Break out the hoods.
It’s highly unfashionable to say this, but I think it’s high time whites in this country got beyond the white guilt syndrome that has replaced open racism.
Negro slavery sucked, but white America fought a bloody war in which over a million whites died which was at least partly about the future of Negro slavery and which resulted in the ending of that slavery. That should be the end of the story.
It’s as if elite Americans need something to feel as guilty about as two or three generations of Germans were expected to feel about the Nazi regime, WWII and the partially successful extermination of the German jews.
…
Most blacks judge ‘by the color of one’s skin.’ That’s RACIST.
They polled the military not too long ago: all groups show overwhelmingly going for McCain, except one – Blacks/African-Americans. If that’s not racist, I don’t know what is.
We know this about Gen. Powell. He was a recipient of a white society who truly judge by the content of one’s character. Too bad, some are POOR JUDGE of character, so somebody who is a complete fraud may rise to the top undetected.
…
It’s the only safe move a black in America could make. Anything else, and the blacks call them an Uncle Tom, are taunting and cruel. Just a practical move, IMHO.
…
So Powell has joined the 99% of Blacks who are voting for Obama. Who is racist?
…
So Uncle Colin says it’s cool to be on the Obama Plantation?
…
And like Oprah, he just confirmed what ‘team’ he plays for. They are African Americans first. Up-town Americans second. Main Street Americans – never.
I’ve voted for president three times. Every time it was for a white guy, and I would vote for all three of those men again (Clinton, Gore, Kerry). Is that racist?
These people are reacting to the possibility of what little power they had slipping away to (mon dieu!) a biracial man.
It’s fascinating to watch them pivot from loving Colin Powell to castigating him.
Okay, first off, “over a million” people didn’t die in the Civil War.
Second, some whites love to talk about how blacks assume that whites are racist, and yet those same whites just cannot believe that other whites might support a black man for any other reason than white guilt.
How is that not racist?
The same thing was said on FR earlier this week when John Lewis criticized McCain’s rhetoric, despite the fact that McCain had previously said that he had a lot of respect for Lewis.
[paraphrased]“That’s what you get for pretending to respect black people. They still crap on you.” That’s funny–I always assumed McCain was sincere. Is it just inconceivable to you that he might admire that man?
And you and I have voted exactly the same way, T. Why is it that I can spend my whole life voting for white men, but the first time I choose to vote for a black one, I’m voting based on race?
So the neo-cons are willing to ignore Powell’s resume and dismiss him because he’s “obviously racist”. Why else would a black man be willing to vote for another black man, right? And of course, women who supported Hillary Clinton only did so because she was a woman. Does that mean I (a woman) am a misogynist because I didn’t support her?
I listened to a radio bit the other day (sorry, but I can’t quote the source, although the bit was talked about on Howard Stern), where an interviewer went to Harlem and asked residents (not all blacks) about their support of Obama. This interviewer presented McCain’s platform as if it were Obama’s (pro-life, endless war, tax the poor, etc), and every person interviewed said they were OK with voting for him, even so. Does that mean these people support him only because he’s black? Maybe, but I think it goes deeper than that.
My guess is these people are making decisions based on personality – much like the people who voted for Bush because he “looks like a guy I would enjoy having a beer with” – even if his platform is completely opposed to their views. That isn’t good, of course, but it doesn’t mean they are racist. Just willfully uninformed, and perhaps lacking the fortitude to carry a thought one level deeper than the first thing that comes to mind – which is a fault of the majority, I fear.
I’m not voting for Obama because of “white guilt”, and I don’t think many other whites are, either. If that were the case, Alan Keyes might have gotten somewhere.
I listened to Colin Powell’s speech – I’d give it a B, maybe a B .
What kept it from being an A is that he needed to say SPECIFICALLY – “I think Barack Obama is ready to be COMMANDER IN CHIEF from day one.” He day say Barack was ready “…from day one…” but didn’t go that extra half step. I’m disappointed.
As to the racists; at the end of eight years, the quality, the intelligence, the accomplishments, the demeanor and the inclusiveness of President Obama’s two terms will be the best response to them. By that time America will have moved past racism – racists will be only a tiny sliver of the American population.
Obviously you don’t expect those freeper dolts to get the point, but I ran into a reaction a couple of months ago that’s a bit amusing.
