Before I responded here to this blog, I read Mr. Cohen's article. I was struck by how distorted this blog was. Mr. Cohen was not criticizing Obama, nor was he sugesting he should "join the klan" to get elected. He was comparing Obama's race issue with JFK's religion issue and suggesting that Obama has not sufficiently put the race issue to rest.
I keep seeing writers, bloggers, journalists, analysts, and commentators making mountains out of mole hills. The smallest cricism or slight is not too small to make an issue to their audience if it may hurt Obama's campaign. If you are going to parse every comment, every article, every report so that a false conflict is established, the democratic party will have nothing but conflict come time for the convention.
To Get Elected, Obama Must Cater To White Racists. Really?
It has become obvious that Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen will not be satisfied until Barack Obama joins the Klan. Until then, the fact that some (and perhaps more than "some") whites won't vote for him due to his skin color will remain Obama's own fault. Per Cohen's column yesterday, it is Obama's responsibility to make "some" whites comfortable with his blackness by assuring them that he shares their distaste for darkies.
He wrote:
My guess is that he [Obama] still has not put the race issue to rest -- maybe because he failed to do what Kennedy did in West Virginia. In that speech, Kennedy told Protestant West Virginians that when presidents took the oath of office, they were swearing to the separation of church and state. A president who breaks that oath is not only committing an impeachable offense, he said, "but he is committing a sin against God." In other words, he told West Virginians that their major fear was baseless.
Obama in his Philadelphia speech said nothing as dramatic. On the contrary, when it came to the perceived threat posed by young black men (one out of every nine is in criminal custody), Obama built a fence around the issue by citing his grandmother's "fear of black men who passed her by on the street" -- suggesting it was comparable to what his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had said. He did not confront white fears. Instead, he implied that they were illegitimate.
Simply breathtaking.
First, this suggests that black America and its concerns are monolithic institution with written rules and regulations to which all must pay fealty, and which run counter to US interests. Talk about irrational, racist and divisive fears!
He then likens white fear of black men (which he attributes entirely to black criminality as opposed to throwing in the stiffer penalties for blacks vs. whites) to concern that a Catholic would follow the church's written dictates as opposed to the Constitution's. The man's inability to construct a rational metaphor suggests a serious IQ deficit. Per the Bell Curve, perhaps he has some hidden black blood in him.
"He did not confront white fears," wrote Cohen. And how would he do that? Per his analogy, only by assuring America that he would not rape their women or jack their cars.
Only by attacking blacks, by suggesting that racist attitudes toward us are justified, as Cohen obviously believes they are, can Obama lay the race question to rest.
There'll be a cross-burnin' at the Obama rally tonight! Y'all come!
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This piece ran originally at PopandPolitics.
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maybe he is right. Many white voters want someone with whom they can ID. Many cannot ID off the bat to a black guy. If obama wants to win, he must show he does or can do things people they can relate to do, ie white people. He should do them better than bowling, but he should ride around the south in a pickup, he should be able to at least fish, maybe do some hunting. etc.
being black myself..i too would ride around the slaving ...racist...lynching...redstate confederate south..providing i had secret service protectors carrying an uzi under each armpit like obama has.don't any of you white folk realize what monsters you are? you are not angels sent from god..you are monsters.slavery was monstrous.killing the native americans and stealing two thirds of mexico and calling them illegal aliens when they come home is monstrous.never having any but white men as president since 1776 is monstrous. giving reverend wright a hard time for bitching about your racist history is monstrous.if you don't believe me....let my son who is in uniform...and serving this country like i did...and like all of our male relatives have since the civil war...get in a convertible with your blond blue eyed female daughter or neice and let them drive through alabama...mississippi or georgia...with the top down..and you will find out just how monstrous white racism is in this country.better yet...marry or date one of us...and you will learn to agree with everything reverend wright said.get the book...or watch the movie "black like me"
I'm sorry - I'm critical of the USA too.
However I can't bring myself to say 'God Damn America.'
Not after 9-11. No. Not with my stepson in Iraq at the moment. No.
And I'm left of center.
Can you imagine how that "God Damn America' line will be played in the General Election?
Obama has NO chance of winning. Maybe he has a slim cahnce if he chooses Hillary as VP running mate but the more I see of his ego (and his wife's ego), he will most likelyt choose someone else.
And lose. This is the reality most Obama supporters ignore.
