I'm Not Racist. Some of my Best Friends Are Black.
Geraldine Ferraro tried to stick her foot in her mouth but her loafers were too small. So instead she unpacked a whip and stuck that in there and it fit just right. This week she theorized that a self-made black guy with a Muslim name has a political advantage over a white woman who is the wife of a two-term President.
Put in historical context, a statement like that doesn't make sense. That's why Affirmative Action exists. Ferraro should know this. After all, she's a white woman white women have benefited more from Affirmative Action than any other group the legislation was created to serve. Don't take my word for it, let's conduct a poll of all the presidents and see which of the black ones felt their ethnicity aided their ascent to the White House. Wait, there's never been a black president. All the black people who ran for this office before Senator Obama were so thoroughly marginalized that you can't even call what they did running for president.
Let's set the record straight on this race issue yet again. I'm a black man. Despite how close my skin tone is to white I can't think of a single instance in which my color has worked to my advantage. I can however produce examples of being wrongfully arrested, denied jobs, and refused services because I'm of African descent.
That, my white homies, is the reality of being black in America. You are at a constant disadvantage to your white counterparts in everything you do. That's not an excuse. I have never allowed racism to stop me from achieving my goals. I'm just exercising my First Amendment right to tell it like it is.
Ferraro and I have that in common. We both adore the First Amendment. It enables mental transparency and public accountability. You think it. You say it. People judge you for it. What's ironic about her actions is that somehow her close-minded statements are not her fault. Her remarks weren't ignorant, she's just a victim of the race card. Can someone please show me this card that allows blacks to Donald Trump the world? I'd like to play it next time I'm in Vegas so Eliot Spitzer and I can go party hard at Crazy Horse Too.
The first time I heard the term "race card" was during the O.J. Simpson trail. Whites insisted that Simpson manipulated his race to get acquitted. In reality he manipulated his checkbook and it pissed off whites that a black man possessed the financial means to beat the state of California in court. Curiously, 15 years prior to the Simpson case, Claus von Bulow put his finances to work to avoid a guilty verdict for the same crime but in this instance everyone was fine with it. But hey, that was the '80s. Everyone was jacked up on cheap blow. We were carefree in those days.
Forget producing the race card, I don't need to see it to believe it exists. A concrete definition will suffice. In absence of one my working definition is this: Race card means when a white person makes a discriminatory remark about blacks and gets called out on it, said white person can claim blacks are being overly sensitive about race. Imagine if someone said to Elie Wiesel, "I loved Night but you Jews blew the World War Two thing way out of proportion. Admit it. Auschwitz wasn't that bad." We all agree that person would deserve a thorough slapping about the face.
Geraldine, here's a tip from your black homie, but only because I adore what you've done for the children: Discrimination and prejudice are not hard to identify. If you say something racially insensitive and someone calls bullshit on you, your immediate reaction should not be hostility. If you are defensive and you point blame elsewhere it's an automatic admission that you have not taken the time to look internally at whether or not you are acting intelligently. Furthermore, it's offensive to listen to you spout off about all the good things you've done for the coloreds as if that somehow validates the moronic statements you've made about Senator Obama.
What Ferraro has done since resigning from the Clinton campaign is a lawyer tactic we see often in politics: "The best defense is a good offense." Whoever came up with that saying was probably a racist white guy.
Ferraro is not racist but the fact that she doesn't understand what the term "racism" means highlights why it is a massive problem in America. In defense of her statements about Obama she said, "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white."
Newsflash GF, you're talking about prejudice. Racism is a much larger issue. It entails the use of power, money and public policy to create a system that encourages and enforces discrimination against a specific group of people based on the notion that their race is inferior. Black people make up a small percentage of the American population. We don't have much wealth or education and we are grossly underrepresented in government. We can be prejudice, and I know plenty of blacks who hate the man, but racist... it simply isn't possible because we don't have any power. Sometimes I wish blacks could be racist because white folks look like they're having a hell of a fun time with it. Heck, I don't even want to buy the damn thing. I'd settle for a test drive around the block.
