Racist?? You have GOT to be kidding me!
All throughout the primary elections and even now, Obama has had to FIGHT for the black vote. There was a large sector of the African American population that felt he wasn't "one of them" - not black enough? I don't know. Regardless of that, he is pretty much the epitome of what America stands for: mother is white, father is Kenyan; mother on welfare; raised by his white grandparents; worked HARD and got into Harvard; successful career in teaching constitutional law.
The man has had to work hard for every inch he's gained in life and for the Republicans who say it's become a racist race are delusional and, to me, offensive.
I would agree if you asked the majority of people why they're voting for Obama and they said, "Because he's black." BUT, they *aren't* saying that! Far from it. This election is so exciting - in fact, people are actually getting involved like they never have in the past (psst...that's what Michelle Obama was referring to when she said she was proud of America). We're not just getting involved, we're gobbling it up! Obama's supporters are more engaged and informed than the democratic electorate has been in a looooong time. They (we/I) care about the issues and he represents the direction they (we/I) want this country to go.
Here's an email I got a few days ago about this very subject - this is for YOU, Susan - read for comprehension:
How it works The political question lately has been if racism will rear its ugly head in the upcoming election, i.e. the Bradley effect. I wish I could believe that the majority of citizens today will choose the next president based on the issues and how the candidate will address those issues, but I am still a skeptic. The reason for my skepticism is the following barometer of cold, hard facts.
What if ...
John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to?
Obama were the candidate who divorced his first wife to marry a very wealthy woman?
Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard Law?
Michelle Obama became addicted to painkillers and acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
Obama's teen-aged daughter got pregnant out of wedlock?
McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
Obama were a member of the "Keating Five"?
If these questions reflected reality, do you really think the election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is how racism works and this is what racism does. It covers up rationality and minimizes positive qualities or emphasizes negative qualities.
I had to post this comment on my last post, it pretty much sums up the racism question.
Thank You...I just wish I'd written it myself!
17 comments:
I love the "WHAT IF" - I have to copy that!
For Susan: McCain can't navigate the keyboard because of his war injuries? Where on earth did you ever hear that? He can dial a telephone; he can use a typewriter -- this is about the lamest excuse I have ever heard.
In the 26 years he has been in Washington, why did he NOT ONCE do anything to reverse Roe v Wade? What on earth makes you think he'll do something now? To see the real McCain, go to www.youtube.com, and in the search box, type in "McCain rage" or "McCain swears" - and see actual footage of him repeatedly using the "f word" at a female reporter who is asking simple questions. This is a Christian conservative candidate????? Please - wake up and take a GOOD LOOK AT WHO YOU ARE SUPPORTING! This is a man who started dating his first wife when she was still married to someone else. Then when he returned from Viet Nam, he had a two year affair with Cindy while still married to his first wife. In fact, he applied for a marriage license before his divorce was final. All this is documented in court records, in his autobiography and other books of his. THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN HAS NEVER ONCE USED THIS AGAINST HIM. Had it been Obama who did this - McCain/Palin would have been using it continuously. You probably also believe the email that shows Obama not wearing a flag pin in his lapel. Did you notice that McCain did not wear a flag pin in his lapel when he made his acceptance speech and in every debate? But Obama wore a flag pin in his lapel at his acceptance speech and at every debate. And yet the Christian conservatives used that one picture of Obama without a flag pin as proof that he's not patriotic. How stupid is that!!!!!
Oh plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What is wrong with these people! Good
g-d! War injury. I can't even respond it is so unbelievably stupid. Thank you Haley and Verlyn. Bravo!!
Hello to all. I'm sorry this has declined to name calling and other unnecessary insults.
I'm very proud to still love and respect my country, those that have served it, given their lives for it, and am thankful for the freedom we still enjoy because of it. Having personally been to Communist countries this is especially precious to me. To see our nation heading in a Socialist direction is very concerning.
No Presidential contender is perfect -(ask Elizabeth Edwards when John was caught in the posh CA hotel bathroom by reporters after visiting his mistress when his wife was home raising his young children and dying of breast cancer - wasn't he running on Dem/ Liberal family values?)
