Two Top Columnists Question Obama's DNA and "Full-blooded" Americanism

Liberal bloggers and commenters at The Washington Post op-ed section are rightly criticizing a column this week by syndicated scribe Kathleen Parker that questions Barack Obama's "deep-seated" Americanism. But she is only following the footsteps of Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal who raised similar issues three weeks ago -- and was praised by NBC's Brian Williams for a "Pulitzer" worthy effort.

Noonan wrote then:

Hillary Clinton is not Barack Obama's problem. America is Mr. Obama's problem...[H]as he ever gotten misty-eyed over... the Wright Brothers and what kind of country allowed them to go off on their own and change everything? How about D-Day, or George Washington, or Henry Ford, or the losers and brigands who flocked to Sutter's Mill, who pushed their way west because there was gold in them thar hills?

Henry Ford was a vicious anti-Semite, but no matter. For Noonan continued:

John McCain carries it in his bones. Mr. McCain learned it in school, in the Naval Academy, and, literally, at grandpa's knee....

Mr. Obama? What does he think about all that history? Which is another way of saying: What does he think of America? That's why people talk about the flag pin absent from the lapel. They wonder if it means something. Not that the presence of the pin proves love of country -- any cynic can wear a pin, and many cynics do. But what about Obama and America? Who would have taught him to love it, and what did he learn was lovable, and what does he think about it all?...

[N]o one is questioning his patriotism, they're questioning its content, its fullness.

No one? And surely not Peggy Noonan. And, of course, Obama has spoken about why he loves American often and at great length, if Noonan might have noticed if she was paying attention.

Now, Kathleen Parker, in contrast, used the words of another to set forth her central premise. At least this time she didn't quote someone who suggested that certain liberals be taken out and shot, as she did in a column back in 2003.

She opened this week's column (she is published in dozens of papers) by quoting 24-year-old Josh Fry of West Virginia who said he backed John McCain over Barack Obama: "His feelings aren't racist, he explained. He would just be more comfortable with 'someone who is a full-blooded American as president.'"

We don't know Mr. Fry, but polls did show that an extraordinarily high number of voters in the recent Democratic primary in West Virginia did -- privately -- admit that race had an awful lot to do with their vote.

But Parker assured us, again, that her own views had nothing to do with race:

Full-bloodedness is an old coin that's gaining currency in the new American realm. Meaning: Politics may no longer be so much about race and gender as about heritage, core values, and made-in-America. Just as we once and still have a cultural divide in this country, we now have a patriot divide.

Who 'gets' America? And who doesn't?...It's about blood equity, heritage and commitment to hard-won American values. And roots.

Some run deeper than others and therein lies the truth of Josh Fry's political sense. In a country that is rapidly changing demographically -- and where new neighbors may have arrived last year, not last century -- there is a very real sense that once-upon-a-time America is getting lost in the dash to diversity.

We love to boast that we are a nation of immigrants -- and we are. But there's a different sense of America among those who trace their bloodlines back through generations of sacrifice.

Parker, of course, ignores the fact that Obama, in fact, is half-white, is related (god help us) to Dick Cheney, and can trace his family back as far as McCain in America -- to George Washington, even. And speaking of "generations of sacrifice": Obama's grandfather fought in World War II.

Those fine small-town Americans may not know any of that -- and Parker sure doesn't remind them. "What they know," she relates, "is that their forefathers fought and died for an America that has worked pretty well for more than 200 years. What they sense is that their heritage is being swept under the carpet while multiculturalism becomes the new national narrative. And they fear what else might get lost in the remodeling of America."

Even Hillary Clinton has "figured it out," Parker writes. Her "own DNA is cobbled with many of the same values that rural and small-town Americans cling to. She understands viscerally what Obama has to study."

After noting other true American values such as easy gun ownership, Parker concludes, "Full-blooded Americans get this. Those who hope to lead the nation better get it soon." Of course, the only half-white and half-native Obama is not "full-blooded." Get it?

As for Parker's support for serve-your-country Americanism, few may remember her 2003 column that attacked Jessica Lynch, another West Virginian, and one who nearly lost her life for the U.S. in Iraq. "What the hell was Jessica Lynch doing in the U.S. Army?" Parker asked.

"Regardless of what did or didn't happen over there, Lynch's book, movie and notoriety are not wasted, but offer a cautionary tale: A 5-foot-4-inch, 100-pound woman has no place in a war zone nor, arguably, in the military.

"The feminist argument that women can do anything men can do is so absurd that it seems unworthy of debate. That some women are as able as some men in some circumstances hardly constitutes a defense for 'girling' down our military - and putting men at greater risk - so that the Jessica Lynches can become kindergarten teachers.