On a newsgroup that’s about an author, not about politics, somebody managed to get into a side issue from one of the books, noting how the bad guys supported Their Guy because he was one of them, and ain’t that just like those colored people voting for one of their own.
I pointed out as mildly as I could that Black people are entirely capable of voting for White people for President, which they’ve been doing consistently for 150 years — when allowed to vote at all, as I didn’t fail to mention.
And I got a real snappy comeback: Of course they did, they had no other choice.
I didn’t respond, “Indeed, this is central to my point” because only lefty blog readers would recognize that. But this is what reality-based arguments are up against.
Oh, BTW, it is with glee that I shall cast my first Presidential vote not “based on race”.
But you know what makes me.
Gee, I wonder, did any of those commenters at Free Republic say anything like…
“Colin Powell is full of crap.”
Or “Colin Powell was a silent, slithering snake of a man who cheerleaded one of the worst decisions in the history of the United States.”?
I’m not really surprised at that reaction.
In one sense, that reaction indicates just how unwinnable a situation Powel’s endorsement was for himself, Obama, the black population at large and democrats at large.
Considering that there were three potential choices, Obama, McCain or no (public) endorsement. Now consider what right-wing commentary would be applied to each of those choices:
Obama: “they” all stick together–African Americans put African ahead of American…
McCain: look–even this important black man wouldn’t choose Obama! Obama is so bad, even another BLACK man knows the real deal…
no endorsement: take #2, and add Powell is secretly ‘in the tank’ for McCain, but can’t say it because he would be disavowed by the black community…
Very magnanimous of them to say so.
Dennis, since there is absolutely no way you could actually believe the line you’re pushing, because if you were that dumb you wouldn’t be able to turn the computer on the first place, I’d like to invite you to shut up.
My “favorite” so far:
“CHANGE = Come Help A Neo-communist Get Elected”
“Neo-communist.”
Right.
I’m sure that was how they told it at the bar.
“Too bad, some are POOR JUDGE of character, so somebody who is a complete fraud may rise to the top undetected.”
Regarding the specific example of McCain, the Klansman actually has a point, though an unintended one.
oliver,
i am not sure where this comes from — is it a pundit from the new republic or one of the folks spouting off on the comment thread (that’s where the link takes you to — some kind of comment thread but i could not find your text in it)? It would help me to know the context. thanks!
My favorite one is this:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2109437/replies?c=27
Where they try to link Obama with Terry McVeigh too.
Good thing I had on my protective gear while reading the vitriolic comments.
Colin Powell’s military career was characterized by caution over courage, McCain the opposite. Both are needed, but in an ugly situation I know who I’d rather have my back.
Powell showed no great courage with his endorsement of Obama at this point in time. Given his past support for affirmative action and Obama’s scant record of actual accomplishment and experience the idea that the politics of identity held sway is not unreasonable. Both Obama and Powell are process over product kind of guys, veterans of the survival of the committee process.
One may quibble on individual issues but like McCain, Powell’s credentials as a patriotic American are unassailable. A refreshing change from some of Obama’s more personal mentors and advisers, Ayers, Wright, Raines etc.
Hideous.
But in no way surprising.
One of the ancillary benefits of this campaign is the way it has shined a bright light on the many cockroaches that infest our country. Those who have been in denial about that, but who still have eyes to see with and functioning brains, will watch them scurrying and will better understand how far we still have to go.
Amused Observer is one of the cockroaches. Why do you suppose he wants to talk about Franklin Raines, who has no actual association with Obama at all?
Good to hear that as well.
Steve,
Raines has been claimed and disclaimed by the Obama campaign as his reputation has and the benefits associated with it have risen and fallen.
Say speaking of corrupt failed quasi government financial organizations who do you think is # 2 on the Fannie Mae campaign donation list? Right behind Chris Dodd. Come
to think of it there are Democratic fingerprints all over that baby!
Both Obama and Powell are process over product kind of guys, veterans of the survival of the committee process.
Could you be more specific about what you mean by this? Do you have any specific examples to buttress your argument? Do you think that people who served under Powell or elected Obama head of the Harvard Law Review would agree with you? I eagerly anticipate your reply.
Amused Observer = lying sack. Crawl back under your rock.
By the way, recycling the Fannie / Freddie BS talking points is a sure sign of an ignorant wingnut troll. They were a peripheral problem; private lenders were by far the main source of this clusterfuck.