Does that mean that you step on other's right to say it? As for 9/11, clearly, your country failed miserably in protecting its citizens.
They suggested a complete and total breakdown of all security that was already in place. Outside of the fact that such is statistically impossible, someone was sitting down on the job that day. They lied to us about the air quality in that area of Manhattan in the weeks and months following. I have to pass through that area daily then and now. You don't have to say it. There are ten million people living in this city, many of whom, if you don't mind, will be exercising their constitutional right to say goddamn whatever the fuck we feel like damning.
Reverend Wright is not on the Ballot . If we start measuring everybody on what their friends and associates say. Then we are all in trouble.....
Stop watching Fox-News
Actually, Hillary would be in the most trouble. Her associations, including her husband, are much more suspect and damaging to her campaign in the General Election. If you think the Republicans will continue to loop the snippets of Wright's sermons night after night, wait until you see the vast amount of footage that they are waiting to launch on Hillary. "I never had sexual relations with that woman..." "It depends on what 'is' is" and so on. And this is the stuff from her husband. I've learned a lot about Hillary's OWN behavior during her husbands scandals and I am sure there is footage, quotes, recordings, credible accounts of HER duplicity and complicity in those scandals. They are laying in wait for Hillary and have much more ammunition that they have with Obama.
What everyone is not focusing on in regards to the Rev Wright is that everything he said about America is absolutely correct. We should focus on those issues instead of how he said it, even if it's uncomfortable for most. It's time to focus on substance, not style, after 7 yrs of spin, lies, obfuscation, jingoism, and deceit. BTW, I'm White, and retired US Air Force
Richard Cohen in some parallel universe is considered to be a "liberal". With liberals like him we sure don't need conservatives. The man is an idiot and I'm sorry that anyone saw fit to respond to his demented rantings.
As we move steadily forward to the first US president who is not a white Anglo-Saxon male (it really took 44 tries?? Really??) it occurs to me that long disenfranchised groups (women, African Americans, Jews, among others) will look wistfully at the figure about to break this exalted ethno-gender ceiling and ask: "why not us?"
It's perfectly understandable and I think is one reason that Hillary is carrying the white female vote. I don't believe it's racist, in the sense of exclusion-I believe that it represents a tribal preference for one's own. I believe that white Jewish males have the same tribal instinct. My only question to Cohen is: did you really want Lieberman to be president to satisfy that craving? Now, Russ Feingold I could understand.
how are those group "disenfranchised"? Just because no good candidates have happened to be anything other than white males does not mean woman and minorities don't have a say. The reason we don't have ethnic minority presidents is because seeing as most peeps are white, the likelihood of a white President is 75%
Does someone really need to ask you where those ten other non-white presidents, and those twenty one woman presidents are, before you realize how completely without logical merit your whole is?
How about vice presidents?
How about high-level cabinet officers before the last year of the last century?
No good candidates other than white males?
Women and minorities have a say?
Which America do you live in?
You must tell me why you think it is best to deal with the issue presented by Mr. Cohen by referring to him as an idiot? What do you accomplish with this rhetoric? Do you think it makes your point better? I think it diminishes any message you might have.
When Cohen says that Obama "did not confront white fears", I believe what Cohen is actually saying is that Obama didn't overcome Cohen's own sterotypes and internal bigotry towards others. On the contrary, Obama has gone out of his way to be a candidate for all Americans. In fact, if Cohen would actually listen to an Obama speach Obama focuses on foreign policy, healthcare, the environment, poverty (of all races), and creating oppurtunities for all. This is why he is doing so well. This is dramatically different then the presidential runs by Sharpton and Jackson, as these men had a long history of supporting what were perceived by many whites as "black issues" and often turned a blind eye to justice if required to uphold the so-called "black position". Many whites would perceive those two as black racists. Obama, on the other hand, acts and is perceived as evenhanded and fights for things that benefit everyone. This is why, absent some underhanded dealing in the convention, Obama will win the nomination and will certainly beat old man McCain.
To legalclubs,
I agree 100% on your views.
I would never vote for Hillary just because she's a woman any more then I would vote for Obama just because he's Black.
It really bothers me to read all the comments from groups that support either candidate just because of Sex or Color. I actually just finished reading an article by a 70 year old Senator that will vote for Hillary just because she did not think there would ever be another woman candidate in her lifetime.
