You’re correct about Bush’s cabinet, but Mineta was the first Asian in the cabinet, and originally appointed by Clinton.
As for the reactions to Obama, I think they’re mostly based more on his perception as “not American” due to family history and upbringing, and maybe even his name. No doubt there’s an element of racism in that. But it’s different from the historical animosity that ‘nigger’ evokes. I think even if he were Middle Eastern the racism that might be part of this reaction would be about the same - it’s his perception as a “foreigner” that gets them angry.
Enough with Obama’s background; McCain born in the Panama Canal Zone and there was question as to whether or not he was qualified by birth. Obama was born in a Hawaii.
McCain schlepped around the world at various military posts and bases with his family as a child. Obama lived in various countries as well.
So why is it Obama’s life looked at askance and not McCain’s?
I do think this disgusting display of intolerance we’ve seen lately may make the GOP split in some way–or drive the moderate pubs into the Democratic party. Hell, I used to be an independent and now I’m not.
Possibly. But there’s also a hell of a lot fewer of them, and they aren’t in control of the Democrats, either.
Hardly; if anything loses Obama the election, it’ll probably be people who can’t bring themselves to vote for a black man, despite saying otherwise in public or to the polls.
And since then, the Republicans and Democrats have switched sides, politically speaking. Back thing the Democrats were conservative bigots; now it’s the Republicans who are conservative bigots.
Lovely. Yet another liberal who jumps at the chance to use a racial slur.
When you are quoting a verifiable instance of a Republican actually USING “the n word”, THEN you might be justified in using it yourself in the context of a quote. Unless you actually are quoting someone however, I think using that word is pointlessly offensive.
Have you considered that maybe there are people out there who find that word hurtful and don’t need to see it in every single discussion of racism and race?
No, they put on their best poker faces–their robes–when they go to the polls and loudly proclaim that they’re voting Democratic.
That’s your first mistake. Astro is no liberal.
unless you count republicans as liberal, if that’s the case you should be so far to the right you wouldn’t care about gratuitous usage of the N-word…
- The Republicans have asked us to because otherwise they have nothing.
- He’s dark-skinned like terrorists.
I’m deep in the business thicket and through business and social contacts I hang with crowds that are 90% Republicans (who are also considerably more fun to drink with than Democrats, throw much better parties than Democrats, and not to belabor a point, but they are also usually better educated and more conversationally intelligent). I’ve voted Republican and I’ve voted Democrat (Reagan, and Bush Jr’s first run) I’m there after all the Captain n’ Cokes, scotches, mojitos and cosmos have all be downed and people are sitting on couches yapping from the lizard part of the brain after watching the debates or in general conversation.
1: Obama being a black man is a big, big deal to many (not all) of these people. A man who looks black and talks white like Obama (and make no mistake he “talks” white) is visibly disorienting to them. They can’t process it and it pisses them off.
2: You would be stunned at the level of racism from the female cohort in conservative households, if anything it’s often considerably stronger and fiercer than their husbands and SOs bigotry.
3: The level of disinformation and abject nonsense that normally quite successful and intelligent people are willing to swallow and pass on as fact is astounding.
His skin color has nothing to do with it. It’s the fact that Obama is a barking mad Marxist.
Does anyone need more evidence than the middle name of “Hussein” to prove Obama is a terrorist? Consider this:
Astute observers of the photos of Obama bowling will note he is left-handed.
http://images.chron.com/blogs/txpotomac/obama%20bowling.jpg
Do you know who else is left-handed? Osama bin Laden!
http://www.september11news.com/Oc7OsamaTVGun.jpg
Why hasn’t this connection been made in the media? The media area bunch of liberal douchebags. They’re probably all left-handed liberal douchebags.
Bolding mine. You meant ‘my opinion’, right? Because there appear to be no facts whatsoever that support your assertion.
I am sick and tired of this GOP stance of “we’re not racist–prove we’re racist!”. Nobody has said that ALL Reps are racists. I think we may be talking at cross-purposes, something that never happens here at all. 
But I’ve known many, many Republicans(most of them college educated and upper middle class) in my time on earth and the vast majority of them have had “issues” (never positive ones, btw) with African-Americans. Yes, I agree that anecdotes aren’t data and all that, but it’s hard to see white flight and to hear terms like “these people” and “the neighborhood is not what it once was” and “I’m just not comfortable with this change (undefined)” and not attribute it to racism.
But with that, there’s all manner of racism; I’d like to stop equating “I’m not comfortable with X” with " I’m joining the lynch mob and to get the jungle bunnies" as well.
