Racism haunts Obama

I guess you missed the post where I stated that I'm an African-American who has lived the first 32 years of my life in the US of A. So I quite familiar with what's going on in America.

The attitude of not wanting Obama to run because you think harm is going to come is one of the worst rationalizations I've ever heard. What if MLK Jr, Malcolm X and RFK gave up because they were too afraid? Where would we be? We can't let the sociopaths determine the future. What if Rosa Parks was too afraid to get on that bus? There will most likely be an attempt on Obama's life. Hell, there was an attempt on Reagan's and he didn't have any of this stuff Obama is getting. I'm just hoping the Secret Service do their job and Obama gets very lucky. Bravery must triumph over fear. Repeat that until you believe it.

I was going to back off this subject for awhile but I wanted to pass on a remark I heard recently. Several were discussing a possible running mate for McCain and someone mentioned Romney. "Romney? Hell I won't vote for anyone wearing funny underwear!" That, BTW, was their remark...not mine.


They should check out this site and see some of the underwear here in the galleries! Doubtful though they would ever see these posts - they're probably very homophobic also.

Yes and I'm trying to figure out what these archaic ideals and beliefs are as they apply to Obama? Is it that Blacks are dirty? Dumb? Lazy? Godless? Savages? Welfare takers? Drug addicts? Criminals? Rapists? Thugs?

Those are some of the stereotypes that have been used against Blacks. Obama defies all of them categorically. So what beliefs and ideals are people associating with him? What does Obama's blackness mean to these people? That's what I'm not getting. It has to mean something. It always means something. Even if that meaning is irrational.

I think you are right on there HotBulge. The appeal of Obama, for those who are politically awake, also rests in the reality that four (or eight) years of Clintonism is four or eight more years of the same crap in a different package. Going forward, we are looking at a potential Bush(HW) Clinton(WJ)/Bush(GW)/Clinton(HR)/Bush (Jeb)/Clinton(Chelsea?) power chain that the media-military-industrial complex puppet-masters salivate over. B.H. Obama throws a wrench in that chain, hence his appeal.

His wife's dissertation about not feeling like she belonged on the campus of the college she was attending was disturbing. Most people cannot afford to even attend a college like that black or white. College campuses are filled with people from all over the world, how is it that one black woman with money can feel like an outsiders when there are thousands of other black students on the same campus?

I feel badly that she felt this way.

I don't have a problem with Obama's race or his political views. (Not all of them anyway.)

For me, personally, there is something I cannot put my finger on that bothers me about him. Something I do not trust. Something only time will tell for me.

If he wins, I hope he does us all the kind favor of being the best man for the job.

Do you peeps ever think that maybe people don't really care what race he is, they just don't like him as a politician - then the media spins up the race card and says that people don't like him because he is black or has a Muslim name? I generally think that the media thrives on these "shock tidbits" and everyone buys into it. Are there people out there that won't vote Obama because he is black? Sure. Are there people out there that won't vote Clinton because she is a woman? Sure. Are there people out there that won't vote McCain because he was in the military? Sure. Are there people that won't vote for Ron Paul because he believes in the Consititution? Sure. Are there that won't vote for Romney because he is a Mormon? Sure. Are there people that won't vote for Richardson because he is overweight? Sure. I mean, please people. Can't you see that the media has just picked the most controversial subject to create ratings?

Personally, I think America is far beyond it's media's political rhetoric. If racism is truly living on, it is because we continually say that it is alive and feed into it. If we just snuffed our noses and said, whatever dude, and walked away, I think the situation would be far less today than if we "combated" it. Furthermore, that maybe if we saw racism occur, that someone not in the situtaion would have the balls to stand up and say, "Hey man, that is jacked up."