It's troublesome that liberal whites act in a racist fashion so often without realizing it. We all know where the conservatives stand. They're transparent. They hate black people. The liberals are translucent. They like us when it's convenient.
When liberals need black votes they come into our communities and act like they're down. They'll crank dat Souljah Boy like the dance is still in style. When we're dunking basketballs and cracking jokes they commend us for being so darn entertaining. But when they feel challenged by blacks, as the Clinton campaign does by the Obama campaign, we're not so fresh after all.
In essence, what Ferraro is saying about Obama is that he has not earned his lead in the race for the democratic presidential nomination. He's just lucky. He was in the right place at the right time and he's a trendy color. Apparently, black is the new black. The reality is Obama is running a better campaign. Don't take my word for it. Ask the American people. The primary results speak for themselves. If the shoe was on the other foot and Clinton had the lead, the DNC would be up Obama's ass sideways insisting that, for the greater good of the party, he step aside and let Clinton assume the nomination.
What's twisted about the situation is that this is the first time in a long time we have solid presidential candidates to choose from. McCain represents the status quo. Next. The other two candidates can make some change happen at a time when, if we don't change, our empire is doomed to collapse. Instead of evaluating the candidates on the merits of what s/he can do for the people our time is being wasted on Geraldine Ferraro's stupidity. It's as much a disservice to Clinton as it is to Obama.
I don't care if Ferraro was hosed down and attacked by German Sheperds back in '65 while trying to lead civil rights marchers over the Edmund Pettus bridge. Her remarks about Obama demonstrate her ignorance, right now. No further debate is necessary. So put the deck of race cards away and lean back. The American people are a little busy right now. The fate of our nation is at stake and we ought not make time for narrow-minded, has-been politicians.
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It is soo sad that the old hatred toward white people by some black people will hurt obama. The pastor said, apparently in Dec. 07, why do people not like barrack, because he is not white. But, white people came out in droves for him in Jan and Feb. I guess the reverend was wrong and now possibly has hurt him more than the white man.
Good post. A lot of this is also just plain old "projection": "I know you are but what am I?".
Projection is one of the most effective and confusing "Big Lies".
Until Voters can decipher "projection" we will continue to get the opposite of what we want.
Hey folks, Rascism and Prejudice will exist as long as there are human beings in this planet; it's always been here, it will always be here ( it is also practiced in the animal kingdom as well - animals always hang out with their kind ).
The thing that we must do as thinking,rational humans is not let it affect our decissions because they are a bad trait that keeps following us from generation to generation, from century to century. We must learn to fight it succesfully within ourselves so that we can all get along as humans.
In a perfect world, they would not exist; but we don't live in a perfect world.
As humans we should strive towards perfection, even thought we know we'll never get there.
And we often forget that there is also other types of Racism- Japanese think they are better than Koreans, Cubans better than Mexicans, Spanish better than Portuguese, etc. People forget about the mass lynching of Italians back at the beginning of the twentieth century. People also forget about how mixed race people are looked down upon and often rejected.
Indeed. It would appear that neurosis, and thus 'destructive projection-ism', is a by-product of sentient consciousness. I like the old-school take on this...far less specific..
Ehrmmm...l
You know it isn't an issue if you just don't make it one. I think the major political pundits on MSM would agree with me. Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough just deplore all this division between African Americans and women. I'm white, so I'm not either. Which can be a problem because when I go to those big games that CNN throws, I don't know which bleachers to sit in.
I do know one thing:. We should all be grateful. Whether you're black or white or a woman or a man-- or a Muslim, for that matter--just be glad. Because this great country is glad. If George Bush can still find a little romance in the war in Iraq, so CAN YOU!
Think of it this way. What if your slave ancestors had been taken to some OTHER country? You think you had i hard here? You don't know what being a slave in FRANCE would have been like.
Another thing. Women have had to clean the house, for CENTURIES! Their own, not other people's.
True, we have pantssuits now. But do you have any idea what BLOOMERS were like? A lot of women are ANOREXIC! And sure, some women used to be African Americans and they might have had to clean someonelse's house. That's a long time ago. I didn't make African Americans be women.
