If Obama becomes identified as the "black" choice for President , he's finished

[Herman Munster]

The more the Donna Brazille's and Jesse Jackson's of the world scream righteous indignation and rile up the black community with the race card, the less appeal Obama will have with white and latino voters.

It's sad.

But it's true.

White America is not interested in an honest and critical analysis on race relations in this country.

Those demons are way too radioactive and scary.

If Obama chooses to let this genie out of bottle, he's going to get a backlash that will cripple his campaign. He will be the "black" candidate and quickly be relegated as another Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson in the eyes of many white voters.

[sandnsea]

1. Better to get it out now then in the GE

If the Democratic Party can't handle it, then the country as a whole isn't going to be able to.

[ElizabethDC]

2. Indeed, I think you're very right about that. n/t

[bunnies]

3. If the Democratic party cant handle it...

Im not sure I want to be a Democrat.

[tekisui]

16. Correct answer.

If America can't handle it, I'm not sure I want to be American.

:toast:

[bunnies]

37. bingo.

Funny you should say that as Mr. bunnies and I have been looking into buying property in another country. We've had it up to *here* with all this crap. If the United States STILL cant progress... we'd rather be somewhere else.

:toast:

[FrenchieCat]

6. Yep.....

This is a very wonderful thing that is happening...and many will think so further when looking back.

When one is making history, it is hard to gauge exactly what the mark left will be. This can only be a good thing. Period. Maybe not easy.....but hey, who said doing great things while marching towards progress would be easy?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

Yeah, we saw how all those racist white voters in 95% white Iowa totally rejected him.

... Oh, wait...

[fightindonkey]

70. It Was A CAUCUS

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

75. Yes, it was. But they're still voters, they just vote in a different way.

Do you not know how caucuses work? I live in a caucus state, and caucus-goers are definitely voters. We just use a caucus system to choose delegates, which is what the candidates are really counting anyhow.

[Superman Returns]

4. I find disturbing

That a man can't be judged on his own without being compared to other black politicians. Donna Brazille's of the world? As if she's just a black woman as opposed to a respected adviser who happens to be black. That's a bit much. As a Jew, I would be upset if someone compared a Jewish candidate for President to another Lieberman or Feingold, meaning that all Jews have to be blurred together despite their agenda, stances, etc..

[TheDebbieDee]

24. "As if she's just a black woman as opposed to a respected adviser ...."

Donna Brazile? Respected?

Donna Brazile is a joke and an utter failure. She ran Al Gore's presidential campaign into the ground. She's a good friend of Karl Rove.

And she got so miffed over a comments made by the Clintons that she allegedly cut ties with them (this is a good thing for the Clintons as Donna Brazile is a walking "bad luck" charm). She thinks so much of herself that she took it upon herself to be offended on behalf of all African-Americans.

Puh-leeeeez!

[Occam Bandage]

5. Were I working for the Clinton campaign, I would attempt to provoke just that.

I'm not at all suggesting that they are, mind you. I think it's simply good fortune that they've managed to get some of his more-prominent supporters to embarrass his campaign.

[FrenchieCat]

11. But they have miscalculated both by the fact that we are no longer in the 1990.....

and that Obama is a force to be reckoned with. They could not have known that the politics of the 90s would no longer work. They are out of touch enough not to have figured out how we got to where we are. Another reason that I'm not voting for the Clintons amongs many others.

[Occam Bandage]

14. Well, time will tell just how similar the '00s are to the '90s.

[marmar]

7. And there's a flip side to that....

...if that scenario takes place, and the African American community gets riled and Obama is not the nominee, the Democratic Party is finished in '08. It cannot win without carrying 70+ percent of the black vote.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Barack_America]

8. And Hillary knows it, which is why her campaign has resorted to using...

...this disgusting tactic. Lest you forget, all of the comments in question have come from her side.

