Jim Webb Speaks Out On Race, Addresses Grievances Of White America

It's refreshing when someone makes the effort to advance the discussion of this year's election beyond debating a black/white divide. So when that someone is oft-mentioned potential Democratic running mate Jim Webb, it's worth taking note.

Webb appeared on Morning Joe today to speak about his newest book, A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America, and to dodge questions about whether he would accept a spot on Barack Obama's presidential ticket. But since the Kentucky primary had just provided pundits with fodder to discuss the ever-popular "Does Obama have a working whites problem?" Webb weighed in on the election results and his Scots-Irish heritage.

The Virginia senator suggested that race is indeed a factor in Obama's poor performance among white voters along the east of the country, saying, "we shouldn't be surprised by the way they're voting now." But he bristled at what he suggested is a simplistic interpretation of the issue. "When I hear people say this is racism, my back gets up a little bit, because that's my cultural group."

Webb sought to explain what motivates Scots-Irish Americans. First, says Webb, it's not a generic race or geographic label, but rather "a very powerful cultural group that's always underestimated, and it's not always in the Appalachian mountains." And the issue is not Obama himself, who Webb thinks is "saying a lot of good things that will appeal to this cultural group in time."

Rather, Webb -- whose previous book Born Fighting explores the effect of Scots-Irish culture on America's formation -- argued that Scots-Irish voters' unwillingness to support Obama is less about the candidate himself, than about a sense of injustice among the community manifested by the government assistance afforded to minorities in the post-Civil Rights Era:

This isn't Selma, 1965. This is a result of how affirmative action, which was basically a justifiable concept when it applied to African Americans, expanded to every single ethnic group in America that was not white, and these were the people who had not received benefits and were not getting anything out of it. And they're basically saying let's pay attention to what has happened to this cultural group in terms of opportunities.

Webb even drew a parallel between this bloc and African Americans, suggesting that their grievances with and needs from the federal government are remarkably similar.

Black America and Scots-Irish America are like tortured siblings. They both have long history and they both missed the boat when it came to the larger benefits that a lot of other people were able to receive. There's a saying in the Appalachian mountains that they say to one another, and it's, "if you're poor and white, you're out of sight." ...

If this cultural group could get at the same table as black America you could rechange populist American politics. Because they have so much in common in terms of what they need out of government.

A powerful coalition indeed. If only there were two politicians who understood these cultures, and had the desire and capacity to unite them for a common cause...

[WATCH -- race discussion starts at 4:30]

Comments

[Philly4Obama]

I don't know the sentiment of Scotts-Irish, but I can understand Jim Webb's point about the cultural backlask of disenfranchisement when it comes to groups among Whites who were not historically involved in slavery, but who have missed the opportunities of empowerment that came with Affirmative Action.

We have to, however, understand that Affirmative Action is not just making up for slavery, but rather is about an ongoing process of transformationi of society aiming at allowing generational wrongs to be made right... giving the opportunity to human beings who for generations were pushed down and hurt.

But we have to understand also that there are group among Whites in America who hold more culpability than others, and this has created an ongoing battle of interests.

to be continued.

[Philly4Obama]

There is the potential for a much broader argument on race I see emerging from this. Frankly, I was not expecting this dialogue at all, but I welcome it!! This is really interesting politically, and potentially could open up a profoundly powerful new constituency for the Democratic Party.

I can tell you that as an Italian in Philly, my people do not feel responsible IN THE LEAST for slavery in America. But we do understand there is a historic and a present level of discrimination when it comes to African Americans that needs to be overcome. But that feeling has a real spectrum of intensity.

A lot of folks don't feel they are historically responsible for the plight of African Americans, but they live the reality of this battle in the inner city politics. The Italians have their political reps in Unions, City Officials, etc. The Black people have their guys, that represent their interests in inner city life. The battle between races is a battle of constituencies bringing their interests to the table.

to be continued.

[rudyinbama]

I wonder who the cast of "Deliverance" is voting for.

