Hillary Clinton's victory in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, despite having been written off, has led not to sober reflection on the media's part, but to a whirling dervish of speculation. A key narrative to emerge before New Hampshire was that Barack Obama's victory in Iowa was to somehow give black voters the confidence to vote for Obama. The logic was that large numbers of black voters were withholding their support for Obama until he proved he could pull enough white voters to win.
With Clinton's victory in New Hampshire, many wonder if the opposite will now be true. I don't buy the logic in either scenario. Polling on black support for Obama has been inconsistent, but the notion that a schism among black voters is not based on substantive issues is a little offensive. In Iowa, white people gave black voters permission to vote for Obama, but in New Hampshire, they took it back? I don't think so.
Barack may have a bigger problem, though. Strong, anti-Obama opinion pieces on Black Agenda Report immediately following the NH primary could be an early indicator of where black opinion is headed. But are they being entirely fair to Senator Obama? Black Agenda Report Executive Editor Glen Ford assesses Obama as a panderer and a political twin to Hillary, deconstructs the "myth" of his anti-war stance, and offers this summation:
And now we are left only with the politics of "Change" - which is anything the various audiences want it to be. Through relentless pandering to white desires for an end to Black agitation and reminders of enduring institutional racism, Obama has proven his ability to amass huge white support. As a result, much of Black America may become convinced the last hurdle to putting a Black Face in the Highest Place has been overcome, and shift overwhelmingly to Hillary's estranged Black political twin. Corporate America, never threatened by either candidate, has long been comfortable with the outcome of this race, whichever way it goes - that's why they put their money on both Barack and Hillary.
BAR editor Margaret Kimberley offers a stinging rebuke of Senator Obama as an accommodationist who is deaf to black issues, and an interesting explanation for his success with white voters:
Barack Obama flies high on white dreams of never again having to confront the realities of race in America. The likes of professional right-winger Bill Bennett sing Obama's praises as a "breakthrough" candidate who "never plays the race card." Hallelejah! Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be consigned to the dustbin, never again to interrupt the mythical American narrative with their impudent accusations. Obama's Promised Land is a place of absolution for white crimes past, present and future. Like Colin Powell and Clarence Thomas, Obama proves the unprovable - that race is no longer "a factor in public policy issues."
I think the tone of the piece is best exemplified by this assessment of Barack Obama's Iraq rhetoric:
"Careful" and "responsible" are code words for maintaining the status quo and negotiations can go on forever. President Obama will not be bringing troops home, but he knows that mouthing anti-war sentiments will bring in votes from Democrats tired of being dismissed by party leaders.
I agree with the premise that some white voters see, in Barack, a chance to atone for past sins, perhaps an easy absolution. However, I also think that premise defeats some of the logic of the rest of the piece.
To state the obvious, I am not black, and I can never know what it's like to be black in America. All I can do is try. I believe that, all other things being equal, there's nothing wrong with tilting your vote toward someone with whom you share a unique bond, whether it's women for Hillary, blacks for Obama, or slackers with Fred Thompson. I would very much like to see a black president. However, if you advance the premise that the only way for a black man to gain the presidency is to keep his "blackness" below the radar, how do you then criticize the candidate for doing so?
It is a bit of a "Catch 22", but which is better: electing a black president and hoping he's responsive to you when he gets into power, or continuing the status quo? Kimberley tries to defeat the "wait 'til he gets there" argument by invoking Clarence Thomas. This is a horrible comparison. I don't know of anybody who doubted Thomas' conservative bona fides prior to his confirmation.
This is not a rehash of Fox News' "Is Barack Black Enough?" false narrative. This is more like the difference between repairing racial inequities and simply "moving past race." What the writer doesn't seem to credit is the fact that, given white America's discomfort with race, what candidate could get elected on a strongly identified "black platform?"
Why is the writer of this article concerned about Blacks deserteing Obama when it OBAMA WHO IS DESERTING THE BLACKS? Barack knows that it is John Edwards who will work the most for Black people in poverty. Must we eternally have routine politics that will have limited accomplishments just because a candidate is Black? It's like a poor Black man in the middle of the ocean who sees a boat with John Edwards on it where he can be halped to shore but instead will try and swim to shore because Barack is there.
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Tommy Christopher
4:20PM Jan 23rd 2008
Elaine, I guess there's my answer! Actually, I agree with you to an extent. Based on their platforms, Edwards is the best candidate, period. Having said that, I think Barack Obama is also an excellent candidate, and I wanted to provide some balance to what BAR was saying. But you are right, a vote for Edwards is the right vote for any non-rich American. I hope that John can rally and win, but I'd settle for an Obama/Edwards ticket. I think Barack will move to a more progressive agenda once elected, but I could be wrong. Having Edwards around pushing that certainly wouldn't hurt.