"Lynch is not so much 'a symbol of Bush administration propaganda,' as Frank Rich wrote in The New York Times, as she is a victim of the PC military career myth sold to young women through feminist propaganda."

Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Fails on Iraq. It has been hailed by Bill Moyers, Glenn Greenwald and others, and features a preface by Bruce Springsteen. Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[booksnmore4you]

Let's just call Noonan and Parker for what they are: racists, and stirring up old rationales for racism.

[realtalk]

That's funny, since John McCain was not even born in this country! John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. McCain is not natural born citizen, and according to the Constitution, Presidents must be natural born citizens. So John McCain is getting in on a technicality as it is, so I don't know how anyone thinks they can possibly question Obama, a man who was actually born on American land, and is a natural born citizen.

[wilburbudd]

These two "women" are idiots. Me (also) thinks they doth protest too much. Far more often than not, they that make accusations, and question another's heritage, blood-line, patriotism, et.al., is far more guilty of that which they accused. In simpler terms: he who casts the first stones is probably the guilty party.
Therefore: I in turn question their loyalty, and sanity: sorry sweet-cheeks, I don't get very "misty eyed" over the Wright Brothers either, or flags, or Vietnam, OR John McCain, who is probably the most bloodless ghoul, and blood-thirsty, lying, warmonger of the bunch.Next to The Uber-Goobers, who have been sucking this entire country dry of all sustanance and life, for almost eight years. This is proof positive; evidence irrefutable, that we, as a nation, as a people, as a society, even as human beings, learned nothing from Vietnam, and its' aftermath. Same stupid reasons for getting into a dirty little war. Same corrupt reason for maintaining it. Same treatment of anyone who disagrees with it, protests against it. Same treatment, or catastrophic lack thereof, of our CHILDREN who went and fought it. And the lasting dislike for Americans throughout the world because of it. 40 years wasted, for nothing, and irretrievable. All those lives lost, families ruined, people destroyed, in vain.We are the aggressors here, and all so George and Dick can retire wealthy men.
Remember:GOD blesses All; or God blesses NONE. Period. You do not get it both ways!

[miles120]

A few years ago, when Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor of California, many Republicans wanted to remove the prohibition against foreign-born citizens becoming President. Now they're claiming Obama is un-American simply because he looks different. It's just nonsense. Obviously, being a white male is much more patriotic than being a white female or a non-white male.

I'm so proud of my fellow citizens..­.

[Liverp2]

How wonderful to be told he is a red blooded American, especially since he identifies himself with his Kenyan father.
He also called Pastor Wright family while he sat in his church hearing disparaging hate speeches against America. His wife was indoctrinated and still felt ashamed of her country for 44 years.

As if we have not been punished enough God sent this satan along.

God Help and Bless America

[vegangypsie]

I am praying for you and others that post intolerance, that god may soften your heart, and that you might wake up and see all of god's children as your brothers and sisters.

God bless Americans and all people of the earth.

[DeanieMills]

So far I haven't seen any of the commenters point out that, at another time in history, a country was worried about "full-blooded" nationalism. They even had a name for it.

It was called Aryan.

I am stunned that the same argument would be put forth in what is supposed to be a reputable, major paper, some 60 years later.

They say it's not racist, but I'm sure they were saying similar things, back when the Jews had to sew yellow Stars of David on their clothing and the country--Hitler's Germany--considered not allowing black athletes to attend when they hosted the Olympic Games in Berlin.

As one commenter said--even Harry Potter knew that a term like "mudlbood" was reprehensible. But apparently it's considered thoughtful political comment by the Post.

I assume Noonan and Parker mean that because Obama's father was African, he's not a pureblood (Aryan) American. So I guess all those with African, Irish, Polish, Scottish, Mexican, Cuban, and so on blood in their family trees best pack up and move out, eh? God knows they'll never "get it."

They'll never be REAL Americans!

This would be ridiculous and outrageous if it wasn't just plain sad.

And oh, by the way--in case Parker and Noonan are unaware of this? In the last census, those who marked themselves "Caucasion" on the form made up 48% of the population--a minority, now.

Maybe they should wear the gold stars.

[Xanderthal]

All these ladies have done is to construct a new code for the language of racism.
By virtue of her skin color, Hillary Clinton woke up one morning on third in these states and has spent the majority of her time since declaring that she hit a triple.
It is reminiscent of Jim Crow attitudes.

[hartkid]

The motto of Noonan and her ilk - the corporate media: "I will provide a propagandistic casus belli. Its credibility doesn't matter. The victor will not be asked whether he told the truth."[

[adama50]

People who question Obama's patriotism are actually saying only white people can be Americans,because they would not think to question McCain or Clinton in this way.