And the donations Obama received from “Fannie and Freddie” were mostly from rank-and-file employees, at a low dollar level, not from the bigwigs.
A refreshing change from some of Obama’s more personal mentors and advisers, Ayers, Wright, Raines etc.
“Mentors and advisers” — wow, either you have no concept of these words or you’re just addicted to spouting lies.
Ayers served on a board with Obama. So, for that matter, did other people. But to Obama, Ayers is “a mentor/adviser,” whereas the other people…well, hey, they may have “palled around” with Ayers, but we don’t have reason to fear them. Ayers has been at no point involved with Obama’s campaigns or in shaping his vision.
Wright spent decades preaching about doing good works for the poor, and when he arrived at this misguided moment when he spoke out divisively, Obama delivered a remarkable speech on race in America in which he categorically denounced these views.
But why do I bother? Continue frothing, little mad dog.
“That should be the end of the story.”
Because the next hundred and fifty years gets really ugly and reflects badly on white people who are still alive. Criminy! What an asshat!
What they’re saying is, when given a chance between a white person they agree with or a black person they agree with, blacks will vote for the black candidate. I think the Dem primary proved that.
And yes, it is racist. Your using skin color to as a reason to vote for/against someone for a position of power.
What they’re saying is, when given a chance between a white person they agree with or a black person they agree with, blacks will vote for the black candidate.
Why is that dependent on skin color? There hasn’t been much choice before. Jesse Jackson, sure, but there we had a black person they didn’t agree with.
It’s more about a PERSON they agree with. That’s why Obama is doing so well. Colin Powell proved that, as did the Wapo, the Chicago Trib, Chris Buckley, et al.
“I think the Dem primary proved that.”
Because little miss “fuckyousocialist” mccann can read the minds of Dem primary voters and knows which candidates they agreed with and which ones they didn’t.
Bruce henry the socialist…
Mind reading wasn’t necessary when over 90% go for Obama over clinton in a DEMOCRATIC primary.
That was blatent racism. If you can’t see and admit that, then you’re the kind of stupid that just can’t be fixed.
Mind reading wasn’t necessary when over 90% go for Obama over clinton in a DEMOCRATIC primary.
That was blatent (sic) racism. If you can’t see and admit that, then you’re the kind of stupid that just can’t be fixed.
Bullshit. 90% went for Obama over Clinton because they like what he has to say and, like me, they’re tired of the Clinton machine.
You see racism because you’re a racist, even if it doesn’t really exist.
LMAO! Yeah Duros…
I gotta bridge to sell ya too.
And I find it rather amazing that among other demographics, the trend was nowhere near 90% for Obama as it was among blacks. And I suppose if Obama was white and named Frank Harris, he’d have received 90% of the black vote too….you know…because they would have liked what he said…or something. Suuuuure. Nothing to do with racial loyalty there! LMAO!
In your world, I guess that’s all just a funny coincidence, and I guess over 90% of blacks must just be sick of the Clinton machine too, right? – That same Clinton machine blacks loved to death for the better part of 8 years. Yeah…that’s a logical and rational conclusion…..for a moron! LMAO! In the world of those with reasonable minds, that’s racism. And you sir are a racist. A bitter racist. And you are a giant dumbass on top of that.
Congratulations.
Were Catholics who voted for JFK “religion-ists” because they voted for a fellow Catholic? Were Southeners who voted for Carter and Clinton “regional-ists” because they voted for a fellow Southerner?
If it was at or over the same clip that racist black america supports Obama the socialist, then yes, it would be.
If Black vote based on race, then how would you describe “white” voting patterns?
The notions that African Americans vote based on race is by far one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time. (Before repeating trash from Limbaugh, do yourself a favor and study US HISTORY and Political Science.
(WOW, I guess all of the past election results would support this silly claim??? Lets look into Alan Keyes and Al Sharpton to name a few in recent history.)
If you think African Americans vote based on race than explain Keyes because he is CLEARLY “BLACKER” than Obama!!!!!
REPUBLICANS SHOULD LEARN HOW TO WIN AND LOOSE WITH CLASS!!!
ENOUGH of trying to play race, gender, class, and religion to get people to vote AGAINST THEIR BEST INTEREST.
DON’T FALL FOR THE RIGHT-WING SCAM AMERICA!!!!