With Regard to Reids "Light-skinned...No Negro Dialect" Comment

[Bullet1987]

A few things need to be acknowledged about the rise of Barack Obama that deal with the issue of race. I've always believed that a major reason Obama has ever even been given the time of day by some people is that...

1. He's NOT dark-skinned. America has historically had a bias against dark-skinned people. Of course, this is less an issue now than it was a long time ago. But Reid's comments show that just because something isn't acknowledged in public doesn't mean certain folks don't still feel or think a certain way.

2. His Origins. Let's face it, Obama was raised by his white Grandparents. It's not something I've ever cared about...but I'm sure it's soothed the minds of some of his elite supporters and certain voters that he wasn't raised in a predominantly Black enviroment (possibly making him more sensitive to their wants and ideas). He didn't grow up in an inner city, etc.

Ask yourselves this. Would Obama have been given the time of day if he were born in say...Harlem and raised by his African relatives (if they lived here...it's hypothetical). You can also see the abhorrance held by some for Black influences in Obama with the overreaction to the fist bump. Of course, it's become somewhat of a joke to make a big deal about something like that (Michelle went on The View and laughed as she did it...and Obama has done it since the fake controversy as well), but there was still a negative reaction. And then of course we have the attack on Black churches that occured during the campaign. There was such a fear that Obama might "think like a Black man." Were Wright's comments insensitive? Yes. But it's wrong to project one man's views on another...unless you have evidence that Obama believes that. Which there is none. The fact that Obama went there for 20 years is NOT evidence. No offense, but many white people fail to acknowledge the impact oppression has had on the way SOME Black people view this country. There are still many Blacks alive that lived through Jim Crow...the hoses, and the dogs. Institutionalized racism was GOVERNMENT POLICY up until the 60s! Have many moved past all that? Yea. But old wounds never fully go away and with the way FOX News was acting towards Obama during the campaign...it's not hard to bring the anger out of a Black person over what they will almost ALWAYS view as racism. Whether or not you agree is not the point. They view it that way because THEY'RE the ones with the cultural history of being the victims of it...not the other way around. I've gone off topic a little. But yea...lol.

[angee_is_mad]

1. thank you

:fistbump:

[Enrique]

2. people used to say America wouldn't elect any black man

even here at DU when Obama first appeared a lot of people were saying America wasn't ready.

When a dark-skinned president from the inner city is elected, people will say, yeah, but... and come up with something else.

[Captain Hilts]

6. The job was Colin Powell's for the asking back in '96. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

7. He would've had to win the Republican primary first

[Captain Hilts]

8. He would have hit some bumps, but getting Clinton out would bring them in line. My firm did pre-

primary polling of Republicans that year.

[KittyWampus]

15. did your firm do polling on the likelihood of the Democratic party doing to Powell what the GOP

did to Obama (Rev Wright)?

[Captain Hilts]

21. No, we did a lot of message testing. As you know, dems just don't operate like that. nt

[grasswire]

17. and Colin Powell did not have the feared "Black Experience" either.

Neither of his parents came from an American slave background -- they lived in the Caribbean. Powell was/is perceived in the same way as Reid described Obama.

[Captain Hilts]

22. That is exactly right. nt

[MadMaddie]

26. Colin Powell's wife put a stop to it because she believed

that there would be attempted assasinations on his life and his families life. I think they made the right decision. The country wasn't ready in 1996.....

[Captain Hilts]

9. And I just LOVED people saying his election proved ANYBODY can become president!

Correct, if you're male, and Ivy Leaguer, etc....

[intheflow]

3. "The fact that Obama went there for 20 years is NOT evidence."

Very true! Who the hell agrees with their minister all the time? Well, the fundie/Palin nut cases, but I was a white minister with a white congregation and believe me, the rank and file were not marching in lockstep to my every word. I know from minister friends that it's like that in every church. Yet somehow because Wright's a black minister and Obama's in the pew he's going to agree on everything the minister says? Seriously, teh stoopid make my head hurt!

[jonnyblitz]

4. I like Reverend Wright much better than the homophobe

preachers that Obama chose to take up with once he threw Wright under the bus.

