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RedditIf you haven't already, check out my colleague Betsy Reed's compelling account of how Hillary Clinton's campaign has deployed the racist playbook of the right against Barack Obama. As Betsy argues, Clinton has positioned herself to take advantage of the feeding frenzy around Rev. Wright, and her surrogates have portrayed "the black candidate" as less American, less patriotic and most importantly in what is now a race for superdelegates, less electable.
It's that last word--electable--that really rankles me because it imputes "electability" to the candidates themselves. It's as if "electability" were a personal quality--like integrity, compassion or in more biologized accounts, say, blonde hair--that candidates possess in varying degrees. All of this is absurd since "electability" is wholly determined by the voters, usually. (In 2000, George W. Bush didn't possess "electability" so much as he was gifted it by the Supreme Court.)
Now, in order to convince superdelegates to buck the will of the majority of Democratic primary voters, Hillary Clinton is arguing that she's the more "electable" candidate, and some of her surrogates are suggesting that Obama is not "electable" against John McCain. But just what is it about Hillary that makes her more "electable" than Barack? From reading the Clinton campaign's material, you'd never know it has anything to do with her race. Instead, they talk in euphemisms and codes. In a memo titled "HRC Strongest Against McCain," Clinton strategist Harold Ickes points to her superior polling in "swing states" and among "swing voting blocs" like "Catholics," as well as Obama's rising "unfavorables." Departed advisor Mark Penn has said that the working class is "a critical vote" that superdelegates should consider because "these are voters who in the past have gone either way in the general election."
Give me a break. We're not talking about swing voters, Catholics or the working class en masse. We're talking about the white, working class. As Mark Penn surely knows, it's not black working-class voters who "swing" the other way.
If you've cracked a newspaper once in the past few months, you already know this. Every pollster and pundit has overheated their logic boards trying to predict how the white working class--that ever elusive, ever mythic bloc--will vote. But the Clinton camp continues to play coy. They talk about bowling scores, shooting ranges and whiskey shots--as if these new-found hobbies account for Clinton's "electability." Even as they leak statistics like--HRC has beaten Obama among white, non-college-educated voters in 26 out of 29 states--they carefully avoid putting the words--"white voters" or heaven forbid "uneducated white voters"!--anywhere near her talking points.
So, in the name of another personal quality--honesty--I'd like Hillary Clinton to make the following statement: "Though my opponent has run a terrific campaign, in primary after primary, I have proven that I am the more electable candidate. I am more electable because I am white. Barack Obama--Wow!--he's certainly inspired a lot of hope, but as voters in Indiana and North Carolina make up their minds, as the superdelegates make up their minds, they should remember that Barack Obama is black. They should also remember that a whole lot of white working-class Americans are racists. White racists are an important part of the Democratic Party, and time and time again, they've supported me because I am white. I am ready on day one to govern as your white American president."
If this sounds--excuse the pun--beyond the pale, it's because it is. Or at least, it should be. But the alleged racism of white working-class voters has become, through her campaign's own actions, the last remaining rationale for Clinton's candidacy.
Are white working-class voters really racist? How many and where? If a significant number of them are, should Democrats really court them on the terms of their racism? These are questions worth asking since, apparently, a lot of Democrats think they're valid. But as long as the Clinton campaign continues to code the fact that it is counting on a base of white racist support, we'll never have this conversation. And as long as the mainstream media indulges the euphemism of "electability"--one that makes white racism seem like a personal deficiency of Barack Obama's--we'll be stuck mucking around in diffuse fears and anxieties that nobody, least of all Hillary Clinton, wants to name.
So here's my final suggestion: as long as Barack Obama is called upon to explain, denounce and reject black racism, let's have it both ways. Let's have George Stephanopoulos ask Hillary Clinton how she feels about the white racist vote?
"Let's have George Stephanopoulos ask Hillary Clinton how she feels about the white racist vote?"
When? And why should he bite a hand that put him where he is? And why should Billary call a spade a spade, when that's all that stands between them & reentry to the White House? When have the Clintons ever had scruples? The demands made on the Clintons in this piece surpass unreasonable.
Posted by sloper at 05/05/2008 @ 7:47pm
This isn't an article based on some truth EULER..?? None of this rings true... Get a grip man.. Have no doubt, semantics are a huge part of politics...
I would guess (just a guess) that 90+ % of the roughly 1/3 of the population that will go to the polls, NEVER READ ONE 'REAL' issue/stance on ANY of the candidates... You think white/black/red/green has any bearing on that ....?? like in o4' 'who would i rather drink a beer with'... thats what it will always be about ... BS 'electability'... Obama has run a very gutter free campaign... I guess you can't see that ... Is Mylee Cyrus naked?? Why dosent Obama wear a Lil' American Flag Pin..? Is an angry black man going to say something scary again..?? SMOKESCREENnnnnnnnn... READ THE ISSUES....
Posted by Vvf1969 at 05/05/2008 @ 7:54pm
Hillary is being dishonest. She did NOT win the "white" working class voters in Wisconsin, Utah, North Dakota, Washington State, Iowa, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Maine, and Wyoming. Working class voters in these states contstute the majority, and Obama won those states, not Hillary.
Like her "funny" math, Hillary continues to play fast and loose with the truth, and is simply being aided by "racist Republicans", who are also "white working class voters", in these more recent contests where Operation Chaos was in full force due to McCain securing the Republican nomination, and Republicans no longer having a reason to vote in their own primary.
Trying to fool the superdelegates with white racist "Republican" working class appeal, when we all know these voters were instructed by Rush Limbaugh in Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania to vote for Hillary as the weakest Democrat, will not be very persuasive. These voters will not vote for ANY Democrat in November, so pointing to them as your base of support is really quite sad. It shows how far Clinton has fallen from grace, as she continues to say and do anything to get elected.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 7:57pm
Well, it was FRANKGRITS who said "it's about winning"....so you think Hillary cares how she wins.
Posted by Mask at 05/05/2008 @ 8:01pm
Electability is a perfectly issue and only a very naive or biased individual will find fault with that. When was the last this website examined anything Obama stood for? Is he that perfect a candidate or is it just anti-Hillary hysteria that is driving the content of this and other liberal blog. I question this as a former Nation subscriber.
Posted by kevin99999 at 05/05/2008 @ 8:01pm
Oh kev, your question holds so much water since your 'a former' Nation subscriber.... Why all the HATE for Obama... Are you one of them middle class white voters'.....lol..
Posted by Vvf1969 at 05/05/2008 @ 8:07pm
How many racists are there in America. Would you say the vast majority of Americans are racist? Or only the ones that vote Republican?
Do you honestly think more than 1 million will vote on race as the single issue determining the vote?
If you do you are a self-deluded idiot.
Posted by marybretbrad at 05/05/2008 @ 8:11pm
Posted by Euler at 05/5/2008
Hey, EULER, why don't you save time and call the Obama supporters "Demoncrats" and "secular regressives"?
Posted by Mask at 05/05/2008 @ 8:14pm
Posted by marybretbrad at 05/5/2008
Only about 15% of the electorate will vote based on race, and, yes, 80% of these voters ARE Republican!
This does not mean that the majority of Republicans are racists, but you get outside of the business class, libertarians, and "some" of the Chritain right, and you have a whole lot of angry white rednecks that wouldn't vote for a woman or a black candidate.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:16pm
Trying to fool the superdelegates with white racist "Republican" working class appeal,...
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
METT, you know full well there are a lot of white racists out there (regardless to their party affiliation) and they do not want Obama sitting in the WH.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:20pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
They are MOSTLY Republican, and only comprise about 15%of the electorate.
Obama will obliterate that 15% number with all of the new voters he will bring in - young voters, political drop-outs, and, yes, new black voters!
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:22pm
92% of blacks are voting for Obama (for his merits, one would presume, not his race?)
Posted by Euler at 05/5/2008
Sorry Euler, but most black folks are voting for Obama because he is black. And that's a sad thing because none of family or friends can tell me with some degree of certainty where he stands on the issues.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:24pm
With Obama as our nominee, we are talking about a 25% increase in turn-out from previous presidential elections. The racist voter cannot compete with these turn-out dynamics.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:26pm
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
No they are not "mostly" republican. I come from one the most racist democratic states in the mid-west..it's the state of Michigan
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:28pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
Wrong!
