Ferraro's America
See Also: Keith Olbermann on Hillary's embrace of race-baiting comments.
BRING BACK SAMANTHA POWERS!
Update:
Historical evidence that Geraldine Ferraro is just a race-baiting, lacking a better word, bitch (shame on me).
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
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9 comments:
So let me get this straight, a white junior senator speaking with no real track record would have gotten just as far in this election? You know what would make me truly happy, if Obama turned around and said,
"You know what, there is some truth to that, it doesn't make my message or what I offer less valid, but yea there's some truth there. When i refer to Martin Luther King I'mplaying to that a little bit. Isn't great that we've actually gotten to a point where people actually want to listen to a man because he's black. That's not how it used to be, maybe we are on the path. You use the tools you got and if my being a black man makes some of you get a little more involved so be it. Hey Hillary doesn't let you forget she's a woman does she? Think her message would be embraced as emotionally if she was a man?"
If we got to that point then perhaps we could get to an honest discussion. Instead of all this hyperventalating, and indignation. I for one was sad to see Samantha Powers go. But the flip side is if you are stupid enough to say something like that to a reporter, what comes out in negotiations. I just wish we'd get to a place where we could have honest discusssions about race, instead of constantly scapegoating peole.
white junior senator speaking with no real track record would have gotten just as far in this election?
Well, in 1860 a failed Senate candidate and lawyer from Illinois went on to become one of the greatest Presidents in American history...but lets leave that bit of history out if it messes with your "its good to be a black man" theory.
As far as Hillary goes, if she had just been another woman her shrill, grating voice wouldn't have made it past New Hampshire. But because her husband was El Commandante in the 1990s, she was able to move into New York and be elected to the next year, even though she had no electoral history or accomplishments other than being embarrassed by her husband.
Look, if you wanna play the old conservative "he got their because of affirmative action" game, thats fine. Obama hasn't been playing the race game like Hillary has been strumming the strings of female oppression, and that is why outside of the deep south (and Ohio) he has cobbled together diverse coalitions of African Americans and Whites.
Would he have gotten here without his skin color? I don't know, its a part of who he is...but I suppose the question is, if Harold Ford Jr had been elected to the Senate in 2004 and decided to run, would he have been able to excite the American people the same way as Obama? I think not.
Obama is one of the most charismatic, engaging, and inspiring candidates in modern political history. If can't get past his skin color to see that, I kinda feel sorry for you.
Did you get the indignation and self righteousness off your chest? You yourself said "its a part of who he is", so why should it be ignored. Nobody said it was a nod to affirmative action, thats your own prejudices coming into play. In part of looking for change and freshness, could it be possible that a new look makes it even more appealing? Do deny that this country is tired of looking for leadership from old white guys is insane. So why not recognize it.
As far as Harold Ford goes, if he wasn't a young black man he wouldn't made half as far, because he's a republican. Look at his stand on issues and tell me they line up democratic.
As far as Obama being some kind of new politician please, its the same old Richard Daly/old chicago politics. Is he good? Damn good, thats why he continues to pick up steam. Again is he new? If your buying that then I feel sorry for you because the hangover is going to be painful.
I say its a part of who he is, just like Slick Willy's southern accent is a part of who he is, or Hillary's masculine-femininity is a part of who she is, or John McCain's crankiness is a part of who he is.
Obama's temperament and message have a lot more to do with his success than his Skin Color. But Ferraro didn't say that it was a small factor in his rise, she said that he would not be where he is today but for his skin color...I think that is bullshit, but I can't prove it otherwise, because we can't go back in time and bleach his skin white.
As for Harold Ford...he pretty well represents the Tennessee Democratic voting base...he doesn't represent my views, but I'm more of a Northern Democrat. But I'll admit, compared to the rest of the Davidson County congressional delegation, he was the most gifted politician, if perhaps not my ideological cup o' tea.
TC,
Clinton supporters are so bitter and disappointed they can't imagine that anyone could beat their candidate on sheer talent, message and personal appeal. No, it's gotta be some unfair advantage--in this case, race. What country do you live in? You think voters in Iowa chose Obama out of white guilt? Have you been to Iowa? It's not exactly crawling with guilt-ridden "latte-sipping" white liberals looking for an affirmative action candidate.
I canvassed in Ohio, and I'll tell you this, the voters I spoke with--white and black--are looking for a candidate that appeals to their sense of hope for the future. The country is going through some tough times, and they want a positive figure with solid policy ideas who has the leadership qualities that will help him/her inspire us to work hard for change.
That, I believe, is why Obama is winning. Yeah, Obama carries the African-American vote--and to deny that African Americans are excited to vote for such a wonderful candidate who also shares some of their experience is silly. But that's not why he's winning. His appeal is based on the quality of his character, his exceptional intellect, his policies and--get ready--good old-fashioned political charm. (Something that Bill Clinton, too, had to spare.)
After watching Hillary's campaign in action, I will never, ever vote for her. I have voted for Democrats all my life. When I lived overseas I made sure I mailed in my ballot for the Dems. I'm from Massachusetts for goodness' sake, the only state where Mondale/Ferraro won. (Yup, I voted for them, too.)
But if Hillary Clinton becomes the face of this party, after her embarrassing, often offensive performance in this election, she will not have my vote.
She does not own this party, no matter what she thinks.
Lisa,
Great comment, I'd only correct you in noting that Mondale/Ferraro only won Minnesota...Reagan won Mass. Hillary, if nominated, will likely win New York and Arkansas. So she'll be one up on Mondale.
Thanks for the correction, Sean. I'm a bit embarrassed. I was confusing it with an earlier election ... I was too young to vote in the Nixon election in '72--that's our claim to fame--but I remember our slogan during Nixon's scandals: "Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts!"
I'm sorry Lisa I will continue to ignore the elephant in the room. Nobody who has voted for Obama is doing so because he's black. hell I didn't even know he was black. it's completelt ridiculous to suggest that looking for change might include how our leaders look. This conversation just bums me out, because it just demonstarates how incapable we are of having honest conversations about race and it role in our lives.
I can understand why you wouldn't vote for Hillary. I'm not bitter at all. He's run a better campaign, but its not some kind of new campaign. In fact he's, gasp, stolen a page out of Karl Rove's handbook. Define the other canidate before they have a chance to define themselves. She underestimated him and she's going to lose because of it. I am going to have a hard time voting for him, because I'm offended by the way he used race in SC and continues to use it. Hey, I'm not taking anything from him as a politician, in fact he's proven quite adept, its just not something that I can condone or support. Throw all the name calling and pity you want my way, I believe its underhanded and disingenuous.
In fact he's, gasp, stolen a page out of Karl Rove's handbook. Define the other canidate before they have a chance to define themselves.
What alternate reality do you live in? Obama defined Hillary? She was some blank slate, unknown to the American public, before Obama got a hold of her and tarnished her reputation? Puh-leaze.
Except for one or two instances where Obama answered press questions regarding offensive statements by the Hillary people, Obama isn't the one strumming the strings of an oppressed people...Hillary has been playing the gender card like its nobody's business, while Obama has generally tried to distance himself from race topics.
Seriously, to say that it is Obama that is stoking racial resentment is absurd, he doesn't benefit from this, as black voters already overwhelmingly support him...the only person left to benefit from racial polarization is Hillary Clinton.
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