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Janice
5:13PM Jan 23rd 2008
raquel leon8:51PMJan 14th 2008 Obama, and his wife, just want to be the presidente and first lady, because they are races, and want to have revenge of the white people for all those years of slavery.America!! don't let them do it. _________________________________-- Anyone with a mental age of 10 or less should not be permitted to blog, period. Grow up Raquel, read some books about people around the country and the world, meet some people beyond your block and then consider expressing an opinion. Thank you very much.
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Janice
5:56PM Jan 23rd 2008
Those locked in the past politically and historically cannot grasp a united America around the common, everyday person where cultural, economic and political characteristics no longer separate us. This article suggests that Obama is disingenous because he speaks for ALL people, not one group of people over another. That is a disingenous statement to make. Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn't like. Yes, there are people who are colorblind or blind to personal characteristcs, such as skin color, attractiveness, income, job status, etc. They like people whomever they may be and wherever they may come from. But those who cannot broaden their perspective or attitude toward people to be all-inclusive characterize those who can do so as hiding their true nature or seeking to deceive and manipulate. Obama has experienced life through a Kenyan father, a White mother from Kansas, an Indonesian stepfather, and White maternal grandparents, who helped rear him in Hawaii. He has been married 15 years to an African-American woman. He attended Catholic school in Indonesia and a parochial school in Hawaii. He earned his degrees at predominantly White universities in NYC and Cambridge, MA over a period of about 7 years. It's clear that he has experienced many people of ethnic/cultural diversity in his lifetime to have a broadly accepting vision and philosophy about human beings. Some people want to put Obama's campaign in a vise to cramp and ruin it by, on the one hand, saying because he appeals to a diverse population, such as Whites, Latinos, Asians and others, he is not concentrating efforts to help the Black or African American constituency. And then when he appeals to African Americans for support, some White and other voters accuse him of being for Blacks and against them. Obama is for ALL people. The past is done. Yes, Civil Rights were and are key issues at present, just as current social injustices must be resovled. Obama stated in the debate that he is certainly mindful of these important issues and he intends to address them. But we need a president for All Americans. Let's do the right thing and unite as a country and support each other and Obama's vision in a common interest. Let's release prejudice of any sort and help all Americans live in freedom and justice to pursue a life of their dreams unimpeded.
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Janice
6:30PM Jan 23rd 2008
The media is really duping the public with these commentaries of theirs. Folks wake up and use your heads. Its the media pushing these stories that they've concocted because it's the way they earn their living. Don't allow these contrivances to allow yourself to become emotional and start attacking the people who are the subject of these stories. THESE ARE OPINIONS, NOT FACT as such. Obama is minding his business out campaigning. Hillary Clinton is running her campaign and so is Edwards.
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Janice
6:39PM Jan 23rd 2008
What's this about Obama not being "experienced??" John F. Kennedy was YOUNGER than Obama when he entered the office of the presidency; JFK was 45 years old with 15 years of prior experience in elected office. Obama is 47 and he has had 12 years in elected office. Bill Clinton was was 46 years old and had 15 years in elected office upon assuming the presidency. Hillary Clinton has had 8 years in elected office, 4 less than Obama. Edward has had 6 years in elected office, 2 years less than Obama. So as far as elected office is concerned, Obama is 2-4 years ahead of Edwards and Clinton, respectively. Why is it that Obama is criticized for lacking experience when he's ahead of the other 2 candidates in respect to elected office is a major factor in assuming the presidency? Either folks aren't doing their homework or being biased against the man. See Wikipedia as one source.
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Janice
6:41PM Jan 23rd 2008
What's this about Obama not being "experienced??" John F. Kennedy was YOUNGER than Obama when he entered the office of the presidency; JFK was 45 years old with 15 years of prior experience in elected office. Obama is 47 and he has had 12 years in elected office. Bill Clinton was was 46 years old and had 15 years in elected office upon assuming the presidency. Hillary Clinton has had 8 years in elected office, 4 less than Obama. Edward has had 6 years in elected office, 2 years less than Obama. So as far as elected office is concerned, Obama is 2-4 years ahead of Edwards and Clinton, respectively. Then why is it that Obama is criticized for lacking experience when he's ahead of the other 2 candidates in respect to elected office , which is a major factor in assuming the presidency? Either folks aren't doing their homework or being biased against the man. See Wikipedia as one source.