[dayindalife]

ask your family,dumb ass

[avraamjack]

.
Hopefully when Obama/Webb wins in November they will also have 60% of the Senate on their side.
.

[sparkandy]

Regardless of who wins the Presidency, we'd better hope there are fewer than 40 percent Repub. How about 0 percent?

[MsLiz]

When a single party runs the government, there are no checks and balances.

[bentenrai]

I remember a fiery black pastor who once said: "God damn America for treating her citizens as less than human"
I guess it just starts dawning on some people what he really meant, as the old skeletons of the country are unearthed.
The citizens he talks about are blacks, whites, latinos, natives, chinese, japanese and anyone else whose rights were curtailed at least once in history by policies enacted by the government itself.

[qdog112]

Well put.

The hope is that we can actually make the connection to what Wright said, since we suffer from selective ADD.

Unfortunately when Wright said America - most heard WHITE AMERICA. I said then and now he spoke of our governmental policies and NOT WHITE AMERICA.

[irishgawdess]

Hi bentenrai,

I liked what you wrote.

It's difficult for many Americans to admit that our government's policies espouse terrorism and genocide. Completely throws them for a loop! Chanting "World-vie­w-must-not­-be-change­d" lest they see and hear the truth.

I've got a shovel and I'm not afraid to start digging to find those skeletons you mentioned. I think we'll find that many ethnicities competed for the same jobs and none were better at underbidding than the Irish! (An Irish Marketing Plan!) That pissed a lot of people off and created tensions between various ethnicities. Those rivalries were carried down through the generations and stuck. It grew more from a matter of pride I think. Certain groups ended up taking the brunt, and more often it was the blacks. The shanty Irish were right in there though.

If we can just get these dialogues started, get some perspective on those times, we'd be able to see how we can change for the better today.

[belief08]

So, what is it now; the battle to see what race was treated the worse. Oh, God. This is ridiculous. You have Clinton who white and who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, telling the uneducated, poor white race that the self righteous black man is talking down to the poor white people. Clinton is sooo deceitful to pray on people like that with false accusations against Obama.. Of course they are going to believe because she was the president's wofe, she would not steer them wrong.

For all her underhanded tactics, she is still running behind Obama.

[thankulord13]

Shows how much you know... Senator Clinton was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. You need to educate yourself before you speak... Bush was born with a silver spoon in his mouth... Both Clinton's were not born rich. Bill was dirt poor and Hillary came from a working class family. This is called politics and she is doing what she has to, to win. So please don't speak unless you do some research before you talk on issues, because right now you sound foolish!

[wanj]

I do agree with you on Clinton not being born with a silver spoon... and yes this is politics but one need not create hatred and racial tensions with "white hard-working Americans" comments to win the white house. One need not play the sexist/feminist card to get into the white house. One need not compare FL/MI breaking the rules to the the civil rights movement to get first in line to win the white house! There has to be a level of decency and morals even for the fight to the white house.

I'm AA and do understand white people's grievances when it comes to affirmative action, but it's utterly uncalled for to be nasty in the name of equality. Some white americans have been left behind and their grievances are real, but MLK had a great message when it came to equality and we can all learn from it. Playing the race card to advance one's political career is totally unacceptable be it from a black person, white, latino, asian, etc

There's a Clinton surrogate out there (Ferraro) mentioning "black" every other sentence. What else can you you call that except pure and simple racism? Has Hillary rebuked her? NOPE! It's good for her right now and that's all that matters...
With this said, I'll vote for her before I give McBush my vote b/c deep down, I don't think she's racist herself. She's just taking advantage of the racial devide to advance herself.

[MsLiz]

I would call the Rodhams middle class. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_E._Rodham

[mezure]

The comments about Senator Webb’s explanation for the voting outcomes in Appalachia are very disturbing. This area has always been filled with disenfranchised people and the upper and lower South is filled similarly. Oh and let us not forget the North, especially Maine or did I mention the Mid-West or the North and South West. This country is filled with poverty and penury has no respect for color or ethnicity.

