(Liberal) Fear of a Black President
Jesse Jackson's ridiculous comments about Barack Obama "talking down" to black people -- as opposed to Jackson's totally reprehensible comments insinuating violence being committed against Obama (click here to see the video) -- are only the latest in a litany of derisive remarks directed at Obama from stalwarts of the left. Ralph Nader and Geraldine Ferraro and Al Sharpton and Bob Johnson and South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford have all maligned Obama as being everything from a "lucky" black man to not being black enough.
While it's never a shock when operatives of the far, far right have trouble with a person of color achieving stature (though I do believe they play ball better with those in the fold), what a long strange trip this campaign season has been watching so-called liberals fumble the hot potato that is Barack Obama.
Why? Why is Obama of such consternation to the Old Schoolers?
For one, Obama and his candidacy challenge the liberal establishment; by not miring himself in the politics of hand outs Obama elevates blacks above and beyond a herd that was fed the grain of entitlements in exchange for votes. In addition to extolling blacks to take more personal responsibility (a position a Pew research study finds the majority of black Americans hold), Obama has also questioned race-based affirmative action and understands -- again, as the majority of black Americans do -- that what's good for the country is good for all of us. To Jackson that's "talking down" to blacks. To Nader that's "talking white." But to the tens of millions of Americans who helped Obama win the primary (as opposed to Jackson and Nader who have yet to win an election) Obama is simply talking to America.
Moreover, what scares the Old Schoolers is that Obama's potential election removes from them the victim stick with which they flog their diminishing relevance. Obama as president would be empirical evidence that, while there are and probably always will be racists in America, America is no longer a racist nation. There are a lot of liberals who've made good bank stretching out the "you done me wrong, now gimme something" politics of the sixties well into the new millennium.
Obama wants change.
And change for the Old Schoolers ain't a good thing.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Please, John!
It is so obvious that Obama is cherry-picking appropriations in how he presents himself to Blacks and in representation of being Black. You keep wanting no one who is Black to have an issue with it. Please!
Just as you sit on Morning Joe and act like your tongue is cut as you campaign your safeness to not get out of your place, you want all of us to rather fall in line as well. It's not just old-heads. They all have their personal issues which are separate and not just a demographic issue. The easiest way to paint it to remove the old-heads from lasting relevancy is to demonize their current rants which in many ways are the actually relevant.
Boomers have reaped what they sowed in hogging the microphones too long and over-staying their welcome and our need, but now in this most ironic time when they are making valid points people like you who frame the one-dimensional counter claims are in the advantage for now.
Obama is like you, a elitist liberal. Not all liberals have Black interest at heart as their impetus. Making it and using "helping Blacks" is the con, the penance, and the proof for exaltation of worthiness. I see it everyday here in Washington.
So, please!
(1) Proofread prior to posting. PLEASE.
(2) What "appropriations" is Obama "cherry-picking"? Even one example will do. Thanks. (BTW, "appropriations" isn't the right word for what you're trying to express, I think.)
(3) "...as you campaign your safeness to not get out of your place..." What in the name of God does that mean???
(4) What valid points are Jackson, Ferraro, Johnson, et al. making right now? Name one. Please.
(5) Obama is an elitist liberal? No....but you're an excellent Republican. Now, off to RedState with you.
Interesting post, Uppity. I consider myself a liberal, maybe even a leftie, but there are indeed certain black men and women who I would support in an instant to be president. Bob Herbert comes to mind immediately. Barbara Jordan died much too soon. But think most politicians came to prominence making many choices and allowing oneself to be viewed as liberal or conservative certainly must be one. But voting that way all the time is another story, and hopefully politicians, like real people, grow and change, even in office.
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are losing their status and can't deal with it. They are in an old world of gimme, gimme instead of upraising individual responsibility.
Exactly, good post... their hanging on for dear life... they represent divisiveness and hate mongering
Can you cite any specific examples, or are you simply mouthing off conservative talking points like the little trained parrot you are?
I am so-o-o-o tired of equating liberals with democrats! Some democrats are liberal, some are moderate, and some are conservative. That's also true of repbulicans. Some are liberal, some are moderat, some are conservative, and some are perverted consevatives mistakenly called neocons.