Most blacks are voting for Obama because Hillary continues to insult them and patronize them with black surrogates as though they can't think for themselves.
Blacks would NOT vote for Condi Rice or Clarance Thomas or even A Sharpton, so to suggest that they are voting for Obama because he is black shows a lack of understanding of race and politics.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:30pm
There are plenty of different kinds of racists, not just one type. Many hold their fears inside only letting them out in the voting booth. I think the majority are already a part of the Republican party but it's certainly present in the Democratic party as well. It's just going to be a choice between two evils for those people ("oh no a black or a conservative") Hopefully those people can make an educated choice and leave their fears behind them.
Posted by daniel.f at 05/05/2008 @ 8:31pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
Michigan does indeed have racial challenges, but most of it is based on knee-jerk reaction rather than some deep-seated hate of black people.
White flight to suburbs around Detroit was based, in large part, on perceptions (self-perpetuating) of declining home values. But if a rich black lawyer wants to live in Bloomfield Hills, I don't think w whole lot of whit folks would be upset.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:33pm
I can answer the author's title question in one word: thrilled.
Posted by opeluboy at 05/05/2008 @ 8:39pm
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
Mett, you know nothing of black people. Although we are not monolithic (most of the time), we have a tendency to gravitate to someone like ourselves. And if you think they wouldn't vote for Condi Rice, guess again. She was the main reason Bush picked up 11% of the black vote in 2004. Had it not been for the high visibility of Condi and Colin Powell, Obama would have never considered a run for the WH. And if you think that's not true, go back and look at Obama confirming Condi as Secretary of State.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:44pm
You know why most blacks aren't called racist for voting for a black man? Here is the simple answer. Because blacks have been voting for white people since they could vote. Now they have a chance to see one of their own occupy the Oval Office. Is it racist? Racism always depends on perspective. If they are saying I am voting for him because he is black and I think the fact that he is black will make him a better President then yes it is racist. If they are voting for him because they think someone of their own skin color who has had to share in the trials they have had to go through will be a better representative for their race then no it isn't. The same applies to white people. If you are voting because you think a white person will represent the needs of your struggle better then no it is not racist. If you are voting for Hillary because you will never vote for a black man then yes it is racist.
Why do I think this? Who better to understand a person than someone who had to go through some of the same struggles? A white person can never know what it is to grow up black just like a black person can never know what it is to grow up white. So if you are looking for a truly knowledgeable representative of yourself you would probably look to your own race.
The reason Hillary is getting the flak and not Obama is because Obama is not making the big deal out of it. Hillary is making a big hoopla about how she is more electable because she can get the white vote. Maybe it's true maybe it's not we will never know because we can't run both of them against McCain so we will never know who would have done better. THAT is the sole reason Hillary is getting more flak because she decided to make it the central issue.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/05/2008 @ 8:45pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
Colin Powell was the only one in that gaggle of idiots I semi-liked and he up and left come 2004. I knew there was something wrong from the beginning with that Presidency but when his Cabinet started jumping ship it was all resoundingly confirmed.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/05/2008 @ 8:47pm
But if a rich black lawyer wants to live in Bloomfield Hills, I don't think w whole lot of whit folks would be upset.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
Geez, you know nothing of Detroit's history. And, if a rich black lawyer had an sense he wouldn't move there (of all places), that place was notorious for cross-burning.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:50pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
I know you don't know me, ACOOK, and if you did, you wouldn't make such reckless statements concerning what i know and don't know.
Your 11% number is roughly the percentage of blacks that are Republican, so how does that prove your point?
The other 90% of black people see Condi as a sell-out, the sole black face in circles of Republican power that Republicans use to fend of charges of racism. They know Condi has no REAL power, if she did, we wouldn't have invaded Iraq and we would be talking to Hamas to get a REAL DEAL in the Middle East rather than last-minute window dressing for Bush's "legacy".
Obama's decision to run for the WH has absolutely nothing to do with Condi Rice. Barack sees a rare opportunity at this moment in history to change America for the good, and only he has the capacity to usher in such change at this moment in time.
But son't take my word for it, go listen to a number of interviews on th esubject or the books that he has written, and it will be clear that he is not a Condi Rice sell-out.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:54pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
I said it because I know black lawyers who have moved there, and, no, no one burned any cross on their yard!
Posted by Metteyya at 05/05/2008 @ 8:55pm
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/5/2008
C3, changing cabinets is nothing new. The fact that many lasted past their "4 yr" shelf life, is a surprise even to me. Clinton had the same problem.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 8:56pm
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
You are truly naive. Obama would not have taken this opportunity had he not seen a black face in the WH. You should go back view her confirmation and hear what he said to her. Not one negative word came from his lips. He was all smiles.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 9:05pm
Only about 15% of the electorate will vote based on race, and, yes, 80% of these voters ARE Republican!
This does not mean that the majority of Republicans are racists, but you get outside of the business class, libertarians, and "some" of the Chritain right, and you have a whole lot of angry white rednecks that wouldn't vote for a woman or a black candidate.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
That's 15 million people. I disagree with your estimate.
Posted by marybretbrad at 05/05/2008 @ 9:07pm
I said it because I know black lawyers who have moved there, and, no, no one burned any cross on their yard!
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
Really, let me call my mom and find out. She's only lived there all my life.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 9:10pm
Posted by HAPPY3 at 05/5/2008
Happy, that's something the dems don't want to be reminded of. There have never been a black cabinet member in any of the democratic presidential administrations.
That's something that's always bothered me. We're good enought to vote you in office, but not good enough to sit at your table.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 9:18pm
So, white Democratic racists aren't voting for Obama and thus Republicans (they're all racists) won't vote for Obama and the Democrats want to win the White House? Why can't they nominate a white guy instead.
Posted by woodyee at 05/05/2008 @ 9:21pm
There have never been a black cabinet member in any of the democratic presidential administrations.----Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
ACOOK....who was Ron Brown?
Posted by Mask at 05/05/2008 @ 9:21pm
When was the last this website examined anything Obama stood for?
Posted by kevin99999
when was the last time any news outlet examined any issue?
Monday, May 5, 2008 9:49:18 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 9:44pm
"Demoncrats" and "secular regressives"?
Posted by Mask
hey,
where's ol' rio?
Monday, May 5, 2008 9:51:36 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 9:46pm
because none of family or friends can tell me with some degree of certainty where he stands on the issues.
Posted by ACook
issues?
issues?
what on earth are you talking about?
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 9:48pm
Famous people who have lived in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Bloomfield Hills is home to captains of industry, professional athletes and entertainers. A few of its notable past and present citizens include:
Aretha Franklin (Queen of Soul)
Lee Iacocca (former Chrysler CEO)
Isiah Thomas (former Detroit Piston)
Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings)
Geoffrey Fieger (Attorney and former gubernatorial candidate)
William Davidson (owner of the Detroit Pistons, The Palace of Auburn Hills and Guardian Industries)
Roger Smith (former GM Chair)
Charles Lindbergh (pilot)
Joe Dumars (Detroit Pistons)
hmmmmmmm.
nope. nobody black here.
Monday, May 5, 2008 9:59:06 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 9:54pm
wait.
isn't yzerman black?
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 9:55pm
hey, mask.
see you snuck a comment in on ol' jstreet.
over at American Prospect, Te-Ping Chen is allowing comments.
with html!
Monday, May 5, 2008 10:05:50 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 10:01pm
RE: How Does Hillary ...
Electability electability ... But that's real issue. Let's say mr. Obama wins the dem nomination, how' bout November. McGovern, the other super liberal got the nominee and lost (big) in 1972. Now Mr. Obama wants to emulate the Bubba's style of campaigning: sunny, goofy, know-nothing-delegate-evrything-to-buddies, Is that a way to win?
Posted by HelenDAO at 05/05/2008 @ 10:16pm
Is that a way to win?
Posted by HelenDAO
no way.
lying is key.
democracy in action!!!
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 10:18pm
"We would be able to totally obliterate them."
go get 'em hillary.
vaporize them crazy towelheads.
(don't forget the kids......)
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 10:28pm
Posted by HelenDAO at 05/5/2008 | ignore this person
"super liberal"? whats "super liberal" about him?