The idea of all humans being created equal is undermined by silly statements based on divisive identity politics. This type of politics is the bedrock of the United States, a juvenile society that in some ways needed this current exercise in order to start its maturing process, a maturity that will not come in one election cycle. And while we are in this process, may I humbly suggest that we begin to laugh at our imposed differences and honor are similarities as humans.

[JadedAggie]

Your missing his point entirely. His point was that these people are bitter that they were not included in affirmative action. Both the Irish and to some extent Italians suffered greatly throughout American history. There was enormous amounts of prejudice against both groups. Obviously they never suffered from slavery, but people seemed to have completely forgot about how they were treated. The streets of major metropolitan cities used to be littered with signs that said "Irish need not apply." The discrimination against them was largely economical and has placed them perpetually in the working class. When affirmative action legislation was passed it completely ignored them and actually disadvantaged them even further. Now they suffer from all the economic disadvantages of minorities groups, but are treated like any other Caucasian in terms of Affirmative action.

[Philly4Obama]

Very interesting.

[djelimon]

"His point was that these people are bitter"

There's that word again

"Now they suffer from all the economic disadvantages of minorities groups, but are treated like any other Caucasian in terms of Affirmative action."

The fair way is to base scholastic AA on economics, not race. I could see someone like Obama pushing that notion through. Post graduation is where this group would have an advantage over visible minorities though.

[Gmoney1]

Okay, if all this is true, what has the republicans done for these people - why are they so in tune with the republicans - are the appalacians bitter and poor or bitter, poor and racist - there are a mirade of cultural differences in america - our ancestors came from different places and brought their traditions with them - why is it that the black people have no problem with voting for a white yet some white appalacians have a problem voting for a black - - should the black people now only vote for a non-appalacian - where is this all going to take us -

Another question is what was more abhorent than slavery and what followed - don't compare apples and oranges - Why does the economically disadvantaged deserve anger from the economically disadvantaged - Hillary and Obama are not economically disadvantaged - so why would the economically disadvantaged appalacians only vote for Hillary

[ellen63]

Senator Jim Webb is immensely impressive. An Obama/Webb team would be ideal. Undoubtedly, the Republicans, headed by Ken Starr, will be scrutinizing Webb's excellent novels for sex scenes, all the while knowing full well a novels are fiction.

[Youth4Obama]

Jim Webb is my 3rd fav political figure right now behind Obama & Bill Richardson.

[rzan]

I would like to see an Obama/Richardson ticket. But maybe Obama should choose a woman as his running mate.

[mm29464]

i appreciate senator webb trying to to put an historical and cultural context to scotch-irish appalachia. these are real people with real grievances who are easily characterized and stereotyped. so i applaud webb's efforts.

however, webb has stated that these people aren't racist just resentful of affirmative action and other governmental programs that have benefited other groups but left out poor whites. he also says it is a revolt against "identity politics". All of this truly begs the question: who do these people feel has disproportionately benefited from governmental "activism"? the answer is, of course, people of color--black, hispanic, asian anyone who is non-white.

[mm29464]

just because these people have true grievances doesn't mean that it doesn't express itself in the straw man of race. they vote against their economic interests and for social issues which republicans since nixon have mainly only paid lip service to, such as anti-abortion laws, but don't inact, even though it is the center piece of their political rhetoric. it is a political shell game where the inequities between the rich and poor are growing at the fastest rate in american history and the middle class is shrinking, but this fact is subsumed by the glittery topic of cultural rage. the only elitism that really counts is economic not the red herring of culture.

the dream of poor white and black fushion politics is as old as populism, look up georgia's tom watson. however, the ugly truth and pattern of american and southern history has been the race trumps economic commonalities. the demagogue tries to exploit this truism with talks about "they" vs "us" whether it was huey long, george wallace, or the clintons during this primary season. political power is gained by harping on everything that divides americans culturally, not economically, these people are elected and nothing ever changes. it is a poison political fruit that keeps on giving.

we did have true fushion politics at one time: it was called FDR's new deal coaliton.

