I wanted to maybe consolidate this line of talk from the many Obama threads. About me: I am an Obama fan, a lapsed Catholic, and a suburb-raised white man.
I became involved with him as a candidate over a year ago, but had heard of him for a while, in advance of his 2004 convention speech. I’m basically convinced he’d make a great president, and his conduct during this primary season has only reinforced that opinion- however:
We see that a line of attack (not from McCain himself probably) will be Jeremiah Wright and by extension, the insinuation of some sort of secret black liberation agenda of the candidate himself. I can see this having a long life and it certainly does not get better as more video is released, these efforts to put Wright’s more exercised clips into context does not seem to change the opinions of people I know who are concerned by Obama’s association with Wright.
At a certain level, I fell like this is really just pessimism about the sophistication of the electorate- but on the other hand, I understand why people with no agenda would be puzzled by Obama’s association with Wright given the play of the story so far. Between (1) seeing a few crazy clips on the news and (2) hunting down a 40-minute speech or reading a 300 page book or studying race relations in the 60’s or catching up with Wright’s life work or visiting with a black parish or any number of things that have been suggested to place Wright’s words in context- I know what the average voter will choose. People are busy and rightly concerned about their own lives.
So, it does not take very much and it certainly does not take any festering racisim by a voter to turn McCain into the comparatively “safe” choice.
On the other hand, my republican father, who I fully expected to take the scary pastor line on this, has firmly decided that Obama’s pastor is not Obama and by the way, McCain is no great shakes with holy men and in addition, the Republican Party has its own institutional problems with religion. I was floored.
To start talking I’ll say these things:
A discussion of race and festering differences at this level is beneficial at this point in our history.
Obama is uniquely equipped to lead this discussion
Wright is an albatross and a media infatuation with him (both innocent and cynical) will continue to cut into Obama’s credibility with whites on this issue
This race will be razor-close due to “John McCain” being a more comfortable choice than “Barack Obama”, all policies aside.
I think Obama’s race works in his favor with white voters. I’m not going to deny that there are still blacks who are harmed by racism, but the vast majority of American caucasians tell themselves that they are not racist. The opportunity to cast a vote for Obama lets them prove it to themselves, and will let them feel better about themselves.
Obama is just the first candidate we’ve had who is qualified because he’s qualified and not because he’s a “spokesman for the black community” like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.
I’m not so sure your pessimism isn’t warranted. Just read through the comments section of this Alice Walker piece that was published in the Guardian. It was linked on Drudge, which is where all the troglodytes who are posting there came from. This is what we’ll be up against in the General Election. Make no mistake, it will be much uglier than what we’ve seen coming from the Clinton camp, ugly as that’s been.
No, I would not agree with the first part, precisely because he cannot be judged based solely on 5 minutes of soundbytes. He’s had a 36 year career. No one can be boiled down into 5 minutes and hope to have an accurate picture drawn.
I challenge you to read this interview that Wright gave to Spiegel last year, and tell me if the man speaking in that interview sounds “extreme” to you.
As for the soundbytes themselves being “extreme”, some of them, perhaps. Ok, so what?
Reverend Wright was his pastor, not the other way around. I don’t counsel my Rabbi, do you counsel your religious leader? I don’t discuss politics with my Rabbi, either. Why would Barack Obama be obligated to discuss politics with his Pastor? Besides which, even if we assume he did, what makes you so sure Obama never did try to counsel him on what “extreme” positions he did hold, but was unsuccessful in changing his mind? Were you privy to all their conversations or something?
The long and the short of it is No, Race will not Scuttle Obama’s Candidacy.
An extra added bonus to Obama is not only that he’s well liked, but he’s a smart man. His intelligence surpasses his charisma. And this taken as a whole has won him more states, votes, delegates etc…etc…
Superdelegates are not flocking to him because they like the fact that he is black, they are flocking to him because they know he will make a great POTUS. Wouldn’t matter if he were purple or green, he’d still be who he is on the inside…
I think the racism in America will be revealed in this election. Much of the criticism i.like the Wright thing, is veiled racism. Jumping all over it is a joke. He does not speak for Obama and everyone should know that. Racists are grasping at whatever they can to justify what they want to do. Dismiss the black.
Not one thing you mention means anything to the ignorant racist voter. I really wonder how many folk, when they are alone with their ballot, will find themselves voting against the black man. Will be interesting to see how this turn out.
I’m with you on this. I have found that many, many people in the US and Canada go out of their way to appear non-racist, but who act very, veyr differently. If Obama becomes the nominee for US president, I will be shocked to see him get a majority of votes.
They’re only being asked to make him president, not to invite him over for dinner or let him into their country clubs or even give him a job in their own firms, any of which would be more difficult for a cryptoracist than voting for the black. Nobody outside government really has to associate with the president anyway.
1)Absolutely agree. We have come a good ways in racial equality, fine legislation, but we have a good long way to go in applying the laws to see true equality in everyday life. We are at an “adolescent” point with it, really; sounds all good in our minds with what we believe, but mature enaction has a lot to be desired.
From what I’ve seen, he is, at the very least, from the response speech he gave, able to enter into an intellegent and progressive discourse. This doesn’t only work for our racial issues, but for the worldwide warring issues.
I’d like to see the same treatment for every candidate’s pastor, then, and good analysis of how that effects all of the candidates. Also, let’s talk about separation of Church and State, and it’s importance in the founding of this country.
4)It will be comfortable to those who don’t fathom that the United States now has a multicultural base that is entitled to the same voice in a Democracy, the principles this country was founded on. My biggest fear in this election is that everyone who wants to vote will be dissuaded due to long lines and not enough voting machines. I had to wait 3 hours at my rural precinct to vote last time, sitting in bleachers. I saw a lot of people leaving because the wait was too long. That really needs to be addressed, because it is a big inconvenience for people on hourly wage, and, by default, is disenfranchising their vote.
I loved Kucinich, would have been happy with Edwards…Obama’s speech on race moved me from “Well, at least he’s not Hillary” to “This is the best serious Presidential candidate I have seen in my lifetime”. He has an amazing ability to state his own positions clearly while expressing understanding and empathy for those holding other views. His candidacy is built on the faith that people are able to change for the better if they are shown a way to do so that does not make them feel attacked, and I hope and believe that his victory this November will demonstrate that the “ignorant and racist” American public is capable of being wiser than it has shown in the past.
On the other hand, the first three words of this post should have tipped you off that my views may not represent those of the average voter .
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