"A Typical White Person"

Those were the words that Sen. Barack Obama used to describe his white grandmother.  Many in the media seem to be giving Barack Obama a free pass on this one, as are many in the liberal blogosphere.  Yet, in the interest of fairness, let's replace the word "white" with the word "black" and let's say that it was Hillary Clinton who said it.  

We all know what would happen.  There would be outrage.  She would be called a racist.  She would be thrown under the bus and criticized for days and days.  It's not that I'm necessarily saying that Barack Obama hates whites, I don't think he does, but many are not covering this the same way they would if the situation was as I described above.  I'm getting sick and tired of the double standard out there, where Obama gets a pass on controversial statements and Clinton gets bashed and buried.  People are ultra-sensitive when African Americans or Latinos are stereotyped (which is completely understandable), but when whites are stereotyped, the one making the comments gets a free pass.  It's just not right.  We need to start covering the candidates all equally.    

Obama's Big Speech: My Take

Sen. Barack Obama, without a doubt, gave a great speech today.  The substance can be debated, but the delivery and tone were spot on and brilliant.  The overall message was correct and is one which I agree with. Racism (along with sexism and homophobia) is an underlying current in American society today and that needs to change.  Prejudices, from both sides of the isle, white and black, need to end.  We need to judge people for who they are, looking not at the color of their skin but at the character demonstrated in their actions.  

With that being said, however, some parts of the speech I still have some problems with.  For starters, Barack Obama refused to distance himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright again today.  He, once again, compared him to a family member.  Again I'l say it: you don't choose your family, you're more or less stuck with them, but you do choose your pastor.  You do choose what church you attend.  Obama chose Wright and stuck by him for 20 plus years.  

Why is that a problem?  Jeremiah Wright is a man who preaches hate and bigotry.  He claims that the U.S. government introduced AIDS to kill off African Americans.  He claims that the U.S. deserved the tragedy that was 9/11.  He claims that god should damn, not bless, this great country.  

Obama can say he wasn't there to hear Rev. Wright make those remarks live.  He can say that he rejects them now that it is the politically necessary thing to do.  But even today, while giving that great speech, Obama didn't explain why he stuck by Wright for 20 years.  Surely he had heard of those remarks.  Surely Obama has been present for some of Wright's many outlandish and incendiary statements.  Why didn't he reject the comments then?  Why didn't he stop attending the church then?  Why wait until now, when the press brings up the story?   It's a little known fact, but Oprah Winfrey used to attend Trinity United Church.  She stopped attending, however, many years ago when apparently Wright began preaching his vulgar, hate-filled sermons.  If Oprah could recognize when something just wasn't okay, she got up and left and never came back. Why didn't Obama do the same?  I'm going to stay on top of Obama until he answers that question because the American people deserve an answer.

Another thing Obama said that I have a problem with is his game of blame the media for taking Wright's remarks out of context.  Exactly how much context do you need when someone says "god damn America"?  Or AIDS being created by our government to kill African Americans?  For Obama to blame the media is simply outrageous.  He has gotten the smoothest ride by the media of anyone who every ran for President.  Trust me, I know the media can be unfair at times.  This just wasn't one of those times and Obama is wrong for trying to make it one.  

Obama and The Preacher (Part II)

It's really disturbing to see how many people are out there defending Rev. Jeremiah Wright over the comments he made. They were not, in any way, okay.  God should not damn America.  America, with all its flaws, is the greatest country in the world.  Whether or not you've been called a n****r should not be a qualification for being President.  The horrific attacks of 9/11 are not the fault of Americans.  

Some comments have been made here at POLITIDOSE defending Wright by arguing that other preachers have said "God damn America" and other outrageous comments.  Let me make myself clear: just because I don't mention other preachers' by name and their comments does not mean I agree or condone their remarks.  Indeed, Hagee, Robertson, Falwell, etc. are all equally despicable as Wright for making the comments they have made.  But I want Wright supporters to think of it this way:  They defend Wright by demonizing Hagee, Robertson, Falwell, etc. for saying such outrageous things.  But isn't it only fair then to demonize Wright too if he said the same thing?