[Philly4Obama]

Well, if you think about it, not all Whites were slave owners. I am Italian, and many Italians in Philly, New York, etc., feel no responsibility whatsoever for slavery in America, but they are included in the "caucasian group" when it comes to Affirmative Action, etc. People named "Smith" are not the same as people named "Giordano" when it comes to history in the USA.

So, truly the politics of this are much more complicated than what the racial categories would suggest.

[sparkandy]

Even those of us whose families have been here for 300 or more years didn't necessarily have slave owning ancestors. Until the 20th Century my Daddy's family was a bunch of poor dirt farmers who barely owned the land they farmed. let alone slaves. I don't feel any guilt or responsibility either.

[MsLiz]

*Most* Southern whites of WASP ancestry were not slave owners prior to the Civil War. They still enlisted in the Confederate army. These are the people called derisively rednecks, white trash, trailer trash, and crackers. They also have voting power. The key is to open up communication. Webb and Obama are on the right track. Now to get the average Democrat to realize these are people, not potential jokes.

[swift goat pet for truth]

I have no problem apply the benefits of affirmative action to anyone below a certain economic line.
In fact, I think it is a good idea.

I believe a proper role of government is to support the infrastructure to the best economic advantage of the country. And I believe in using all the talents of the entire population. Allowing the talented, but poor, to contribute to the society in which they exist is a worthy goal of any government.

[richmc]

More power to Jim Webb. That's exactly how I feel about the issue. Anyone who is serious about winning in November better take a close look at what he's saying, because he's as on the money as it gets.

The Irish were enslaved to the British for 300 years and then driven off their land at the point of a sword. The British took all their cattle and let them starve during the potato famine. It was a genocide. When they came to this country, they were treated like animals. There were cartoons of Irish drawn as chimpanzees in suits in the New York press. They were used as cannon fodder and slave labor for the railroads.

But the Irish took a different tack. They got educated and organized, and they voted from the local level on up. I can't imagine a 35% voter turnout in any of the precincts I grew up in. it was more like 335%. The joke was "remember - vote early and vote often".

You can cry and whine all you want, but if you don't get up off your duff and go vote, you're gonna get nothing. Not voting is the same as voting for McCain, and if you're willing to go that route, you don't deserve a single thing. Stop whining for handouts and take a hand up. Power is never granted- it must be taken.

[antaeus]

Sorry to be precise, but Webb is addressing the Scots-Irish of Appalachia. These are Protestants and came before the 1840s Famine Irish, who are Catholics. The former settled in New Hampshire and Appalachia and have a rural culture, the latter settled in large cities and remain active in politics.

Is it any wonder the Obama campaign is confused?

[JiminNC]

Oh that's different. They were treated well by the Brits and established Americans then?

[richmc]

I'm sorry. the headline said white America. The context was affirmative action. But you have a point. But I have another quesstion: If we're going to limit the discussion to the Presbyterians, who cares? They don't vote in consequential numbers.

As for your little condescension, you know where to put that.

[domdella]

Power must be given my friend

[HotATL]

I don’t buy this augment by Senator Web. I don’t think that the Irish had it any harder that any other immigrant group. They didn’t:

1) Have laws restricting their rights as to own land like the Chinese did back in the 1800s. They didn’t have law written to limit the number of their race aloud to immigrant.
2) They were not interned like the Japanese were in WWII.
3) They were not enslaved like the Africans were.
4) And finally, they were not almost annihilated like the America Indians were.

I am an Africans American. So while I can’t speak for America Indians, I personally find it offensive when Senator Web makes excesses for racism. All racism is base on some reason. However, we do the offended race a disservice when we make excesses for it.

[richmc]

1). Not true. There were numerous laws and ordinances restricting Irish property rights in this country, particularly in the northeast Us in the 1850s.. And yes there were immigation quotas on them as well.
2) Read about Five Points and tell me that it was better. Or about the railroad camps for that matter. Actually the Irish were considered a step below Chinese in many western areas.
3) Not true. They were enslaved to the British for three hundred years. In fact the Irish migration was strted as a result of the Btish attempt to exterminate the Irish and drive them out of Ireland.
4) Actually they were treated very similarly by the British. In fact, we learned how to treat the Indians from the British example of Ireland.

