Nader: Obama Trying To "Talk White" And "Appeal To White Guilt"

In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says he's disappointed with Barack Obama:

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards.

Nader says he's on to Obama strategy:

"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician. He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."

Nader plans to go to Denver during the Democratic National Convention to highlight his own agenda.

Comments

[OlongapoEd]

It is truly bizarre to see Nader talking like an Uncle Tom black conservative. "Appeal to white guilt"??? Has Nader's mind been taken over by Thomas Sowell, Walter E. Williams, etc.?

[realityczech4u]

That is funny. So the black man is not capable of thinking his own thoughts, forming his own point of view. If he is conservative, that makes him an "Uncle Tom". Hear that Doctor Williams? Better get out there and do some race hustling like Al Sharpton so that you're perceived as 'black enough'.

[bosshogg]

is nader trying to go after black votes?????? if he is nader not getting mine..... since i can't cuss on huff i'm just gonna call him a**.... obama running as the president of u.s not the black president it amazing there was never a statement like this made when a white candidate ran for office because it's dumb........

[MyAudacity]

Oh My Gosh! First Obama was a Muslim Terrorist African Prince Jihadist
Then He was a secret Black Liberterian Separatist Sleeper
Now, he is Bougeoise trying to act "White"

Boy his Caucasian Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncles and Cousins must be really disappointed, that their cultural environment they raised him did not take affect, and now he has to act the part.

If it wasn't for the color of his skin, he would be so much acceptable (insert eyeroll, strong sarcasm)

Such a pity......not quite White enough.....not quite Black enough, and WTH does that have to do with the Troops in Combat, Economics, the price of Gasoline.........Supreme Court Judge Appointments.....or with being a good President of the United States. Why don't Nader say something about the darn fool comment Bush made about his "Cook".....at least she knows her place....although, Bush maybe should hire a taster now!

[editrix66]

"Talking white"! What is talking black? Does he suggest that Obama, who was raised in Hawaii and then lived as an adult in Illinois, affect a southern accent and use "hip-hop" slang. Give me a break. I hope Ralph Nader gets out of here.

[coloradosiren]

Is there anyone out there just as annoying and pompous as Bill Clinton? Yes, that would be Ralph Nader. Let's forget about isuues affecting every American, the Iraq war, the national oil crisis, a failing economy, increasing unemployment, foreclosures, high food prices and campaign on economic exploitation in the ghettos, payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead or according to Ralph (Black issues). I guess Obama is not Black enough for Ralph Nader.

[GravitonX]

Apparently, Nader thinks he's made an amazing insight that Black people have failed to make or to which whites will admit. Of course, we know that Obama has to avoid speaking about Black issues while courting the white vote. But, it doesn't matter, there is a time and a place for everything. Keeping it real Chapelle-style won't get you the top job. We trust Obama far more than we will ever trust "it's class and not race" Nader.

[Xgal08]

In high school, I was accused of 'acting white' because of the way I talk. I couldn't stand it. Nader is ridiculous.

[GolfingDevil05]

This will be the fifth presidential election in a row in which Ralph Nader has not won the presidency. What part of "no" does he not understand? Frankly, Nader is showing that he shares a character trait with George Bush... stubborness in the face of incontrovertable evidence.

Oh yeah, and he's three years OLDER than John McCain.

[annalivia]

At this point Nader is the flip image of Lieberman, being angry and destructive just because he can, using old creds and image to peel off just enough voters to blow everything up. Both angry white men living off their investments and their celebrity, sitting on big stock portfolios who won't pay the price economically of anything they do.

Nader's appeal to the 'left' was mystifying after 1990, frankly. He belittled the Supreme Court appointments and called women's concerns about choice 'gonadal politics'. He raised money for his presidential run from Republican operatives and said both parties are the same. Guess he was wrong about that.

Now he's playing the race card, accusing a man whose mother was white of 'talking white.' as if Ralph Nader has a clue or a right to talk about that.
Ralph's Lebanese and raised money in that community, so he'll probably accuse Obama of bigotry towards Arabs next. The Lebanese are important in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio (Toledo) all swing states.

[gaypastor]

You're awesome Ralph! Thank you for having the courage to talk about Obama' strategy for appealing to white people's sense of guilt and his shameless silence regarding the unique ecomonic conditions (and inequalities!) face by many African-Americans.

[PoliJunkie]

HUH???????

[haydude]

send in the clowns to this 3 ring circus and right on cue --candidate nadar. his role in the comedy
is much more vague than in years earlier. people aren't listening, we are all too busy watching.

[annalivia]

At this point Nader's the flip image of Lieberman, being angry and destructive just because he can, using old creds and image to peel off just enough voters to blow everything up. Both angry white men living on their investments, sitting on big stock portfolios who won't pay the price economically of anything they do.

Nader's appeal to the 'left' was mystifying after 1990, frankly. He belittled the Supreme Court appointments and called women's concerns about choice 'gonadal politics'. He raised money for his presidential run from Republican operatives and said both parties are the same. Guess he was wrong about that.

Now he's playing the race card, accusing a man whose mother was white of 'talking white.' as if Ralph Nader has a clue or a right to talk about that.
Ralph's Lebanese and raised money in that community, so he'll probably accuse Obama of bigotry towards Arabs next. The Lebanese are important in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio (Toledo) all swing states.

[obamajusrocks]

Nader shut the hell up.
What a loser

[Speakchic]

If I was White I'd be completely disappointed with who is representing your race. It's one ridiculous comment after the other after the other.

Obama is trying to "talk" white. WTF does that mean?

[96Bravo]

Perhaps Nader isn't as smart as he'd like us to believe. This is a guy who has no idea how responsible he was for getting Bush elected in 2000. This is a guy who knows he can't win the White House, yet runs again. He thinks his run will have SOME positive influence. His run had no positive influence in 2000 and will have no positive influence in 2008.

Now, he thinks he knows all about Obama, when it's painfully obvious he knows nothing about the man. He has not considered Obama's background and how he grew up.

You may have been unfortunately relevant in 2000, Nader. But you are pathetically irrelevant now. It's time for you to recognize that. It's also time you recognized that no matter what good things you've done in the past. You are now one of History's rougues gallery of infamy.