Some say that Wright is justified in what he said because all he is trying to do is combat hate.  Well, at least in my view, you don't deal with hate by preaching hate, which is exactly what Wright has done.  Do people really think it's okay to preach hate of white people in order to make up for some whites being racist?  I'm a white man; I don't hold any hate for African Americans.  Yet, according to Wright, I'm an evil person who his entire congregation should hate.  Here's a lesson Wright and his followers need to learn: hate breeds hate.  The more Wright and his followers preach hate of white people, the more white people will hate them, and the cycle goes on and on and on.  The way to end hate is to bring people together.  That was Martin Luther King's message and goal.  He didn't preach hate for whites; he preached equality for all.  He didn't demonize whites, rather he invited them to join him and his followers in ending racial divides.  

Again I'll say, preaching hate is never okay.  But even I, an avid opponent of John McCain, can not hold him as accountable for Hagee's remarks as I hold Obama for Wrights.  Hagee endorses McCain.  McCain, however, has not been a personal friend of Hagee for over 20 years.  McCain did not choose Hagee to be his pastor.  McCain did not put Hagee on his campaign.  

It's not that I necessarily think Obama shares Wright's views, but I do want to know why Obama has befriended this man.  You can't tell me that Obama didn't know that Wright made these horrible remarks.  Obama certainly knew and then proceeded to continue to attend Trinity United Church.  He proceeded to continue his very close, personal relationship with Wright.  He proceeded to put Wright on his campaign.  I want answers from Obama.  I want to know why he choose to associate himself with Wright.  

(P.S.)---My Personal Connection: I fight hard everyday to end racism and sexism.  My friends frequently get annoyed when I call them out on prejudiced language, but I continue to do it.  Why?  Because I see the elements of discrimination alive in society and they sicken me.  I want them to end as much as the next person.  But what good would it do if, instead of calmly explaining to my friends why their comments are inappropriate and asking them to change their ways, I began spewing hateful language towards them.  It would just allow for their hate to deepen.  Again, only more hate can come out of hate.  We must end the cycle.  Wright preaches hate of whites in redemption for hatred of blacks. Hatred, of any kind, is wrong.  But if we're going to call one group out on hate and racism, we have to do the same for the other.  What Wright said is non-defensible.  The fact that Obama remains friends with him raises serious questions that I feel the American people deserve having answered.  

Obama And The Preacher

As is well known, Sen. Barack Obama's pastor for 20 plus years has caused some controversy recently, and, in my mind, rightfully so. Many people, from the Obama campaign, as well as Clinton's, have downplayed Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments.  But they still bother me.  As much as I do want to move past them, I just can't.  The words "God damn America" and "She ain't never been called a n****r" just keep replaying in my head.  Phrases such as those are utterly disturbing and there is no excuse for them.  It is horrific to watch the tapes of these comments and see the congregation stand on their feet to applaud Wright's inexcusable language.  As much as I don't want to blame Obama, I kind of have to.  Here's why:

First of all, Obama says he never heard Rev. Wright make such statements.  Okay, I accept Obama at his word that he wasn't in the congregation when those specific remarks were made.  But, in Obama's 20 year long history with Rev. Wright, did he ever hear Wright make such statements?  Did he ever hear of Wright making the statements even if he wasn't there at the moment? 

Surely Obama knew Wright was a controversial man.  If Obama didn't think so, then why did he ask Wright not to speak at his announcement to run for President.  He clearly didn't want Wright brought up in front of the press.  He obviously knew this man was controversial.  If all Obama knew was, as he now claims, that Wright preached about Jesus and was a great man, why did he have to ask Wright not to show up.  Obama obviously knew of Wright's history and past remarks.  Maybe not the exact ones now being played in the media, but some of the many, many anti-American, racial, bigoted remarks Wright has apparently made, even if we don't yet know them all. And if Obama knew of Wright's history, why did he continue to attend Trinity United Church?  I'm not a very religious person, so I don't go to church, but if I did and I heard anything close to the type of remarks that Wright made, I would get up that instant, walk out that church, and never, ever have anything to do with it again.  Obama clearly knew that Wright had made these type of statements in the past, why else would he ask Wright not to be there for his announcement, and if he did know of some of these statements, why did he continue to befriend Wright and attend the church?