Another article by a feminist wrote that she will vote for H. Clinton, not because H. Clinton is a woman, but because I am.
what ever happened to voting for the most qualified person that is running. Drop all the Color and Sex issues and listen to want they have to say about themselves, the issues and what they do. Character should be more important then skin color or sex.
What's important to me is, are they qualified to run for the office. If so, then I just care about the issues and character.
I am Caucasian, 42 male and refuse to align myself with any "group". Between the 3 candidates, I believe Obama has acted and sounded like the best candidate. As legalclubs implied, Obama is focused on all the citizens, not any groups and that's the way it should be.
And I would have gladly voted in the general election for Jesse Jackson. I trust him I don't trust Obama.
I AM SO DONE WITH THIS SITE!!!
are you going to one where everyone is retarded and types in all caps?
I have always felt sorry for the white men of my generation (I'm 63) because they were reared to think they would be kings, but social movements caught up with them & took away some of their prerogatives. Instead of being glad more of us have a chance to be recognized & remunerated for our contributions to the country, many of these guys -- decades into the revolution -- are still smarting. While some knuckleheaded white men take out their frustrations in overt racism, others -- like Cohen, Stuart Taylor & Lanny Davis recently -- express their Supreme Miffedness over their deflated status in "reasoned" complaints. Liberals like Cohen are doubly mad because they think they graciously ceded their Rights to Everything, and the rest of us should be grateful. Cohen's problem with Obama isn't the Rev. Wright -- it's Obama's failure to constantly & personally thank him -- Richard Cohen -- for granting women & men of color the right to run for President. The abhorent Pat Buchanan at least has the guts to express his despicable convictions in no uncertain terms -- he asks outright why the descendants of slaves aren't expressing their gratitude for all that whites have done for them. Buck up, gentlemen, the country belongs to all of us now. E pluribus unum.
GMA11I concur. As a White male, I fully agree with you and mariemburns. I read Cohens piece when it came out, and I just shook my head, he doesn't get anything at all. And unfortunately the abhorrent PB speaks for a large segment of whire America. The speech Obama gave will go down as one of the greatest of our time. The issues he raises need to fully aired and acknowledged from all sides, this is long overdue.
Great post, Marie. I'm 60 - and see the same among so many men that I know, many family and friends (and, no, I won't disown them - they are what they are and have many fine qualities, nonetheless!). I also know many insightful men who have grown tremendously through these years.
Your post reminded me of the the book and musical "Ragtime" (E. L. Doctorow) about the men of the previous turn-of-the-century who could not accept Eastern European Jews, African Americans, women making independent choices, and RAGTIME! The character of Father is a seemingly strong but actually pathetic archetype who cannot adjust to the social changes that are occurring. It's bittersweet.
This is ridiculous! I can't believe that we are even entertaining this garbage. Stand up America; this is the bull crap that Black America and other minorities have to deal with. Unbelievable.
You call this bull crap? Wait till you read what Pat Buchanan has to say about Blacks being grateful for slavery or no need to fight WWII (let the Jews be killed). Similar to Ron Paul's no need for the civil war...let black folks remain slaves.
It's an outrage that MSNBC still gives him a platform....
Thank you!
EXACTLY!!! And this is why the Clinton campaign is using it and white and jewish pundits and reporters can't let it go. For them one Rev. Wright or one OJ is equivalent to 260 yrs of slavery and 100 yrs of Jim Crow.
So, cater to people like Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh?
F NO!!! He needs to do what he's been doing, catering to Americans who want change in Washington and America!!! Be Tiger Woods NOW and Just Do It!!! The GOP will be weak in the next 15 - 20 years! The old members are retiring and dieing! They don't have the ability to recruit new members nor do anyone want to join!!!
Hell, he's not even catering. He's just laying it out there like no politician has in recent memory. He's no messiah (though the Clintonites would make you think his supporters believe that), but he's genuine, warts and all.
Sure, he's been cagey on some issues. Can you freaking blame him? I couldn't imagine letting my life be an open book for all to see. Instead of being prickly, defensive, angry, and lie about everything like *some* people, he's been about as open as one person could conceivably be in the public eye.
I don't see any of that in either of the Republican candidates.
Republican or not, I don't see it in any other candidate. Obama is refreshing to listen to.
Sometimes you have to just ignore patently racist drivel. There are some out there who (aren't even necessarily racists) but who hold racial views and more importantly just the opinion that no black person could ever win the presidency. The fact that Obama appears to be doing just that is a shock to their fundamental core and belief system.