Are republicans more afraid of a so-called liberal president or a black president. Again, it all depends on what kind of republicans we are talking about.
As for McCain - he's anybodys. Anybody who will vote for him, that is!
The new rightwing buzzword this month is "ARROGANT". Karl Rove has been using it over the last few months, Rush and the other rightwing hacks are using and now con shills on CNN and MSNBC are using it too.
Be aware.
They have to use "arrogant" because "elitist" kept coming back to haunt them.
well as a 47yr old white American - Barack Obama has MY VOTE!
Obama's position on affirmative actions is one of the few things about him I agree with. It is a spot on assertion that many of the old school liberals (and new school, as well) just want hand-outs for being born a certain way. The abolishment of racist affirmative action policies will take a tremendous step forward to racial equality.
Though I do have to question that having Obama as a President is evidence that America is not racist. There's nothing to support that at all, and one need not win the Presidency to do that, nor would it prove much of anything. What would make a real "no racist" nation is a President (of any color) who removes racist policies to the cheers of the citizens.
The problem with Republicans is that they want to abolish Affirmative Action and make it MORE DIFFICULT TO SUE employers for RACIAL and GENDER DISCRIMATION. Affirmative Action is just a scapegoat for marginally qualified or mediocre whites to blame minorities for their lack of success. Abolish AA, but make it easier to bring DISCRIMATION cases to court.
it is already easy
"just want hand-outs for being born a certain way. "
Do you mean like legacy candidates get into, say the naval academy or Yale?
"The abolishment of racist affirmative action policies will take a tremendous step forward to racial equality. "
AA for reasons other than being socially disadvantaged is OK?
I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about. Affirmative action is not okay on any counts. Pro-white, pro-black, pro-male, pro-female, all of it is wrong. Social disadvantage does not matter.
Legacy is not necessarily affirmative action, though I don't support legacy treatment either.
I don't fear a black president, or a woman president or a white president or a gay president or any other "type" of president with unalterable personal characteristics. What I fear is a president who serves the interest of the rich exclusively. I fear a president full of arrogance and ignorance who bombs and invades and occupies a country that didn't do anything to us. I fear a president who says one thing during the primaries and then the opposite thing during the general. I fear a president who says he believes in and supports the Constitution and then votes in favor of laws that even a child can see are clearly and unambiguously unconstitutional. I fear a president who wants to lead the country into the future serving the entrenched, exclusive interests of fossil fuel producers, investment bankers, medical insurance companies, pharmaceutical executives, telecom giants, big media owners when those interests are not in the best long term interest of the health and vibrancy of our economy or communities or our democracy. I fear a president who fear mongers and lies to get his way. I also fear a spineless and valueless and craven Congress doing the bidding of the corporate lobbyists and not of the Constitution or The People. Being black or white or female or gay, or whatever, has no bearing whatsoever on whether we get the kind of government we need to actually govern in the interests of the general welfare of the citizens.
Remember Tom Wolfes novel "radical Sheik and mmfc" Jackson is of that time (1970) and he is is about as relevant as H Rap Brown.
Well it's nice to finally hear a liberal say what we conservati
The election of a black president is bad for business.
That is why it seemed like Obama's former reverend was trying to sabotage the campaign. Because he was!
Isn't it funny though that Barack "forgives" Jacksons comments, but threw Wright under the bus? Barack knows that Jessie jackson is still politically powerful, ( at least among his age group)and rebuking HIM would have far more serious consequences politicall
Rev. Wright threw himself "under the bus". Can we please retire that term?!
No it's not funny because the two are not even closely connected. Reverend Jackson made an offensive statement against Senator Obama, apologized, and Senator Obama graciously accepted his apology. Jackson hurt himself with his remarks; he did not hurt Senator Obama, and Senator Obama had no reason to "throw him under the bus."
On the other hand, Reverend Wright was clearly hurting Senator Obama's campaign, not simply by his sermons which the media distorted and spun, but by his own behavior in his last appearances before the public. He became a distraction to the campaign itself, and Senator Obama had no choice but to separate himself from him
The only thing that's funny is that you would compare these two incidents. Could it be that you're just looking for a reason to throw some fuel on the fire?
Wright threw himself under the buss Sen. O. just said that he was finish with that nonsense. To error is human, to forgive is divine
I'm going to blog about this later tonight over at TPM.