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ebony
7:03PM Feb 24th 2008
Why is African-Americans considered racist when they vote for Obama? So what I am hearing is that African-Americans should vote for Clinton to prove they are not racist? If this is the case why are white women voting for Clinton only? She holds the majority of white women votes? Why don't you ask the question about Latinos voting heavy for Clinton? Obama and Clinton are similar in views. Blacks supported the Clinton's for eight years and their are many that still support them today.I am black and for Obama because he did not vote for the war , bankruptcy law, no child left behind act , and NAFTA which caused a lot of folks to lose their jobs. Clinton voted "Yes" for all these and is stating she made a mistake and will change it when she gets in the white house.Her campaign is badly managed so why would I want her as my president? I whether have Obama or McCain who for the most part stick with their votes plus they are managing their campaigns very well.On the experience piese Obama has eight years in the senate and three years as a junior senator of Illinois and manay years as a civil rights attorney.Hilary is claiming 35 years but where? eight years is being the first lady. I did not know you could count that as experience.
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g02342000
7:54AM Jan 11th 2008
John Edwards,is the only one that will fight poverty and bring health care and education to the poor, middle class of America. The Edwards / Biden ticket would be the best Presidency for all America, anything less will be as bad as keeping Bush in office forever. America deserves honest men of integrity that will fight for all Americans. Edwards is a true patriot that can make America great, he has the substinance, determination, and will to fight greed, corruption and end the outsourcing of our jobs, His economic, education, health and welfare policies are now being copied by all the canidates. Edwards spoke out months and even years before the others. America needs to think about why are the "Washington Greed, Corruption, Large Corporations and Media" trying to make this a two candidate Democratic race? Edwards is the only one able to win the Presidency from the democratic side, and any republican that is nominated will beat Clinton and/or Obama. Only Edwards can fix Bush's mistakes!
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emelpe
8:02AM Jan 11th 2008
Obama plays to the fantasy of majority white America that "racism isn't a problem anymore" whereas, in fact, racism may be a worse problem than ever before precisely because so many people think that it isn't a problem anymore. I say this because the first step to solving a problem is to admit that there is a problem.
Angela Davis has said that just because a member of a group has achieved a high position doesn't mean that the group itself has achieved a high position. She has said that Condoleeza Rice's ascension to Secretary of State in the Bush administration is a victory for neither blacks nor women but a defeat for everybody.
I would never put Obama in the same category as Condoleeza; however, the snippets quoted here from the Black Agenda Report seem to me to be poignant, perceptive and essentially on target.
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Davidg
8:34AM Jan 11th 2008
Obama will be a champion for blacks...as long as the blacks live in Africa. Like so many light-skinned or multi-racial people, Obama is all about Africa. Check out his church, one of those Africa first places. Black people in this country will get the crumbs. Think Oprah in S. Africa. Billions sent to Africa while U.S. citizens go hungry and homeless. No thanks, Barak. I was more comfortable thinking he may have been a secular Muslim than I am knowing the kind of church he belongs to. I hope that blacks in the country realize he is not the best person for them and he is no representative of them. Africans look down on black Americans.
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sc
11:15AM Jan 11th 2008
CROCODILE TEARS...for hillary clinton. I can't support a campaign that undermines the intelligence of woman and African American in the workplace. C'mon people if she were a male candidate she would have been laughed out of the race for crying. Heck if she was a black female she would'nt be able to cry. She used the ultimate white Female trump card, whenever there in a corner they start to cry and ALWAYS get there way. I know because they do it all the time at my workplace, whenever they come into work late, or can't figure something out. BoooHooo. Women should feel disrespected that she's playing them like a fiddle. The article even said a second later she snapped back into politico mode. Rest assure Obama gets this black mans vote, and the rest of the black folks in corporate america knows that we(especially black woman) get stepped on/over because white boys are in the good ole' boys club, and white women can always cry. After she pulled this stunt, every black person in corporate america should TURN THERE BACKS...to the Hillary campaign.
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John
11:32AM Jan 11th 2008
This is the biggest bunch of bs. Why is it ok for blacks to support only a black candidate but if whites do the same it's racism. As far as the atonement bullshit, I OWE NO ONE ANYTHING, anyone who thinks otherwise can go to hell. When the majority in this country decides to grow a backbone then all this crap will end...FOR GOOD.
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Judi
12:21PM Jan 11th 2008
Anyone who votes for Hilary Clinton simply because she is a woman, or for Barack Obama because he is black, is a bigot and no better than those who used to vote for presidents because they were white men. Clearly this author shows us we have a long way to go before race and gender is not an issue. Voting based on the issues is the only way we can truly enjoy equality.