Here's the link to World net daily for those of you who are mocking McCains war injuries further.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=75147
Oh dear...
I agree with verlyn - if he can dial a telephone and use a typewrite, then physical limitations are not the reason for his inability to use email. "Not knowing how" and "being unable" to use email are two completely different things. Anyone here remember when George Sr. was shocked at those new-fangled scanners at grocery stores? :D
As for liberal=fundamentalist...ummm.... I'm a liberal and am certainly not fundamentalist! I also question the statement that he's the most liberal senator (even if it's true, I don't really care!) - I would be willing to bet that whoever the democratic presidential nominee had been, some right-wing nutjob would suggest that s/he was "the most liberal" senator/congressman/mayor/governor that ever walked the face of the earth. So, now my question to you, Susan is: have you ever actually sat down and read Obama's voting record? It's there for you to see - free and available. I remember having this discussion with my parents before they had decided to go in for Obama (way back early in the primaries) and I pulled up his actual voting record, read out what the vote was on and then his position. Guess what? That made them think a little harder about him - gee...he's got some pretty good voting records out there. Have you read his book, The Audacity of Hope? Written well before the presidential race, it pretty much outlines his policies - I've only just started reading it but it's REALLY GOOD. It was actually reading that book that decided my Republican/Vietnam veteran dad on Obama.
Forgot to mention...I'm honored that you used my comment as your post :D - I LOVED that "what if" email. If the tables were turned, Obama wouldn't even be in the Senate, let alone in a presidential race.
My first stop of the day. I would like to add my two cents worth too. Although I support our troops I by no means support a senseless war. If John McCain and Sarah Palin are elected they will be dragging us into yet another war and why? Because war equals spending! Sick, huh?
So Susan, I take it you believe that we should get rid of Medicare and Medicaid, and children, the elderly, and the disabled should figure out a way to pay for their own medical care? And Social Security should be dismantled, and individuals should take care of their own retirement? And of course you must oppose the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, and FDIC insurance for banks.
Either that is what you believe, or you don't know what the word "socialism" means.
Please, inform yourself better than you have so far before you cast your vote. Clearly you're getting your "information" from right-wing talk radio and Fox News. I know you won't believe me when I tell you this, but those aren't news sources. They are propaganda machines. An informed voter makes choices after hearing ALL the sides, not just one.
And nobody is mocking McCain's war injuries, at least not anybody here. Like petersdr, my dad is a Vietnam vet. He voluntarily served two tours and was shot down then rescued. I am a retired Army officer myself. All of us here, I'm sure, honor McCain's service to his country. There was a time when I admired his political service as well. Unfortunately, he has stooped to the very same deplorable tactics the Bush campaign used against him in 2000, and I have lost all my respect for him politically.
So have you served in the military? Then don't you dare tell me or any of my friends here that we are "mocking" McCain's war injuries.
once again Susan...all your 'stuff' is coming from right wing news agencies...find me some good stuff on a REPUTABLE news source! BBC? CNN?
don't keep sending me this stuff...
I really don't have time for 'low information voter' conversations
hey J, you and I were positng at the same time!
ditto on the Socialism thing...
what do you expect from someone who gets information from the right wing spin doctors!
I just heard a radio interview with Senator Barbara Boxer who has known John McCain for a very long time. She says he has two sides and you never know which side you will meet - the friendly side or the angry side that will yell at you. In this campaign she has largely seen his angry side, especially so at the last debate. She was never going to talk about his temperament, but when he himself said that he has the right temperament to be president, she decided to speak up. After experiencing many years of working with him in the Senate, while she respects him in many areas, she strongly believes he does not have the right temperament to be president.