I have a conjecture about the Wright and Jackson situations. They may have two pre-arranged their "macaca" moments with Obama.
The crux of the argument is this: Wright is a very intelligent man, and Jackson was twice a major-party candidate for President who won multiple primaries both times. They both have more sense than their blow-ups would indicate.
Meanwhile, both (especially Jackson) know Obama's going to have to move closer to the center to get elected. They also know their histories won't allow Obama to closely embrace them. So, they do things that allow Obama to gracefully dissociate himself. They don't lose any of their core constituencies, and Obama gets the positive national repercussions of rejecting them.
Again, just conjecture. But I do have some supporting evidence, and I'm going to string it together tonight.
Mr Ridley is correct. Every part of the political spectrum has "old school" people that become increasingly irrelevant as events overtake them. No self promoting social or religious activist, or political leader would want to admit that their power and influence is diminishing but that's what has been happening for a while to those who see the world through a rear view mirror.
In simple terms - the world has changed but they haven't. Fewer and fewer people share their
increasingly anachronistic world view - and the past isn't going to come back any time soon.
If more Blacks gain prominance through their own achievements - people who depend on victimization for relevance will be increasingly SOL. Less & less women believe they are being held back so the Ferraro's and 70's era feminists become progressively more obsolete each passing day.
Driven by EGO many of the formerly adored now clamor for attention - much like the 4 year old in PJ's wandering downstairs into an adult party - or Bill Clinton during Hillary's campaign. Unfortunately none of them look better for the effort.
One of the biggest failings of our society is the refusal to respect the wisdom that comes with age.
Have at it.
I'm an Old Schooler and I agree with Ridley. A lot if us can't move on and accept a differnt way of solving problems. A lot of the old school preachers, like Jackson, have not been honest with some of the problems that Black Americans encounter. Obama is being honest and not afraid to tell them to take resposibility for a lot of the things that are in their control.
I'm still angry about Obama's vote on FISA so don't accuse me of having too much kool aid.
I'm younger than Obama and I disagree with the premise that blaming blacks and blacks only for their condition is the right way to go. Younger people have a lot to learn from the experiences of older blacks. Obama has been dishonest and down rights cowardly of the real race issues in this country because he doesn't want to upset white folks. Institutional racism still exists.
Dont' get me wrong, things have changed. However, if he becomes President, it won't protect other blacks from racism on the job (hiring, firing, promotion). It won't protect innocent black drivers from being terorized by the police. It won't stop white and black security guards from following this professional around the store simply because I am black.
Wait up and stop acting like a wide eyed person with down syndrome.
Nobody is saying that racism doesn't exist. Nobody is "blaming" blacks. Stop playing the victim card.
I respect your opinion, but I have faced the dogs, water hose, and spent a day in jail becuase of my enrollment in an all white school in La. in 1965. And, faced even more when I graduated form college as the first so called 'token black' at a coporation that I will not name.. I recognize racism and racist speech and a racist criminal justice system as well as anyone, and Obama will not be able to wave a majic wand and fix these problems, but if he engage all American citizens in his administration we can change a lot of these institutional problems. But, African Americans have to doe their part because he can't make them do the everyday parenting that is required for the next generation to excel.
Security guards follow you around stores, is that the best you can do for institutional racism?
We already have laws on the books regarding employment discrimination.
What else do you have?
The largest obstacle in the way of success for a young black man in America is liberals like you telling him he can't do it because America is a racist nation.
I totally agree. As a young black woman I feel a great amount of respect for old school blacks that have paved the way for us and really spoke truth to power. Obama seems to disregard these folks and what they have done for him to even be in this position. I am a high fan of personal responsibility however, to just simply blame black folks for all there plight is dishonest and cowardly.