[JAbuchan08]

68. BINGO!

B
I
N
G
O

[Der Blaue Engel]

9. Bullshit

Can we get a special emoticon for racial flamebaiting?

[GodlessBiker]

15. Bullshit is right. The whole point of his candidacy is that he moves beyond that kind of politics.

[madeline_con]

10. Genie? Bottle?

Are there people who are unaware of Obama's ethnicity?

:wtf:

[Occam Bandage]

13. The problem would be if he were to be see as a black activist instead of a "post-racial" candidate.

[madeline_con]

21. True, true.

[CyberPieHole]

12. Obama's on that slippery road right now...

I agree with you, if Americans see him as another Sharpton or Jackson, he'll have as much chance as they would in being elected President. Besides, I thought all of that was so "status quo" racism is so last century...why look back (in anger, yet)? I thought Obama was the NowWowPow Candidate?

:kick: and recommend

[FrenchieCat]

18. Wonder who pushed him down that slide.......

because he certainly didn't ask for it.

[earthlover]

17. It really is a double standard and it is not fair....

Hillary and her supporters can appeal to her being a woman candidate, can shrug off criticism as being anti-women....but Obama can't even bring up the race topic because that is suicide. That is ironic.

It is also sad to see that it is a Hillary supporter who brings up the race card.....

It is very transparent that you want to view Obama with regard to race and are trying to spread this meme, even as you see that it would hurt Obama. An interesting game the Hillary camp plays.

You might be right. And another thing obama has has a disadvantage... he can't cry to get his way.

[Occam Bandage]

19. Which is kind of funny, actually. They claim that if Obama is linked to race, it will hurt him.

They then throw out some vaguely-racist comments, listen for a response (no matter how minimal, and no matter how removed the responder is from Obama), and leap all over it, trumpeting "OBAMA PLAYS RACE CARD" over and over again. Their concern is heartwarming.

[Anouka]

29. Therefore, they hurt him. They -- not him.

Those wounds are from Brutus, not self-inflicted.

And thank you for your post, by the way.

[Occam Bandage]

30. Absolutely. It's politics at its smartest and dirtiest.

[jackson_dem]

22. Women are a majority. That is why they can get away with that

Whatever they lose among men is made up by gains among women. The same math does not exist in Obama's situation.

[earthlover]

28. you're right about the arithmatic

It is truly sad that racists and race-baiters (haven't decided which Bill Clinton is aspiring to be yet....) can bring up the race issue to attack a black, but the black cannot really fight back for fear of playing the race card. Sickening display from our "first black president" (my ass!)

[jackson_dem]

33. The double standard is appalling. We haven't come as far on race as we thought a week ago

:(

[sandnsea]

40. The women I know don't buy this

I think western women are a bit more independent or something. It's a little bit harder to relate to gender discrimination when you grew up on a ranch, doing everything your brother did. Jeanette Rankin was elected way back in the 1910's. Was it Wyoming that gave women the vote first? Maybe we've always had a bit more power, or sense of our power, or something. I don't see gender being quite the block it is in some places.

[sandnsea]

32. Hopefully most can see it

or will be able to eventually. Women will put fairness first, when it becomes clear to them.

[JAbuchan08]

69. Exactly Hillary Clinton appeals to the gender card

which essentially rejects any actual substance on the grounds of getting "woman" elected. To some her records and views can be rationalized away based on her setting a precedent for female leadership - mind you that some people who make this argument disagree with everything she stands for, but will vote for her anyway.
Personally it strikes me as anti-feminist to prize gender over "the content of her character"

[earthlover]

76. Very good post!

[jackson_dem]

20. Obama will be helped in South Carolina by this but you are right

Obama's inexperience resulted in an unforced error that may be a fatal error to his candidacy. The campaign is probably calculating they will gain in South Carolina by this but they are mortgaging his candidacy for one primary. If this continues to escalate he will be done by Super Tuesday and hurt Hillary a lot in the process.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

23. I made that point too (not as good as you), I've already seen the back lash start

It's not going to work and I thought Obama would have put an end to it but he didn't and his campaign joined it today. stupid

[Barack_America]

25. "but he didn't and his campaign joined it today" ???? Put an end to something

that you admit they weren't originally part of? How does one do that?