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

Wait. Given this geneaology data, it appears Barack Obama is my cousin too. Cool.

[KHAAANNN]

You know, I remember seeing old newsreels of a country that became fixated on whether or not it's leaders and citizens were "full-blooded" enough for their particular brand of politics, but it was hard to understand because it was ALL IN GERMAN!

[BlackMagicWoman]

Powerful comment!

[elbzee]

BRAVO!

[indygal]

In addition, certain groups of citizens during that era were considered traitors if they didn't salute leaders and/or flags properly or wear patriotic symbols for all to see. Homeland, Motherland­...call it what you will. Requiring public display of patriotism and questioning any person's loyalty based on this, and now Bush's comment about Nazi appeasers? Judging people by their skin color and heritage? Human consciousness has evolved so slowly that it now appears to be devolving.

[libdude]

Ms. Parker talks about the "...truth of Josh Fry's political sense." I wonder where Josh acquired his political sense. Where would he get the idea that Obama was anything less than a "full-blooded American?" Of course, conservatives are the definers of all that is American. No one else shed their blood or made a commitment to American values. Only real, full-blooded (i.e.-cons­ervative) Americans have done that. Ms. Parker asks, "Who "gets" America, and who
doesn't?" Anyone who asks that question doesn't get it--that's who. As for Peggy Noonan, I wonder if she gets misty-eyed about the extraordinary life of Frederick Douglas, if she knows who he is. Or the narratives of generations of slaves whose lives were reduced to those of farm animals for hundreds of years. I wonder if she wells-up with pride at the accomplishments of Dr. King and millions of other African-Americans in the face of the most extreme abuse imaginable down through the history of our country. Not likely--they're not "full-blooded" Americans.

[stagebandman]

Aren't these the same people who wanted to CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION so their man, Arnold could run for president? What a bunch of duplicitous, pompous, un-American, right-wing sycophants. I occasionally read Parker in the Chicago Tribune, and she spews some of the most vile poison, disguised as this idiotic "I'm just a typical American mom" charade, that you could imagine. And remember, Peggy Noonan thinks Reagan should be on Mount Rushmore - and on money.

I have to go wash my hands now. I feel dirty.

[MissT]

You stole my thunder. The bigotry of these people has been unmasked and they can no longer hide behing these shallow arguments. We have grown up.

[Choicelady]

Well the money part makes sense at least. That was his entire reason for living and being Prez.

[shel3364]

US Constitution, Article II, section1:

"No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constution, shall be eligible to the Office of the President; neither shall any person be eligble to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five years, and have been fourteen years a resident within the United States."


I searched and searched and couldn't find "full-blooded" anywhere in the Consitution. So it looks like Obama meets the qualificaitons.

...unless you interpret "at the time of the adoption of this Constitution" to mean that they must have been alive in 1787. In that case, we're stuck with McCain.

[dumboldman]

careful shel3364. There are way too many things that we stand for (i.e. the right to abortion on demand) that can't be found in the constitution; and too many things like the right to life, and the keep and bear arms that are in there...

[Choicelady]

Read the Constitution a wee bit more critically, please. There is no absolute 'right to life' in a fetal sense since at the time fetuses weren't fully human (Hancock v Hall, MA 1835) and the right to keep and bear arms has a PREDICATE that is conveniently overlooked.

[live by the golden rule]

The people who don't "get" America are all the anti-immigrant thugs in the Republican party.

[ceesaw]

I think ms. Noonan and her likes are Unpatriotic and should be branded as Terriorist­s.How dare they terrioze another American to push their own agendas? What is all this SHIT they are advocating? No american has the right to challenge another american patriotism unless they commit unpatriotic acts like :BURNING THE FLAG, SENDING TROOPS TO INVADE IRAQ RESULTING IN DEATHS, DISHONORING THE CONSTITUTION LIKE LYING UNDER OATH, LYING ABOUT MATTERS OF THE STATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,THE LISTS GOES ON. THOSE ARE THE UNPATRIOTIC ONES THAT YOU SHOULD GO AFTER. If noonan and her likes want us to identify these people we will.Frank­ly, she is leading the pact. It is quite clear what you all are trying to do. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

[robynuva]

Ms. Noonan called Hillary Clinton "vulgar" for race baiting. Now, according to Ms. Noonan, you are not really an American if you grew up in Hawaii. How is that in any way patriotic?

I thnk that anyone who grew up in this country and had to deal with the hardships Sen. Obama dealt with in his childhood, and still love this country, is more of a patriot than someone who, like Ms. Noonan, has never had to question if her country even wanted her.

These arguments are all they have, but remember what Mark Twain said:

“In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however,the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.”