HELEN DAO NEVER DARES ACTUALLY ANSWER. MAYBE SHE HAS ME ON IGNORE. PERHAPS SOMEBODY LIKE FROSTY SHOULD COPY THIS SO SHE CAN SEE ME. BUT THEN SHE STILL WONT RESPOND BY ACTUALLY ANSWERING MY QUESTION, SO WHAT'S THE POINT, EH?
GUESS I'M THE STUPID ONE SINCE I KEEP TRYING TO ENGAGE HER IN CONVERSTATION BUT SHE NEVER RESPONDS.
at least i'm not stupid/cynical/superficial enough to vote for 50 foot queeny...
Posted by ibbleblibble at 05/5/2008
well, she's never answered me either........
maybe she's got everybody 'cept herself on ignore.
hey, you got any surrogates voting for you in n.c.?
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 10:30pm
Posted by HAPPY3 at 05/5/2008
you should get your dna tested.
i bet you're a mulatto, too.
Monday, May 5, 2008 10:37:27 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/05/2008 @ 10:32pm
ACOOK....who was Ron Brown?
Posted by Mask at 05/5/2008
Ron Brown was secretary of commerce and he wasn't part of Clinton's inner circle.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 10:35pm
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
Your statement is false. Try looking up Robert Weaver under LBJ. Or Patricia Roberts Harris under Carter. If you want to go with unofficial groups, how about FDR's Black Cabinet?
Posted by HAPPY3 at 05/5/2008
You are aware he has black skin? That's pretty much the major requirement for the black experience in the U.S.
Posted by srjenkins at 05/05/2008 @ 10:37pm
Monday, May 5, 2008 9:59:06 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/5/2008
FZ, the comment was made about "black lawyers". Besides, I don't think the only 3 black folks you mentioned live in Bloomfield anymore.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 10:42pm
Re: How does Hillary feel? Gee, I'd be presumptous to say how someone would feel, but I personally feel pretty rotten about the racism in this campaign, but more so because it's the current state of affairs. btw, the "Rovians" are more likely bringing up the issues about Obama. Obama may wish the campaign to be above the uproar regarding his pastor, Weatherman connection, cocaine use, but it comes with the territory. There's likely a lot more as of yet, unpublicized about him that will create more uproar, and until voters decide that it doesn't matter, it matters. Don't blame Hillary for this country's racism. And btw, there are plenty of middle and upper class racists in both parties; they just have developed a more subtle way of displaying racism. I know lots of white, working class folks in my home state of Arkansas, that are decent and respectful of black people.
Posted by Bolted at 05/05/2008 @ 10:50pm
I believe the reason that many white democrats(working class as opposed to what? Non working?) will not vote Obama is due to his socialistic policies...they know his windfall taxes on corporations will yeild higher gas prices for them and will drive out more business from our shores...we have the highest corporate taxes in the world and the rest of the world is lowering theirs even more...the reason many of our cities died was because punitive fees and taxes drove out the factories and the workers tyop lower taxed areas...
Those "working class" dems are Reagan type Dems...conservative at their finacial heart...and Obama and to a lesser extent, Hillary, are full blooded govt socialists who never heard of a spending cut in their lives...
Obama cannot win the WH with 99% black vote and all the fringe lefties alone...which, despite the color issue, many would vote THEIR POCKET BOOK INTERSTS before any color...I believe the lack of Obama support from the Middle Dems is the same as the Repubs in that they will not vote Obama...it makes no economic sense to do so...those same white Dems would have put Powel in the WH hands down...and enough would support a Condi Rice on a ticket...and that ain't racism, thats personal interest...
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/05/2008 @ 10:59pm
Posted by srjenkins at 05/5/2008
Sorry SRJ, but Rob Weaver served 2 years as HUD Secretary under LBJ and Pat Harris serve only 1 year under Carter. Neither cabinet post held by them was part of the "inner cicle".
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 11:00pm
Posted by HAPPY3 at 05/5/2008
Happy I will say the same thing that I said to Frank. Whether you are half black or all black if you have dark skin you will be treated accordingly. That fact that you don't know this invalidates anything you say on the subject. I am half black and light skinned for that matter but I still get funny looks when I walk into certain places a black person shouldn't be. Doesn't matter how much of anything you are if you look black you are black in America.
And what does it matter if he is only American by his mother. Does that make him somehow less qualified to lead? He still has to deal with everything every other American has to. He still had to deal with the pains of 9/11 and Katrina. The sight of our troops coming home mangled and dead. If you really think that because his father was Kenyan that that makes him any less capable than anyone else I feel bad for your and your xenophobia, that you think that because someone is not American they are not capable of doing what an American is capable of doing.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/05/2008 @ 11:00pm
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/5/2008
The statement about corporate taxes has been disproven before. We have high corporate taxes but once you take into account the loopholes we actually have some of the lowest corporate taxes.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/05/2008 @ 11:01pm
This article is silly. When you get done asking HRC about the white racist vote, are you going to ask Obama how he feels about the misogynist vote?
Sure, the race card is being played. There are absurd attempts to draw connections with Obama and Islam by using Hussein when talking about him. The whole Wright thing is mind-bogglingly stupid. Lots of sad tactics in play here.
But there is also a flip side to all of this too. For example, I listened to some of Rev. Wright's sermons - and had a hard time understanding what people were getting all bent out of shape about. Beside the rhetoric, the substance of his comments weren't much different than the one's Ron Paul made in the Republican debates last year. If anything, it shows that the black community - as a minority community - has a better understanding of some of the weaknesses of our nation than other groups. I applaud the fact that these kind of sermons are being given in the United States, and can only wonder why we don't see frank discussion of these issues, rather than what actually happens time and time again - people raising these questions are marginalized and drowned out in a crescendo of non sequiturs designed to avoid the question and merely try to paint them as illegitimate and out of bounds.
Posted by srjenkins at 05/05/2008 @ 11:04pm
Detroit should be used as an example of what NOT to do as a city or as a govt.....no one would seriously consider locating a business there, especially manufactoring, for all the unions, the govt tax structure and high states taxes make it a business unfriendly place to go...that is the reason the Southern states are doing very well...they ATTRACT business and have something to offer...many northern states have only a heavy burden to offer business, and when trying to be competetive in the world, no one will sign up for the load.
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/05/2008 @ 11:05pm
You stated: "There have never been a black cabinet member in any of the democratic presidential administrations."
I'm giving it a straight-forward reading, and it's wrong. If you meant "inner circle", you should have said so - and you know as well as I do that it is a much weaker position in light of the argument you were making.
Posted by srjenkins at 05/05/2008 @ 11:08pm
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/5/2008
My friend,
Nothing of the kind hs been disproven...corporate taxes are passed on to the consumer..
in a like manner, this is where Obama and Hillary will damage the economy if they push higher captial gains tax up to 29%....as example.
Captial moves to returns and growth...if you tax captial gains to a doubling then the fellow with the captial, lets say he owns an apartement building and it is paid off..if he sells the building and wants to put the money into building more apartments,he must first pay a tax....at 15% the math works well in his favor and he will risk the money out of the paid for building and into a new construction site, spawning new jobs, new residences, new taxes from the workers, property taxes and the wealth pie grows, benefitting the comminuty as a whole...but if he loses 29% in tax, the math is not worth the risk and instead, will shift the emphasis on keeping the old building...and we all as a community lose because growth is impeded...
harass the corporations with higher corporate taxes and all you do is increase the price of the product to the consumer...gas is a CLASSIC example...the EXXONs of the land will simply pass on the higher taxes and move to other markets where they will be allowed to make their profits and grow...we are a consumer society and we require growth...and not in govt...
If you want less of a product at a higher price...tax it...if you want more, let it alone and watch it grow.
The only person who gets hurts from the higher prices is the very person Obama says he is worried about...the guy in the middle...and his well intentioned policys will end up ..fucking the middle over completely...no one in govt seems to have an ounce of economic reality or sense..
We are spiraling into a society that is modeling Europe..unfortunatly for us, the US in the long run...for Europe is having a difficult time and it will get worse..older population collecting more benies along with the immigrants and not enough of a next generation to coming down the pipe to finance the welfare state...it will break....and govt health care, run and paid by the govt(it is coming) will provide higher fees, less services in the final form...and will break us...for therte are not enough rich, or corporations existing to survive the amount of cash needed to keep it running...see SS here....another well intention finacial boondoggle...no one does the math.