[intheflow]

5. Me too!

I work in a library, and a woman I work with was gushing over a Rick Warren book today. I wanted to barf all over her then and there! :puke:

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I agree with you completey. I dont even think Wright was "insensitive". I think he was spot on.

Obama lost a point or two from me when he parted with Wright. I value loyalty a little more than expedience.

[Bullet1987]

11. He had to...the MSM was coming with the pitchforks

If Obama didn't distance himself from Wright, his campaign would have been over.

[TicketyBoo]

12. I don't believe that.

Think Gene Robinson and/or Clarence Page.

Goodness, I love those two guys. All it takes is a great smart black guy to make a great smart president. It doesn't matter exactly how dark he is. I think this country has become progressive enough to know that.

As far as background is concerned, bigoted people don't get past a black face, no matter the smarts behinds it. And they consider one drop of black blood to "contaminate" the individual. They wouldn't be looking at his "white background." Heck, look at Glenn Beck who accused Obama of "hating white people." Yeah. Really considered his "white background," eh?

[Bullet1987]

13. I'm not saying a dark-skinned person COULDN'T be President

But think back to all of the comments made about Obama NOT being Jesse Jackson back during the primary. And not being the descendent of slaves. Now, Jackson has put his foot in his mouth a few times...but I don't think that's what those comments were JUST about. Jackson has a much different background and history than Obama. Jackson fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement and has been very heavily tied to the Black community. Obama was a community organizer in Chicago...but cmon, there's a difference people liked about Obama.

[TicketyBoo]

16. Jesse Jackson

has baggage, such as an illegitimate child and baby mama in his (not-too-distant) background. (Should have been a lesson to John Edwards, but some men seem to think with other parts of their anatomy rather than their brains.)

Most of the comments that I heard about Obama not being the descendant of slaves were a criticism of his candidacy by other black people ("not black enough").

Sure, people liked Obama, the total package. It doesn't preclude them liking another black guy if and when the next right guy comes along.

[grasswire]

18. still, Jesse got nine MILLION votes. (eom)

[TicketyBoo]

19. That was before

the illegitimate child became common knowledge.

[jenmito]

14. I think his Black Kenyan "Muslim" father MORE than made up for the fact that he

had a white mother and lived with his white grandparents. Especially because it gave so much ammunition for the RW fear-mongers who wanted to make him out to be a terrorist and "other." But your points are good ones, too.

[rasputin1952]

20. I don't think race should be a qualifier, just as I don't think relgion,

gender, or anything else in that vein should be a qualifier. There are few qualifiers, and they are mandated by the Constitution.

We've had individuals elected to the presidency before that were certifiably brilliant...and they've made terrible errors in judgment; we've had people that were a tad dim, that have made good choices....then we have people that were incredibly stupid elected to the office that have made horrendous choices...the previous administration stands out like a sore thumb...actually, TWO sore thumbs.

I still wonder why we use race as a qualifier for anything. It is character, (or lack thereof), we should be voting for, (or against). Another item that should be cast out of the process as well, is "celebrity". Reagan was a celebrity, he had virtually no character...far too many of today's "hero worship" is based on some pre-packaged crap and not on substance. Reagan had the substance of light gas...bush has the substance of a lead weight. Neither were anywhere near what I would say had character...but both were miserable characters.

Those who categorize people by any measure, be it race, gender, sexual orientation, heritage, eye color, # of toes, whatever...are far too shallow to be entrusted with decision making. It all comes down to the character of the individual, should much else be considered in the equation? Intellect is certainly a +; the elusive "charisma" may play a role, especially in international affairs; but still...it comes down to honesty, integrity a tie to the Constitution that cannot be severed; a belief that we can become a better society and a looking out for the "regular" citizen and the "little guy"...these are some of the essential parts of the American character.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. Great Post!

It comes down to being told, "You aren't black like THAT." Whatever the hell that means - and we all know what that means.


There are people who would never drop an N-Bomb.
Would never vote Democratic.
Would never want their son or daughter to date someone black, hispanic, asian, etc. etc.