Secondly, Obama is going around using the excuse that Wright was like an uncle who says stuff you completely reject, but you stay friendly with.  Let's make it clear, you don't choose who you're uncles are.  There part of the family.  You can't stop being a part of the family you were born into.  Obama, on the other hand, chose Wright as his pastor.  And at any time that Obama though Wright was being inappropriate, Obama could have chosen to leave Trinity United.  He didn't and I have a problem with that.

I'm sick of people coming out, that includes Clinton supporters, and saying that Obama shouldn't be held accountable for what his pastor said.  Obama admits that he has been a pretty regular church goer and a good friend of Rev. Wright for the past 20 years.  We just have two clips of different sermons that Wright made, but I'm sure there are many more inexcusable comments out there.  And it's not just Wright.  I don't like to demonize people, but how could the congregation stand up and applaud Wright's comments? How could they cheer for "God damning America"?  Why would Barack Obama want to associate himself with people like that?  

It's not enough for Barack Obama to come out now that it is politically necessary and reject Wright's statements.  Obama had 20 years to do that.  No one forced him to attend that Church.  No one force him to befriend Rev. Jeremiah Wright.  No one forced him to put Wright on his campaign.  Obama himself chose to associate himself with Wright and the Church.

The comments by Wright don't need to be put into context, as some have suggested.  Wright's comments speak for themselves. His comments are no more acceptable than the evangelical preachers who say that 9/11 was punishment for abortions or for gay acceptance in America.  And there are those who of course will say that Obama didn't know about Wright's statements. Who are we kidding?  Of course Obama knew; maybe he wasn't present in the congregation, but surely he knew about them.  

The whole thing is really a sad story.  It tears me apart, because I do want to like Barack Obama.  I do want to wholeheartedly support him if he is our nominee.  But when you build your campaign on judgment and your judgment leads you to believe that Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a good man, something is very wrong about your judgment.  It's not enough now for Obama to distance himself from the comments, he should have done that a long time ago, and it really damages my impression of him.    

Geraldine Ferraro...Not a Racist; This Guy...Definitely a Racist

In case you were wondering, the above video is of Jeremiah Wright, Obama's "spiritual advisor", former pastor, and current member of the Obama campaign.  Wright has previously made comments that include saying that the U.S. brought on 9/11 itself as well as stating that blacks should not sing "God Bless America", but rather, "God damn America".  

Now let's see if the media holds Wright and Obama to the same standard they held Clinton and Ferraro.  After all, Wright's comments were undoubtedly racist and he is still on the campaign.  Ferraro's were not racist in any way, and she is now gone from the campaign.  Yet, tomorrow morning the Ferraro bashing will continue and this story will be largely ignored.  It's just another case of media bias.  

Geraldine Ferraro: Facing the Facts

"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."

Those were the words of 1984 Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Geraldine Ferraro.  For those comments, Ferraro has been thrown under the bus by every last person in the media as well as every blogger out there.  Well, not this blogger. 

Okay, I admit, the way it was said, or at least written, comes off rather harsh.  But instead of blatantly accusing Ferraro of being a racist, why doesn't anybody ask the simple question, "does she have a point?"

Indeed, Ferraro does have a point and, for that matter, it is one of many points I have made several times to friends who have come to think of me as the come-to-political-guru and ask me over and over again what are the keys to Obama's successes.  

