Ignorance and Racism

Ben Smith made an excellent post on his Politico blog...

Nonetheless, someone clearly ignorant made the following ignorant comment:

"Good Observation Benny Boy, but i want to remind people that Obama is more white than he is black( bi-racial ) in his thinking and upbringing. He barely knows his father and was raised by his white family, apart from his two children Obama does not have any black blood relative in America, but he still has white blood relatives here in America, my point here is during the primaries a lot of people where saying Obama is not black enough but black voters who have consistently voter for white presidential candidates will surely be more than proud to vote for Obama a biracial with no blood black relatives in America period"

This comment is just ignorant. What is "white" thinking or "black" thinking? What is a "white" upbringing? Please explain this to me. Obama has undoubtedly been discriminated against at some point or another in his life because of the color of his skin, not because of some superficial definition of what it means to be black. (And I'm sure the person who wrote that isn't black anyway.) It's disgusting how, in this society, we attempt to shame black males who DO succeed in a predominantly white culture, while we tell those young black males in prisons and on street corners, or just struggling in a minimum wage job that they need to "make something" of themselves. And for what? So they can be criticized as not being "black enough?"

Obama is setting a positive example for Black, White, Latino, Asian, and Native American boys and girls, men and women across this country. People need to stop trying to infuse their ignorance into this campaign. It's disgusting and it's time to make a change in thinking in this country.

Obama's Message to Black Americans

Do I think Obama is "talking down" to Black Americans? Of course not!

This article from CNN's Cafferty File asks that very question. I do not feel that Obama is saying anything degrading. What he is saying is the truth. Aside from that imbecile Jesse Jackson, who disagrees? Who are the people who disagree with Bill Cosby when he makes similar statements?

When are we as AMERICANS going to stop blaming others for every single problem. There are plenty of problems that we can solve if we just take a look around our own homes and neighborhood and make the decision to change things-- to evolve.

I just get so irritated. I come from a family where my father's presence had an immediate impact on my upbringing. He was and IS a father --- not a sperm donor. My dad read me books, taught me how to ride a bike, cooked us dinner from time to time, and was a part of my life in every way imaginable. I realize that not every black father is the same way, but my father's actions should be considered the norm-- not the exception.

It's ironic that Jesse Jackson had something to say about this. He's the same sperm donor who had a love child. PLUS, he's a reverend. How holy.

'Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky

Wow. It has been a real whirlwind around here in the office. Finally, time to slack off and blog some more (and even write down the story that I've been carrying around in my head for the last two weeks for Utah)...

Living the "grown-up" life is not a very fun one. The most exciting thing that has happened to me is the receipt of the business cards that just arrived in my mailbox...

I know that I've been letting my readers down (all 5 of you), which is why I am vowing to blog more. There has been so much going on lately, and I've been wanting to write it all down, but, alas, I actually have had to do "real work" the last few weeks.

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Things you've missed:

*I've traveled to Mass, ATL, NYC, and FL in the last month and a half (all driving, with the exception of West Palm).
*I've begun re-reading the biography of Che Guevara that I've been reading for the last 2 years.
*I've played massive amounts of volleyball in spurts.
*I've contemplated socialism.
*I still support Obama!

That about sums up my life over the last few weeks...

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I figure while I'm on here, I might as well blog about one of the many things that pissed me off today...


Did any of you see this story?!?! Does the GOP never learn? They only seem to solidify my opinion of their assholedness (I'm a liberal. I can create new words if I want). What in the world does this accomplish? Does anyone find their little slogan funny? I'm not even going to entertain their ignorance by typing out the words they used. You'll just have to read the story about the jerks.

The Repubicans (no, I didn't forget the L) have no shame. They go to all sorts of desperate measures until they realize that many of their ads are offensive, and they are harming their popularity (or lack thereof) more than they are assisting it. Will they ever learn? I am guessing not. And neither will their media puppet--- FOX.

...Or Not...

