
#10
You nailed it. And some are all up in that other thread with their "Brutha West speaks the troof"
Number23
Aug 2014
#86
I don't know why you are stalking me all over DU?..Anyone can google and see what Jesse called Obama
HipChick
Aug 2014
#27
two threads, both about Cornel, which you chose to post in. Not stalking, responding to your remarks
bigtree
Aug 2014
#33
you're the only one I've seen with the temerity to call this accomplished African Americanprofessor
bigtree
Aug 2014
#39
yet if you google, you will find approximately 34,567 hits saying the same thing...
HipChick
Aug 2014
#40
That's a defense commonly used by right wing bigots. You don't want to use that defense anymore.
ancianita
Aug 2014
#53
Except Jessie recognized it was wrong and apologized for it, and meant it. Big difference
still_one
Aug 2014
#57
Cornel West called Al Sharpton ‘the bonafide house negro of the Obama plantation
HipChick
Aug 2014
#31
Yeah, well the whole plantation metaphor can explain all of us and our positions on the "capitalism
ancianita
Aug 2014
#52
Not assigning anything; describing how I've heard this same accusation made, many times, and yet I
ancianita
Aug 2014
#84
It wasn't overtly "racist", but effectively saying the President isn't "black enough". The latest
still_one
Aug 2014
#62
That answer was completely clear. Telling people that 2+2 = 5 perfectly describes
sabrina 1
Aug 2014
#149
You're right. Because he believes that black authenticity is part and parcel of humanity, and that
ancianita
Aug 2014
#56
Those are the choices? Interesting list. I've no idea what any "new" black is.
ancianita
Aug 2014
#89
Yeah. Because, being black, any and all blacks do that if they damned well feel like it. And calling
ancianita
Aug 2014
#50
Meh... the academic cultural left doesn't like being transcended or challenged
Sen. Walter Sobchak
Aug 2014
#51
And that is the DU Post of the Month. Sub in the "DU cultural Farthest Left," and you have
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#61
Isn't that special.... Ironic because the right wing haters believe that is what Obama does
still_one
Aug 2014
#66
ok, that may be, then why not word it as you just did? Instead he prefers to make the critique
still_one
Aug 2014
#59
It's the language of betrayal. Cornell West has been fighting the good fight for a long time.
Wella
Aug 2014
#64
This isn't about Mr. West, and he has made it so by his rhetoric. You and I obviously have
still_one
Aug 2014
#65
That is right. He effectively is saying the President isn't "black enough". What does that have to
still_one
Aug 2014
#119
I didn't take it that way: I thought he meant that he doubted the President's commitment
Wella
Aug 2014
#122
I wish he had just stuck to that then, instead of adding the inflammatory rhetoric in like an
still_one
Aug 2014
#128
Dr West is his own worst bitter enemy. Yeah, it's all Obama's fault that Cornel has gone
Cha
Aug 2014
#123
West was doing it before Obama became President.. I don't buy any vicious whine Cornel is selling..
Cha
Aug 2014
#129
I find it troubling that he finds it necessary to personalize the race of the President in
still_one
Aug 2014
#80
His verbosity about the President has NOTHING to do with a "color-blind" society. It has to do with
still_one
Aug 2014
#102
Then go post on those threads .. we'll discuss Dr West's assholery. And, quite capable of
Cha
Aug 2014
#125
Says West's "Cheerleader".. Yeah, he's been a "consistent" asshole talking about everyone's
Cha
Aug 2014
#133