But here's the point. John and I love America AS IT IS. And when John gets back from Iraq, we will be taking America to Iran. I suppose you will have something to say abut that. Well, I want to ask PASTOR what was so bad about nuking Japan? If he doesn't like the U.S. giving missiles to Israel to use against civilians, why doesn't he just resign from the Marines? What he said about 9/11 made me sick. He implied that the millions of civilians our government has killed all over the world IN ANY WAY is equal to the three thousand killed here or the numerous hand-made bombs put in metro stations in some world cities! Does he think we should not have killed a few hundred thouand women and children in Iraq when they might have had WMD's, or could have been personally related to SADAAM HUSSEIN, or other people of Arabic descent ? It doesn't make sense when we are fighting the very Islamic fundamentalists who caused the towers to fall to not fight secularists too--if they also could have been Islamic or could have had even the potentional to make WMD's. And if Pastor doesn't care about these same women and children having FREEDOM, well he knows where he can go back to. FRANCE!
Well how do you like it? How do you like it when I act a little bit racist? Or Ferraro does? At the least bit of a hint of a TINY bit of racism and you and the left-wing press are all up in arms. FERRARO has done a lot for black people. No one has a bigger right to tell them how to feel than she does. They wouldn't be so lucky in the first place if she hadn't dedicated her life to getting America to ACCEPT them, and give them a job.
I'll say one thing-- I just can't justify that use of language in a church. Regardless of whether or not you can get a cab in New York City. SWEARING won't help.
Geraldine and I just feel like whatever we give you, you never get enough. Now you don't like war ,some of you. Yesterday it was slavery. What's NEXT? What's the next excuse for swearing? You should be ashamed to be on YOUTUBE, much less FOX news.
Well, you can't make any of us swear. We are grateful for being lucky and we are writing to MSM to thank them. Let's leave it at that. If you'd like to vote for us, even if you aren't an anorexic, you know where we are.
Happy to be me. HRC
Dear Media: Thank you for your part in creating PASTOR-gate. Our fight against the insurgent forces of Obama and his ranting Pastor will not be easy. But with your help, we can do it.
Thanks again,
The Clinton-McCain Campaign
P.S and need we say thanks for ALL your help in the past?
Great article. Let me just go on record saying, if this racism/predudice tears this party in two, along racial lines, this white guy is going with my "Homies".
Let me also say, because of Mr. Obama, this is the first time in "MY" life that I am somewhat proud of my country.
Your comment:
"That's why Affirmative Action exists. Ferraro should know this. After all, she's a white woman white women have benefited more from Affirmative Action than any other group the legislation was created to serve"
My comment: Perhaps, but it was there and once it was....it was used wisely by women. Both black and white. Good for them for taking a good stand.
Your comment:
"I don't care if Ferraro was hosed down and attacked by German Sheperds back in '65 while trying to lead civil rights marchers over the Edmund Pettus bridge."
My comment: You don't care? You are right. If you are not a black person how could you possibly know what's it's like to be a target of prejudice, right? Hey, next time I stick my white neck out to battle a cause I believe in justice, but cannot completey understand because I am not that color, or not in the financial bracket, or whatever..
Look, the lady is not a horrific person. She IS right about one thing here, and I dare you to disagree..
It is good timing for Obama. He is able to get other black votes that no other candidate has been able to. It's not just because he is black. (I would agree there), but that does have weight, does it not? It is an exciting time for those who are black to vote. Why shouldn't it be?
Cybersense, blacks have ALWAYS given roughly 90% of their votes to the Democratic candidate, whoever he was. Think about it-do you think blacks tossed and turned over whether or not to vote for Ronald Reagan?
well said!
For Pete's sake, let's stop with the prissiness about the word "racist."
A person who supports abolition is an abolitionist. Someone who contorts is a contortionist. A person whose behavior demonstrates elitism is an elitist. And those who espouse racist points of view are racists.