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/05/2008 @ 11:26pm
Vvf1969, if you read what I wrote, there is not a single word against Obama. This is exactly the problem with people like you who have a herd mentality. My problem is with liberal blogs that so utterly biased that they do not have any credibility left.
Posted by kevin99999 at 05/05/2008 @ 11:31pm
Posted by srjenkins at 05/5/2008
C'mon SRJ, there's a lot more to Rev. Wright's sermons than meets the eye. Don't you find it odd that no one has ever heard of this man until that video showed up? I beginning to see some things not adding up.
1. Were there controveries when Obama ran as Senator?
2. Are there other videos?
3. Could Obama's bid for the presidency made Wright jealous? After all, firey rheteric against "opression" and "white folks" was his bread and butter. And a successful Obama presidency would have dispelled any sermons he's put out there
4. Or perhaps it's a few of the deadly sins...pride and greed.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 11:38pm
Posted by srjenkins at 05/5/2008
Yes, I did state that. But they were not that publically visible like Colin Powell, Condi Rice and Rod Paige. Weaver and Harris were never really given a chance to shine under those administrations.
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 11:44pm
"if i want to vote for some evil, unscrupulous, self aggrandizing ass, i can always vote republican.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 05/5/2008
As Foghorn Legghorn said.."you made a funny"...hehehe
Posted by ACook at 05/05/2008 @ 11:49pm
Obamas message of unity and "no color", just issues.... flies in the face of reality of his church....that is not the sprirtual message of Wright, in fact, Wrights message is NOT unity at all but damnation to whites past history and ignores the current cultural phenomina, that being, the entire turn over of a population that 150 years ago did not except blacks as human to one in which massive social and political programs aimed at those formerly disdained groups, resulting in a complete turn around in its own perception of the errors of the white history, even to change the nature of the govt that did not recognize the blacks in the first place...this is a huge transformation and self examination as a whole, even a civil war..this is unprecedented in any era....
Ones spiritual sense is tied to his/her religious congregation..IE, those of a like mind...and those ideals and teachings support and influence our personal behaviors drawing upon those "Sunday lessons and truths" to make our actions justified with in our selves...
Sitting for 20 years listening to a spriritual leader as Wright, does not produce a unity message the year one decides to accept the Chicago machines urgings to be their candidate(for get not that Obama is a product of the Chicago machine, home of "Honest" elections)...instead it raises more and more questions apon further exa...except here, at the Nation, of course.mination
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/05/2008 @ 11:55pm
Wright is not jealous..he is smart enough to recognize an opportunity when it comes along...if he makes a loud enough noise, no matter how it is played in the land, in fact, the more ridiculous and assinine and obnoxious the better, he will be perceived by the MSM as an expert and leader of the black community...and he knows they will fall all over themselves to get him on camera every time any issue comes up in the black community...and he will be like Big Al...
This is the goal and the media can't fall for it fast enough...and that is costing Obama in the final poll...the only way Obam or Hillary can win, is to join each other on the ticket..other wise..it is McCain by default...
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/06/2008 @ 12:00am
nd when trying to be competetive in the world, no one will sign up for the load.
Posted by JOMAMMA
whadda you care, commie?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12:41:41 AM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 12:36am
HAPPY3
what's happening to you?
you are decaying into some sort of 20th century racist.......
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 12:38am
JESUS FRIKKIN' CHRIST, YOU MORONS.
WE ARE ALL AFRICANS!!!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12:44:05 AM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 12:39am
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/6/2008
Happy is becoming more and more like Rio lately. His posts seem to be getting less and less intelligent and more and more bull headed. It's scaring me because no matter how much I disagreed with Happy I still respected his intelligence. I don't like this new breed of Happy. It's spooky.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 01:06am
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
Well it sort of disproves your problem with the fact that Dem's have never had a black person in Cabinet. They have they just weren't payed attention to by the media. The only reason Condi is so heavily noticed is because all of the Bush administration is noticed. Everyone is mesmerized by what crazy ass thing they are going to do next. Colin Powell was an intelligent man who was noticed but in the second term I still contend it was because the entirety of the Bush administration is extremely noticeable and in the spot light. Not to say they aren't accomplished but I contend if their leader was such a screw up Americans would be just as jaded and uncaring of their own political fates as usual.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 01:10am
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
All of these are interesting theories. It tickles the mind to think about them because this seems to be the only video. So are there others? If there were I think a quick google search would yield an answer. Then it begs the question of is he jealous? He isn't doing his sermons anymore so he can't want continued material but if Obama is elected he does get heavily disproven. Then if he is capable of that much duplicity it then brings to light the question of did someone five him money to go on television and keep this controversy alive.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 01:14am
The GOP has pumped the racist vote since the rightwing took over the '64 convention, screaming "nigger lover" at Nelson Rockefeller. Nixon made it a winning formula with the southern strategy & ever since the GOP has been dependent upon bigots for its victories. Keeping the bigot base psyched up are the likes of Limbaugh. Mary would seem to approve, but is too disingenuous to admit it. And don't go exempting the GOP business class from bigotry, one has only to ask black college grads about their job seeking experiences or check the ranks of senior execs.
Posted by sloper at 05/06/2008 @ 01:57am
I believe there has been some back-lash against the voting patterns of the black community. 90% voting for a black candidate is hard to explain as anything but racism. But it has been Obama's ill-chosen associations that have hurt him most with working-class whites and Reagan Democrats. It is also pretty clear that some voters won't vote for any female candidate for President, regardless of qualifications.
Posted by Hako at 05/06/2008 @ 02:46am
Debating someone who retreats from a firm claim proven false (that Democrats haven't appointed any african-americans to Cabinet positions) to positions so mushy they cannot be proven false (none in the 'inner circle') is pointless.
It also strikes me as deeply stupid to measure commitment of one party to an ethnic group by who they appointed to Cabinet positions. That Colin Powell was Sec of State did nothing at all to help the lives of black people. It might have if he had run for (and won) the presidency in '96. Neither he nor Rice have ever been in a position to do anything about domestic policy. When you compare policy the Democratic party has shown itself to be willing to sell the black community out when it helped the party electorally (Welfare Reform Act of '96) and Republicans haven't even tried.
And no not all black republicans are sellouts. Thomas Sowell is a sophist who publishes on everything and therefore on lots of things he doesn't have any training in. If he stuck to economics he would just be another boring reguritator of the conventional economic wisdom of the 18th century, but wouldn't be truly objectionable. Rice is incompetent, a liar and corporate lackey, and lots of other things. Neither strikes me as a sellout. Ward Connerly, now there is a sellout. From defending segregation as not racist to complimenting the KKK, he provides a good example of exactly what a sellout and Uncle Tom look like.
But in fairness to Rice she is a just a moral trainwreck who is bad at her job.
Posted by Poppolphil at 05/06/2008 @ 05:50am
Uncle Ruckus is a fool. LOL! man, I love "The Boondocks". Anyway, this post is nonsense. Why even go there? For what purpose? I think black are happy to be able to have someone that looks like them, for a change, have the opportunity to represent America in the world community. Call it what you want, but I think that's what it is. I don't think sexism is as high as racism in this race but this is America so, big whoop. I just wish my grandmother was alive to see this. I was touched when I heard of the 94-year old black womna making her way to vote. i doubt she ever thought a black man would have a viable chance(I know, I know Jesse jackson but black folks never thought he had a chance anyway. Hopefull but realistic.) It is what it is. Shouldn't the Nation be concentrating on issues and not race? Aren't you guys(The Nation) doing what you rail against others for doing?
P.S. DAMN THIS TINY BOX!!!!!!
Posted by k330k at 05/06/2008 @ 07:46am
Excellent article! Many of the Clintonistas who object to this probably manifest very syndrome that this article is about: they are white racists themselves who can't even admit their racism.
Posted by DrSubtle at 05/06/2008 @ 08:19am
Posted by ACook at 05/5/2008
1. Were there controveries when Obama ran as Senator?
He was running against Alan Keyes, who was a carpetbagger who decided to run and came to Illinois after a judge released custudy papers for Jack Ryan, the previous candidate, that claimed he enjoyed going to sex clubs. Oh, and Keyes is a complete nutjob running in a state where the Democratic party runs the show. Nothing to see here.
2. Are there other videos?
One can only hope.
