Isn’t that, in fact, an assumption of the article?
As I’ve said a couple of times, I’m speaking about connotation, and not necessarily just about the reference class(es) of the term(s) under discussion.
-FrL-
Should a black person find it significant that a black person is president of the US? Why or why not?
Should an African-American find it significant that an African-American is president of the US? Why or why not?
Should an African-American find it significant that a Black person is president of the US? Why or why not?
Are politicos expecting African-Americans in general to find it significant that Obama is black? If so, are they correct or incorrect in supposing it so?
Those are good questions, aren’t they? 
-FrL-
Her mother was from Liverpool. I too wasn’t sure if the one-parent-not-American was what he meant, or if it was a bi-racial thing.
Simplest explanation? The title of Al Franken’s book say all that is needed.
Ah, another paragon of wittiness from the other side. This, together with the tiresomely race-obsessed article, move this thread firmly into bipartisan idiot-bashing.
Yes, athelas’s thoughtless, parroting, sycophantic posts always give me such a cheap but satisfying feeling of superiority.
“Tiresomely race-obsessed article” - oh was it now athelas? I suppose you’d find this article to be tiresomely football-obsessed as well.
Put a little bit more effort into choosing which pre-formed opinion to relay next time. I’m sure some pundit out there has some barb whipped up for articles like the Salon one that doesn’t amount to being a criticism for merely staying on its own topic.
As a white male liberal, it is my knee jerk reaction to say that it isn’t significant for the currrent president to be the same race as oneself, but it is very significant that there haven’t been any presidents who weren’t white.
That is to say, African Americans probably won’t get a much more from an African American president than from a White president with the same views, but it would show that America isn’t racist enough to block a Black candidate just because he’s Black, which woul be huge.
I agree. I was thinking about the significance of that the other day, and I can imagine that electing a Black president would be tremendously beneficial for race relations in this country. But I still think that a Black conservative, like Powell, would have a better chance at getting elected than a Black liberal. Obama is probably more of a moderate than a liberal, but I still don’t think he’s an electable candidate-- at least not yet. Give a term or two as VP, and he’ll be good to go.
I don’t know about “should”, but as a black person, I’d be lying if I said the idea of a black president meant nothing to me. It’s signficant when any major first is knocked down, and that’s because it becomes easier for others to come along down the same path afterwards. Having a black president–who is competent and strong and non-scandolous–would also be seen as an effective way of giving the finger to anyone who thinks A) power belongs to rich white men or B) blacks are too stupid/corrupt to hold down a position like that. The presidency presents just one more opportunity for a black man to prove himself just as capable as any white man. These kind of opportunities aren’t as numerous as they should be.
Blacks represent a bunch of different ethnicities lumped together in one race, this is true. But it is because blacks have been lumped together in one race and are a stigmatized minority, that I think they, as a group, would welcome a black POTUS. This is just a normal human response. In terms of politics, blacks are probably more likely to think that a black president won’t at least actively go against the interests of black people, if not actually serve those interests.
My answers for these questions are no different than what I said before. There is no “should” about it. Although A-As are their own ethnic group, that doesn’t mean they feel no ties to other blacks. That they do is not subject to “shoulds” and “should nots”. It just is. And of course, I’m speaking in generalities. I’m sure there are plenty of individual A-As who could give a rat’s fig that the son of an African is a top contender for the WH and resent the implication that they should care.
Yes, they are and no, they are not incorrect.
My humble and jumbled two cents (and I hope not too poorly stated).
I have enjoyed reading the posts generated by the OP and the many wise and informed opinions and viewpoints held by my fellow-dopers (I always read every post in discussions that are this interesting).
However, I have to say most of you are overthinking this.
Rush Limbaugh made these comments for two reasons.
Reason 1: Given that it’s Rush, I think it is as simple as he, thinking he was some sort of wise pundit, sought to play the political race card and be funny at the same time.
Since he included Halle Berry in the name-calling and she, as far as I know, is not running for anything, I think he was just using what he thought was a cute (and quite unfunny to me) code to signal his fellow red-staters.
He was saying. "Look at him – he’s a mutt. A mixture of black and white and because the black is in there, he instantly not qualified to lead this country.
I do think that was racist of him but I not bothered that stance so much as I am that he can assume that will be how any other American will make there decision next spring/summer and then in November.
And he certainly was trying to signify to Blacks at all when he said.
Reason 2: Given that it’s Rush, he probably thought it had been long enough that America needed to be reminded of what an asshole he is.
To me, it’s as simple as that.
I was going to say that I had read all comments before posting in threads like this and that was why I didn’t post until after the thread had dropped off the first page.
AND
I swear I corrected those typos before I hit “submit.”
Or, he simply thought it was funny to say “Halfrican-American”.
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The name of Halle Berry shalt not be used in any way other than for praise.
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If Barack were conservative, he would never be black enough adn Dems would be bending over backwards trying to show how un-african-American he is. Condy isn’t, apparently becuase she doesn’t have the proper accent or she’s a “mammy” (as per the infamous cartoon).
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Jackson, Sharpton and Belafonte don’t quite like him. Apparently he isn’t black enough fot them.
I’m impressed with this mind reading ability that you have. Do you do card tricks too? BTW, what infamous cartoon?
C’mon Caridwen, you gotta be joking. Condy didn’t get much praise for beng the first black sec of state (from the dems) as Pelosi for the first woman speaker.
Link to cartoon: Ramblings' Journal: You remember the Ted Rall debacle this summer. Now comes yet another one.
Card tricks and mind-reading put me through college. They work.
Probably because she’s not the first black secretary of state. Nor the first woman secretary of state.
OK, first black woman
I can’t believe I forgot the most idiotic comment you made.
They never said they didn’t like him. They aren’t ready to endorse him, don’t know enough about him. Sharpton said he may be running himself. They’re supposed to endorse him because he’s black? Besides, Jackson is a FOB and I’m sure he’ll support Hiliary.
Tell us again why we were supposed to do cartwheels about Condi?
Plus she had already shown us how amply she sucked in her former position as National Security Advisor:
No cartwheels. Condi may suck or not, whatever.
My point is the black conservatives aren’t “really” black and and non-conservative blacks (for want of another name) have to say and do certain things to be accepted as really black (by the so-called “black leaders”).
If you don’t beleive that both parties play double-standard race cards well…there’s nothing I can do for you.
let’s make a deal. We’ll all agree that Rush is an asswipe but if somebody says a racially charged thing about Condi can we freely call them an asswipe with you joining us?