Just because you like someone's policies on something doesn't mean the person should be cut slack for his or her bigotry. That's like telling someone that you can say those things and you may get your hand slapped, but we still think you're great. That's absurd, and it's wrong. It stymies the badly needed conversation on race by suggesting that someone can be judged as "good" by their good acts, but not "bad" by their bad acts if those bad acts are expressions of racism. That is racist in and of itself. It denies the massive wrong of racism, and the gravity of that wrong. And thankfully, it's also not the way we really and truly see things. Look at the events of recent days for proof. It was not enough for Clinton to "renounce" or "reject" what Ferraro said. She was called upon to expell the bigot from her campaign, where--contrary to what was first asserted--Ferraro held a leadership role. If it were possible to disassociate the speech from the speaker, "macaca" wouldn't have cost George Allen his office. Imus wouldn't have lost his job. Michael Richards of Seinfeld would have remained beloved for his role as Kramer, instead of looking at the end of his career.
A person who espouses racist views, whether they're deliberate and knowing or the product of a blissfully unenlightened mind, is a racist. Let's keep talking about this, and stop pretending that it isn't as vile as it is and the people who do it aren't as vile as they are. They're legitimizing this kind of thinking, and for that they should be pilloried. If they can come around, great. If they can't or won't, they've discredited themselves, and merit no more of our consideration.
Excellent article, although I disagree with your distinction between racism and prejudice, our difference is semantics, and your meaning is clear. I am white man, but am short, left-handed, low income, and was given a name usually associated with girls. While I would never argue that I have been as disadvantaged as some, it doesn't take a third degree burn to establish that fire is hot. I have come to the conclusion that disadvantages can build either character or anger, and that the difference is determined by whether you focus on the hope that is in us all, or the despair that is equally universal. That is why leadership is so important, leaders set the tone for a society, they shift our focus. We will all do more, and do better, when we see ourselves as reaching for a higher ideal. This is what most politicians miss, they see us and them, Barack sees WE!
Ferraro is accurate but her comments were used to sell cars on television and hyped beyond it's meaning which got utterly lost in translation.
Obama's campaign is USING the race card to build a constituency. His oratory is so vague and uninspiring that the only thing interesting about it is the fact that he's a minority and highly qualified for any elected job. If he wasn't a minority his words would significantly less power.
Does he have an advantage ? No. He created an advantage which is strategic not luck. And it wasnt' JUST him who did it. His campaign is doing it. He deserves his wins however to dismiss the clear observation that he's using the race card to his strategic advantage is polarizing to an arguement which I am convinced your trying to accomplish.
Your words are not inspiring either. They are more divisive than Ferraro's which I agree with entirely. To call bullshit on Ferraro with a colorized tongue is pure prejudice in it's raw form. She has acted in concert her entire public life to fight for minority rights and is a patriot of this country. I resent the odd ball street poet flailing accusations at an elected official with a grand work background as though their words had more weight than the years of service this woman has given her country. I think your mind is warped by prejudice and your confused about what is "right and what is wrong." Your insight is narrow and your wisdom dull.
To highlight the author's points, imagine this counter-factual for a moment.
Suppose Obama was behind in the popular vote and was behind in pledged delegates with one chance in 100 of overcoming his deficit given this late stage in the race.
Obama would be kindly ushered into a little room in the DNC offices and told by party officials that it was time for him to quit the election. He would be told that if he didn't quit, that the party leadership would begin to speak publicly against him. The party leadership would call all the members of his finance committee and warn them that if they did not stop raising money for his failing candidacy that they would punish them politically. The DNC would call all his pledged superdelegates and warn them that if they did not switch sides to the winning candidate, that the party would not fund their races in November. Without the party's support, Obama would resign himself and forfeit the race.
So, then a question is in order, why has the party leadership not done this with HRC's candidacy? I think part of the answer comes from her establishment connections that she has developed for decades alongside Bill Clinton.
But I think part of the answer comes from the fact that the DNC's leadership is white. I imagine that they perhaps still fear that black candidate is not viable in the general, and thus are unwilling to spend the political capital necessary to resolve the present impasse.
