Obama: Grandmother "Typical White Person"
"... .. The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it..." - Senator Barack Obama
Can you imagine if Hillary Clinton said someone was a "typical black person?"
Seriously, Barack Obama basically called all white people racist. You know, because when us typical white folk walk down the street and see an African American coming our way we run to the other side of the road.
Is this guy kidding? Back in the late 1970s, early 1980s, I lived on 95th and Columbus in New York City; long before it went chique. I took a subway from 42nd Street to get home after working on Broadway late at night. I walked home from the subway alone. I rode with African Americans, walked down the street past midnight in an area that wasn't near safe, with African Americans walking beside me and behind me. I'm a whitey white Scots-Irish broad and I was never afraid of an African American coming towards me, and never once crossed the street.
In an update, Obama's spokesperson elaborated, but it didn't help:
UPDATE: We gave the Obama campaign a chance to respond to this post. "Barack Obama said specifically that he didn't believe his grandmother harbored any racial animosity, but that her fears were understandable and typical of those often shared by her generation," said Obama's PA spokesman Sean Smith, who added that Grandma is 86-years-old. He might have meant that specifically, but that isn't what he said, especially as he spoke of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, in the present tense. ... ..
It's becoming more apparent why Senator Obama didn't leave Rev. Wright's church, as well as continued his relationship with him. The truth is that racism works both ways and some of us blue collar folks don't appreciate being called racist by someone who has his own problems with race he is obviously in denial about.
Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh
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
Obama blew it......ag
This careless statement explains why he could not. He can't because he really is in the mindset of those who nod and agree with Wright. White people are just all like that.....y
F*** you Taylor....
"his speech was absolutely brilliant.
He shed no new light on racism. Everything he said has always been 'accepted fact' in my mind.
I guess I am "brilliant," too.
You're comparing a junior senator with ZERO history in implementing legislation, who will say ANYTHING to protect his precious poll numbers, to one of the nation's greatest racial leaders? You libs really just don't get it, do you.
"Change!!" Marching orders to a bunch or mindless idiots.
Question:how does one have bad choice of words AND a brilliant speech?
Answer: when your listener cannot objectify anything said because of blind hero worship.
The truth is Obama's ACTIONS( or lack there of ) and not his words will be his downfall. He never walked out of a racist, hating church, in fact he DENIED being there (lie) until he could deny no longer. He is weak, a false leader. I have NO faith or trust in him.
The Speech on race was Brilliant, his choice of words in the radio interview ie. "Typical white person" was the poor choice of words..
Keep up.....
"The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it..." - Senator Barack Obama
I think he was referring to the "typical white people" of his grandmother's generation and he just didn't clarify that very well.
But if you want to take what he said literally then you have to notice that he said "if she sees somebody on the street THAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW there's a reaction..
He didn't say "if she sees a black person".
You can't say that it is ok to ASSUME he mean't BLACK PEOPLE but then say it is not ok to assume he meant white people of his GRANDMOTHER"S GENERATION.
You either take it all in context or you don't!
Key quote:
"that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it..."
Yet again we see that complex, nuanced thoughts are too much for republicans to handle. They get 3 words into it and start spewing vitriol at the rest of us :(
He said exactly what I've said about a million times in my lifetime.
In fact, he said exactly what my mother used to say to me about my own beloved father's sometimes outrageous racial stereotypes, despite the fact that he actually saw himself (and, honestly, was considering his age, background, and prevailing social mores of his time in Western PA) as enlightened on racial issues.
Wow. How is it racist to state the truth? I'm truly living in a George Orwell story.
Good for you Ms. Marsh - getting completely over your racism like that and then assuming you speak for 'typical' white Americans enough to be offended by Mr. Obama's speech.
I come from a family of 'typical' white Americans - and my white Grandmomma was one hell of a flaming racist - the words of hate would just come swooping out of her mouth over the dinner table in a matter of fact tone. I am sure Grandmomma saw herself as a typical sort of person, exemplary of the prevalent attitudes of her time.
I thought Obama's description of his white grandma was mild and not at all insulting. That is because my parents left my Grandmomma behind in a place where racism was 'typical' and moved us to New York where my neighbors were from all over the world and my friends/schoolmates were all sorts of colors - and racism was still typical of many but SOME people had managed to move beyond it. So I grew up and out of my Grandmommas racist beliefs but not out of her world. We all live in that world where there are racists and there are people who have managed to move away from racism but it is silly to deny that it isn't 'typical' while preening ones own post-racist feathers.
The many responses here, the media hype of this 'he's a racist' meme (more evidence of how crapulent our mass media establishment is), the general knee-jerk ignorance that seeks to leap over the plain everyday truth of racism in the USA and straight to insincere denials and protestations of faux 'outrage' are in my view convenient rationalizations for wanting to ignore what the man actually had to say about the issue.