How do they put an end to what the Clinton camp is doing? How do they put an end to journalists reporting these questionable remarks?

How does the Obama campaign have control over any of this? I am asking you a direct question and I'd like a REAL answer.

[1corona4u]

34. Make a statement?

Just a suggestion.

[Occam Bandage]

Catch-22.

By saying, "We don't believe this is racism," you're drawing attention to the remarks in a racial light. It looks like a back-handed declaration of racism. The best they can do is remain silent on the affair--which is pretty much what they are doing.

[1corona4u]

52. Well, that's true too...

you're right. Catch 22.

[Herman Munster]

39. worst thing obama can do is confront this and call the clinton campaign racist

The Clinton's will fire back and list 35 years of civil rights accomplishments between the both of them, claim Obama is not a uniter but a divider, not ready for primetime.....

There is no "win" for Obama in this. His best course of action is to tell his supporters to shut up and focus on his message.

[Barack_America]

41. Do you include Andrew Cuomo and Hillary and Bill Clinton amongst Obama's

supporters? They're the one saying the things that journalists are reporting. You're suggesting that Barack tells them to shut up?

[Occam Bandage]

42. Absolutely. His best course of action is to let the Clintons say what they will,

and to try to keep his campaign focused under fire.

[Barack_America]

54. I agree that the *official* stance of the campaign should be to ignore. But...

I feel it is my duty as an American (not as an Obama supporter) to stand up against even potentially racist remarks. And take those who say them to task.

I think that Clinton supporters should be just as angry and disappointed and it troubles me that they are determined to brush these comments off. The fact that these comments are coming from the Clinton side and that her supporters are defending them is very troubling to me. Very troubling.

[rufus dog]

47. and I can tell you to shut the hell up.

[1corona4u]

51. That's what I mean...

he needs to come out and say stop it.

[Barack_America]

55. To come out and say, "Hillary, Bill and campaigners, STOP saying these things"

To come out and say, "Journalists, stop reporting what the Clintons are saying".

Described EXACTLY what you want Obama to say. Describe EXACTLY what control you think Obama has over this situation.

[1corona4u]

57. I already did.

[Barack_America]

59. Thanks! I just get a little upset when people insist that Obama put an end to..

..a situation that is being driven by the Clinton campaign and the media. He has no control over it.

I think that, as his supporters (and I'm not including you-you support Clinton and I respect that), it's our duty to stand up against these tactics, but not insist that he do so.

[1corona4u]

63. I don't support Cinton....

I do defend her on the facts though.

[jefferson_dem]

53. I think Hillary's best course of action is to fire Bill.

I just love the way all these Hillaryphiles are telling Obama what's best for him...

[earthlover]

35. self delete

[Occam Bandage]

31. Start? You've been trying--laughably unsuccessfully--to drive it.

[Anouka]

27. I completely agree with you. And looking at his campaign, so does Obama.

But Hillary is allowed to run as The Woman.
She relishes running as The Woman.
Racism trumps sexism in this country.


but beyond that, yeah, obama = black = finished....

because the country can't handle it. and that's the truth.
and the Clintons know it.
Therefore they exploit it.


Obama himself, however, refuses to go down that road.

The Clintons are creating the road for him.

I think that's a shame.

[1corona4u]

45. If you think the Clinton's are creating that road for Obama,

Then you should give some consideration to those of us who have had their candidates killed by the media as well. Mostly because of the obvious weight of the 'celebrity' candidates. The people aren't picking the candidates, the media and their frenzy is.

Frankly, I wished Obama would have stuck with his original statement that he would NOT be running this year, and would have waited until he could overcome the 'inexperience' stigma. It would have made this race a lot less complicated/divisive, and would no doubt guarantee a democratic president in 2008. Now, I'm not so sure.