Instead of publicly denouncing HRC's explicit use of racist tactics (Ferraro's comments are nothing compared to making BO blacker in tv ads, stating Barack 'Hussien' Obama in robocalls, stating that BO is not Muslim 'as far as I know' on national tv), they have been silent. If their silence ends up splitting the race along racial lines, then it will be have been their fault as much as HRC's, because they will have been neutral as they let HRC torpedo the campaign of BO by exploiting people's racial fears.
That is to say the racism inherent within the power structure of the DNC itself is transparent. I think that this whole thing would be over by now if Obama were white.
LOL, had Senator Obama been behind in delegates, official popular vote, money, and the ability to raise it, he would not have been ushered kindly into a room. He would have been shoved and kicked publicly, with the media watching. Clearly, the DNC would not be accepting the same insulting illogic, betrayal of the party, and Naderization from Senator Obama.
The message being sent out to Obama supporters in general, black voters in particular is clear; "don't complain too loudly for the next few weeks while we figure out whether Senator Obama can bring in more blacks, or Senator Clinton can bring in more bigots."
Nothing else explains the deafening silence over the entire Ferraro affair from any Democrat more important than Al Sharpton. No one is saying Ms. Ferraro should have been vilified, but in 2008, you would expect to hear something from someone repudiating the ignorance and bigotry. Wouldn't you?
The best explanatio
"There's an extent to which this is not about black people at all. It has rapidly become an internecine fight between white people who want to be people first, and white people who want to be white first. You have a right to be pissed off by that, but it's a fight that has long needed to happen, and it may as well be now."
It is pretty clear which group Senator Clinton's camp has been courting lately. It is also pretty clear that many in the DNC have no problem with it. What is less clear, is which group will ultimately triumph.
Racism. It even exists within the Black race itself. Yes, it does. Different degree's of shades of black.
I understand your point of view.
Here is mine. Obama is smart enough to run. Being black is not what is making people vote for him, it's his ears! lol His ears I tell you! They make him even look honest. Then, he just grins. kind of funny.
Naw, it has nothing to do with him being black. It's all in the ears. lmao
oh really? what social/political/or economic structures perpetuate black on black racism?
Perhaps cybersense is referring to intergroup suspicion by some Blacks of other Blacks who seem racially disloyal, such as the use of the term "high yellow" to identify certain lighter-shade African Americans who may be treated more favorably by whites than very dark-skinned African Americans and seem to take those privileges for granted.
I'm always shocked how little we know each other. It's not about suspicion of other black people because they're close to being white. The phrase "Acting White" is retired at age 17 by all but the biggest morons. What Cy's referring to is the historic, societal advantages given to lighter skinned blacks by society and the black community.
During slavery and in the century and change following, black people who had more European features were always percieved as smarter, better looking, frendlier, more elegant, and generally more desireable than their darker skinned counter parts. The prejudice went from slave owners to slaves to freed black men and women. Within the black community it was well know that success in a racist world came much easier for lighter skinned men than for darker ones, so lighter skinned parents didn't want their children to marry someone who was darker than a paper bag. Ever heard of "failing the paper bag test?" Even successful darker skinned black men wanted white-looking wives.
Eventually this created a bourgeisois class in the black community - a pool from which most of the leaders in the black community came. Take a look at all the black mayors and house members - especially the older ones. Look at the Little Rock 9. Look at much of the prominent black leadership in the 50's and 60's. See a pattern?
No thoughtful person would suggest that Ferraro was claiming an African-American had an "advantage" ACHIEVING the status of candidate for the nomination.
However, only a fool would deny that, once having ARRIVED at that plateau, Obama's heritage and profile have captured the imagination of much of the electorate
That, in itself, is a good thing, but it doesn't necessarily make him the more QUALIFIED candidate.
Keeping those two distinct issues simultaneously in focus appears to be just too much for many to manage.
What Ferraro was identifying was ONE factor that accounts, in part, for his unprecedented support (just as, she honestly acknowledged, her being a woman was an element in her own "groundbreaking" candidacy)
... but it's easier to yell "Racism!", blow off Ferraro's poorly articulated but substantive observation and return to your own larger preoccupation, however valid and justified it may be.