I've come to realize that Yahoo! hates anything liberal. They've even included this poorly written story about why liberal bloggers are angry with Barack Obama. Perhaps they are trying to persuade "liberal bloggers" to become angry with him as part of this media shift into Hillarytardism...

I'm not angry with Barack Obama, and I consider myself to be quite liberal. Who I am angry with is Jeremiah Wright. Seriously... wtf, bro? Did the Republicans hire him to ensure that Obama does not get the Democratic nomination?? If Barack hasn't cut off all ties with him at this point, I suggest he do so immediately before this guy really goes apeshit.

As a Black woman, I have spent time around men like Jeremiah Wright. You know -- those angry old black men whose opinions are wholly outdated. Initially, you try to argue with them. This doesn't always work, since many of these old men lack reasoning in their old age. Then, you try to ignore them. This doesn't work because they only talk louder, maybe start using more profanity, and then start offending people. What comes next? I dunno. Maybe you don't allow your kids around them, or you send them to a home -- who knows? What I do know is that Obama needs to come up with a plan, soon, because this man is crapping all over his campaign.

Obama still has a shot to win the nom. I think that he'll take NC by a large margin (unless something really crappy comes along), and that he will probably win Indiana, though by a smaller margin. I think the biggest problem with Obama that sticks out in people's minds are that he's this angry black man, surrounded by even angrier, old black men, and that he hates White people and Jews. Jeremiah Wright only aided in this false perception of Obama for representing just that. Look, mainstream media, and Main Street, America cannot handle men like this. They're not used to it. They find men like Wright threatening, even despite the fact that there are angry old men of every race living in this country -- heck, there are "organizations" filled with them. Why does Wright get so much more media attention than other angry, offensive, racist old men? You be the judge of that.

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Eugene Robinson's article on this very topic speaks to my very opinion of the situation. Jeremiah Wright needs to stop misrepresenting the Black Church and thinking that he speaks for everyone. He certainly doesn't speak for me.

This is my favorite part of the article:

"Historically and theologically, he was inflating his importance in a pride-goeth-before-the-fall kind of way. Politically, by surfacing now, he was throwing Barack Obama under the bus.

Sadly, it's time for Obama to return the favor."

Can You Smell What Barack is Cookin'?

Yikes! After being threatened to blog more, I reckon I have no other choice but to do so...

Has anybody else taken notice of the way the media has shifted from being Obamites to Hillarytards? Everything I read now about Hillary is positive. Hillary can beat McCain (my ass she can). Hillary is in the lead (uh, no?). Hillary is God's gift to mankind (riiight). Geez Louise. Can Obama get a little love? Now, as a former journalist, I am going to go out a limb here and say that, perhaps, the media should be objective. Why do they want her to win so badly?

Seems like around the time of the Philly debate, the media shifted it's focus to the Wicked Witch of the West Wing. Could it because they thought that maybe Barack really did have a chance to win, and they were feeling pressure to squash those chances. It's like they hyped him up, and now, all of sudden, its like "wait. We can't really have him as President. Hmm... guess it's time to join team HRC."

Does anyone else feel the same way?

My Take on the Infamous Speech

Transcript of the Speech can be Found Here.

Video Footage can be Found Here.

On "The Speech"

Coming from a multiracial background, I really felt a connection with the speech. Yes, I realize that the speech was a tool used to detract attention from the Rev. Wright issue (which is really a non-issue to me), and that Sen. Obama does not denounce the Reverend himself in the speech, but there's a bigger point the speech is making. Racism still exists in this country, and it's not just black and white.

People like Rev. Wright exist in this world, in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Do I think that his statements were justified? Do I agree with them? Can I understand where he's coming from? These are questions that we need to be asking ourselves.

People in the media and in politics keep calling for the presidential candidates to denounce some person or another. What does this accomplish? How foolish they want the candidates to look, running to and fro denouncing people. What century is this again? I have racist family members, and I'm not going to go around denouncing them. The notion is utterly ridiculous.

