Karl Rove says Barack Obama is arrogant.
We've heard that; we've heard the pejorative "arrogant" before. When I say "we" I mean those of us who are "others" in America; people of color. Minorities. Women. We hear the word all the time from a select section of privileged white guys; the codifying they use when they fear the silver spoons are about to be snatched from their lily palaces: "Those people... How dare they think they can work jobs like ours or live in neighborhoods like ours or send their children to school with ours? Those people are just so damn arrogant."
Arrogant, of course, is a euphemism. In the monochromatic bunkers from which old-schoolers cling to power the true word they use is "uppity" when hurled at blacks. It's the "B-word" for women. I'm not sure what the Rovian ilk use for the Latinos and Asian-Americans who dare claim their due, but I'm sure it's equally as derisive and wielded with sick pleasure.
Arrogant?
The only arrogance Obama is guilty of is the same "Unforgivable Blackness" so many exceptional people of color have demonstrated throughout the history of this country: a refusal to bend to the will of the Retro Guard. To Rove, to the neocons such attitude is wholly unacceptable. Back in the day such "arrogance" was met with a strong rope and tall branch, and anyone who believes that analogy to be too harsh, read here how Roy Bryant and J.W.Milam dealt with the arrogance of 13 year old Emmett Till.
But in this day and age Karl Rove is reduced to making statements which he does not even have the meat to own up to.
Nevertheless, speaking of Obama's "arrogance" Rove is quoted as saying: "Even if you never met (Obama), you know this guy. He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone."
Really, Mr. Rove? Do you really wish to go there? I will give you the cigarette. Obama did smoke. I will give you the beautiful date. Beyond being a Harvard-educated lawyer, Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman. But I would bet the farm -- and I have a farm to bet -- that George Bush has been in more country clubs than Barack Obama. I would easily take the line on who's had more cocktails in their day. And isn't it the current president who loves to slap a condescending nickname on everyone?
And is there anything more arrogant, Mr. Rove, than ignoring the international community, the United Nations, weapons inspectors on the ground, very facts themselves, to invade a nation because you and a small cadre believe it's the right thing to do? Is there anything more arrogant than the belief that after such an invasion we as the occupying nation will be welcomed as liberators? Is there anything more arrogant than slapping on a flight suit, playing like you're the one landing on a carrier deck, making nice for the cameras before that infamous banner while tens of thousands of troops are left behind to fight, and four thousand (and counting) are left to die?
Arrogant?
It's nothing but hubris for the neocons to believe they can win the election on that one.
I could explain it much better if you're interested. I'm just not sure you're interested and don't want to farther aggravate any wounds by using more words than necessary. You know? I've dealt with the same thing, except white classmates weren't so bold as to challenge me to my face. Though, they weren't big on asking me what I made on tests cause I often did better than they did.
He may well think Obama is arrogant,who knows. More importantly, who cares? Me, I see it as whistling past the graveyard. He knows the Repubs are in deep, deep trouble. He also knows he is one of the reasons.
By the way, what do you call a black man who IS arrogant, if you can't call him arrogant? You see how foolish this can get.
Tens of thousands of innocent children have been deprived of their parents; Thousands more are homeless; innocent women have been killed, others raped; innocent children killed, others disfigured for life.
We should also not forget many of our veterans who died at home in the USA as a result of their injuries in Iraq. These soldiers are often forgotten because they did not die in the battle front and their figures are not included in the official tally.
We should also labor to remember thousand more soldiers who are home now but far from been at home because of PTS disorder.
This war have taken its tolls on millions of people, far more than we can all imagine and it will take a real change in attitude and policies to begin the healing process.
I still Love America; America is my country and I cannot deny it, but I destaste American's current foreign policies and I am appalled by them. We are leaders of the free world, everyone out there recognizes that fact, lets lead in humility. Lets remember that, about 3 decades ago, we were not the leaders of the free worlds and that we have been entrusted to that role by events and God.
That same mentality still exists today in people like this clown calling an Ivy League grad "arrogant"! Racism in this country is like an iceberg floating in the sea with the largest part of it under water and unseen.
People like Karl Rove wants Obama to keep genuflexing because of who he is. I say, "Mr. Obama keep movin' on up. Don't lose your step! Many of those people are probably not even registered to vote anyway like that guy in PA who had a problem with what he said about their guns.
At first I wanted to believe what you just suggested...but I thought about it and I now believe thate even though Rove may not be a racist himself, his lack of ethics pushes him to make these accusations - knowing fully well that it will appeal to the racist nature of some people out there. Many of these people cannot stand trhe concept of a black man in the "White" house and they will be further aggravated if he is seen as "arrogant". Of course, how dare a black man be confident? Bush had even more of this and it was called a "Swagger"...give me a damn break. All these racists can go to hell,.
arrogant -- making claims or pretensions to superior importance; overbearing
confidence -- belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-reliance; assurance
There's been quite a number of white men people couldn't stand to see in the WH too. It's a matter of skin color; character and demeanor, experience, qualifications, etc (whatever you feel is important for a POTUS) all make a difference.
That guy knows he and his brand are toast. That's where his remark is coming from.
Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the racial overtone of the word “arrogant”, let me give you my Sally Hemming historical (code word for oral history)perspective of the word. During the ’50’s and ‘60’s, if you were from the deep south, went off to college, and returned home for a visit, and you looked directly at a white while talking to them, you were thought as being arrogant. If you applied for a job that was reserve for a white, then you were thought as being arrogant (Obama). Does this means that every time a white person calls a black “arrogant” there is some kind of racial implication. The short answer is no; however, I think that one has to look at the context in which the word is used. When Rove called Obama arrogant, it appeared out of context. Rove did not offer any explaination that justified calling Obama arrogant.
Here is what I posted on April 2, 2008 on the HuffPo:
"Still, people need to be careful here. Sen. Obama is now being regarded as "arrogant" by many in the media and blogosphere. I see it as a self-confidence that many people - Black and white - are not used to seeing in an accomplished, African-American male who is not the entertainment or sports industries. I fear that this self-confidence is seen by many as the new "uppity." posted 04/02/2008 at 23:25:06"