[Occam Bandage]

48. I wish that as well.

If Obama had held off until 2012 or 2016 to run, he would have had by vote and support from the beginning, and I think he would have been absolutely unstoppable. The way I see it, he got greedy, and he's gambling what could be one of our best Presidencies for little cause.

[1corona4u]

56. I emailed that O'Donnell POS to a friend in CA today....

and she is VERY left, in regards to where I am at, and she wrote me back with the following;

"That really pisses me off. Right now I'm leaning towards Edwards and Hillary. I like Obama but don't think he has enough experience.

sigh."


So the 'inexperience' thing is a factor, whether real or perceived. As you can see though, she would still be in the undecided category. When I told her a while ago that I was with Biden, she said the normal thing; 'I'd vote for him in a heartbeat if I thought he could win'.

I'll add my own sigh here...:-(

[Occam Bandage]

60. I've got a similar issue with my fiancée, and she happily voted for him in '04.

I asked her a while back what she thought of Obama, and she said, "I'm scared of him. After only two years, how can you know anything? You can't learn to be a dentist that fast. How could you learn to be President? I wouldn't go to a dentist who said, 'yeah, I only did a few years of dentistry school, but I've got lots of plans and optimism for your mouth.' There has to be too many important things he doesn't know about." She's voting in a primary for the first time ever--and she's voting for Hillary.

I disagree with her assessment, but I do recognize that it is a real concern many people have about him.

[MethuenProgressive]

36. ObamaNation needs to recall the story of the boy who cried Wolf!

After crying Wolf! falsely time and time again to gain attention, the villagers eventually ignored the cries of Wolf! from the pasture. So of course when a real wolf eventually did arrive and the shepard's cries of Wolf! fell on deaf ears, the Wolf ate the flock of sheep... and the boy too.

[vee]

38. Woman ar already saying they are voting for Hillary "Because she is a woman". Can only get worse.

[fightindonkey]

71. No It Can't. See, Everyone Knows That Hillary Is A Woman, But Everyone Also Respects Her Experience

Obama is an unknown. He's just starting in the eyes of many people. They don't know what to make of him yet, and they were waiting for the race card to be dealt. Their suspicions have now been confirmed. You play the race card in the eyes of the public, just ONCE, you're done. It IS that serious in politics. Obama does not understand that, proven by the fact that he's hired Jesse Jackson Jr. to speak on his behalf.

[Peregrine Took]

43. Absolutely - I hope his campaign folks are reading your post and this thread.

[David Zephyr]

44. "the Donna Brazille's and Jesse Jackson's of the world"! You mean black people?

"another Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson in the eyes of many white voters"

Is this one of your very own brainstorms or did it come straight from your candidate's campaign?

Wow! I've seen it all now!

[Trajan]

46. Call it what you want ....

I call this race baiting .....

[tishaLA]

49. As an Obama supporter, I think

you are right, sadly. Obama has to "Michael Jordan" himself and pretend that he is deracialized. It is a daunting task.

[EffieBlack]

58. It's sickening that only black people have to be "deracialized"

White folks are never expected to do this, are never praised for "transcending their race."

Far too many white people see white folk as "the people" and black people as "the black people" and will accept "the black people" only when they shed all signs of their blackness so that they, too, can be seen as "the [white} people."

[Occam Bandage]

61. C'est la vie.

[stillcool]

50. again?

Is Obama warming up to Fox News?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4030172

Obama is no JFK
JFK knew how to fight.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4029462

Kerry is damaged goods and has the stench of loser and quitter
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4027146

South Carolina will be like an open wound to the democratic party

I think you will see a massive racial gap. Most likely white supporters will support Hillary in margins greater than 70%, and black supporters supporting Barack in similar margins. It'll be very tight.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4017127

Why did Obama speak in a preacher accent during yesterday's speech?