And as Colin Powell said on Sunday, the most important job of the Vice President is to be ready to be president - ready at an instant -- Sarah Palin is such a poor choice to be a leader of the free world that I can't even begin to list all the reasons. It would turn into too long a blog. And it sickens me to see how she uses her baby in this campaign: she holds him up and boasts how wonderful she is that she didn't abort him. I know many people who have Downs Syndrome babies and did not abort them, but that doesn't make them presidential material. I know people who choose to adopt Downs Syndrome babies, but that doesn't make them presidential material. Is shooting wolves from a helicopter her biggest achievement??? Please! Do you think for one moment if she happens to get to Washington (Lord, spare us) that she'll reform it - after McCain hasn't reformed anything and he's been there 26 years?
Can I scream now???
Girl! I think I may need to help a little here.
I AM A REPUBLICAN AND A CHRISTIAN WHO WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN...until
I saw his ridiculous ads with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, comparing Obama to Moses, making up crazy accusations.
I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN...until I saw him impulsively jump to add Sarah Palin to his campaign in a desperate hope to win over Clinton voters.
I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN...until I saw Sarah Palin in an interview on Good Morning America (scared the daylights out of me).
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL IT TOOK...but then I saw...
His complete disrespect of Obama at the first debate.
Palin's complete inability to have an intelligent conversation about anything relating to politics.
McCain's eye rolling and inability to control himself under pressure (this really makes me nervous if he were put into a dire situation).
Besides the fact that he looked like he was going to keel right over at the townhall debate. Can he move his neck? Truly,he works like he has serious medical issues.
I'M TELLING THE TRUTH, I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN, BUT HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN HAS SHOWN ZERO INTEGRITY, HE LACKS SELF-CONTROL UNDER PRESSURE, AND I'M A HOCKEY MOM (THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME VICE PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL).
And if I hear Maverick one more time....
And to think I have not even chimed in lately huh? Pretty good of me. I have to say these comments and posts are pretty disgusting which is why I have not commented. I can stoop low, but not as low as some of these comments.
Guys, neither "party" is perfect and if you think your way is the only way then you are truly insane. Bash, bash, bash is all I hear. It's sad and the reason why so many people avoid public office and why so many people are turned off from voting. We are voting for the leader of our country for a 4 year term. Again someone who holds only 1/3 of the power. How many times does a candidate get elected into office and follows through on what they intend to do? Name them. Go ahead and try.
I am a republican. However for personal reasons I will be voting for Obama. But reading these posts do not make me proud of voting against my party and frankly I think these petty arguments of war injuries, racism, pointing fingers at each other, and bashing conservative news outlets vs. liberal new outlets just makes you all sound STUPID. Yes, like raging democratic (and republican) lunatics.Get over it already.
Miguel
Mike...you sound like an Elitist.
Do we get involved on a local level...yes we do(God help us if Bachman is elected)...does the future of the country rest on one man(woman) no it doesnt, but this is how politics is played in this country. You know what else, I'm a fully fledged member of Moveon.org! how bout them apples! But then again, I'm not middle class, we earn less than $250000 a year and don't holiday in Martha's vineyard, so a girl's gotta do something with all that time on her hands right?
this election is VITAL, the world is watching...debate is important, but also exposing stupid comments and commenters(uninvited at that) and fighting back on vicious smears is important.
You don't have minority children, if you did you might think very differently about how you value what goes on in this election or how the peripheral dialogue(smears, racism, lies, inuendo) affects the 'low information voter', it takes people like me on a small, small level to talk, talk and act!
What I do on my blog and in the way I live my life will resound with my beautiful daughters as they grow.
Will I tolerate...no I wont. I will stand up and speak out.
I take offense on the 'stupid' comment. Yes the back and forth is stupid, but the core reason why I remain in the game is not.
I refuse to 'fade' like so many others....this is my daughters future we are talking about.
So...if you don't like the tone or subject matter, feel free to come back in December when we'll be posting some nice photos of the girls with little controversy.
chesnuts anyone?
oh Mike...get over yourself. I'd never be so mean to you on your blog. I also don't comment on the blogs of people who visit mine and feel like they want to convert me.
use some decorum next time.
shout out to RMJ's...you have my vote...thank you for your endorsement of Barack.
I love what you do for Starfish!
Thank you for not blindly following, but using the heart and mind you were blessed with for the greater good.
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