Sen. Obama has already said that he does not agree with all of Rev. Wright's speeches. Let it rest! What people are not doing is Googling speeches of Rev. Wright that preach Christian values. They also aren't discussing the fact that Reverend Wright was a guest in the Clinton White House . How about the fact that HE'S NOT EVEN HIS REVEREND ANYMORE?? One woman on the Michael Baisden show (that I thought I would never listen to again) made a pointed comment that the congregation often looked uncomfortable when he reached these controversial points in his sermon. But is anyone talking about that?

Have I gone on youtube and searched for the Rev. Wright videos? Of course not. I have no need to. Aside from the fact that I've heard the sermon on loop since the revelations first arose, I've heard plenty of statements like these before. This is one of the great things about our country. We can sit around, debating and questioning the government. I've heard dozens of older black men who lived through the Civil Rights Era speak negatively about the government's role in the black community and the international arena, as I'm sure countless Black Americans have experienced the same. Whooptydoo. Does it mean that I agree with everything they say? Of course not! I'm no idiot.

I found it rather comical, watching The McLaughlin Group on Sunday morning. I'm not going to go into detail about it, but I'll put it up once it's on their website (as long as I remember). (I must note that Pat Buchanan said that, if Jesus were alive today, he would be for the death penalty in the 3/22/08 episode. Definitely a must-see.) One of the pundits suggested that Obama not listen to Wright. Hmm... don't listen to people whose views you don't necessarily agree with. That's an interesting concept. Isn't it the duty of a thinking human being to take in all points of view? I guess we don't want presidential candidates to be ration, thinking human beings. Do we really need another Bush in the White House?

I've heard that Rev. Wright is destroying the church. I've heard the whole Rev. Wright situation compared with the pedophilia in the Catholic Church. It's quite disturbing.


One of the greatest problems I had with reactions to the speech was the fact that many people across the country did not understand that the speech was not given to END racial injustice, inequality, and racism in the states, but rather to open a dialogue on the subject matter. One reader commented on Eugene Robinson's "Obama's Road Map on Race" asserting that Obama set forth no policies in his speech. Asinine. That's all I can say. One person responded to that very comment saying that policies already exist, and asking whether it is really necessary to formulate a policy that says to be nice to one another. I concur.

I'm upset that people are calling Barack Obama a racist. If he's racist against White Americans, he's racist against himself and his family.

No one can deny that Senator Obama is a gifted speaker. He's one of the rare politicians out there whose speeches I can listen to, without pause, in their entirety. That 48 minute speech on race? I listened to the entire thing. One of the women I canvassed with on Saturday told me "I want to be able to listen to my president," and she's right. With Bush, I want to change the channel shortly after vomiting and choking on all the bull he's feeding the public. Clinton was a compelling speaker, and I liked listening to him sometimes (considering I was a child with the attention span of a gnat- now I've upgraded to that of a badger).

If this is just the beginning of a conversation Obama has started with the American public, I cannot wait to hear more.

Obama '08

It's Depressing. There's So Much Going On, Yet I've Been Blogging So Rarely...

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

I feel that I'm probably losing more and more blog readers by the minute. No more views from Canada, UAE, Portugal, etc. I'm trying to find more time to blog. Honestly!

Once I figure out how to use the flickr slide show feature, I'm going to upload my pictures from my volunteer work in PA this weekend, and tell you all about it!

I want to blog about the speech on race, HRC, Richardson, etc, but I've been ridiculously busy working on this project here in the Research Center.

More to follow...

Campaigning for Obama

Okay, so it's no mystery that I'm a huge Barack Obama supporter. It's also no mystery that I think Hillary Clinton is a ruthless hag and that John McCain is a "crazy old" turkey-necked man. So it should come as no surprise that I am going to OFFICIALLY assist the Obama campaign this weekend.

This weekend, I plan to drive up to PA with some friends to help people register to vote. This will be my first time registering voters, and I'm extremely excited, despite the fact that I don't know what to expect (and that I don't know WHERE in PA I may end up). Anybody have any funny voter registration stories?

After helping with voter registration, I plan to return to PA a few weeks later to help canvass!

Another Barack Obama Hater: Geraldine Ferraro

Those Clintonistas are at it again: hating.