In such instances reasonable people admit they were probably wrong and adjust their beliefs accordingly. This is not the case with unreasonable, stubborn people. (See Bush, George W.) As such they are unable to fathom what Obama is doing and probably won't fully accept it until January 20, 2009. I say, oh well, let them. They can deal with it when it's President Obama.
4/9/08
4:46pm
Alexandria, VA
I'm a white grandma who is not afraid of black men. I'll vote for Obama.
I also know that some white people will not vote for a black man no matter what he says. Nothing Obama can do about that but the percentage is small. I think he should just ignore them.
msfiskvletterman,
You are the best of what America represents.
To get elected Obama needs to give me confidence that he will do what I want to see done. I do not yet have that confidence. What I want to see done is resolution of issues facing this nation, OTHER THAN RACE. Everyone of any color is affected by high gas prices, schools that do not perform, no universal healthcare, recession, endless debts. I have SEEN Obama's color. I have noted it. His color looks fine to me, cafe au lait. He is not of one race, but of two races, and frankly, my dear, I do not give a you know what. Now if the Obamians can lay off the attack mode on Hillary, Chelsea, stop crying racist, and will get to the real issues, I would be happy. I might even change my point of view on Obama. But, time is running out, my ballot is ready, right here, next to my computer, to be filled out. Obama does not need to appease anyone on racial issues. He needs to get to the nitty gritty. This is NOT affirmative action time. He is playing in the big league, and well equipped to do so. Stop mollycoddling him. (Eh, is that actually a word?)
I'm always a bit befuddled by comments like this. What "real issue" have you not heard him speak to? Have you been to his website and reviewed his position papers? Have you pulled down any of the many videos on Youtube of the speeches he has given on the various issues of the day. Have you made an effort to access this information, or are you waiting to have it spoon fed to you by CNN? Trust me, there's tons of information out there with which to educate yourself.
The fact is, it's everyone else who is obsessed with talking about race--not Obama. He didn't raise the Wright issue. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to stop talking about it! (Don't mistake his discussion of his racial heritage as a focus upon race. It's merely an acknowledgment of the experiences that have shaped his world view. One's biography is a valid point of discussion.) Once the attack dogs were in the street, however, he faced them and didn't back down. He even tried to elevate the level of the conversation--a difficult task in America. The inability of AMERICA to let go of the race issue is a testament to the fact that America won't let you be just a man and not "a black man." Obama is the one who is trying to say, "Not this time."
Bravo...you said it all. People like Cohen are so used to be able to call the shots rallying the troops and saying who can do what, when, where and how..they just can't believe that Barack Obama has not asked for their permission to be himself. He is running as a MAN not a black candidate. Trust me these men are more afraid of that than anything Rev. Wright said. They want to be sure that Barack can be brought under their thumb and used to keep the status quo exactly where it is. They FEAR CHANGE! It is the idea that Barack will level the playing field for the poor, and bring the races closer together. Hard to dominate and screw-over 90% of the U.S. if we should decide that it is us (POOR BLACKS & WHITES) against them for a CHANGE!
Please watch this link and discover how Senator Obama will get us real healthcare reform.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-83zKeSCJpU
It is not a long link, but you do need to watch to the end. Senator Obama explained how the way he will seek healthcare reform will be different than the ways that have been tried (and failed) in the past and how this new process will work if we support it.
Also, I am a fervent supporter of Senator Obama and certainly not for any affirmative action purpose. After the last 7+ years of incompetence and corruption, we need to elect the candidate who has the best chance of repairing the inordinate amount of damage done in those 7+ years and who has the best chance of getting us real solutions to our festering problems. He is not offering us a free ride, however, we will have to support his efforts and hold him accountable every step of the way.
Here is another link that more eloquently lays out some of the reasons I support Senator Obama on foreign policy:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama/3
Got a new grassroots campaign organization to be joined...
Stupid WHITE Warmongers for McCain!
Their motto: "He's one of us!"
Maybe Cohen can get a membership...
Cohen sez: "He did not confront white fears. Instead, he implied that they were illegitimate." I guess "confront" means "agree with". Very creative use of what Cohen sees as a self-evident truth, tho I would have thought Cohen would have justified the legitimancy of fearing all black guys at least a little.
Posted April 9, 2008 | 10:43 AM (EST)