I confess to my own feelings at times of discomfort, but I am willing to admit to them, and also to not run away and go live in an all white neighborhood etc. Some might consider me a racist because I admit to anxiety on a train platform at night and I spot some black teens coming toward me. Some might say that’s just common sense and street smarts. I dunno. I’ve never been on a train platform late at night with white (or Asian or Hispanic) teens approaching me, so I don’t know what my response would be. So while I don’t think we can say that racist is as racist does, I do think that there are shades or degrees of prejudice; such is the human condition.
Given that though, what I am seeing on YouTube and Fox and other networks/ cable news is not middle class whites expressing anxiety and discomfort. What I am seeing is the thin veneer of civilization ripped off, leaving the malice and hate open for all to see. It’s like Lord of the Flies. Yes, there were a few Dems (for McCain) shown on “the sidewalk to nowhere” video, but overall, this is the conservative base of the Republican party.
I am NOT saying that Dems are not racist or prejudiced at all. People are people. But I cannot understand how any respectable moderate Rep or strongly conservative Rep can watch what we are seeing and claim it is not racist; that it is not despicable and disgusting and wrong. Just plain outright wrong. It’s especially ironic given that the Reps traditionally (since Reagan) have considered themselves on the moral high ground and more Christian (whatever that may mean).
Traditional values, indeed.
Never mind–astro said it more succinctly in post #48.
Ahem, perhaps you haven’t noticed but thanks to pubbies we have a black Supreme Court justice and a black Secretary of State.
I realize they don’t really count as blacks around here because of their being Republicans and all, but black they are nonetheless.
Plus, if Obama were Republican and espoused conservative politics, I and many other pubbies would be delighted to have him and would vote for him in a heartbeat.
Thus I happily call bullshit on your characterization of Republicans as haters of blacks.
I would also point out that there are more than a few Democrats who don’t intend to vote for Obama for no reason other than his skin color he’s black.
Oh, please. He’s a Marxist, and a socialist, and a Maoist, and a generic communist, and a Muslim, and an Arab, and a terrorist, and the biggest flaming liberal in America? Are there any invectives I’ve forgetten? Oh yeah, the one that really matters, he’s black. I wish folks would just be honest that the very real possibility of a black man becoming the next president of the United States is freaking you the Hell out. “How could this happen? Blacks are not people like the rest of us, not really.” :mad:
On one of the news programs a journalist mentioned that she had interviewed this woman after that exchange with McCain. She hadn’t changed her mind. She still believes that Obama is an Arab.
panamajack, Obama is an American name and has been at least since Barack was born in Hawaii. You should see the names on the mailboxes in my very diverse American neighborhood. We are known as “the Little United Nations.”
In practical terms there’s not much difference, since the first type tends to validate and excuse and cover up for the second.
The phrase “Uncle Tom” comes to mind.
And considering what they did to Colin Powell, that’s hardly a sign of them favoring him; he was used, ruined and discarded.
Well, yes and no. IMO, in practical terms there can be a quite devastating difference: one is honest and most likely open to a change of mind and heart; the other is not. I don’t think there’s a person alive who is without some degree of prejudice–not just white against black. It’s what you do with that aspect of yourself that matters, IMO.
I will admit to being tired (also) of the GOP trotting out Colin and Condi etc as if this proved something. It proves that they are happy to use these tokens to try to score points. It means nothing in terms of advocacy for the millions of African Americans–it’s a lot like pointing to the very few female senators and congressmen and saying, “lookee! Who needed that pesky ERA? See? We’ve got wimmen–we’ve even got a VP candidate who’s got a uterus!” It’s irrelevant.
I can sympathize with those Reps who don’t like having their party regarded as the racist party. I get that. But here’s the thing: the Reps wooed the social conservatives and the rural southern vote over the last 20 years. They WANTED them in their party, to consolidate their base. They’ve got them now. The honorable thing to do would be to repudiate them and kick them out of the party. The love of power is too great, IMO–the RNC is not going to do that. Pandora’s box is open and there is no shutting the lid now.
Me, I’d like to see this mess turn the American democratic process into a 3 party system–then the Reps and the Dems could unite in vilifying the SocCons and we might actually pass some legislation on stuff that matters…
I bet Jesse Jackson votes.
Yeah, and Condoleeza Rice is a house nigger too, right? She couldn’t have possibly have been qualified for the job, she isn’t a smart accomplished woman or anything. Affirmitave action even applies to White House Cabinet positions, apparently.
:rolleyes:
Now I can’t look at a person wearing a McCain-Palin sticker without thinking ignorant douchebag racist. Every decent Republican should be embarrassed after watching the “Sidewalk to Nowhere” video. There’s no defense for that level of invective. Absolutely none.