Over the past weekend, sold-out audiences in Los Angeles attended an L.A. Theater Works production of Norman Corwin's The Rivalry, a radio play about the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858. Lincoln was the anti-slavery candidate of the newly-formed Republican Party that stood for racial equality through the end of the 19th century. But in the past 100 years, the GOP has reversed course and, denials to the contrary, most of the time, it has been on the wrong side of racial harmony. In convention after presidential nominating convention, it has displayed an unwillingness to welcome African Americans into the Republican Party's rank and file. Last August's response from its mostly white delegates on the floor to Rudy Giuliani's scorn of Barack Obama's experience as a community organizer was an example of the ugliness that prevents the GOP from crossing the Rubicon.
It is now faced with the probability that its candidate for president most likely will be defeated by the first African American ever to occupy the White House. Conceivably, John McCain and his party could stand up for integrity by disassociating themselves in the next few weeks from the scurrilous tactics the GOP used four years ago in Ohio to deny the election to John Kerry. But it is unlikely. It is using the same deceptive techniques again this year in an effort to whittle down Obama's lead in most national polls. But it is time to 'fess up. America is neither a banana republic nor a heavy-handed dictatorship of the kind I have seen and lived under at different times of my career where elections were rigged routinely.
If Obama's election is denied him because of a) racism or b) the electoral dishonesty that was prevalent in 2004, African Americans will be justified in believing the United States is a whites-only society in which the door to the White House always will be shut to them. That, I believe, is not what this country stands for.
On March 25, 1965, from the steps of the Alabama state capitol, I reported the arrival of Martin Luther King as thousands of white and black supporters ended their historic march from Selma. It paved the way for passage by the U.S. Congress of the legislation that for the first time ensured African Americans the right to vote in nationwide elections, thereby changing the nature of American political life for all time.
An Obama victory next month could verify the willingness of American voters to take the next courageous step forward, of overcoming issues of race, class and sectarian differences in the most important election in our history. At a time when America's respect around the world has dipped to an all-time low, we can demonstrate that while our government has not won any popularity contests lately, as a people, we are capable of gestures that only are possible in a true democracy. We actually may accomplish something that few countries have been capable of doing until now. Imagine choosing an American leader who knows how to listen and at the same time to be listened to for a change? Wouldn't that be refreshing after eight years of being subjected to arrogance, deception and lies?
Sen. Obama represents hope for all Americans. Not just African Americans. Not just the middle class. Not just the disfranchised. But All Americans. That is why he has touched so many of us and, in spite of the fact that is not a long time politician, we see in him what we hope this country can be.
Everyone needs to think hard about this election. We, this nation, are in a bad way. We need new thinking, new plans and renewed hope. Sen. Obama can do this. Let give him and us the opportunity
Though since Obama is of a black father and white mother, he could be racist against white people and black people equally or he could not be racist against any people.
I'm going to bet he goes for the second choice. .
Nice try though.
Though Obama is half white, according to his writing he chooses to identify himself as black. Obama used the phase "typical white" several times in his books and also described his grandmother in the same way in a speech he made last spring. If a white man used the term "typical black", would you consider that to be racist?
I went to school in the deep south during desegration. It took me a while to understand Obama and what he represents. There is a mindset you get from living thru, surviving, all that violent racism. It's hard to shake it.
The Obama campaign for President helped me to see "over the mountain top". I'm over 55 years old and I feel like something really transformational is about to happen in this country; something really difficult but something really good.
b) The last 2 presidential elections were, if not openly stolen by the republicans, having the appearance of being questionable. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is...so don't be surprised if on November 4 some 'miracle' happens and McCain pulls this out somehow.
I am a middle-aged white woman that lives in one of the "real American" towns in Ca. According to the McCain campaign, I am a real-American-by-association - I have republicans in my neighoborhood and have served on boards with them. McCain's tactics scare the heck out of me and I am ashamed that my son, voting in his first election, has to see the absolute worse kind of politics in action.
All I can say is that on Nov 4, VOTE...and make sure you bring 2 friends with you.
I am white, a senior, a former Navy medic, a mother and a grandmother.
I am not rich enough or elitist enough to vote for MCCain, and not crazy enough to vote for Palin. And now, after watching the evil the GOP represents, not evil enough to vote Republican ever again.
In 2000 Velusia county in Florida logged negative 16022 votes for Gore.
in 2004 thousands were unable to vote in Ohio's lower income precincts,the polls opened late, had fewer voting booths and closed with thousands standing in line.
In 2005 Diebold voting systems were proven easy to hack at the individual machine level through the memory cards.
Until this is addressed, no election should be without scrutiny.
Worst message EVER.
Democrats could LOSE. I know you haven't considered that possibility but Hillary did and Biden did.
McCain/Palin 08
Hillary and Biden lost to Barack Obama.
IMHO, if Obama succeeded against the "Clinton Machine", the old guy doesn't stand a chance.
I don't care how loud the mouthbreathers scream.
The majority of us have had enough.
True. But if electoral dishonesty plays any part I think it's safe to say that the door to the White House will be shut for ALL democrats, regardless of race. If there is some funny stuff going on with voting, America is no longer America.
Do they have a conviction yet?
Because McCain's "buddy" from the YPM, paid to fraudulently register Republicans, just got arrested.