One of the best comments I've read on this - appreciate your insight.
Yes, it's easier. Except then we have to minimize people's actual records of achievement. That creates a complete dissonance, which is not good.
That's the part about Obama's reaction that I think is very telling and very bad for the nation. We should never do that easily.
People work their lifetimes and achieve good and sometimes bad. But if we lose all motivation to even try to earn respect, we will all pay the price.
Obama is clearly running the better campaign and shaping up as the better candidate. As to Ferraro's observation that "as a white man he wouldn't be where he is..." from a purely political standpoint it didn't need saying. If it wasn't bigoted it was ignorant. Her counter-attack against the "racism" of her accusers also didn't need saying. At the least her comments, which were a recycling of what she said about Jessie Jackson 20 years ago were damaging to the Democratic party. What remains a concern is whether she was a proxy for the campaign, reminding "Reagan Democrats" about the alleged special advantages being accorded a black member of the party.
" We all know where the conservatives stand. They're transparent. They hate black people. "
Wow, talk about generalizing. Thomas Sowell hates himself? I sort of doubt it. The guy always seems pretty happy.
oh my gosh, I jumped ship from Rep. to Dem to vote for Obama-----does that make me a conservative or a person who hates black. People say the dumbest things1
sometimes the easiest way to illustrate a statement's negativity is to describe how it might have been said if it had been positive. If so, Geraldine's statement might have been as follows: "It is amazing times that people are not blindede by prejudice to the point of failing to see how intelligent and inspiring this man is."
Good work!
Someday, I hope and pray, most americans will realize that african americans have been marginalized for over 200 years, and Ferraro's comments add fuel to the fire.
She has completely discounted Obama's abilities, education, superior campaign, and the strong desire to bring change to this country.
Racisim does go both ways in all ethnicities, there is no denying this, but Obama is the only candidate that makes americans look inside their souls, and realize that we have to get past this to move forward. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror as americans, not white, not black, not hispanic, not asian, but americans working for the same common cause.
That is truly moving forward.
Ferraro just stated the facts just the same as Bill Clinton did. It doesn't matter what anyone says about or for Obama, it will be taken as racist. We have had Americans working their butts off and putting their life in danger for the black movement. Now, the whites who did that are being cast aside and called racist people. It seems like no good deed gets over looked. Blacks call themselves the "N" word. They call women folk "HOs." White people are Honkies, red neck, crackers, etc. I think maybe if they would show a little more respectful for each other and other people, maybe people would try to study an hour or so about they will say before saying it.
My problem is not with her being a RACIST
My problem is her:
righteous indignation
arrogant sense of entitlement
condescending dismissal of majority public opinion
Haven't we had enough of this in DC???
Here, here ! (although I don't like the racist remarks as well)
Those are all the things I think about Obama, from his shady friendships to his now racist hate filled pastor. Obama lives in a million dollar home, and his pastor is screaming about rich white people. . Do you believe that whites created aids to infect black people, do you think the people who died on 9/11 are responsible for their own deaths, or that we should damn America. These are all the things that Obama's mentor believes, where is the outrage about that. Give me a break, where is this man's blog about that, where is Keith Olbermann's special comment. Where are all the Obama supporters screaming for Obama to quit.
Aman! For 20 years Obama attended that church but he says he never heard the Rev. make statements such as those in the viedo. There is no way that was the first time the Rev. preached such a sermon. All the chord behind him were amening him and clapping. All the people agreeing. So I guess the whole church agrees with the Rev. except Obama and his wife. Michelle talks like the Rev. when she clearly stated that this past year is the first time in her adult life she is proud to be an American. Obama hasn't been truthful about his dealings with Rezzio. I can over look every thing but I don't care how hard of a life one has had in this Country, that doesn't give the right to preach anti-American sermons and talk as though he hates all white people and this Country. There is no way a person who loves this Country could attend at Church for 20 years with the leader of that Church being a pure racist who hates this Country. I said if Hillary didn't win, I would vote for Obama but I take back that statement.
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