3. Could Obama's bid for the presidency made Wright jealous? After all, firey rheteric against "opression" and "white folks" was his bread and butter. And a successful Obama presidency would have dispelled any sermons he's put out there.
Given the fact that he's retired, I don't think this is plausible.
4. Or perhaps it's a few of the deadly sins...pride and greed.
I think Wright saw an opportunity to get into the spot light. If Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton has a similar opportunity, you think they'd pass on it?
I think we agree that the Wright response hurt the Obama campaign. I think we differ on our focus - you are looking at Wright's motivations and taking the environment as a given. I, on the other hand, am wondering why his commentary is as damaging as it is - why mostly legitimate criticism couched in some over the top rhetoric is beyond the pale.
Posted by srjenkins at 05/06/2008 @ 08:26am
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/5/2008
Are we to conclude, by virtue of the fact that you post to The Nation, that you agree with the views expressed in most of its articles? Or that every member of a Catholic congregation shares their pastor's stance on, say, birth control?
Further, you don't seem to understand Wright's or Obama's message, which is essentially that being different doesn't make one inferior, which is why Obama you see Obama trying to appeal to people that think differently, such as "conservatives" and not demonizing them.
Posted by srjenkins at 05/06/2008 @ 08:34am
I am guessing that Hillary Clinton invented polling and is the one who decided that pollsters should even ask race and age when polling. Perhaps you think she if a vampire?
Seriously, this is the single most divisive pile I have read in a long time.
Posted by HenryPA at 05/06/2008 @ 08:36am
Posted by mihnea at 05/6/2008 | ignore this person
HTOFD - bet the house on it!
Posted by Turk33 at 05/06/2008 @ 08:53am
The mainstream press has been scrupulously avoiding this truth. It's good to see someone finally put it out there. People don't want to face the truth when it's not so pretty. So, they'll look for every rationale under the sun to excuse/justify the ugliness. But, it is what it is...
Posted by paranoid36 at 05/06/2008 @ 08:58am
Mihnea, I couldn't vote for Clinton if she were the only person in the race in November. The race baiting crossed a line for me. Democrats don't do that. Republicans look for ways to divide us by appealing to the worst in us for political expediency. So, what does that make Hillary... a person who will not get my vote. If she is able to steal the nomination, I'll vote and campaign for one of the independent candidates.
Posted by paranoid36 at 05/06/2008 @ 09:08am
Posted by paranoid36 at 05/6/2008
Mihnea is probably the Hillary Troll of the Day....ignore it.
(He/she will be back in 28 hours with a new nick...maybe a little less hysteria though after the NC and IN primaries!)
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 09:11am
Obama and his cult are setting race relations back about 50 years or more. They don't want a dialog on race where all parties participate (OMG, we have to let whites sit at the table???) Instead, it seems they want a monologue.
Obama is perhaps the most divisive figure since David Duke. If we could get the Obamabots to put down the kool-aid, perhaps they would see the damage that is being done by their man's continuing candidacy.
Posted by nobamaMama at 05/06/2008 @ 09:19am
The divisive identity politics of the left has come hommmmmmmmme ... to ROOST!!!
Pass the popcorn.
Posted by philmon at 05/06/2008 @ 09:22am
Clinton's campaign put out a complete myth about racisms vs. feminism. The reality is, racism and sexism are both part of being over 65 years old...but racism is the far stronger of the two, and old people aren't going to vote for Barack in large numbers, Democrat or Republican.
Younger people, escape these old prejudices, and vote on less offensive, but somehow, not especially good qualities either...they vote on looks, sexiness, warm feelings, etc.
Posted by MarkTime at 05/06/2008 @ 09:24am
Posted by nobamaMama at 05/6/2008 | ignore this person
Hilary troll or Operation Chaos operative - but clearly not an iota of intelligence.
Posted by Turk33 at 05/06/2008 @ 09:28am
Please get off of the "Supreme Court gave the election to President Bush" already. The Supreme Court was ruling on the plan by the Florida Supreme court and their plan for a recount. That PLAN was unconstitutional. Also, Pres. Bush didn't take the case to court, Al Gore did. When it comes down to it, the Florida Supreme court wanted to make up new rules and the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the plan they made was, again, UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
Posted by shwaiutah at 05/06/2008 @ 10:06am
Give me a break; this is a double standard if I have ever seen one. What about the 92% of blacks that vote for Obama? If 92% of whites voted for Clinton in every primary it would be labeled racist. But when 92% of blacks vote for the black candidate it's because they're "proud" and "excited" to have a candidate of their own running? Somehow I'm incredulous. The white racist vote? If anything, Obama only got as far as he did because of his slavish followers force feeding the general public heavy doses of white guilt. Even though he's the by far the less qualified candidate and is only capable of mumbling "distractions, distractions, distractions...change, change, change" when presented with a tough question, many reasonable white voters feel the need to vote for him to prove to themselves and others they aren't racist, not because Obama has any merits. If anything it's Obama who has been playing the race card; it's the only thing his campaign is built on. He and his surrogates get the racist black vote out for him and try to make whites feel guilty for not voting for a black man. This article is a perfect example of the specious logic Obama toadies try to fool the public with; it's main argument can be summed up as "if you're white and don't vote for Obama, then you are a racist". Mr. Kim, the good and sensible American people have finally begun to spit the Kool-aid out, and no amount of shunning from Obama sycophants is going to guilt them into having another glass.
Posted by luxferre84 at 05/06/2008 @ 10:08am
"With Obama as our nominee, we are talking about a 25% increase in turn-out from previous presidential elections. The racist voter cannot compete with these turn-out dynamics."
Quoting Metteyya from 05/5/2008
Metteya, Most cultists don't understand that in the general election we use a electoral system, so your 25% projected increase in voter turn out for Obama (which is grossly inflated) is really irrelevant; the states that he would need to win, e.g. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, all have smaller black populations which would not offset, your so called "white racist vote". Mccain currently defeats Obama in every one of these states in a general election match up; interestingly Clinton beats Mccain in every one of those states. The states where Obama has had heavy turnout? All republican strongholds that the democrats will never win in the fall. Don't' be fooled by his success in non representative caucus results nor by his winning 92% of the black vote in a state like South Caroline or Georgia, because he will never win those states in a general election.
Posted by luxferre84 at 05/06/2008 @ 10:24am
How does Barack feel about the black sexist vote?
Posted by ReverendWrithe at 05/06/2008 @ 10:40am
John McCain is the only candidate who doesn't fake an African American dialect in front of them. He's the least racist in my book.
Posted by ReverendWrithe at 05/06/2008 @ 10:41am
Hillary and Obama both fake African American dialects when they speak to balck voters. John McCain doesn't. I'll vote for the non-racist.
Posted by ReverendWrithe at 05/06/2008 @ 10:42am
Hillary and Obama both fake African American dialects when they speak to balck voters. John McCain doesn't. I'll vote for the non-racist.
Posted by ReverendWrithe at 05/06/2008 @ 10:42am
"Are white working-class voters really racist?" Only if your definition of racism includes people who have listened to the lies, conspiracy theories, insults, self-pity and outrageous demands that insane lying crackpots like Rev Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney and a host of other left-wing black radicals are spewing and find it repulsive are racists. Maybe they are, because the malicious nonsense spewed by white leftists isnt any more honest or cogent. I guess anybody stupid enough to vote for a candidate who promises to solve the energy shortage by suing OPEC instead of drilling for oil is probably dumb enough to BE a racist but then what name are you going to call the equally stupid morons who think Obama's brand of anti-business, high-tax idiocy is going to create jobs?
Posted by Skep41 at 05/06/2008 @ 10:47am
last I looked candidates need to justify themselves to the electorate and the electorate does not need to explain its vote. As an old leftist this all smacks of a tortured stalinist logic where the white working class labors under irreparable false consciousness while blacks and college students are a new vanguard and some commentators were "prematurely anti-Wright" before the leader said it was ok to bash the guy. Isn't it embarrassing to the Nation that the New Republic is totally balanced in its reporting while the Nation touts a party line of a confused and disingenuous effete intellectual snob?
Posted by oldlefty at 05/06/2008 @ 11:05am
Uh, average vote has been 55-45 at best and blacks voting 90-10, who's racist?
Posted by adamsmith at 05/06/2008 @ 11:11am
The Nation has turned into nothing but a race-baiting rag. As a long-time reader, you disgust me.
