Disqus - Latest Comments for fullnelson

Re: Is America Ready For A Smart President (Video)

fullnelson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:25:00 -0000

OH, SNAP. I'm sending this to my white soccer mom friends right now!

Re: Obama Power Broker New Face of Black Politics

fullnelson — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:37:00 -0000

I attended Princeton University (though earlier than Michelle Obama), and the importance of public service was part of our indoctrination. We had several Black leaders (most notably and memorably, Shirley Chisholm, Florence Kennedy, Barbara Jordan) who challenged us to use our knowledge FIRST to serve our communities, and THEN to make a good living. What no one warned us of was that returning back to our communities would expose us to skepticism over our "true motives;" we became outsiders to the grass roots leaders, who immediately questioned the authenticity of our commitment. It is very satisfying that, a generation later, many of these well-educated African Americans have persisted in their interest in public service, to the point where we are seeing their success in politics, business, etc. Not surprisingly, though, their authenticity and commitment are STILL being questioned. We have to realize that "marching with King" is no longer the only way for someone to show s/he is "down." Just as kids mock and shun smart kids as "acting white," many adults display their own version of this nonsense. No doubt, this is as a result of racism, i.e., our own reactions to racism, but it has held us back from empowering those who have been lucky enough to receive educations that have allowed us to peak behind the curtain of power to gain an understanding of how it is best used. I am excited at the potential contributions of the Obama's, the West's, the Deval Patricks, etc., and look forward to the day when the rest of the African American community is willing to accept their commitment to uplifting Black folks and everyone else.

Re: Well, well….Hillary takes Barack ‘ at his word’.

fullnelson — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:05:00 -0000

I am well aware of Farrakhan's anti-Semitic statements, but I am also aware that in large sectors of the Black community, Farrakhan is no boogeyman. We may have to "distance ourselves" from his anti-Semitism, but we have also whole-heartedly embraced his pro-Black agenda of self-reliance. For many Jews, unless you wrap yourself in the Israeli flag and denounce Palestine, you are a threat. Obama refuses to pander to the Jewish vote, but has enjoyed widespread support, Dov Hikind notwithstanding.

Re: The Morning After - Some Thoughts

fullnelson — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:30:00 -0000

This post expresses my feelings of anger and frustration with Shrillary Clinton's dirty and shameful campaign tactics, and the gullible people who went for the bait. She talks much trash, what with daring to suggest she'd entertain Obama on HER ticket (I guess that's a veiled challenge to him to put her on his!), but what else can she say to her supporters? They have all read the stories by now which repeatedly point out (1) that Hillary can't beat McCain, and (2) her chances of winning enough delegates at this point to clinch are STILL slim and none. She has now shown she is at least as good as Rove, Cheney, and Bush at playing on people's fears, and at telling half-truths and turning rumor into fact. If I were not a feminist, I'd call her an ugly word that starts with a "c," but I'm too much of a lady to do that. I know that Obama's campaign is right now plotting a counter-strategy to respond to her gutter tactics without endangering the Democratic Party, as she is so carelessly willing to do. Howard Dean should pull her coat and tell her, for the sake of the Party, to chill on that shit. Stay strong, people. Let's keep our focus and our eyes on the prize. I ain't NEVER gonna feel McCain or Nader, so we still have to keep working this. It's not personal, it's American politics.

Re: Clinton Puts McCain Above Obama - AGAIN

fullnelson — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:53:00 -0000

The challenge here for Obama's campaign is to amplify the differences between him and Shrillary, but to do it in a way that attracts would-be supporters of hers. When she touts her superior experience, make her explain how, if this were true, Laura Bush would be equally qualified for the presidency. Let her explain how ALL the polls could be wrong in showing how Obama beats McCain by a mile, and she doesn't. Even white women who love Hillary's dirty drawers understand that Democrats MUST win in November; if she's a LOSER, let's thank her for groundbreaking campaign, and go with Obama to return a Democrat to the White House. (Are women really willing to cling to their sentimental support of a woman candidate over the very real risk of returning an ANTI-CHOICE Republican to the presidency?) Clinton's vote on the war is still an issue her supporters are troubled by, cannot explain away, and agree is a major weakness. Her vulnerability on ethics issues (e.g. release of her tax returns) also makes us question whether she can pass scrutiny in a national campaign against the proven dirty tactics of the Rethugs. And then, there's The Math: she can spin it anyway she wants, and talk till the cows come home about putting Obama on HER ticket, but the SIMPLE FACT is that there is no f-ing chance in hell that she can win enough delegates in the remaining primaries to clinch the nomination. SHE IS NOT GOING TO WIN. PERIOD. She can go on every cable channel and try to make it seem as if she's still viable--her only hope to attract donations and continued attention--but she's every bit as dead in the water as Huckabee's campaign was. She just won't admit it. We have to put our anger aside and continue to work smart; victory is within our grasp, people. There'll be hell to pay by Hillary, Bill, Mark Penn, the DLC, and every one else who's responsible for her race-bating, distortions, and smears, but let's settle those scores AFTER we clinch the nomination.

Re: Ferraro Says Obama is LUCKY He’s Black

fullnelson — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:27:00 -0000

If Obama was a white man, Hillary would have bowed out a month ago and he'd be the Democratic nominee.

But he's not. He's a Black man who has to put up with this kind of race-bating bullshit, from a northern white woman who calls herself a Democrat, no less.

It's going to be interesting to see how much more of this Obama will take before gut-punching one of these bitches. (Yeah--I used the "b" word, and I'm a feminist and a woman. I just call 'em like I see 'em.)

Re: Ferraro Says Obama is LUCKY He’s Black

fullnelson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:05:00 -0000

Keith Olbermann will have a special commentary tomorrow (3/12) about Ferraro's comments and the Clinton campaign. I bet he gut-punches the both of them!