How is institutional racism getting young black women pregnant and forcing the father to not be around? I grew up in the projects of Savanna, Ga and Mobile, Al and not once did I see a white man come around and put holes in condoms or prevent anyone from seeing his child. To me, it seemed Sen Obama was saying, if you can't support (financially, emotionally and physically) don't have a child. Rev Jackson favors a bigger role in government to solve the problem, but what can government do? Education? Educate what or who? We've long ago "cracked the code" on pregnancy so we know how it happens, its no mystery, yet it seems too many of our young people act as if they don't know it could happen. Besides handing out free condoms, which individuals will still have to take responsibility and actually use them, I don't see how government can fix this or how institutional racism is causing it. Finally, I think we're overlooking something about Rev Jackson's motivation for speaking out about Sen Obama. Rev Jackson is an absentee father to a 10-yr old girl that he had outside of his marriage, so I think he's lost all moral authority to criticize anyone who speaks out on this issue. There's a saying "if you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one who barks is the one you hit" I can read what he whispered, but it still sounded like "woof, woof" to me.
"A lot of the old school preachers, like Jackson, have not been honest with some of the problems that Black Americans encounter".
I'm with you on that FISA vote, but can you give some examples of what you allege? The "Old Schoolers", as Ridley puts it, like Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, etc, have been all about how the economic model that the U.S. employs and how it negatively affects the lower class of people in this country. That means not only just blacks, but whites like those in the appalachian mountain area, native Indians, Hispanics, and others whom occupy the lower class of this country. The issues the old schoolers speak to, thanks to their efforts, have been ameliorated but not resolved. Agreeing to conservative viewpoints, which have given rise to the disparate conditions between the lower and upper class in the U.S. is not a "different way of solving problems". It is a capitulation to the viewpoint of a conservative writer like Ridley who uses the great power of the media, and his 5 minutes of fame in it, to bash those who have advanced Liberal progress. Ridley's statement that "For one, Obama and his candidacy challenge the liberal establishment; by not miring himself in the politics of hand outs", is a complete fabrication of the truth of how politics works, and has worked, in this country since it's founding. How many billions in money, aircraft, weaponry, and welfare assistance does Israel get yearly? In the billions.
Cont'd:
Colombia alone (not a U.S. citizen) gets $2 billion/yr. Why do lobbyists exist? To curry favor for their clients (Hillary's Mark Penn). Bush loyalists in the Pentagon, AND ONLY BUSH LOYALISTS, were handed out multimillion dollar contracts in Iraq. That's not the fault of Jackson or any of those who play by the rules in place. The system needs to be changed, but to destroy the advances made by Jackson and others that have given rise to more women/minorities in positions of power/education in our society, as Ridley claims Obama would like done(Obama has also questioned race-based affirmative action and understands -- again, as the majority of black Americans do -- that what's good for the country is good for all of us) is, again, a fabrication. Nowhere have I seen any poll that says the majority of blacks in America think that race-based affirmative action has been bad for this country. That black Americans would understand that what's good for the country is good for all of us is to state the obvious. You could ask the same question of other country's peoples and they would all agree; what's good for the country is good for all of them. But that does not mean that because Obama questions affirmative action black America wants to get rid of race based affirmative action or even the other advances made by the civil rights legislation Jackson and others managed to help push into law.
You and other whites need to stop blaming Blacks, immigrants, and other minorities for YOUR problems and start taking some responsibility for things that are under your control.
Ain't nothing wrong with being angry, but what are you angry about? His vote was a matter of expedience like it or not, would you rather the repugz spend the next 6 wks. talking about how he's soft on terror. No POTUS has ever won by simply appealing to his base There was no way around it, i would'nt be surprised if neoCons did'nt set this up that way, maybe we should ask W.V.Jay why he worked so hard against his own party. the telecomms already had immunity, so they don't have to give up some money and if they did you would just see it on your next phone bill.They and the current adminastration can still be tried in criminal court if any laws have been broken
From what I read in this article those mentioned African Americans who have almost never not jumped on an issue involving the defense of any Black American no matter what the facts are, are now called racist because the disagree with Obama. I do not think the are racists, but they are opportunists and they fear Obama because he is a thinking rational man not an idealogue like them.
An item of contention, Bob Johnson is no liberal, he supported George Bush in 2000 & 2004. Harold Ford is a member of the DLC and probably one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. To imply they are liberal is absurd.
The notion that electing Obama means we are no longer a racist nation is equally absurd. Tell that to the folks in the predominantly black Coal Run neighborhood of Zanesville denied water service for 40 years because of their skin color. The black doctors banned from the AMA until now. Our justice system gives harsher sentences to blacks than whites for the same crime. Black women make 40% less than white men, 10% less than white women for the same job. In Ohio our method of funding public education has been ruled unconstitutional five times by our own supreme court because it does not provide the same level of funding for all children, yet it remains in place.
