DISQUS

If another big racial controversy erupts in America, even though Obama's not involved, it focuses people on black-white issues. The Reverend Wright controversy obviously set back Barack Obama. Everybody knows that. And savvy folks also understand the less race stuff the better, as far as Obama is concerned.


"What say you?"



I say that if I have to sit down shut up and take it in order for Obama to become President, then he just won't become President.

Glenn Loury.

"I don't know about some of the conclusions the writer draws though. He seems to be saying that Barack needs the CBC's support to turn out AA's."


Yes, I questioned that too. I wonder if he really believes that, or if it's just spin.

I'm sure there's a lot of that attitude involved, truthseeker.


Another article on that meeting, this one from The Hill:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/heal-now-candidate-tells-cbc-2008-06-19.html

There's that shock of recognition at the racial dynamics again. Yeah, Obama is a politician, and it's beginning to look as if he's a goddamned good one, too. To hell with people who expect him to prove that he's "One Of The Good Ones" by willingly doing things to put himself at a disadvantage.

"But the timing seemed politically motivated."


Isn't this a catch-22? He's made this same basic speech in similar venues before. Wouldn't a decision not to give that kind of talk in that venue this time be politically motivated?

"That was my point exactly but don't expect shakedown bloggers and internet hustlers to care."


"Shakedown bloggers"?

"Wow.....


Looks like I'm going to have to register MORE new voters. From the looks in this piece, Obama just lost the black vote."



Dontcha just love these binary thinkers?

It depends on whether or not he was smirking when he answered the guy, I guess.

"The difference is that these proclaimed “black conservatives” seem to blame every social ill in society on blacks as if they are exclusive to them or dysfunctional. They also too often speak in general terms. Many seem to also lack a real understanding of black history. Classic was when one really tried to convince me that the “ghetto” was a result of Johnson’s War on Poverty."


In other words, they parrot white conservatives.

Well, that's good news, and I'll be looking forward to see those things happen. I understand what you're saying too, smoothie, and I commend you, but I'm talking about organized, mass actions, and not just as reactions to individual controversial events such as Jena, but coordinated actions centered around broad issues like education and poverty as well.


Understand that essientally, I'm in agreement about the need to take over from the old guard. I would just like to see them challenged with actions as well as words, and up to this point, that hasn't happened very much at all.

"If you take your hand off the plow and let us drive the mule, maybe we learn how to do that, too!"


Why don't y'all take his hand off the plow? No offense, but the black blogosphere isn't challenging the old guard as much as it's just talking trash about them. There's nothing wrong with that, because almost all of it is well-deserved. But...what are y'all DOING? For instance, look at the issue of Tubbs-Jones, Jackson-Lee, et al hanging onto Clinton after the planned strategy of race-baiting kick into full gear. I've read a lot of talk about seeing them voted out of office, but I haven't read anything about what anybody is planning to do to help make it happen.

"It's too bad that he isn't on "Countdown" or "Real Time" with Maher. Else he'd really be making the ducats, right?"


Yeah, I guess it is too bad we don't see him on TV as much as say, Jesse Lee Peterson, but I guess Jesse is just that much better, huh?

"Truthseeker, many heavyweight AA Hillary supporters did say what you outlined - John Lewis (before his switch), Tubb-Jones, Jackson-Lee etc. said that they respected Obama and thought he had a good message. They said it AD NAUSEAM. Apparently some people weren't listening."


They paid weak lip service to it, actually. But that's beside the point. At best, they were quite about the race-baiting. At worst there were part of it.



What does "switched in time" mean, exactly? In my mind, the people who endorsed Obama after he all but officially won the thing don't count as people who switched in time.

"This is why black folks need to take issue with the media's maltreatment of Hillary and her campaign."


Exactly what maltreatment are you referring to? I'm guessing that at least some of what you're calling maltreatment, I call "telling the truth". Not only that, but "they're" going to come after Michelle regardless.

...and if he doesn't become President, it won't be the end of the world, just as him becoming President won't be the be-and-end-all. There's a limit to what one should be expected to do in...wait a minute- I'm acting as if anything I choose to say or not say will make any difference to people who make childish rationalizations. I need to remember that it makes no difference. I should know better than to forget that after talking to a white guy on a message board who suggested that blacks who get whites pissed off enough not to vote for Obama are actually disenfranchising them.

You could ask the same question about Clinton, given her published positions. When compared to Clinton, is McClain such an unacceptable choice to these people? If so, why did so many of those moderate Dems only begin considering McCain's acceptability when it began to look as if Clinton was going to lose?

"I'm less concerned with Obama's ability to foster inclusiveness than I am with our individual ability to push away potential supporters."


Listen, if these people are Democrats, and they are so disturbed by Obama's successful run for the nomination that they intend to vote for McCain, I don't think there's much anyone can do to stop them, especially if they've made that decision based on being offended by what they heard or read someone an Obama supporter say, rather that based on what Obama himself has said They're irrational, and I doubt they can be brought around.

So, what you're saying is that even though the showed zero votes for Obama, in order not to be seen as people who think that all blacks are supposed to vote for Obama, we were supposed to act as if he really didn't get any votes in Harlem? That makes no sense.


Yes, he won, but as others have said here, it's not really about him, at least not totally. "Whining", huh? What game are you playing? Ostensibly, here to ask us to kiss the asses of white Clinton supporters for the greater good, not to mention let Clinton slide on the race-baiting strategy that was actually used against all of us, but you (and anonymous) can't resist insulting us in the process. Why is that?

"I was going to ask how it could be that Barack is not running for pres of Black America, but that it is somehow a shame that Harlem didn't vote for him"


...and she's calling other people ignorant?

She didn't "make a mistake" in her race-baiting. It was a calculated campaign strategy. For all the reasons outlined by the commenters upthread, She can't be allowed to slide on it, and her losing the nomination is not punishment enough.

"Is this really a pro McCain website in disguise? With the purpose to stoke the fires of division within the ranks of progressives?"


This is a black blog. That script doesn't really apply here.



"instead of what is so wrong with Hillary (who is not the real enemy mind you)."



Well, she actually is the enemy. She made herself the enemy. Yes, it is time to focus on the GE, but forgiving and forgetting? No.

I agree, ptcruiser. I'm not ready yet, either. I don't know if I'll ever be ready, actually. I look at the statement that their legacy will require major repair among blacks, and I wonder...why? That's leaving aside the question of whether or not it ever can be repaired.


Sort of OT, but I watched a bit of a show on CNN called "Where Do They Stand?" At the end of the healthcare policy segment, John Roberts talked to a Republican strategist, and Joan Walsh "represented" the Democratic position. The Republican strategist talked up McCain's plan, and Walsh talked down Omama's plan. I suspect we'll see her playing that role often in the coming months.

"The bottom line is that "Obama won't win without Hillary"!!!"


If that's the case, then the "true power" lies with her..or at least, he doesn't have it yet.

"Act all crazy"? I'm not a big Spike Lee fan, but all he did was make an offhand remark, and besides, whatever is going on between him and Esatwood has nothing whatsoever to do with this Presidential race.