This, of course, is coming from a white guy. I am sure that I have not experienced racism as much as a minority, but then again, if someone makes a snide comment about my skin or something (which they have) I just snuff it up as that individual being a jackass. In other words, I don't assume that someone is being down on me due to a generality (I'm white, I'm male, etc) but rather because they don't like me personally. In my life I've always been an outcast and been made fun of - but I've always assumed that if I buy into the lie, then the lie wins and lives on. If it was never true in the first place, walk away. If it was somewhat true, then improve on it and break free of the stereotype.

Here is a video that I think was well said on the issue... (YouTube - Everyone Isn't Racist, Black People!!)

As for people going to jail and the numbers being unweighted (more blacks go to jail for crimes that whites also commit). I don't get this argument. If someone does something that is wrong, should they be punished? Yeah, I think everyone would agree with that. So, if whites are being let off, well that is downright shitty. However, if a black does something wrong and is caught and convicted, should we be complaining that the white guy got off or trying to quit doing the dirty deed? I think the more logical and beneficial answer is to not worry about the other guy and try to fix our own shitniz! Its just like when you get pulled over for speeding, and then you see a dude fly by going 30mph over the limit, and you look at the cop and go "WHAT! Are you not going to get him! I was only doing 10 over! He is going 30 over!" Regardless of how fast that guy was going, were you not going over and thus breaking the law?

I hope I didn't offend anyone. I am a firm believer in individualism. To me, nobody is black or white or Latino or Asian (etc) - we are all humans. If I don't like you, I don't feel that way because of your skin, I feel that way because you are stupid (or a prick, etc). I think the racism issue would be bettered if everyone holding up the racism card put that card down and said, no, I'm not black (latino, etc), I'm an individual human-being. No, I'm not saying that you have to give up your heritage, but you do have to assimilate to some level. I don't believe in this collectivism thought process where the group itself is higher than the individual. (No you are not BLACK, you are Martin, Rosa, and Jackie who happen to have black skin).

As for Obama, I don't like him one bit. Again, I am an individualist. Each person is responsible for their problems AND their success alike. The government is not here and was not designed to be a "daddy" and make us all play nice. I think that Obama plays too much into this collectivist thought process, and I think that is a very dangerous road to go down.

Anyways, I suppose I should put on my flame suit now..

i dont like anyone running for president i guess Mickey Mouse gets my vote this year
It has nothing to do with race or gender or age
But i dont think either one of the 3 could do the job!!!!
This country has some real issue it needs to overcome

All of the above, and then some. What's funny is that people with these beliefs about different races tend to associate these same ideal to anyone that are different from them. If Obama was Asian, those who hate Asians would think the same thing.

It is irrational. But we're talking about people who don't use rational thinking. Instead of looking at people as individuals, they categorize an entire demographic by the actions of a few. And most of these views are highly influenced by the media, as well as their own fears and ignorance. If one black man robs a bank, then they assume all of them must do the same thing. It really doesn't make any sense for any adult to think this way, but unfortunately we have plenty of people who do... and they all get a chance to vote too.

If you put yourself in her shoes, it is very easy to see hwo she felt that way. Think about, imagine that you have grown up being told that you are inferior to the other race by the other race. You work hard but still face racism on a daily basis. Not only that, you get to a school that is 3%/4% black, your actual ability comes into question because people assume you get in on affirmative action, you are the only black a lot of times in the classroom, dormroom, gym etc... You are not hit on and are single because there is not a man there to pick her up and the ones that are there go after white girls or the light skin which was and is a huge issue in the black community. The list goes on and on. Jus tlook at history, blacks have to an extent, been treated as second class citizens and have been viewed with suspicion as to how smart they are and such. Because Michelle didnt feel comfortable doesnt mean she is unpatriotic, it just means she didnt feel comfortable. Just imagine what it feels like for the average white person to walk into a room full of black people and you are the only white. It can be quite uncomfortable. Now imagine that everyday. Its that simple. And just to clarify, Michelle didnt have money. Listen to her story when she talks, her parents jsut worked hard and put her in a position to do well educationally.

I agree. Hillary has a lot of baggage but he's catching up.