Wow, Geraldine Ferraro, way to go! You have officially completed your membership application to the Barack Obama Hater's Club. If you haven't heard (and are too lazy to read the article in the link provided aboce), Geraldine Ferraro ( a Hillary Clinton supporter and the first woman to run on a U.S. presidential ticket--- she ran for VP in 1984) said the following:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color), he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

Wow. So if Obama was white, he wouldn't be a serious presidential contender? What race is John McCain again? And isn't Obama in the same position as Hillary, who allegedly is a woman? I would like an Obama supporter to come out and say what is in the minds of most Americans: "If Hillary hadn't been married to the president, she would not be in this position."

It's funny that Hillary supporters keep saying that Obama is playing the race card, when they are the ones, in fact, constantly commenting on his race. Hillary is a real jerk for pretending that she is mildly offended by these comments. I don't believe her one bit.

Check out this video, thanks to Bloggers for Obama. It's Keith Olbermann's response to Ferraro's statements and Hillary's response.

Last Night's Debate

WARNING: EXCESSIVE RANTING AND COMPLAINING FOUND BELOW

So I watched the debate last night, and I must say that Hillary is no MASTeRdeBATeR...

I'm going to write this blog in bits and pieces throughout the work day until I am finished, because I have a lot to say about last night's debate.

Let me start by saying that Hillary completely offended me at one in particular, and irritated me for the remaining hour and 20 minutes. And here's why:

Hillary said of 20-somethings without insurance (from the NYT transcript of the Cleveland debate):

SEN. CLINTON: About 20 percent of -- about 20 percent of the people who are uninsured have the means to buy insurance. They're often young people --

MR. WILLIAMS: Senator --

SEN. CLINTON: -- who think they're immortal --

SEN. OBAMA: Which is why I cover them.

SEN. CLINTON: -- except when the illness or the accident strikes. And what Senator Obama has said, that then, once you get to the hospital, you'll be forced to buy insurance, I don't think that's a good idea. We ought to plan for it --

SEN. OBAMA: With respect --

SEN. CLINTON: -- and we ought to make sure we cover everyone.

That is the only way to get to universal health care coverage.

SEN. OBAMA: With respect --

SEN. CLINTON: That is what I've worked for for 15 years --

SEN. OBAMA: With respect --

SEN. CLINTON: -- and I believe that we can achieve it. But if we don't even have a plan to get there, and we start out by leaving people, you'll never ever control costs, improve quality, and cover everyone.

SEN. OBAMA: With respect to the young people, my plan specifically says that up until the age of 25 you will be able to be covered under your parents' insurance plan, so that cohort that Senator Clinton is talking about will, in fact, have coverage.

I have four words for Clinton: Oh no she di'n't.

I WISH I could afford health insurance. I would love to have insurance! Who thinks they're "immortal," aside from the Wicked Witch herself? It's unfair to say that 20-somethings can afford insurance, and it's unrealistic. Most recent college graduates I know start out in debt, so how could they afford expensive insurance?

Let's see... get my credit straight and pay off my thousands of dollars worth of loans to ensure a financially secure future, or buy insurance that I may or may not need at this very moment, while my loans continue to accrue interest?

Plus, we're unable to stay on our parents' insurance (assuming our parents have insurance) without our parents paying a steep fee. And who is she to say what is affordable? Affordable to her is a $5M "loan." Does Chelsea even pay for her own insurance?

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Hillary said that she was interested in helping the middle class in America, but does she not realize that the so-called "middle class" is disappearing?

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The whole Louis Farrakhan thing is a joke. I liked loved Obama's response. Seriously, what can he really do? He can't censor Farrakhan (although I think most Americans would love to); it probably wouldn't be the wisest idea to tell him NOT to vote for him; and no matter how Obama feels about it, Farrakhan thinks that he's the best candidate. For once, that nut-job Farrakhan and I agree on something! Hillary is so full of crap. Plus, nobody asked her opinion on the issue.