Who did you help with this article Ms. Marsh?
WMK, Thank you for your very thoughtful comment and the question with which you ended it. It is a level of honesty and self-actualization that lets me know that we continue to perfect ourselves as a nation.
This guy has just lost the nomination. That sound was his nomination being tossed in the crapper.
Taylor,
Why are you so angry? Obama is white just like you! Due to his whiteness, he was able to experience the views of whites in private settings that many blacks do/did not. I'm sure you cannot deny being in the company of family, friends and/or colleagues expressing racist ideas and ideologies about blacks and browns that Obama was referring to. Of course, we all know you denounced and rejected them all - ideas and the family, friends and/or colleagues!!!!
You ARE typical. You may have not felt fear walking down the street with blacks, but I'm sure there were other instances that would loop you into the 'typical' white person of engrained racism (or whatever you want to call it), like feeling animosity towards OJ Simpson murdering his wife (black on white) and getting off but indifference of Robert Blake (Baretta) murdering his wife (white on white) and getting off. Were your reactions the same? If not, why not?
Your obssessive compulsion and rage for Obama is palpable. May I suggest you chill? And tell Mean Mommy (your girl, Hillary) to do the same.
Oh please, sterotyping from both sides sets us all back. You have no argument, it's just not productive talk and he opened the conversation.
Wrong from my mouth, wrong from yours and wrong from Barack's. Sorry he is not the savior you were hoping for. Cynicism got in his way.
Marsha,
You need to give it a rest. I suggest you read Gerry Spence's book "Give Me Liberty." You will better understand the issues of slavery and what Rev. Wright is talking about. My relatives in the South are white and talk to me about their feelings about race relations. They have been in the South for three hundred and fifty years now. The injustices, fear, and problems are real - that's what Obama is saying. The Civil War or the Civil Rights legislation did not end the issues. Let's have an open mind and a frank discussion. Rather than to condemn Rev. Wright and Obama, you and Geraldine Ferraro need to listen.
I wondered how long it would be before the Kool-Aid drinkers realized the truth about Obama. For months, he's been given a free pass while he blathers on about "hope and change" while never addressing important issues -- the economy, illegal immigration, homeland security, the war, healthcare, education. No, he simply continues his vague promises of "Ebony and Ivory living together in perfect harmony" -- hands across America, blah, blah, blah.
Now, the panicked lemmings are in fits. Their god-like messiah has turned out to another false prophet. Even worse, he might be a racist, an anti-Semite AND an Anti-American. Good Lord! There is NO WAY an Anglo-American could have attended such a racist church for 20 years and gotten away with it. There's no way s/he could have thrown their African-American grandmother under the bus by saying "typical black people"...
What exactly is racist about the church Obama attends. We keep repeating foolish talking points like sheep. Visit the The Trinity United Church of Christ website and browse around for your self and deternine if that is a racist organization. http://www
Have you simply not seen the video where Wright accuses the white government of creating AIDS and targeting the black community with it as a biological weapon?
Did you perhaps miss the part where he told the parishioners not to vote for Hillary because she's rich, privileged, and white? (Yet somehow forgetting to note that Obama is half-white, as the candidate himself reminds us. He's plenty educated, an alumni of Columbia and Harvard Law. His wife graduated from Princeton and also Harvard Law. So the message is don't hate it in Obama, just in Hillary.)
I'll assume this snippet about our country being controlled by rich white people slipped by your notice coincidently.
And Rev. Wright must have just forgotten that women were also "non-presences" and certainly were once considered the property of their husbands in this country.
Sure, Hillary has never been called a n****r. But Barack has never been called a c*** or a bitch, either. There is plenty of gender hate and oppression behind those words, too. But never mind that. Black aren't just more important, but it also can only be highlighted at the expense of women's issues. Though I'm sure that I'm just imagining that part of Wright's rants, too. Just like the God-damning of our country.
And you know what? The video is available on this much-vaulted Internets I hear so much about. Take a gander: http://sla
Yes We Can - talk about Obama's insensitivity to white people!
This opens the door.
Obama's grandmother put her life on the line for him and this is how Obama responds to her life support.
And lets look at the facts.
It is black people voting in a bloc. Maybe more should become Republican or maybe some could start their own political party.
I'm seeing alot of "typical" black people out of this election. THEY all seem to think the same way.
Prove me wrong.
Obama's grandmother put her life on the line? How so? By having a black grandchild? If that were true, wouldn't it be more accurate to say Obama's mother endangered Obama's grandmother?