Posted by flibbertyjibbits.for.obama at 05/06/2008 @ 11:13am
This is not about race. It's about Rev. Wright and the damage he has done to Obama's electability. Before Rev. Wright emerged as an issue, Obama was polling better than Hillary vs. McCain. Now that he has had his first taste of what's to come in the general election against the Republicans, he is fading like the political novice he is. Hillary is the expert at politics, she knows how to defuse Republican attacks and win. Your bias against Hillary is blinding you to the fact Hillary is more electable, not because she's white, but because she's more moderate than Obama. Obama is a radical liberal, and the evidence is everywhere.
Furthermore, if 90%+ of blacks are voting for Obama, are they now racist since they seem to be voting for Obama overwhelmingly because his father was black. There is no other explanation for their voting statistics.
Posted by Curtisag at 05/06/2008 @ 11:17am
Looks like a lot of libertarians read this site too, which is all for the good.
However, Clinton's supporters are sounding more and more like Limbaugh's ditto heads.
Voting for Obama as a black person because he is black and a viable candidate is a sign of pride. Just like Itlians voting for Mario Cuomo in the 1980's or the Irish voting for Kennedy in the 1960's. Voting for Hillary because she is white and Obama is black is racist. And people like Euler - and other Clinton - supporters should accept this fact.
Posted by RJBenfatto at 05/06/2008 @ 11:19am
Most blacks are voting for Obama because Hillary continues to insult them and patronize them with black surrogates as though they can't think for themselves.
Blacks would NOT vote for Condi Rice or Clarance Thomas or even A Sharpton, so to suggest that they are voting for Obama because he is black shows a lack of understanding of race and politics. Oh they must be surrogates if they support Hillary huh? Whose the racist? you wouldn't support condi because she isn't black enough. You know, she assimilated and aspired to educated herself and mix with the rest of America. Obama hung out with a racist organization for 20-plus years that considers whites the demons, 92 percent of black people vote for him without knowing why-- besides his skin tone-- and white middle class people are the racists. Get a clue
Posted by es6913 at 05/06/2008 @ 11:26am
wgeb will the left understand that we win when we focus on bread and butter economic populism and we lose when we focus on foreign policy and race. Not to say the race "conversation" is long overdue or that the war is not an abomination but that neither our our "winning issues", not in 1972, not in 2008. History will once again repeat itself as farce unless the voters in North Carolina (for whatever reason) save us from ourselves.
Posted by oldlefty at 05/06/2008 @ 11:26am
Its people like the author of this blog that is churting Obama with the whote vote by writing absurd articles like the one above. Its incredible to argue white racism when Obama is getting a significant portion of the white vote and Hillary is getting vey little of the black vote. Its people like the author who hurts Obama with this continuing effort to polarize people no matter what the numbers show is happening. Obama couldn't be in this position without white voters period. Do you actually think that Obama is getting 92% of the black vote because his positions differ that much from Clinton's positions. Obama has gooten 92% of the black vote without really taking any positions that are important to black voters that we typically put white candidates on the carpet about in these elections. Everytime some moron screams racism because not every white person dosen't vote for Obama another white voter who might have been on the fence is turned off and votes for Clinton. Unfortunately a lot of people black and white who support Obama have their own agenda and actually benefit from racial divide. Once Obama is elected how will the blacks who thrive on being victims explain themselvsa and how will liberal whites who think they always kow whats best for blacks live without feeling guilty for the last several hubdred years. Will they know how to react to blacks once they've shed their veil of guilt by putting Obama in office. No,they'll do exactly what the liberals from the 60s did. They'll become Republicans in 20 years and talka bout they gave blacks a chance and electe Obama but all we do is complain about how things haven't gotten better. This author is surely in one of the 2 groups I've described.
Posted by squiggs at 05/06/2008 @ 11:28am
Its people like the author of this blog that is churting Obama with the whote vote by writing absurd articles like the one above. Its incredible to argue white racism when Obama is getting a significant portion of the white vote and Hillary is getting vey little of the black vote. Its people like the author who hurts Obama with this continuing effort to polarize people no matter what the numbers show is happening. Obama couldn't be in this position without white voters period. Do you actually think that Obama is getting 92% of the black vote because his positions differ that much from Clinton's positions. Obama has gooten 92% of the black vote without really taking any positions that are important to black voters that we typically put white candidates on the carpet about in these elections. Everytime some moron screams racism because not every white person dosen't vote for Obama another white voter who might have been on the fence is turned off and votes for Clinton. Unfortunately a lot of people black and white who support Obama have their own agenda and actually benefit from racial divide. Once Obama is elected how will the blacks who thrive on being victims explain themselvsa and how will liberal whites who think they always kow whats best for blacks live without feeling guilty for the last several hubdred years. Will they know how to react to blacks once they've shed their veil of guilt by putting Obama in office. No,they'll do exactly what the liberals from the 60s did. They'll become Republicans in 20 years and talka bout they gave blacks a chance and electe Obama but all we do is complain about how things haven't gotten better. This author is surely in one of the 2 groups I've described.
Posted by squiggs at 05/06/2008 @ 11:28am
Posted by RJBenfatto
Exactly!!
Happy3 is getting more an dmore bigoted in his statements. Look here Happy3, 100% of black men are not fatherless. My father raised me and my brother. In fact, the majority(85%) of my black male friends had fathers in their homes. In fact, 95% of the boys in my highschool class had fathers in the home. If you want to showcase your ignorance, that's fine. Just try a more modern approach. 'Preciate it.
Posted by k330k at 05/06/2008 @ 11:33am
The author treats the terms white, white working class and white racist as synonymous. Why was white upper class omitted? Every democrat knows that all whites are racists. It's time to accept that the only racial puritans' are liberals of ethnicity.
Posted by dkim at 05/06/2008 @ 11:40am
...and for our next act the Obama supporters will explain why universal health care is not in the interest of the American people...
Posted by oldlefty at 05/06/2008 @ 11:42am
Posted by oldlefty at 05/6/2008
Actually, JOMAMMA can explain that and he's more libertarian than anything. Go 'head JOMAMMA. Do your thing!
Oh, "comit" is commit. At first I was saying "comet". Why is Hillary so deserving? Because she's running? Other than that, I don't see it. Hell if that's the case, Laura deserves it too. I like librarians and teachers.
How about I saw Laura Bush on TV yesterday. I hadn't seen her in so long, I forgot Bush was married. Odd match, don't you think?
Posted by k330k at 05/06/2008 @ 11:57am
Posted by flibbertyjibbits.for.obama at 05/6/2008
..flibberty...jibbets....
Is that like swaying cow balls?
Posted by Benchrest at 05/06/2008 @ 12:11pm
I meant bull balls. Damn. No preview. Perfectly good joke wasted.
Posted by Benchrest at 05/06/2008 @ 12:18pm
Yep, those bad ole honkies are at it again, dissing this nice young Black Panther Senator. Racism rears it's ugly head again. Bigotted whites not voting for the nice clean-cut young Negro just because he hates their guts.
Posted by Dimslie at 05/06/2008 @ 12:27pm
I Richard Kim for real? Obama is gettinig 90+ of the African American vote. Hillary is getting around 60% of the white vote. If that is evidence of racism where is the real racism? Also keep in mind that white voters are sitting and watching Rev Wright, Obama's pastor & Mentor for 20 years spew unmitigated hatred at them. They've listend to Obama call them a bunch of bitter, gun toting, bible thumping, bigots, and yet he still gets about 40% of white votes. Racism??? Its pretty clear if this is the measure of racism, then its clear where the racism lies!!!!
Posted by valwayne at 05/06/2008 @ 12:30pm
I see a lot of Hillary Cultists posting on here right before the primary. It's odd isn't it? They just sorta come out of the woodwork. Screaming like crazy people then disappear. Problem is they aren't helping Hillary at all. None of them has said anything intelligent so far.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 12:31pm
. THE APE`S .... PLANET!!!!----Posted by mihnea at 05/6/2008
Who are you calling an "ape"...exactly?
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 12:34pm
Posted by mihnea
BTW, here's the scene-
Mihnea riding down the beach with Nova. We first see the tips of what appear to be spikes. Finally, close up on Mihnea's shocked face.