Was that a deliberate attempt to make him look like Martin Luther King? Previously that accent was only a "South Carolina special" reserved for black churches there. It's the first time I've heard him use it with white audience
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3955231

If there is "dirt" on Obama, it would have to be documented to stick

Can't be hearsay. If it's drug related, it would have to mean a buried or expunged drug arrest that surfaces from his past. Either for possession, dealing or DWI. This is just speculation but like I said for anything to stick it has to be tangible and documented.

If it's not tangible or documented, the dirt is useless.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3954474

FACT: Obama is losing Iowa and New Hampshire among DEMOCRATS

If you look at all the internals, he is losing among democrats. He is losing in Iowa amoing democrats. He is losing in New Hampshire among democrats. He knows the only way to win is to be a Lieberman and suck up to moderate independents and republicans and sell out democrats.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3923996

Oprah viewer: Obama is a "racist radical muslim"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3905157

The people who watch Oprah are as dumb as dirt.

http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/10055 ;jsessionid=ac11067f30d807e1e56ce30242d78b199fe43b701616.e3qNbNuOaNmPe34Tch0Mc38Kaxr0?tstart=0

I have to also agree. I'm very ashamed to say this but I joined this discussion board to show my support for Obama/Oprah. I even made the thread that says C-Span should apologize to Obama.
However, I read another thread that suggested doing research on Obama and in doing so my eyes were truly opened to the fact that the news channels really don't tell you the truth about the people runnning for President and Obama is actually a racist radical muslim. Things so important that were kept out of the news in hopes that you and I would never find out and make our decision based on what only the news reports. Take the church he conviently joined for instance, this church seems to be racistist against white people, all you have to do is read their web page. What about his radical family? It's goes on and on... I will no longer support or vote for Obama and am ashamed I ever considered it.

Obama will be destroyed on his "present" vote on sex shops near schools by the repubs

Absolutely. Destroyed. As in toast
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3870804

Lobbyists for Wal-Mart, BP, Lockheed on Obama’s ’08 payroll
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3865419

[origin1286]

62. Obama is not letting it out

An occasional crazy like Jesse Jackson is, but for the most part the Hillary campaign is forcing the issue. If you can't see these "slip ups" for what they are, you need to remove your blinders asap. They're trying to turn Obama into a black candidate rather than a candidate who happens to be black.

[vee]

64. Maybe he can pull a Clark Kent.

Dawn a super hero mask at the next debate. Get elected, perform great feats as POTUS.

Mean While...
BLAMM!!! He secretly maintains his true identity... Black Man!

No one would be the wiser, problem solved. :hippie:


Obama should continue to be the same person that has gotten him this far.
He found his voice a Long time ago, he would be mistaken not to use it.
Call him whatever shade of Black you like, once people see Character color
fades very quickly anyway.

[Joe the Revelator]

65. Once again Team Hillary implies that Hillary can attack all she wants, and if Obama responds....

he's toast.

Awesome.

[fightindonkey]

72. Obama Can Respond, But Not By Playing Race, When Nothing About Race Was Ever Spoken Of

[Sulawesi]

66. It seems that Bill Clinton is drawing more attention to his color than anybody...

[fightindonkey]

73. No, Obama Supporters Are Using Bill's Words To Manipulate It Into Race, Not Plain Criticism

[Beacool]

67. For the record, I found Jesse's comments VERY offensive.

For these reasons:

- Belittling Hillary by implying that she only won due to her small show of emotion.
- Questioning the sincerity of said display of emotion.
- Questioning why she didn't cry over Katrina victims.
- Bringing up the percentage of African-American voters in SC.

What the hell did Katrina and SC have to do with Hillary's emotional moment in NH???????

Obama campaign people better stop this race baiting because it's going to end up hurting their candidate and in the long run our nominee for the GE.

[fightindonkey]

74. Hillary's Now Just Going To Sit Back And Watch His Campaign Self-Implode