Taylor,
We all know you love Hillary and despise Obama. We get it. But you don't have to put forth such a disengenuous idea that Obama said his grandma was just like all white people. That isn't what he meant and you know it. Please grow up already. Perhaps some of us who do not support her now but may have to weigh a vote for Hillary in November would like to see one of her supporters take the high road for once. I have to tell you, the growing "Hillary-hate" on the left is directly due to folks like you.
Every day I read some nonsense insulting piece by her avid supporters and every day I like her less and less. If this race goes until June and you keep writing crap like this, I'll be in full blown hater mode. Isn't that what the Hillary supporters say about Obama? That he is guilty by association? Well, it's not just for pastors anymore.
He told a story about a relative who has held some racist beliefs and even said some racist things. Every person, white or black, has a relative or two just like his grandmother. I've got several. The point wasn't that she is white, the point was that none of us are perfect. If he were white and she were black, he could tell a similar story.
I'm actually embarrassed for you. Find a real issue that shows us who your candidate really is so we can have a real discussion on what really matters. If you can't? Maybe that's your problem.
I totally agree. I'm disgusted with this diatribe so reminiscent of Ferraro's much pushed argument - the clever 'flip' that proclaims that it is actually black people who are racist, and white people the victims. Bravo Ms Marsh. I so much prefer this article - http://www
"I'm so tired of this nit-picking, out-of-context taking politics as usual that so well defines the Clinton campaign and its supporters
Pot, is that you?
If he didn't mean "typical white person" then he's speaking some strange language and I fail to see another interpretation. My "typical white person" grandmother (both, in fact) came from deep in Europe and had nothing to do with slavery, racism or mostly all of what Barack Obama keeps our nation focused on--for the benefit of his own campaign. So, I didn't inherit the failures of those who supported slavery and I won't accept it. I live my life with good values and that had better be good enough for Barack H. Obama. Period. Next candidate, please. It's really a good thing we don't have issues like a faltering economy and a war right now, and we have plenty of time to focus on all these other issues that Obama keeps floating to the surface for his personal quest.
"He told a story about a relative who has held some racist beliefs and even said some racist things."
Actually, he told a lie about a relative in order to make her look like a racist. The real story is in "Dreams"
I love that Taylor calls herself "Blue-Collar". Work in many factories than do you Taylor?
I do indeed love the irony of people who complain of being accused of racists feel absolutely fine lobbing the charge at Obama.
So let me see if I understand this correctly. All you clinton supporters go ape wild over people accusing yourself, and the clintons and ferraro of being racists and that its all a matter of people overscrutinizing peoples statements in order to manifest some racist undertone. And now your presuming to do just that.
Sad. It truly does make me sad that such ignorance is floating about the democratic party.
Trust me...the Clinton fans (especially the women) are so desperate, it's ridiculous. Like you said, they are so ready to call Obama racist when they feel offended when it is suggested that they are. Here's the truth clowns, Obama has never been, and never will be a racist, no matter how convenient it would be for you if he were. Funny how a while ago he was accused of not being "black enough"...
I've figured out what's going on with Clinton supporters. They've had to watch Obama beat Clinton with a great deal of help from blacks, but could not say anything for fear of being called racist. Now they see their "opening" and they are not about to let it go. This is so shameful considering how much I love Bill Clinton.
I'm not a Clinton supporter.
But, you said, "Obama has never been, and never will be a racist?"
Okay then, thanks for clearing that up. Words are powerful according to Obama...an
I am 6 foot four and can't dribble a basket ball without falling. Let me go anywhere. Let me walk through an airport terminal. Let me go to a restroom. People walk up to me and ask me what team am I on. People will be people. Let a white person have to walk past two young black men . You can cut the tension with a knife. On the other hand let a black man have to walk past four white cops the same thing happens. Such is life.
I guess its kiddy hour again. While the folks working at Bear Sterns are looking for work. Gas four bucks a gallon . we playing kidde hour over and over.
Dick Girgen and Carl Bernstien agree that what Obama said was
true. Do you agree?
Right wing talk show host typically make negatives comments
about Blacks Americans or THE BLACKS on a daily basis.
So does the so called liberal leftwing main stream media.
When is the last time you saw a positive story about a Black person
on the news.
What's typical is that the media will often crop Obama's quote to
change the meaning.
NOTE THE PART TAYLOR MARSH LEFT OUT IN CAPS
610 WIP host Angelo Cataldi asked Obama about his Tuesday morning speech on race at the National Constitution Center in which he referenced his own white grandmother and her prejudice. Obama told Cataldi that "The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity, but that she is a typical white person. If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know - there's a reaction in her that's been bred into our experiences that don't go away and sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it. WHAT MAKES ME OPTIMISTIC IS YOU SEE EACH GENERATION FEELING LESS LIKE THAT AND THAT'S POWERFUL STUFF.
look in the mirror Taylor
You prove Obama correct every time you post
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