He/she dismounts the horse, and says "All this time....Hillary was losing, and I never realized it....
YOU DID IT....YOU MANIACS...YOU TOOK AWAY HER NOMINATION...AH, DAMN YOU....DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!"
Nova looks up...and a pull-back shot reveals a huge Statue of Hillary, half-buried in the sand, her crown melted from the nuclear fires.
Fade to black, with surf breaking in the background.
(Next Mihnea returns in "Beneath The Planet of the Hillary Cultists!"...heheh)
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 12:38pm
This guy is nuts. Jesus can someone tell him not to type in caps.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 12:44pm
Do you people realize that blacks were supporting Hillary in larger numbers than they supported Obama... until her true racist colors started to show? Do you people realize that blacks voted 90% for Kerry and 90% for Gore in past elections. Blacks are voting for Obama based on his integrity and Hillary's continual assault on them, not because he is black. This should be obvious to anyone with half a brain. Of course, most Americans don't have half a brain. Which is why we had 8 years of Dubya.
Its white racism that is happy to take 90% of the black vote for a white guy but then screams conspiracy when that same number goes for a black candidate. Get a grip you idiots.
Posted by rasalula at 05/06/2008 @ 12:48pm
Mr. Kim, the good and sensible American people have finally begun to spit the Kool-aid out, and no amount of shunning from Obama sycophants is going to guilt them into having another glass.
Posted by luxferre84 at 05/6/2008 | ignore this person
Oh yeah right. Just like the positive correlation between education and support for Obama and the negative correlation between education and support Clinton. Gives one reason to ponder doesn't it. With better educated and better informed voters supporting Obama, and converse being true for Clinton, what does that say about your candidate? By the way, I've heard more intelligent discussion from African-American media pundits in this cycle than I've heard from all the pasty faced Clinton ass kissers who go way back. Maybe the black vote is the vote that is going to save this country from going further down the drain. Kim's article is spot on.
Posted by OneVote at 05/06/2008 @ 1:04pm
Posted by ibbleblibble at 05/6/2008
I don't think he's white. He barely seems to speak English.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 1:11pm
Posted by luxferre84 at 05/6/2008
You, and Hillary, are using YESTERDAY'S math!
There are a number of other states that Obama puts in play that Democrats in the past could not.
Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, etc.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/06/2008 @ 1:19pm
Posted by rasalula at 05/6/2008
Good post. I totally forgot about black folks and Kerry/ Gore. You're right. The problem is black folks were supposed to stick with Bill and from that Hillary. I never supported her candidacy but i really fell out with her campaign when Bill started talking out of the side of his neck and Hillary couldn't understand(sniff, sniff) why people (sniff, sniff) weren't voting for her. One minute she supposed to soft as a lamb and the next she's a hawk. Sheesh, pick a personality already.
Posted by k330k at 05/06/2008 @ 1:29pm
Well, I get tired of hearing that blacks can be considered racists considering the overwhelming support for Obama. If I'm not mistaken, for years, blacks have supported white candidates even when there have been black candidates
Posted by markinchi at 05/06/2008 @ 1:30pm
Shirley Chisholm ran for the Dem nomination in 1972...but McGovern won it with a large African-American voting bloc....
why? He was white, she was black.
Hillary Cultists????
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 1:35pm
Mr. Kim, I am so tired of people like you trying to still prove the falsehood about the Supreme Court "stealing" the election in 2000(In 2000, George W. Bush didn't possess "electability" so much as he was gifted it by the Supreme Court.) You probably know what your doing, like a good Liberal following Goebbels formula of "if you say it long enough and loud enough, sooner or later enough people will believe it". It is pathetic, but I am sure that enough of your "followers" believe this idiocy by now to make you feel proud. That doesn't make you any less of a liar and a poor loser.
PRESIDENT (I bet that title still ranks you) BUSH DID NOT still the election, and neither did the Supreme Court of the US. On the contrary, the very liberal court (until now that thanks to the President, counts among its members the EXTREMELY qualified Justices Roberts and Alito) did nothing but follow the law, and keept the SCOFLA from changing the rules so that their favorite candidate could win the election (thus disenfranchising all the voters from america) and they kept Al Gore from STEALING the election like he tried to do. Sorry, Mr. Kim. No matter how long you try to convince people of your little fairy tale, none but the kool aid drinkers that already follow you will ever believe it. There are too many of us that lived through the events that are willing to keep the record straight.
Posted by EF1961 at 05/06/2008 @ 1:35pm
Get a Grip "Nation"! You're logic is skewed rendering your article rediculous, and frankly, distasteful. You are NOT helping matters of race in this country by sterotyping white Clinton voters as racist. I used to respect your magazine but this is just over the top!
Posted by janeway at 05/06/2008 @ 1:39pm
Members of the African American community are NOT racist, they've been voting for white candidates for decades!
Posted by paulflorez at 05/06/2008 @ 1:46pm
Wrong!
Most blacks are voting for Obama because Hillary continues to insult them and patronize them with black surrogates as though they can't think for themselves.
Blacks would NOT vote for Condi Rice or Clarance Thomas or even A Sharpton, so to suggest that they are voting for Obama because he is black shows a lack of understanding of race and politics.
Posted by Metteyya at 05/5/2008
Well stated Metteyya. I am a white male voter but am pretty much pissed off at Hillary Clinton the way she has been conducting her campaign. I voted for her in my state democratic bid, but if we held that vote again today, I'd vote for Obama.
I would think that the woman of this country would want an honest woman running for president versus one who will lie, cheat, mislead or do whatever it takes to be elected. For Christ's sake, she showed up on the friggin Billo show on Fox. She's states that she'd obliterate Iran if they attacked Israel, but jumped all over Obama for stating that he would go after AQ if he had credible intelligence of hideout positions in Pakistan. So she condones defending the U.S., but by all means attack a country that attacked another country?! Where's the logic in that?
Posted by Wolfgang1 at 05/06/2008 @ 1:57pm
It is sad that the Clinton's are always being labeld and yet this blog seems very negative and by a campaign who states they want to unite and not divide. Senator Clinton has the needs of All Americans in mind. she is articulate and can speak to the issues with solutions and real specific plans to improve the economy and implement jobs. He rhealthcare plan is the best of all the candidates and is supported by Mrs. John Edwards. She has plans for education and for the mortgage crisis. She speaks to All Americans with repsect and as equals. I want a leader who can lead for the good of all Americans rather than support this type of divisive blog. Hopefully, in 8 years, Senator Obama may be ready for the Presidency, but for now the solid choice is Senator Clinton.
Posted by wackiekat at 05/06/2008 @ 2:01pm
You know, Mr. Kim: out of all the losers I've read on the Nation - and Lord knows the Nation is replete with criminal losers - I think you take the cake. Ever heard of black racism? No, not even Asian racism. Too bad for you. That makes you a loser, capital "L".
Posted by Tatoo at 05/06/2008 @ 2:22pm
Posted by wackiekat at 05/6/2008
Wouldn't a good indication of whether somebody is "ready to be President"...
is if their OWN PARTY wants them to get their nomination?!?!??
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 2:24pm
Posted by Tatoo at 05/6/2008
And all we children of the 70s know where THIS guy lives!
heheh
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 2:26pm
So will FRANK be back tonight?
" You know, I think I'm going to take a break from this site. I'm feeling unchallanged. I'll be back after the primaries to gloat. Later."----Posted by FRANKGRITS 11/28/2007 @ 6:29pm
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 2:51pm
An Open Letter from Dr. Maya Angelou Dear Friend:
I am writing to tell you about my friend, Hillary Clinton, and why I am standing with her in her campaign for the presidency. I know the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know the person she is.
I am inspired by her courage and her honesty. She is a reliable and trustworthy person. She is someone I not only admire but one for whom I have profound affection.
Hillary does not waver in standing up for those who need a champion. She has always been a passionate protector of families. As a child, she was taught that all God's children are equal, and as a mother, she understood that her child wasn't safe unless all children were safe. As I wrote about Hillary recently in a praise song: "She is the prayer of every woman, and every man who longs for fair play, healthy families, good schools and a balanced economy."
It may be easy to view Hillary Clinton through the narrow lens of those who would write her off or grind her down. Hillary sees us as we are, black and brown and white and yellow and pink and relishes our differences knowing that fundamentally we are all more alike than we are unalike. She is able to look through complexion and see community.