But they 'stomache' Obama like they stomache me (I'm black/white bi-racial) because we aren't 'black like THAT'. It's terribly sad - but it's a sad truth.

[Hansel]

24. I always heard the phrase "he's one of the good ones".

I've told this story before but here goes anyway. I was brought up to respect people regardless of their race, but lived in a fairly racist area of MN. My boyfriend openly disliked Blacks and had plenty to say about them when he was drunk even though our city was lily white. He sometimes went on some pretty hateful diatribes when he had too many, mostly for my benefit because I worked at a community organization in the inner city. Otherwise he never brought the subject up.

One day we were at the bar and I saw a dark skin Black man walk in and go directly into the men's room. I was glad my boyfriend did not see him, but moments later he excused himself to go to the same. I was nervous and kept waiting for the guy to come out hoping they never crossed paths. My boyfriend was Reagan worshiper and kind of a Clint Eastwood tough guy type (I don't know what I saw in him)and didn't shy away from fights if someone gave him an excuse, much to my chagrin.

20 minutes passed and neither had come out of the restroom. I was terrified by that time. A few minutes later, to my great shock, they both came out together with their arms draped over each others shoulders laughing their heads off. I was stunned. When I ask my boyfriend about it he said, "he's one of the good ones".

All he needed to know was that they guy had something in common with him and he was no longer threatened. They had been talking about their jobs and telling jokes during the time I nervously waited for them to come out. It seems they had a lot in common. But my boyfriend was still a racist and it eventually was one of the reasons our relationship ended. We had nothing in common.

[JustAnotherGen]

25. Hansel

I'm glad you got away from him! :pals: My current boyfriend is from southern Italy. I tried to explain this to him and it's completely lost on him. Like completely. :rofl: To him? There are just good people and bad people and racial or ethnic distinctions aren't necessary. :-) Maaaaaan - I'd love to live in his mind for just one day.

[mstinamotorcity]

27. Harry Reid only spoke

from his heart at the time.A lot of Caucasian people have a problem with even talking about racial issues.Sometimes its because they don't know how to approach the subject,sometimes its because they don't want to offend anyone,and sometimes its even a sense of not wanting to be blamed for what their forefathers did.Our President went the extra mile with trying to make people comfortable with him and his family.He had his press conference on race relations while campaigning.He also bought up a vast amount of air time with a facsimile type of Presidential office so that some of the nay sayers would not fear him in the White House.He even let us into his home with Michelle and the kids.Anyone in this country who is over fifty years old is not as sensitive to the word negro.I know the word offends some people,but even then they were trying to get from colored.With every new generation the bands of prejudice are slowly relaxing,but make no mistake there will always be those who have been rooted and grounded,and raised in a deep seed culture of hate for non Caucasian backgrounds.When ever I refer to other races of people i try and use "people of ethnic backgrounds and cultures".To me race seems a bit pre-historic.Because it has always seemed stupid to me to put race as a term for people, in the place of humanity.And lets not forget It is going to take some of the people a little while to learn and adjust themselves to this President.And some our going to make mistakes when trying to address certain issues,and some are going to be just plain ass stupid.Now that Harry Reid has gotten to work with this President some of his feelings may have changed he is after all entitled to change his mind and opinion once he learned the facts.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. Your post brilliantly demonstrates that this country still has far to go before race is no longer

an issue...

First, sadly I believe that most people--white and black and all in between--hold a stereotype about black people: that we are inarticulate; and if we are articulate, it must have something to do with being around white people. Yadda, yadda...

Second, the fact that we are fixated on Obama's "dialect" but gave George W. Bush and Sarah Palin a pass, tells me that this country is still very racist. Bush and Palin are popular because their bad diction and mangling of the English language was viewed as "folksy." They were "regular Americans." In walks Barack Obama and he's called uppity and elitist. As a black American woman with several advanced degrees, believe me, I can testify that this happens to me all the time.

Third, last time I checked, Michelle Obama is: (a) not light-skinned and (b) is very articulate. So what does Harry Reid have to say about her?

Just my rant for this evening...