That's the thing with you people. You make all of these accusations that are based on rumor/speculation. Meanwhile, YOUR people actually get CONVICTED of crimes, because they actually DO commit them.
Where to from here, Americans?
Why stop now? Why not pick a president who has no clue how to run any governmental agency, business, industry, military operation or foreign diplomacy? Keep mediocrity alive! Vote Obama!
Thank you, I actually laughed when I read it.
If Obama loses, there are plenty of legitimate reasons we could point to. His support for expanding capital punishment. His policy of expanding the faith-based initiative program. His policy of extending the war on terror. His lack of support for same-sex marriage. His vote for the FISA amendment. His numerous votes to continue the Iraq war funding. His support of the Patriot Act. His support of the near 1 trillion dollar bailout package for Wall Street crooks. His lackluster health care plan. His lack of support for welfare for the poor. His sexist campaign against Hillary Clinton. There are plenty of legitimate reason to vote for someone other than Obama this year and race has absolutely nothing to do with it.
And if Kerry is an indication, if the election is fishy, Obama will concede before the night is over.
This time a person who understands the constitution and the law, and his running mate, will challenge every fishy issue that comes up.
Good luck with your wishful thinking though.
But why do we need him now? Because he's a minority? Hardly.
We need him because he's intelligent and thoughtful. We need him because he's willing to surround himself with the best, and willing to LISTEN to the best. He believes in new ideas at a time in history that requires new ideas.
We need him because the very foundation of our nation's promise is being tested at a critical time in this experiment called democracy.
A time when "we the people" must put aside our own prejudices and fears to choose what's best for the nation and the next generation.
Obama is unstoppable, not because Obama the man is some super human. He's actually quite humble, and the first to admit his human frailties. Obama's unstoppable because his philosophy is an idea who's time has come.
The United States must be united for ALL THE PEOPLE, or, like the threat of a divided nation which Lincoln faced, it will not stand. We Americans have been handed an imperfect man, like the former man from Ilinois, who just may be our nation's saviour once again. Fate is fickled, and is unlikely to reward us again if we allow this opportunity to slip by.
Back and forth…back and forth goes the ping-pong ball.
Coming at angles and leaving with spin.
On one side we have -- love of country.
On the other we have -- the record of failure and sin.
There is the opportunity to develop ones’ mind.
There is the freedom to roam as far as you like.
There is the subtle message that you are not the right kind.
There is police brutality in the middle of the night.
There are the lessons learned about the constitution.
There is the grand talk of Liberty and Justice for all.
There are corporate trends of moral prostitution.
Oh, the slow pace of justice that mauls as it crawls.
There is the opportunity to get rich.
There is the chance to make it.
Jumping over racial hurdles sure is a bitch.
Life is tough enough without hurdles of racists.
America is the homeland, the land upon which we stand and upon which we shall probably die. A life as a ping-pong ball will find you asking why. You say we are one people, yet, all your overtures are despicable and evil. Love me or leave me be, do not come with talk of Liberty for it is not up to nation to make one free, being free remains up to me -- the ball. The role of nation is to be consistently moral, fair, and just, not only for some of us -- for all.
Since Nixon the Republican message is "Everyone for himself", and they have spread the lie that the poor take money out of your pockets, not corporate backed government!
The poor did not send all those jobs overseas, the poor did not bundle and speculate on artificially inflated housing diversities. The poor does not drain our treasury!
Fully 50% of our total budget every year goes to defense contractors! Remember the $200 hammers?
You are not thinking with your best interests in mind, you are thinking with your fantasy wealth in mind!
The Obama campaign is the most formidable election machine the country has ever seen. Don't you think they have things in place to prevent debacles of previous years happening EVER again.
No, I feel safe to say that what ever slimey tactics the GOP used years ago,they are up against the MOST formidable election machine in US history . Anything the GOP have up there sleeve pales in comparison.
Now that is not to say that years ago they had the upper hand. But guess what? ONCE bitten TWICE SHY . It's fair to say that the GOP and whose army are going to steal this election?
It just will NOT happen...
Yeah, you guys are legends in your own minds. I guess that's why Obama, the rock star, is in a statistical dead heat with the old guy.
You are losing and don't even know it.
McCain/Palin 08
OK, it's official. Between your insistence that we're "losing and don't even know it" and McCain's ominous "we have them right where we want them", I'm convinced.
For the record, if this were poker, I believe this is where I would raise you.
Why is it impossible for anyone to think Obama could lose because of the POLICIES he espouses? America is a center-right country, and has been for much of its history...there have been no Presidents who have espoused views as liberal as Obama, period...name me one President in the last 50 years who was remotely as liberal as Obama...now, personally, Obama's liberalness is not a problem for me, in fact I think he is TOO mainstream for my taste, too middle of the road.
Making the assumption that RACE would be the deciding factor in Obama's defeat might be a stretch, unless, of course, the Bradley Effect does show up in the polls, despite some who wish to deny it exists, foolhardedly.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/persistent-myth-of-bradley-effect.html
Obama won't lose unless the GOP rigs the Election AGAIN. They won't try because Obama is black, they will try because they are a bunch or greedy, reactionary fascists.
And there you have it my friends. Your choice is greedy reactionary facists or whiny and simpering stoneless communists who will tax, spend and spread the wealth.
As Ayers said, is this a great country or what?