Let's look at the facts and think here.  Why is Obama where he is now, on the verge of becoming the Democratic nominee?  It's in large part due to African American support.  Exactly how many primaries has he won by winning whites?  Not many.  Turn the question around: why did Obama win South Carolina?  The Answer: Because of overwhelming African American support.  Same thing with the primaries in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi.  Obama lost the white vote in those states.  If it weren't for deep African American support, Obama would not be where he is, it's as simple as that.  

With that being said, I think it's important to note that there is nothing wrong with a particular group voting for "their own".  We saw it with John Kennedy and Catholics.  We see it today with Sen. Clinton and women.  We saw it for years and years with white males voting for white males.  There is a sense of pride with voting for one's own, and I understand that.  As I've said, there's nothing wrong with it, so why deny it's happening.  It is happening and anyone who believes otherwise is living in an alternate universe.  There is no way anyone can convince me that African Americans would support Obama 90-10 if Obama was white.  So yes, in that way, Obama's ethnicity is a huge plus.  He would not be the near-nominee without the immense support of African Americans, since he would have lost most of the primaries that he has won.  

The final thing I want to say is that I couldn't agree more with Ferraro's statement, "if he was a woman, of any color, he would not be in this position".  Let's be honest with ourselves, if a woman ran for President with as little experience as Barack Obama, she would be laughed off the stage.  Many say they can picture Obama as Commander-in-Chief, but if Obama was a woman, I can guarantee he would not be even thought of as a Commander-in-Chief.  There is a different standard out there for men and women, especially in politics, and I hope everyone can realize that.  

Ferraro's comments, although said in a less than appealing way, are not at all inaccurate and, in fact, hold a great deal of truth.  It's not that it's bad Obama is where he is because he is an African American, because it isn't, but it is a fact. Take away Obama's African American support, you take away his big South Carolina win, which in turns takes away the momentum he had heading into Super Tuesday, which in turns takes away several of his Super Tuesday wins, which in turns takes away his momentum after February 5, which in turn would take away his sweep of the remaining February contests, which in turn would leave him no where as of right now, which in turn would validate Ferraro's remarks.  Again, and I want to stress this, there is nothing derogatory  about saying Obama is where he is because of his race, personally I think it's great that an African American has a valid shot at the Presidency, but it is a fact that being an African American has helped Obama.  It's backed up by exit polls and shear common knowledge concerning the society we live in. 

P.S.: And I know that there are those who say Obama's race hurts him more than it helps.  I'll admit that it might hurt him in some key areas, such as the South, where remnants of racism are still very prevalent,  but even in the South, whites aren't voting AGAINST Obama in the numbers that African Americans are voting FOR him.  So that argument, in my opinion, is a bust.  

UPDATE: As I was writing this, I came across some quotes from NBC where Ferraro apparently elaborated on her previous comments.  The following is from NBC's First Read:

"Ferraro said she was simply stating an obvious truth, as seen in exit polls that show Obama taking as much as 80 percent of the black vote in the Democratic primaries.

"In all honesty, do you think that if he were a white male, there would be a reason for the black community to get excited for a historic first?' Ferraro said. 'Am I pointing out something that doesn't exist?' ...

Ferraro said she was not trying to diminish Obama's candidacy, and acknowledged up front that she would not have been the vice presidential nominee in 1984 if she had been a man.

"But she also echoed remarks of feminist leaders like Gloria Steinem, who argued in the New York Times that Obama would not have succeeded if he were a woman because gender is 'the most restricting force in American life.'

" 'Sexism is a bigger problem,' Ferraro argued. 'It's OK to be sexist in some people's minds. It's not OK to be racist.'"

(On a personal note, at least when I'm talking to friends and others, sexism is very much a problem in today's world.  As progressive as I may be, I have many conservative/moderate friends.  Many would never say they didn't support Obama because he is black.  Maybe they feel that way, I don't know since I can't get in their minds, but they don't nor would they ever imply they are racist.  They do, however, have no problem saying that women (in general) are not qualified to be President and therefore they can not support Hillary Clinton nor could they support any woman who ever ran for President.  Trust me, statements like that have lead to many, many arguments.)