You don't have a clue about the history of the Irish in this country. You should read a book or two before you run your trap.

[Honour]

Part I - richmc: It seems to me that you could be a little more civil toward someone (HotATL) who is obviously sensitive about racism and politics in this country (with good reason, I should think), and leave the condescending insinuation out of your response - "condescending" being the operative word for you, since you seemed very sensitive about it in your reply to antaeus (although he was also being condescending). You might have taken a cue from johnsnakecusak, who answered HotATL with courtesy and respect, and also chose not to belittle him for his mispelled word (unlike antaeus - shame on him again).
What is it with you guys, are you just angry in general, or is this a particularly sensitive racial thing - are you Irish or - ? If so, it would seem that you might have some empathy, at the very least, for a fellow minority trying to heal the pain of hundreds of years of prejudice and persecution. Stretch your tolerance a little, won't you? This is precisely the point of the article, in fact: Learn to see your similarities and stop focusing on your differences.

[Honour]

Part II - This is precisely the point of the article, in fact: Learn to see your similarities and stop focusing on your differences. At least that's what I chose to derive from the words of Senator Webb, and from Will Thomas, as well.
As for tolerance, I truly believe that Barack Obama is someone who can help us remember that it is time to come together in the Spirit of open-mindedness, forgiveness, and newfound unity. I, for one, feel very grateful to be here for this kind of domain shift - and I am looking forward to a time of Hope - for peace, resolution, and healing, for all Americans. It may just be that Jim Webb will help to support that shift, as Vice President. I hope so, with all my heart. President Obama 2009!

[antaeus]

I guess the 1840s Bible Riots in Philadelphia in which scores of innocent Irish Catholics were murdered by rampaging Protestant mobs doesn't count.

And the signs in the windows of rental properties that read, "No Dogs, No Irish" were just a joke.

But I wouldn't want to make "excesses.­"

[johnsnakecusak]

HotAtL,

Point # 1 is not true. The Irish definitely had restrictions on land holding in Pennsylvania when most were settling there. They also had limits to their number allowed to live within counties in Pennsylvania.

See History and Topography of Cumberland , Franklin , Cambria ...etc Counties, by L. Daniel Rupp, 1848.

I don't disagree with your main contention, except that I don't think Sen. Webb was making excuses for racism,

on MSNBC today there was a discussion of the fact that in the last election the same demographic of Democrats that say they will not vote for Obama,
did not vote for John Kerry, voting for G. Bush instead.

Webb is right, its a cultural thing, but it really is different than racism.

[lanshark]

Not Irish (like that escaped the famines starting in 1840), Webb's talking about the Scot-Irish. These folks arrived in America much earlier, and are protestant, sometimes militantly so.

[sparkandy]

Scots Irish people came to the US in the 1600's and 1700's. I'll use my father's family as an example. They were here for the Revolutionary War, in Virginia. They moved to TN and my father's direct ancestors moved to Inidan Territory in the 1830s because one of his great whatever grandmothers had to come on the 'Trail of Tears'. They spread out all over what is now southeastern OK and southwestern AR. They fought for the Confederacy. We may not be in Applachia still, but we're still Scots Irish and still a proud tough people.

[bryan0218]

Sorry I can not get excited about an Obama/Webb ticket. Webb brings great military credentials, but take that away and what do you have? a very conservative Democrat who really, from what I have just read don't understand the plight of black Americans in this land. To suggest that poor whites and African Americans "are like tortured siblings. They both have long history and they both missed the boat when it came to the larger benefits that a lot of other people were able to receive. " This tells me he does not get it. Poor Whites were not brought to this land in hulls of ships, I have never seen a sign indicating a separate drinking fountain or restroom for "poor whites". I have never seen a sign in front of a restaurant that said, "no poor whites allowed" I have never seen a sign that says "poor whites" to the back of the bus, and I have never seen a "poor white" hung from a tree for looking the wrong way at a white woman. And I am sure that the antipithy towards blacks was there long before Civil Rights and affirmative action programs. oh Yeah poor Scottish -Irish whites and blacks got along "real good" before they started that affirmative action thing. Give me a break!

