# Barack the Magic Negro **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980 "2008-12-28T18:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/101 "2008-12-29T16:48:30Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > To whom should he feed the koi? My cats have kindly volunteered to be the reluctant yet grateful recipients of such charity. :eek: One wonderful thing about our Pretty Lady (and before her, Pretty Black Girl) is the way in which she protects our fish. She knows very well they exist for us, and she is quick to chase off neighborhood critters who approach the waterfalls too closely. She sits with us on the benches while we feed them, and never ventures too close to the water’s edge for fear of freaking us out. A good cat is an absolute necessity for quality country living. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/102 "2008-12-29T16:52:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > True but not quite on point. Yarrow’s objection was to insulting the \*office \*of the Presidency. I think I said both “president” and “presidency.” The president is merely the chief executive of one of three co-equal branches of government. And it’s a nice trick of propaganda to bar criticism of an individual because of his temporary posting. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/103 "2008-12-29T17:06:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > True but not quite on point. Yarrow’s objection was to insulting the \*office \*of the Presidency. Regardless of the nature of the individual occupying it at whatever the moment, the \*office \*is indeed in part “the symbol and embodiment of the nation or his people”. For my part, the office of the presidency has been irreversibly tarnished by the one-time occupancy (and activities) in it of Richard Milhaus Nixon. The elections of 1984, 1988, and especially 2004 do not support an argument that the American people on the whole object to insulting it. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/104 "2008-12-29T17:24:17Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Doing good is a fine thing if the object of your doing agrees that it’s good. Otherwise, it’s a pain in the ass. “If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.” Henry David Thoreau But for the most part the objects of the do-gooding are not the ones doing the sneering, rather, those who are made to look bad by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/105 "2008-12-29T17:26:02Z")
I think the gist of Thoreau’s point is that what you consider good, I might consider a pile of shit … and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/106 "2008-12-29T17:37:30Z")
There seriously needs to be a third party of made up of former Republicans who aren’t complete morons, homophobes and racists. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/107 "2008-12-29T17:53:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He’s into exorcism, so I think that makes him an anti-magic Indian. Exorcism insn’t magic? ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/108 "2008-12-29T17:55:20Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > The president is not the king. He is merely a temporary employee, and is the head of one of _three_ co-equal branches of government. He is not the symbol and embodiment of the nation or his people. Neither the president nor the presidency is due any degree of respect or reverence different than that due to any other person in the country or the world. Obama’s status as a candidate or a president-elect is irrelevant. If anything, the president deserves _less_ deference than any other person, because he exercises extraordinary powers of office. But Barack Obama isn’t the president. And he isn’t a candidate for president. During a campaign, it’s understandable that one’s opponents will play up whatever negatives they can point to in order to build up a groundswell of opposition on behalf of their preferred candidate. And during a presidency, the office-holder get criticized for making mistakes in hope that he’ll learn the error of his way and change his attitiude so he won’t make more. But there’s no reason to try to get people to dislike Obama and he hasn’t done anything wrong as president. The Republicans are just trying to humiliate him and his supporters out of sheer hostility. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/109 "2008-12-29T18:13:27Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > But Barack Obama isn’t the president. And he isn’t a candidate for president. During a campaign, it’s understandable that one’s opponents will play up whatever negatives they can point to in order to build up a groundswell of opposition on behalf of their preferred candidate. And during a presidency, the office-holder get criticized for making mistakes in hope that he’ll learn the error of his way and change his attitiude so he won’t make more. > > But there’s no reason to try to get people to dislike Obama and he hasn’t done anything wrong as president. The Republicans are just trying to humiliate him and his supporters out of sheer hostility. That wasn’t the argument in Yarrow’s statement that I was disputing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/110 "2008-12-29T18:34:36Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > There seriously needs to be a third party of made up of former Republicans who aren’t complete morons, homophobes and racists. Yeah, but I don’t think the three of us are going to have much political clout. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/111 "2008-12-29T18:46:08Z")
So “negro” is an offensive word? I’m genuinely ignorant of that. All the while, I thought only n\*\*\*\*r was offensive. I keep hearing “negro” used in many ways like “negro spiritual” or “negroid characteristics”. If I have offended, I apologize - it’s ignorance not malice. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/112 "2008-12-29T18:51:14Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > So “negro” is an offensive word? I don’t think that’s the point. “Barack the Magic Black Guy” would be offensive too. But, yeah, “Negro” has been disfavoured as a label for a person since the mid-1960s. > [@](#): > > I keep hearing “negro” used in many ways like “negro spiritual” or “negroid characteristics”. The phrase “negro spiritual” does sound old-fashioned, but it’s qualitatively different from “He’s a negro.” It’s difficult to explain, but that’s the way it is. “Negroid characteristics” borders on offensive because use of the term seems to imply acceptance of certain racist assumptions, such as there are such things as negroid characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/113 "2008-12-29T19:21:03Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > What uncalled for, blithering stupidity. I honestly can’t believe that anyone in the Republican party would find this humorous. I don’t, and I voted Republican by and large for many years until fairly recently. They just don’t represent me anymore. And yet they represent a blithering fucknut like **Starving Artist** just fine, which is really all we need to know. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/114 "2008-12-29T19:35:13Z")
I was disagreeing with what you said rather than what you did, Lib. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/115 "2008-12-29T20:09:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I am offended by the lack of Magic Indian characters in film. Other than that bartender dude from _Keeping the Faith_, maybe. There’s the old janitor in “The Terminal”, too. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/116 "2008-12-29T20:20:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I’m glad to be interacting with you again. I’m tired of hauling around back-breaking grudges. I know that an apology would be hollow, so I hope you accept the change in me as a suitable substitute. I can’t promise never to get on your nerves again, but I can promise not to do it intentionally. FWIW, I’ve noticed two changes lately: I seem to be returning to my acrimonious self, which I don’t much like and am trying to move away from, and I’ve noticed that you’ve been being relatively acrimonious-free, which I appreciate. Hopefully there are no meaningful grudges on either side. Likewise, I’ll try not to get on your nerves either :). Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/117 "2008-12-29T20:25:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I am offended by the lack of Magic Indian characters in film. Other than that bartender dude from _Keeping the Faith_, maybe. You’ve obviously never watched _Gandhi._ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/118 "2008-12-29T20:29:44Z")
Doesn’t _Gunga Din_ count too, come to think of it? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/119 "2008-12-29T21:20:11Z")
Well, there was the movie _The Indian in the Cupboard_. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980/120 "2008-12-29T21:35:12Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > :eek: > > One wonderful thing about our Pretty Lady (and before her, Pretty Black Girl) is the way in which she protects our fish. She knows very well they exist for us, and she is quick to chase off neighborhood critters who approach the waterfalls too closely. She sits with us on the benches while we feed them, and never ventures too close to the water’s edge for fear of freaking us out. A good cat is an absolute necessity for quality country living. :dubious: Are you sure you’re not being whooshed by a succession of dogs in cats’ pajamas? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-the-magic-negro/478980.md?page=7)