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Did I mention that Hillary lost the debate? She's a loser. I get so tired of these feminists supporting her just because she's a woman (though I wouldn't argue with someone calling her asexual). Don't they see that she's acting the way people STEREOTYPE women, and why people think that there shouldn't be a woman president? She's catty, vengeful, bipolar, argumentative at all of the wrong times, she's a biznatch, plus she always has lipstick on her teeth (if you notice after the 1st break last night, it looks like she brushed her teeth and then covered them with Vaseline in order to get rid of her lipsticked teeth).

Interesting analyses:
The Atlantic
Real Clear Politics (TIME)
Howard Kurtz (WAPO)

Let Me Comment, CNN!

Wow. HRC (which we'll just say stands for Huge Rectal disComfort) is throwing out all kinds of debauchery. How low can one woman go? Watch HRC and find out!

Alright, so this is just utter bull. The Clinton campaign crew has absolutely no shame left. I mean, really? Some people argue that this is not some sort of propaganda on the Clintons' behalf, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Why would the Clinton Camp circulate pictures of Barack Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb if they didn't think that enough ignorant Americans would be fearful? We all know that if Hillary Clinton wore a burka, nobody would associate her with being a Muslim (which ignorant Americans, once again, associate with terrorism).

This whole ordeal is just cowardly. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Congratulations, Hillary. You've done it again!

McCain Bartered Sex for Influence?

Though it's not a novel idea, could it be possible?

I think this whole McCain "scandal" is pretty bland. Nevertheless, I think it is interesting that Huckabee is defending McCain's "integrity." Either Huckabee has a lot of heart for not using this as a way to get ahead (although that seems virtually impossible), or something else is going on. I think that we'll find out within the next couple of days.

Whose idea was it to call Cindy McCain (whose name I just learned) a "blonde bombshell?" Does anybody else find this statement unjustified? I think she's boring, even when she tries being passive-aggressive in response to Michelle Obama's latest statement (which Barack has clarified).

This Just In... Hillary Clinton is a Playa' Hata'!

Announcer: "Barack Obama wins the Wisconsin primary with 58% of the votes. Clinton lost by nearly 200,000 votes."

Hillary: extends right hand to Obama

Obama: reaches out to shake Hillary's hand

Hillary: quickly moves right hand up to the side of her head, as if adjusting fly-away hairs. "Sike."




One thing that political pundits seem to have left out of their analysis of Hillary Clinton is the fact that she's a player hater- a shocking fact considering that she is married to one of the most notorious players in presidential history (next to Thomas Jefferson circa Sally Hemmings).

In CNN's Political Ticker blog, CNN's Political Producer Peter Hamby posted on Feb. 12 solid evidence that Clinton is not only a playa' hata', but also a sore loser.

"For the second election night in a row, Hillary Clinton failed to acknowledge or congratulate Barack Obama after he won the day in dominating fashion...

The courtesy of conceding a primary or caucus loss — and then congratulating your opponent — is by no means required. But it has become standard practice during campaign season.

Clinton congratulated Obama and John Edwards after their first and second place finishes in the Iowa caucuses. Obama returned the favor in New Hampshire, saying Clinton “did an outstanding job.” That courtesy continued through the early states.

But as the race has shifted to a delegate chase with dozens of states in play around the country, the notion of congratulating one’s opponent seems, for Clinton, to have fallen by the wayside."

I'm not sure if it's because she's still in denial or what, but that's just inconsiderate. She should take it like a man. Oh, wait...

Tony Kornheiser gave an interesting analysis this morning during his show on Washington Post Radio regarding the way Obama continues to win over supposed Hillary Clinton supporters. I think it's fairly obvious at this point that Hillary is living in some kind of fantasy world where you don't have to visit the people you want to vote for you, you don't have to congratulate or say "good game" to your opponent (regardless the results), and you can assume that you are going to win the female, senior citizen, and Latino vote, just 'cause. Of course she's not going to win the votes of these people if she's not demonstrating that she actually wants their votes. She has been bypassing states like they don't matter, and at this point, every state, and every vote, matters.