She strikes me as an angry person, and someone who for some reason feels threatened by white people. She's been privileged and should rejoice in that. I won't call her a racist, but she has issues.


That's my feeling. Something is just not right which can't be explained. It's a feeling I have inside which is not how his supporters feel about him. I can't in good conscience vote for him. McCain doesn't do much for me, but if I have to choose, it's going to be McCain.

I wish there were more choices available.

But the media wouldn't focus on these "controversial topics" if people never paid attention to them to begin with. Plenty of people pick Presidential candidates based on celebrity, image, and everything else besides the main issues. The media knows this, so they continually bring up these tabloidish stories about each candidate that really don't mean a thing except to those who choose to obsess about them. You've seen some of the ridiculous threads about Clinton & Obama on this board. Sometimes I wonder how people come to these outrageous beliefs about the candidate they support or hate, whether they put them on the Pedestals of God or in the fiery pits of Purgatory. And God forbid if you tell any of these conspiracy-theory finding individualists they're not using their heads.

Rational thinking people will ignore all of the non-issues and make a sound choice based on topics that do matter. I just hope there's more rational thinkers out there come in November.

Ms. Teacher -

1) His baggage is not nearly the same amoutn of the clintons, hence they go after him for his associations with others and not for things he has actually done. The clintons have shown time and time again that they are not trustworthy and that they lack the right judgement. Lying to the public about sniper fire, lying under oath to america and the courts regarding adultry, stealing from the white house on their way out (look it up on google, you will find articles about this), pardoning criminals before they leave office etc...

2) Calling Michelle angry is your lack of understanding. Just because she is priviledged to go to a school like Princeton does not mean that she never faced racism and that it didnt have an effect on her. I hate when blacks are described as angry because they share their opinions. Im sure she rejoices in her current state now, but even so, the fact we must have this convo on this thread explains why she would feel like an outsider and not always feel so accepted.

3) and you voting for mccain instead of barack if hillary doesnt win just does not make sense to me. You will vote for someone who stands against the complete opposite of hillary when you have someone who basically is runnin on the same platform as hillary? You will vote for someone that will add additional judges to the supreme court that will most likely restrict your rights? you will choose someone who is willing to stay in Iraq for 100 more years. You will vote for someone who said the economy is doing fine? Please explain your logic because it does not make sense. If you truely believed in Hillary, youd vote for her party and not against it. People who talk liek this confuse me

I think this is hogwash. If anyone wants change, they would vote for someone like Ron Paul.
BHO still funds wars just like the neo-conservatives, just like Bush.
BHO still wants to leave troops in all the overseas bases, just like the neo-conservatives, just like bush.
BHO still wants to leave troops in Iraq for 5 or so years, they don't want a deadline, and BHO hasn't said a deadline, just a desire.
BHO still wants to spend money on the war on drugs (which has been proven that it is a waste. Plus, think of all the people who would not be in jail just because they had an ounce of weed), just like the neo-conservatives, just like Bush.
BHO still wants to continue the No Child Left Behind Act, a failed Bush policy.
BHO still wants to continue the Patriot Act, just like Bush.
BHO still wants the Real ID Act, just like the neo-conservatives, just like Bush.

I'm not seeing a whole lot of difference between BHO and the neo-conservatives here...

<<<< just got outed by Peaceful

Your sharp! I like you.

So, you may account for the Bush Jr's win in the 2004 election, but that still doesn't explain the 2000 election with Bush vs. Al Gore. Needing security in a post 9/11 world never justified going into Iraq under the fabricated evidence that the Bush administration offered.

Actually, we all know that the Election 2000 was determined by a judicial fiat of the Supreme Court. In a parallel universe with Al Gore as President for 8 years, how would America have developed and prospered? Let's not invest too much energy into speculative, alternative history with Al Gore as president, but it is fair to presume that Al Gore would have offered more judicious leadership under a UNITED (and not divided) STATES of AMERICA!