As a young man Jesse Jackson endured seeing his fellow activists murdered over racism. Our experiences color our perceptions so give the guy a break. If it weren't for Jackson and those like him putting their lives on the line back then, there's a good chance neither you or Obama would be where you are today. I applaud Barack for trying to move us forward and away from racism but we still have a long way to go and we still need the wisdom and support of the elder activists.
Good post.
i agree. What a thin line we walk between the past and the future, between affirmation and reparations, between victimization and liberation, between Bill Cosby and Jesse Jackson. Its hard being an "AA american" in the 21st century who has participated in the american dream, and yet cannot forget the consequences (such as Cleveland Chick and Liny 516 described) wrought by sins of the past. When is the right time to no longer look back as if the ugly past was just yesterday? Probably when the least among us has an equal shot at what most of us take for granted.
Nevertheless, despite all this philosophical chit chat, God help this country should McCain's sorry ass become the president.
I also read somewhere that the unemployment rate for Blacks with high school diplomas was higher than the rate of White high school dropouts.
"we still need the wisdom and support of the elder activists.
You know you are absolutely right about that. We do expect support and wisdom from our elderly activists. And don't you think that is what Obama deserves as well? Instead what he got was an gross comment about castration. Very disrepectful and unbecoming for a statesman and/or minister. All his work in the past won't change the fact that at this moment in time Jackson and others are exibiting some unbecoming behaviour.
Well said, John.
One thing about the left that drives moderates and the right wing crazy is the sense of victimhood and entitlement. We need a balance of personal responsibility and social commitment. To error on either extreme is destructive.
To call for "a balance of personal responsibility and social commitment" is not "blaming blacks." Our entitlemen
Her solipsism is the center of our national character. I know it's hard to find work. I went from an upper management position to two years of unemployment and then two years clerking for $10/hour. Four years later I've scrabbled about halfway back to where I was in 2000.That'
oh my god. I found someone that hates his sister more than me. My problem is that she is very well off and looks down on my meager five figure income.
Why would you publicly diss your sister?
What a nice brother you are:(
I think you are at the center of this whole debate: Personal responsibility and everyones sense of entitlement. If you see certain groups of people receiving entitlements, you naturally ask"where's mine". That's human nature. The problem is not recognizing other peoples needs as much as acknowledging they exists, or assuming they exist due to laziness, lack of motivation, etc... There are some legit barriers to some persons achieving on the same level as others.How
I have been getting angry at Obama lately, his begging for the Clinton's support and begging people to help pay Clinton's debt REALLY SICKENS ME. Hilliary caused her own financial mess, and she shouldn't expect her competitor to help her out of it. . . . And he should not be THAT CONCILIATORY.
But this is a terrific article, and now I feel bad seeing clearly how much this one person is up against.
Obama has a climb here that is unbelievably tough - - - so I will cut him a lot more slack from now on.
Obtuse: 2 a: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive, stupid b: difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
synonyms see dull
To Obtuse Obama's supporters
# 1 = No one needs any reason to dislike Obama...
# 2 = Nearly 1/2 of Democrats wanted Hillary... ( Note: I personally wanted Hillary the Washington Insider/ Fighter, faults and all, not slick talking Obama... The two Corrupt Branches of the Dominant Political party will still be intact... The very ones Obama has caved to... That's why I personally wanted an Insider/ Fighter, not a "Change" talking person, for me to unwisely project my Hope onto... )
# 3 = Stop the Obtuse bashing of Hillary/ Hillary supporters, or you convince us you really don't care if Obama beats Mc Cain...
# 4 = People have a right and obligation to call Obama out, on incongruity of words versus behavior..
# 5 = Disliking Obama does not mean, a Troll, Republican, Mc Cain supporter, Racist, or NO desire of change and a strong President.
# 6 = WE the People are the Government
# 7 = WE the (People) Government have allowed a Corrupt Political System, with two Branches, (Democrat and Republican) to swallow up and Control good People WE choose as Office Holders... This will NOT change by Electing a President into Office...
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