She has endured great scrutiny, and still she dares greatly. Hillary Clinton will not give up on you, and all she asks is that you do not give up on her. She is a long-distance runner. I am honored to say I am with her for the long run.
I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I know that she will make the most positive difference in people's lives and she will help our country become what it can be. Whether you are her supporter, leaning towards her, undecided, or supporting someone else, I believe Hillary Clinton will represent you – she will be a president for all Americans. It is no small thing that along the way we will make history together.
Vote for Hillary Clinton and show your support at www.hillaryclinton.com. I know she will make us proud.
Posted by wackiekat at 05/06/2008 @ 2:56pm
"As Mark Penn surely knows, it's not black working-class voters who 'swing' the other way."
Right. Because 90% of black voters are voting for Obama, and only 10% are admitting that it has anything to do with race. Yet I don't see you railing against this group's overwhelming racism in deciding their candidate--only less prevalent racism among other groups. The hypocrisy is astonishing.
This campaign is already influenced too much by race, and this kind of race-baiting, blame-some-not-the-others garbage doesn't help--especially given the patent dishonesty of its premise.
Posted by spoogy at 05/06/2008 @ 3:13pm
"As Mark Penn surely knows, it's not black working-class voters who 'swing' the other way."
Right. Because 90% of black voters are voting for Obama, and only 10% are admitting that it has anything to do with race. Yet I don't see you railing against this group's overwhelming racism in deciding their candidate--only less prevalent racism among other groups. The hypocrisy is astonishing.
This campaign is already influenced too much by race, and this kind of race-baiting, blame-some-not-the-others garbage doesn't help--especially given the patent dishonesty of its premise.
Posted by spoogy at 05/06/2008 @ 3:13pm
So...are blacks racist or not? I'm so confused!
Posted by Turk33 at 05/06/2008 @ 3:13pm
remember, MASK...
like an angry and jealous invisible god...
he's always watching!
Posted by ibbleblibble at 05/6/2008
DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM!!! You'll bring him back, and you know we don't need that.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 3:14pm
So...are blacks racist or not? I'm so confused!
Posted by Turk33 at 05/6/2008 | ignore this person
was in reference to:
Posted by wackiekat at 05/6/2008 | ignore this person
I hate this new format!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Turk33 at 05/06/2008 @ 3:15pm
Please don't quit your day job oh sorry this is your day job. OK this is the scoop and I hope both North Carolina and Indiana are reading this - I am a senior African American citzen that within the last few weeks have decided that I am voting today for Hillary Clinton - THE CHURCH, THE PASTOR, THE WEDDING, The batism of the children - how can you go to a Church for 20 years and not know your Pastor - if you are that unaware I do not want you in the White House being unaware of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The Word CHANGE - change what - the old style politics of Washington DC and then you accept the endorsements of the old time politicans in Washington DC such as Kerry, Kennedy and many many more. HOPE - think now I have covered all his speech topics - what does he know about hope - I have watched the Clintons for decades giving hope to our black communities from California to Mississippi from shelters for the homeless to jobs for the unemployed IF THEY WANTED TO WORK. I know my own family and friends and I know the word on the street - vote by color - why - Bill Clinton and Brad Pitt was in New Orleans giving the black community HOPE for reconstruction - Hillary even attended a rally there even after she lost the black vote in New Orleans - Obama was too busy with his campaign to attend - SO the way I look at it - he threw his Pastor under the bus - he threw New Orleans under the bus - will he throw his own people that voted for him under the bus as well - I think this is the time for my brothers and sisters in North Carolina and in Indiana to stand up and stay what are you doing for us - you are courting the white voters but just expect us to vote for you.
GOD BLESS OUR AMERICA
Posted by Wizard4U at 05/06/2008 @ 3:15pm
Posted by janeway
¿seven of nine?
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 3:18pm
i think the moon is very full in america........
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 3:25:05 PM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 3:20pm
...wackiekat...squiggs...spoogy...FLIBBERTYJIBBITS..the comments aren't much but the nicks are frickin hilarious!
Posted by Benchrest at 05/06/2008 @ 3:25pm
To the scammer above defending Bush v. Gore; as the case's title indicates, Bush, not Gore, was the plaintiff. Bush took the case to the SC to stop the recount. The decision was criticized by Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz, asserting in Supreme Injustice: How the High Court Hijacked Election 2000 that "the decision in the Florida election case may be ranked as the single most corrupt decision in Supreme Court history, because it is the only one that I know of where the majority justices decided as they did because of the personal identity and political affiliation of the litigants. This was cheating, and a violation of the judicial oath." Some critics argue the majority themselves seemed to seek refuge from their own logic in the following sentence in the majority opinion:
Our consideration is limited to the present circumstances, for the problem of equal protection in election processes generally presents many complexities.
The court's defenders argued that this was a reasonable precaution against the possibility that the decision might be read over-broadly, arguing that in the short time available it would not be appropriate to attempt to craft language spelling out in greater detail how to apply the holding to other cases. Critics, however, interpreted the sentence as stating that the case did not set precedent in any way and could not be used to justify any future court decision, and some suggested that this was evidence the majority realized its holding was untenable. It was seen by many as a departure from the stare decisis principle of paramount importance in the history of the Supreme Court and the American Legal system.
In his autobiography My Life, Bill Clinton wrote that "If Gore had been ahead in the vote count and Bush behind, there's not a doubt in my mind that the same Supreme Court would have voted 9 to 0 to count the vote and I would have supported the decision.... Bush v. Gore will go down in history as one of the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made, along with the Dred Scott case."
And at least the Dred Scott decision was signed. The author of bush v. Gore was too ashamed even to sign & remains anonymous.
There was also discussion of whether or not several justices had a conflict of interest that would force them to recuse themselves from the decision. Clarence Thomas' wife, Virgina, served on the Bush transitional team, charged with finding candidates for executive branch offices. At the time, Antonin Scalia, had two sons who were connected with law firms representing Bush.[37] Also, on several occasions, William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor had expressed interest in retiring under a Republican administration. At an election night party, O'Connor became upset when the media initially announced that Gore would win Florida, her husband explaining that they would have to wait another four years before retiring to Arizona.
Posted by sloper at 05/06/2008 @ 3:36pm
it's voodoo, i tells ya'!!!!
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/06/2008 @ 3:39pm
JESUS FRIKKIN' CHRIST, YOU MORONS.
WE ARE ALL AFRICANS!!!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12:44:05 AM
Posted by frosty zoom at 05/6/2008
Uh, actually we are all probably Iraqi given that the Garden of Eden was described as between the Tigris and the Euphrates.
http://ldolphin.org/eden/
http://www.jhom.com/topics/rivers/eden.htm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 05/06/2008 @ 3:50pm
Is it just me or is the on-site server reeaalllly sllloooowwww. After it kicks me back to the homepage, and I go back a page and refresh a good chunk of my life is gone. I feel like the monkey f'n the skunk. I haven't had all I want, just all I can stand.
Posted by Benchrest at 05/06/2008 @ 3:50pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 05/6/2008
Well most of us don't believe in creationism and science argues that we are all African.
Posted by Cccomfo1 at 05/06/2008 @ 4:03pm
I am a senior African American citzen that within the last few weeks have decided that I am voting today for Hillary Clinton ----Posted by Wizard4U at 05/6/2008
And it's just a COINCIDENCE that suddenly a "senior African-American citizen" (how's THAT for CYA) shows up to defend Hillary with some ALL CAPS LOCKED....
after half a dozen "other" posers...I mean, posters, who also showed up on Primary Day....huh?
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 4:07pm
Posted by lvliberty1 at 05/6/2008
I didn't think you were a Creationist, LL....if so..
how did plants get created BEFORE the Sun, and survive?
Posted by Mask at 05/06/2008 @ 4:11pm
...and govt health care, run and paid by the govt(it is coming) will provide higher fees, less services in the final form...and will break us...
Posted by JOMAMMA at 05/5/2008
Well, JOHN MAASCH, what IS breaking us NOW is your boy's stupid Iraq war. That is the really. Not some hypothetical future healthcare program, but the REAL HERE-AND-NOW IDIOTIC IRAQ WAR. It is bankrupting us right now as we go forward.
Posted by ILOVEPHYSICS at 05/06/2008 @ 4:39pm