Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post Reporter: Obama "Much More White Than Black"

During an online chat Monday at WashingtonPost.com, Washington Post Congressional Reporter Jonathan Weisman said that Barack Obama is "much more white than black." The comment came as part of an answer to a question asking why a recent Obama ad, seen below, was "playing up his white family." Obama's mother was white and his father, who he was not close to growing up, was black.

The full question and answer:

Alexandria, Va.: Obama's new ad (which plays a lot in Alexandria) shows pictures of his mother and grandparents, playing up his white family. Until now he's been "African American"; now suddenly he's a white Midwesterner? During the primary Hillary was criticized for changing her image too many times. Won't Obama be criticized for doing the same thing?

Jonathan Weisman: I haven't heard that criticism, but it is striking. Not a single picture of his father. Now, that really is consistent with his upbringing. He really did not become immersed in black American culture until he left college and went to Chicago. The great irony is that he is much more white than black, beyond skin color.

Watch the ad in question below:

Read the entire WashingtonPost.com Q&A here.

Comments

[kincaid0329]

It is true and to those Blacks who don't think so - listen to the truth. Don't be foold by this elitist. It is sad that he is using Blacks - He is the whitest African American (next to Clarence, Colin and Condi) I've ever seen.

[allonfla]

OMG!! How did I not see it. The lies! The Horror!!!!

I guess he is using Michelle and his two daughters too.

I'm not biracial and I've been around mostly Blacks all my life. I do, however, know several people who grew up around whites and have a natural yearning to connect with the people they look like the most. There is nothing wrong with that.

That comment from the reporter is suggesting that he has been pretending to be Black the latter half of his life so that he can get Black votes. This is beyond disgusting. There is no way he can pretend to be Black. With the color of his lips and his shade of brown and the texture of his hair - he has no choice. You look Black - you will be treated as Black. Forget the PC term of Biracial. He is Black. PERIOD.

[AJTheReverb]

Thanks for the warning, I think I will let my own internal "black-o-meter" determine if he is indeed "down".

[kellygrrrl]

good call!

I also like to let my own internal gaydar point out all the hypocritical GOP moralists

[Probus]

My comments wasn't posted as a reply to yours so I'm posting it again. Obama is an elitist? He was raised by a single mother and later by his grandparents. It is McCain who is the elitist he married for money. BTW what difference does it make whether the people who raised him were white or black? Would it make you feel better if black people had raised him? This is truly a racist comment on your part.

[gevan]

Then he married the millionairess of a beer distributership, no wait, that was McCain.

[allonfla]

Clarence, Colin and Condi?

All Blacks who have had great success in an almost all White field (no matter what you think of them). It's this kind of nonsense that keeps many Black kids from doing well in school. They don't want to be seen as sell-outs or white.

Why is it that when a Black person does extremely well, someone is quick to judge his/her Blackness? It's as if a "100% " Black person can only go so far and anything beyond that must be credited to whiteness or wanting to be white?

[Syco]

since when is black a state of mind???

he's half black and half white.
Black people need to stop saying things like this

[robXdion]

Hey genius, HE calls himself black. WHY? Because before he was this close to being President, I'm sure he was reminded he was black everyday. What would you call him if he worked at your local Jiffy Lube? BLACK.

[Jamchinadian]

Holy mother of God. His father was missing. He was raised by his mom and his grandparents.

Is this all you can come up with? Sadly, he was right when he said the race card would be played.

How about talking about real issues - like McShame's supporter's disgraceful and depraved idea that another terrorist attack would benefit McSAme???!!!

[robXdion]

Some white people need to seriously work on their race issues and categorizing people. They keep this to themselves and only speak it in acceptable company. Then one day in an unguarded moment they have verbal diarrhea. Obama has always been black and white. The largely white MSM chose to present the "exotic" part of him. Now I'm wondering what is the racial make-up of Weisman's bureau? Would he like some to say he's more white than Jewish? That he plays down his Jewish side to be accepted? That raw sushi won't go down so well, I'll bet.

[reasoniskey]

"The great irony is that he is much more white than black, beyond skin color." What does that mean?

[rowzeer]

Nothing...­.Blacks and Whites all want the same thing....a better life for their kids, affordable health care, a good education, safety, a home, etc. etc. I grew up in a poor White neighborhood and it wasn't the Blacks that were the troublemakers.

Low-lifes come in all colors!

[sangsue]

It means that the reporter is an imbecil who believes that because Obama has an education that's a "white" quality.