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ashley
12:33PM Jan 11th 2008
Tommy, You are right Obama is caught in a catch 22 with a lot of the -so called- political strategists. By the way, has anyone ever wondered where the networks come up with some of their “political strategist.” Half of them you have never heard of and no one ever bothers to tell you what experience the strategist has to be making all these bold opinions and theories. Anyway, I think Obama ran into a problem after Iowa for two reasons:
One, his swagger. He was confident and everyone was boosting him up by talking about making history and taking down the brand names of the race. Many (esp those like me who do not agree with him on some issues ) saw a lot of arrogance in his mannerisms and speech while in NH. When you combine this with Hill having a real or staged cry----it spells disaster. Now call me crazy but are African Americans immune to being turned off by arrogance and being drawn to compassion? I think not.
Two is even more superficial than one but I bet voters pay attention to it. Obama has Jessie Jackson’s son endorsing him……yet Jessie Jackson & wife are endorsing Clinton. Oprah is endorsing Obama but Magic is endorsing Clinton. Kerry endorses Obama but Bill Clinton endorses Hill Clinton. ON & ON you go through the parting of the Red Sea. If Obamas election was going to be a “black movement”….. all of the prominent African American leaders would be united. BUT…. this is not a black movement it is a political election. Thus, voters and endorsements will part on ideas, values, character, etc….
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Esther
12:55PM Jan 11th 2008
First of all, why should black people vote for Obama simply because he's black? I think that's an incredibly racist presumption that ALL the pundits and talking heads on the networks keep assuming. Basically, they are saying black people don't care about the candidates stance on the issues and will blindly follow the only viable black candidate ever just because he's black. Very racist in my opinion. Just as assuming woman will vote for Hillary is sexist. Secondly, the only candidate who will take on the corporate world and rid the government of special interests is Senator Edwards. Unfortunately, to this point, he isn't getting nearly the attention he should be be getting. America is TOTALLY missing out on this man, who possibly could have been one of our greatest Presidents. Thirdly, excuse me, but I, as a white person, have NO "past sins" toward black people, I am not racist, my parents were not racist, my Grandparents were not racist, ETC! I did not own slaves, no one in my immediate family owned slaves. If someone in my family tree 200 years ago owned slaves, well, I had no control over that, now did I? Just as the distant relatives of Hitler living here in the US right now can not be blamed for WWII, I can not be blamed for slavery and have nothing to "atone" for on that subject! Finally, I think Barak will be a fantastic President, after Hillary's two terms are up ;-)
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Willa
1:01PM Jan 11th 2008
To cry is okay...but, who wants a president who falls apart when they are stressed over something. Think people, do we really want someone who breaks up under stress to be charge of our nation? I think it was an ACT, and seemingly it worked, she did get sympathy votes.
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BRETT ENGER
1:32PM Jan 11th 2008
EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK AT THE FULL PICTURE BEFORE VOTING OBAMA HASNT EVER VISITED OR GIVEN SPEECHES AT ANY OF THE HOUSINGS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS "MSHV" =MIDWEST SHELTER HOUSING FOR VETERANS" FOR THE VETERANS THAT RETURN FROM IRAQ AND MEANWHILE HE MUNIPULATES YOU TO BELIEVE HIM THAT HE REALLY CARES OF THE VETERANS WHEN HE DOESNT THE ONLY REASON HE IS STILL IN IT NOW IS CAUSE HE IS TOTALLY FUNDED BY OPRAH WINFRY
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raquel leon
1:51PM Jan 11th 2008
Some African Americans show that they are the ones are very prejudice, and complex. Everything is discrimination for them. Yesterday there was a professor in MSNBC, who was saying that Omaba lost in New Hampshire it was because there were a lot of discrimination in the State's part. Come on!!! professor, I'm going to ask you something, "why Obama is in the position he is now? I think you are smart enough to know that if it won't be for the white people , Obama won't be where he is now.The white ones are helping him to win the White House, because they are voting for him a lot. Give me a breack professor!!!! what else you want? Stop being so complex. we have to accept who we are, other wise the way you feel, inside of you, is going to finish with your health". The Clintons love the Africa Americans, and they have been helping them a lot, don't try to put problems between the Clintos and them, because they have a good relationship.I don't have anything to say about the African Americans, because I think they are as humans as we white people, and everybody else are.I don't have anything to say about Obama neither, in the contrary, I always say that he possess an great intelligence. The only thing is bothering me, and to a lot of people too, about him, is that he is too young and needs more experience to be a Commander in chief of this great, an big country.It worrys me up, because if he wins the presidence, we might be in a big trouble, and then it will be too late for America to fix the big problem, like it is happening with the actual president too.So be carefully, America, look in to who you are going to put your vote.
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raquel leon
3:10PM Jan 13th 2008
Brett Enger. I'm totally agreed with you. He does not have any experience to be a commander in chiet of your great and beautiful country.