(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.
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They are selfish folks who refuse to pass the torch on?
Thats my guess.
Carol
The torch does NOT get passed by asking for it, it is won not given.
Lately, Obama hasn't acted very presidential, in fact he is acting like a wimp.
"(LIbreal) Fear . ."? I thought you folks were "progressives" now. Please decide on how you want to be addressed!
Great point! A lot of people are jealous of Obama... he is a talented and gifted man!
Here's something worth watching real plans and how to pay for them!
http://www
no a lot of people are on to Obama!
Be kind to them - the Black population has yet to experience being sold out by a national level leader they truely believed in. The White population, on the other hand, has grown up with it.
They, and me, are not afraid of a Black president. We are afraid of a dumb one!
as well as a corrupt one, a dishonest one, a sneaky one, a say one thing and do another one.
sneaky? Dishonest? I hope I never see the rock you climed out beneith.
If Obama becomes a successful president, then the Black political leaders are out of a job. Blacks will see that they no longer need the Sharptons, Jacksons or Marion Barrys to get them to power. They will realize that the way for blacks to gain power is through competent leadership that appeals to whites and other races.
It will be hard for Jackson to rail against "the Man" if Obama is the man. He knows it and sees his power ending. Sharpton, on the other hand, realizes that the Black community will not forgive you for derailing Obama's campaign, and has decided to jump on the bandwagon instead of crying about his lost position of power.
John this has to be the first piece I agree with you on. The old schoolers are afraid that now people will have to stand before the mirror and be held accountable. I have written about this extensively in my blog andwearenotsaved. Others, including Rep. Cleaver Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., said the same.
I was disgusted by tactics used by the Clinton campaign against Obama during the primary. I thought they were behaving shamelessly with the kitchen sink strategy and Ferraro pulled in race as part of that effort. They learned the wrong lessons about Karl Rove.
I've been reading "The Political Mind" by George Lakoff. Personal responsibility is a frame used by conservatives as a part of their moral system. Perhaps Obama is also trying to appeal to that crowd.
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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.
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Mr. Ridley, I don't know if you're aware of it, but these statements reinforce conservative framing and ill-serve the progressive moral vision of empathy and responsibility, protection and empowerment. If you know of specific instances where someone is engaged in the manipulation tactic known as "playing the victim," then speak directly to that. Making sweeping generalizations about many liberals the way you do in this blog post serves the conservative agenda and hurts progressives. I'm not making this up. Read "The Political Mind" for more information.
- Tom
Good post - my very similar comments are somewhere in Huffpo no man's land.
"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
The entire following comments are invalid because they are based on this lie/propaganda! The CONSERVATIVES have been spoon feeding this to the public since the reign of St. Ronnie.
THe sad fact is that since the 80's, there have been so many restrictive changes to the tax laws, loss of regulations that benefit the CORPORATIO
Sadly the vast majority of Americans these days work FOR SOMEONE, and haven't a clue!
When I was growing up in the 40's-50's, most people in town had a small family business, all closed on Weds. afternoon, so people could go on picnics or to the shore, no stress no crazyness! ( 4 1/2 day work week!) No insane NEED TO ACQUIRE! Very little class distinction! Yes there was racism, the 60's addressed that......
Obama wants change. "
The new black is the older person of any color. I have seen a lot of disturbing commentary on blogs by younger people, suggesting we be eliminated for being a burden!
I am still at the age of 69 trying to run a business, to supplement my SS income. But when I call my WHITE, FEMALE, REPUBLICAN, SENATORS, all they can offer me is ENTITLEMENTS, free fuel assistance, food pantries ( food inedible won't go there) , BUT changes in the law to make it possible for me to retain my independance, FORGETABOUTIT! In the meantime, this week,Obama voted away my
privacy protection, AND my INTEGRITY as an American citizen, by voting for the FISA bill.
How about "equality for short people" Dennis Kucinich for President!
John, if you want to appeal to the Obama supporters who believe in the "United States of America" and all other things left of center would you explain his vote on FISA and faith based charities? It seems both positions deny guaranteed freedoms.
You don't do nuance. It is clear and easily understandable, spend some time researching in Obama's own words his positions. They are truly post partisan. FISA for example was critical because the repugnicans were playing politics with national security again.