[williamg]

"Poor Whites were not brought to this land in hulls of ships"

In fact, the Scots-Irish did come over in the hulls of ships as indentured­-servants. As a black man who is familiar with these people, I would say we have much in common with the Scots-Irish. This is less about race and more about socio-economic class.

[qdog112]

STOP RIGHT THERE!

No one would want to deny the Scots-Irish their victim status, but to compare the MIDDLE PASSAGE to any other TRIP is just FLAT WRONG.

I am sure you meant well - but that is JUST WRONG.

[djelimon]

I am sorry my friend, but unless these indentured servants were literally packed in like sardines, with human feces all over the place, and a ridiculously high mortality rate, and daily raping by the crew, I think you are mistaken about the middle passage.

Not, you understand, that I'm disputing the notion of Scots and Irish as an underclass, historically.

Today, if you were to say you were Irish-American, I don't see a lot of negative reaction to that. And of course you would have the option of simply not saying anything.

Not to say that these areas of poverty should be ignored, but a Repub will do exactly that, while blaming blacks, AA, and 'liberals'

[Honour]

Thank you, williamg. for your sensitive and intelligent posting. It would be great to see more black folks responding from a broader view than previously (and far too often) seen here. As a woman of color, I applaud you, and I encourage more brothers to similarly stretch their minds.

[antaeus]

The point wasn't that Scots-Irish and African-Americans were best friends prior to 1965. The point is that the former were more reliable Democrats.

Blacks being comprehensively excluded from American life is not logical support for the mythical notion of a monolithic white America. If you are jealous of the title to Biggest Victim, keep it.

But your recitation of horrors is quickly and imminently passing into history. How old is the youngest person who actually remembers being unable to drink from a fountain? Nearly 50?

Are you ready for the new script? "Blacks can do anything in America, including becoming president.­"

[domdella]

but there are lots of us who still remember the "old days" not saying whites haven't had there share of grievances, but you have alot of generational anger that gets passed down.....b­ryan0218 obviously felt the sting of racism personally­.....and you have many blacks who feel the same, and because of there personal experiences with it, they've told there children and children's children about what whites have done to them...and because there your children there going to listen to what you have to say.....so you get a sense of generational anger that gets passed down.....s­o you still have people, young people, who think like older people when it comes to whites, because that is what they were taught growing up.....it is resentment, that has never been confronted or dealt with...and you see the results of it everywhere­....that is what happens when you make mistakes and don't reconcile your mistakes..­..not saying the descendants of slave owners owe blacks anything..­...i'm speaking mainly about the resentment that was felt during the civil rights movement that got passed down.....s­o when you hear a young person or an older person talk about how they feel about something that happened 40 years ago, 20 years ago...its because there was anger and pain felt that never got reconciled­....and it was passed on

[belief08]

Amen, and well written!!!

[JiminNC]

Those things are long passed. I have seen those signs, fortunately, never have seen anyone hung but I know it happened. I would like to consider more than the plight of black Americans in this election and I am sure you agree from reading your posts on other subjects. Webb brings, in his conservative democrat self, a much needed draw to poor and rural America. While not black, and not as frequently shut out of society or hung in trees, these people have also carried far greater than their share of many burdens. There's a line from a Steve Earl song, "I volunteered for the army on my birthday, they draft the white trash first round here anyway."

Rural Appalachia knows the full extent of corporate greed and abandonment. They have every right to be angry and every right to be courted by the party.

[MsLiz]

The money earned from the coal in Appalachia was not kept in the community. Rich investors out of state got richer, the miners got Black Lung and their land was destroyed.