Radio Idiots

People on the radio can be real idiots sometimes...

On the way home from work yesterday evening, I heard ridiculousness on the radio (surprise, surprise). This time it wasn't coming from the actual music or the commercials, but the callers (another surprise).

*Before telling you what I heard, I think it's important to note that I commute to/from work with my mother because she tends to listen to things that I would never want to listen to- which leads me to this morning's blog.

Unfortunately, my mother chose to listen to Michael Baisden, whom she describes as a "pompous ass." He had John Edwards on the show, and listeners were calling in to give their two cents (more like 1/2 cent, at best).

One man called in talking some serious nonsense. He went on and on about how he wasn't sure about Obama, being that his dad is African and that he is a Muslim. "How do I know he has allegiance to the United States? His dad is African."

Umm... Riiiight... Why didn't I think of that?

People like this scare me because I often think there are more of "them" than there are of "us" (us being level-headed, informed individuals). Nonetheless, what worries me more about this man's statements is that Baisden did not say "sir, Barack Obama has already refuted statements that he's a Muslim" or "sir, what the hell are you talking about?" Instead, this man went on and on about Obama's dad being African, and how Africans don't care about black people in America (whoa... dejavu, anybody? Can you say "Kanye West on NBC?"). He basically said that all Africans and Caribbeans were snobs and that, how do we know Obama isn't one of them? "Just look at how he speaks!" I'm sorry. How are you supposed to speak after you graduate from Harvard Law and serve over a decade in politics? And what's up with this anti-African sentiment?

Another ridiculous caller decided to become Hillary Clinton's press secretary. This lady went on and on about how the Clinton's said they were down with the black community, and knew what was best- and a black president was not it. Now, I'm not going to call myself a Clintonista, but I'm pretty sure that Mrs. Clinton never actually said "Did you forget he [Obama] was black?" Fortunately, after this lady went on a tirade saying that Hillary said this, and Hillary said that, Baisden actually asked the question, "did she really say that?" The nut job caller said "well... no, but..." Good one.

Someone else called in posing a valid point: Why aren't we talking about education? I had hope in this caller. Until she said, "and what's up with this No Child Left Behind? Somebody needs to tell me what that is." Come on, people! We're living in the information age! How can it be possible that you know that the candidates are shirking discussion of education, yet you have no idea what NCLB is?

Finally, this last caller I had a gripe with was getting all upset about Universal Health Care. "I pay $127 dollars a month for health insurance, and they're want to make me pay for it? That makes no sense." Blah. You make no sense.
(Can you tell I'm starting to have to do real work in the office now?)


Anyway, I just want to know how everyone feels about the responsibility of the host to point out factual errors made by the callers. It would be lovely if we could assume that listeners would take everything said by average Joe's with a grain of salt, but come on, now. We know this just ain't so. Should Baisden have pointed out factual errors (such as Africans hating Black Americans), or was it okay that he just ignored these statements altogether?

Sometimes, It's Best to be Racist Among Friends, Mr. Farr

I always find it funny when people make racist comments and think that others will laugh. The best part is when the people not only forget to laugh, but they gasp in horror instead. Never will I advocate racism, because I feel it is disgusting and odious; however, sometimes it's fun to joke with friends about taboo topics such as race, as long as it's not in a hurtful way.

What William R. Farr decided to do might have worked if he was just chilling with his racist buddies, but unfortunately, as the Rocky Mountain News reports, that was not the case:

William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year's award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, "I have a telegram from the White House."

Then he added, "They're going to have to change the name of that building if Obama's elected."

Now, admit it: If it had been under different circumstances, the audience members might have laughed instead of "gasping." They might have even gone home and repeated the joke to their friends. Maybe we're the problem. Couldn't Farr have been poking fun at the Bush Administration saying that they were racist? (I doubt it, but anything is possible.)

In a presidential race where gender, race, and even religion seem to be the focus more so than the candidates' platforms sometimes, are we being too sensitive, too politically correct, or have we simply lost our sense of humor?

Read the Article for Yourself: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/17/joke-leaves-em-gasping/