Allowing the current law governing new electronic surveillance to elapse in August would not be a responsible thing to do for national security. The promise is we can fix this after the election. The repugnicans wanted this law to lapse so they can hang weak around the neck of the democratic nominee even if an attack happened before the election. God they are openly hoping for one to improve their chances to win (unbelievable!).
This law does two things that are urgent national security concerns, one, most importantly reaffirm the FISA court's relevance to governing wiretaps of all kinds and two, updating what technology and methods are governed by FISA.
As far as faith based initiatives are concerned the nuance is in his pronouncement that his new initiatives would be both faith and community based. It shouldn't surprise anyone who has read Obama's book that his experience doing just that in Chicago, engaging and empowering people at the grass roots through community and faith based movements is the most effective of making lasting change for and by the people.
This is not pander this is what is real, as a progressive of Obama's generation all of these things are smart decisions for every reason, and yes even political ones.
The new breed of Obama apologists.
He knew what he needed to do to show he was a new kind of politician and he didn't do it.
Stop making excuses. It wasn't brilliant. It was dumb and he will pay for it in November.
Good post.
Good post...des
I pity this country if people fall for the McSame hat trick--Bush's third term. John McCain will be, if anything, WORSE than Bush.
Perfectly well said rajoro!
It would be better if he could be seen as just a man, or better yet, just a human rather than a black man.
It would have been better if Clinton could have been seen as just a woman, or better yet, just a human rather than the many labels that were attached to her gender as a professional woman.
I have heard the strangest things about race and Obama, and I live in Chicago. A few days ago, in a Walgreens, I heard a white man and woman speaking. The guy was talking about how some 'black nurse' canceled his appointments, so he was going to vote for McCain because Obama was black."
I overheard someone at the table next to us at Lou Malnatti's say she could not get herself to vote for Obama because the thought of him forgiving Rev. Wright and having him over to the White House was too painful a thought, or that if we find out after he is elected that he has ties to Farrakan, how frightening that would be.
Humans still see in color. The vast majority of us see what we want to see, see what we are forced to see from the time we voice our first opinions out of the womb. Those around us hear a cry, but is just a cry, or is it the first and only time we say something that comes from us before the world around us shapes and changes us forever?
Very moving, and sad post. Some will use any excuse to vote based on their underlying racism. Rest of us have to get out the vote to try and overcome this handicap Obama unfortunately carries.
Mr. Ridley seems to be confused. President Bill Clinton did away with the "hand outs" back in 1996, which also increased black men in jail. To lump all of the Illinois Senator's critics together as being "old school" does a disservice to the genuine issues on policy being raised (the Middle East for example, blind "sacrosanct" allegiance to Israeli military aide, or organized labor questioning the candidate's embrace of Chicago School Free Market Economics). To glibly dub such real criticism as simply old guard jealousy sounds remarkably republican and intolerant.
Well said.
Great observation, John.
Thanks John:
I couldn't agree with you more. This is so well put. I just hope and realize that what you have said here that many others will wake up and realize this also.
Not only, for the sake of winning our current election, but also for the sake of our country.
Thank You.
Believe me, if their had been no Bush, a Black Republcan would have a much easier ride into the Presidency than a Black Democrat.
Hell, if a Black Republican could have distanced themselves from Bush enough, he would whip Obama's ass in the elections.
Democrats are a large party, but way too many competing fringe factions within it.
Good point--the Repubs are the civil rights party, for sure.
Oh, wait--that was a century or more ago. My bad.
I've still got ol' Abe on the brain.
That is an interesting point... I've argued that Ralph Nader actually helped the dems in 2000... and he also go exactly what he wanted. By putting Bush into office the GOP has over reached in every single facet of American life. Taxes, who gives a tax cut during a war? Foreign policy, cowboying it up instead of using diplomacy.
J
I think your premise is flawed because no black Republican could have possibly gained any notoriety without being a Bush crony. It's difficult to see how they could get any attention without Dubya.
"too many competing fringe factions within it."
We call this diversity and we view it as a major strength. You can stay i your "LOCK-STEP" Party.
What evidence do you have of this black Republican assertion?! I think you're completely wrong. By far the majority of black presidential candidates so far, all three (!) of the black senators ever, all of the four black governors ever, and the majority of the black members of the House have been Democrats.
But the neo cons, will only elevate a Black Republican to the point where they can keep him "comfortably happy", but always "in line".
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