[Marrigan]

I hate all of this one-upmanship victimology. I also hate this idea that Americans (past and present) have been worse than the people of other countries. Tit-for-tat could go on, ad nauseum, and I could "win" the argument because the facts of humans treating other humans badly are endless. As for the here & now, the only question is "How do we continue to strive for a system that treats everyone fairly and allows everyone the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?"
You don't have to believe that certain whites have had it just as bad as blacks (or any other minority for that matter) in order to show a little empathy and respect for their grievances. That's what Webb is talking about. When whites hear blacks essentially say, "We don't care what you're going through. You're white, so shut up and compensate me", all that is accomplished is a greater division and larger resentments. We can never stop our fight for equal justice and opportunity for all, but we have to be intellectually and emotionally honest. We can't just dismiss, out of hand, the legitimate grievances of our fellow citizens.
I was prepared to sit out and ignore this election, but I'm allowing my faded hopes to be revived by Obama. I just hope that people can take a time-out from historical grievances and come together for the greater good. There's too much at stake.

[GabrielXL]

I can sincerely appreciate Sen. Webb's comments. As a young black man growing up in New York City in the 60's, I lived in a mixed neighborhood and my family's closest friends were an Irish family that lived no more than a street away from us. We ate together amongst other things and as a child, I saw the parents as just as much an authority as my own mother and grandmother. In that neighborhood, [at that time] everyone was in the same boot, so it wasn't at all difficult to feel for each other and want the same things for each other. I don't know how much Affirmative Action does or doesn't contribute to the argument Sen. Webb raised, but I do know how much, "I think we've had enough of Hussein" contributes to the issue. I do know how much, "He's a Muslim. I know he denied it, but I don't believe him", contributes to the issue. In spite of everything the senator said, there's no erasing the fact that some people are just "the way they are". In fact, I dare say that it's so common to some that they really don't see what's wrong with it. If folks don't want to vote for Obama because of "real" issues, "OK", I can buy that. But just because he's... [Fill In The Blank]... Sorry, but "NO".

[lainey]

Thanks for your comment. I love to read ones that stick to the story and invite me in through personal accounts. I found it to be very insightful. I am not sure how Affirmative Action plays into this either, but I do remember when Jesse Jackson essentially said that when he went to the Appalachians, he discovered that America had as much a class issue as a race issue. I long for the day when we see that access to fruitful opportunities and good schools-- regardless of race, creed or culture-- is what keeps America from reaching her full potential. When we reach out and care for one another, as your story says so beautifully, there is nothing we can't accomplish. I can't wait for Senator Obama to be President so that we can all come together. Peace.

[GabrielXL]

I appreciate both your's and John's comments above. That is the world I lived in and I'm glad that I grew up not knowing any better. Once I got out into the world, I got to see another side of people and I have to admit to a bit of culture shock... as strange as that might seem. Still, none of that jaded my view of how things can and "should" be. I think that when we all realize that it isn't "us" who are creating the problems for each other I think things will be better all the way around which why I could understand Sen. Webb's comments. When politicians can stop being the limited, self-serving people that a lot of them are, maybe we can get out from under the yoke of what ails us as a people. Having said that, I do believe it takes a concerted effort from us citizens to raise ourselves out of the mindset that someone owes us something. Perhaps we should take a page out of the book of those huddled masses who come to our country and find the "American dream".

"If you do the work, what you want will chase you."

[johnsnakecusak]

Enjoyed reading your post.
One thing that might shed some light on the point you refer to in the last paragraph is the very good point made on MSNBC today when they were discussing the exit polling.
They found that the same Democratic demographic that maintains they will vote for McCain if Obama is the candidate, voted for G.Bush when John Kerry was the candidate.

Their point was that, this indicates that it is not a vote based on racism, but based on other qualities they dislike about Obama.

[knosiswar]

Right, what they want is Dale Earnhardt Jr. for POTUS. They want a NASCAR fan. So, I would like to invite Barack to go to a NASCAR race with me. Either Talladega or Atlanta preferably, I like the big tracks,