Re: Transcript Of Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union (Now With Video) - Update 2

fullnelson — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:35:00 -0000

I didn't see him deliver the speech (looking forward to the video post), but halfway through, I started tearing up. By the time I finished, I was in full choked-up mode. This is an amazing, historic speech; it's the 21st century version of the Gettysburgh Address and the "I Have A Dream" speech, rolled into one. It is HONEST about race in America, but is so full of determination to change our common destiny, you can only admire the audacity of Obama's hopes for all of us. Barack Obama is the REAL DEAL. His leadership is undeniably what America so badly needs, I can only hope that enough of us support him so we can get on with forming our more perfect union, and put aside the policies and politics of division as promoted by Clinton, Ferraro, etc.

Re: Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Tavis Smiley/PBS tonight

fullnelson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:49:00 -0000

For a Harvard professor, Gates' "analysis" lacks depth. Why ask "what white males will think," as if they are some monolith? White males are liberal, conservative, racist, and open-minded. Each will have his own perspective. An uneducated white man who blames his lack of a good job on immigrants and Black folks will definitely NOT have been moved by The Speech; he probably didn't watch it, and what he saw of it probably was what they showed on Fox News. Let's face it: this is NOT the voter who would have considered Obama as a viable candidate! His mind was not, and could not be changed by the speech.

The more interesting question to be addressed here is WHY the media continues to play the Rev. Wright clips. Obama was correct in pointing out they're doing it rather than giving people any real perspective on the issue of race; it's so much easier to wave red meat in front of a dog than to figure out how to teach him anything. The media is getting a real boost out of the red meat these Rev. Wright clips give them, which allows Pat Buchanan, O'Reilly, and Rush, to make "clever" and provocative comments to an audience which craves red meat.

But I have talked to some white Republicans who loved The Speech (and hate Hillary). They voted for Bush, but are ashamed of how he blew it and ran the country into the ground over the last 8 years. I think Obama may have gained admirers among Independents, moderate Republicans, and other fair-minded white males.

On the other hand, Obama's speech was not just a politically-motivated contrivance. He said what needed to be said, period. He opened himself up, and spoke from the heart. He put his character, and his soul, out there for anyone who cared to relate. Some folks got it; some couldn't.

Re: Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Tavis Smiley/PBS tonight

fullnelson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:12:00 -0000

Truthseeker:
You are feeling me! The more I think about this, the angrier I'm getting. White males (and everyone else) are being TOLD what to think about the "controversy" (that the media invented in the first place). I watched The Colbert Report today, and they played a clip of Sean Hannity really speculating on whether electing Obama would put "an anti-Semite and racist in the White House"! (Colbert noted this is nothing new!) You've gotta ask why the media is trying to paint Obama as someone they should be afraid of, an angry Black man who, once in office, would send out a call to all African Americans and illegal aliens (I guess) to rise up and murder poor innocent white folks in their beds. (Stop me if this is starting to sound familiar.) I think what this all really means is that the media has determined to stop Obama from winning the nomination; they want Hillary to be the nominee, which gives McCain the best possible chance to win. Now when I say "the media" please note that I acknowledge that major corporations own and control the media and influence what is/is not newsworthy. Why would Corporate America fear an Obama presidency, one wonders? Hmmmm.....

Re: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

fullnelson — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:47:00 -0000

On April 4, 1968, I was 13 years old, and was riding in the car with my mother to school for a PTA meeting. We heard the news about Dr. King on the radio, and we just couldn't believe it. By the time we arrived at school, everyone had heard and people were crying. Chaos descended, and we all went home to mourn. I remember being angry, hating white people for doing this. I remember wanting revenge. I remember blaming the government, the "pigs," the "establishment." My parents said they killed Dr. King because he went too far by opposing the war in Vietnam and calling on America to give us economic justice.

Then I remember Bobby Kennedy being shot after winning the California primary. I saw it on television. It was horrible. I was very, very afraid. I began to believe anyone who opposed the powers that be had a big target on their backs (or, more accurately, on their heads). I had seen John Kennedy assasinated, then King, then Bobby. I hated America. I wanted a revolution.

I grew an Afro and joined the Black Panther Party. I gave money to free Angela. I wore a leather fringed vest and a big button with a black fist on it. My parents were worried that I would become a communist and that my politics would bar me from any good job.

I questioned the Black middle class' reluctance to embrace King, their embarrassment that he was "too Black" (they were still colored then). I questioned why my parents never marched (they were too busy working their asses off). I questioned everything.

I grew up. I'm an attorney. I vote. I see myself as living the dream Dr. King gave his life for. I thank him every day for triggering my political awareness and maturity. I've evolved--no longer a Panther, but definitely a revolutionary. But I've chosen a way to fight that people don't even see coming. I am changing things. And every day I thank Dr. King.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread - Holla at us!!

fullnelson — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:58:00 -0000

Obama would have to be nuts to put that woman on his ticket, and I KNOW that's not the case! She'd be a female Dick Cheney, and Bill would be doing his slimy stuff in the background, embarassing us all. And to top it off, we'd lose in November; the GOP's base HATES the Clintons, and it would give them a rallying cause. (After all we've seen in the Democratic primaries, I ain't too keen on the Clintons either.)

It brought a tear to my eye to see Barack in Iowa with Michelle. To think that he could be our president, in my lifetime, is an amazing thing for him and for this country. I'm so proud, I could burst. Finally, a president we can take pride in, a real leader to guide us through these challenging times. He'll be our own FDR.

Re: Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment from Tonight

fullnelson — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:32:00 -0000

If one hair on the head of Barack Obama is harmed, Hillary should be indicted.

She is not fit to be president, or even to be a citizen.