February 11, 2007
I am watching Senator Barack ’s announcement of his Presidential candidacy on C-Span. He is so smart, so sensible, so articulate, so clean(no puns intended) so easy to listen to … and so impressive! I’m a little bored –had a bit too much politics in my live lately — but I want to see history unfolding.But, as a Black American, I thought I would get excited … and I didn’t excited. (I didn’t get to excited in 2004 when Obama spoke at the Democratic Convention, either.) like I did when Jesse Jackson announced his candidacy in 1984.
The music played by U2 put me to sleep. Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now that followed woke me up.
Obama does not wish to be seen as the Black candidate for President, but as the Presidential candidate who happens to be Black. We all know why that is; race is the ultimate litmus test of politics today and don’t let anyone tell you different. In the end, however, what is good for Black America is good for all of America And no matter how a campaign spins it, Obama is the first Black candidate in the 2008 Presidential sweepstakes.Then I heard “Shout” playing in the background. Fun song, but permanently associated with rowdy white frat boys from “Animal House.” Bad choice, particularly in the aftermath of the Duke debacle. Someone needs to remind political consultants to use common sense sometimes.
There has been alot of media questioning Obama’s support in the African American communities. Some Black observers say Obama is popular with whites because he is “safe.” They can now point as well to the fact that launching a campaign with Lincolnesque overtones from Springfield sends a mixed message to African American voters. Some Black observers have specifically stated that the Senator’s life does not “share” the American Black experience and that Obama is not a “genuine” American of African descent. I guess they didn’t get excited, either.
In all honesty, I don’t question Colin Powell’s understanding of what it is to be Black, nor do I question the mindset of Condoleeza Rice. I just don’t like their political friends, but they are indeed Black.Whether you like Obama’s politics or not — and I have not taken a position on the Presidential contest — you cannot say that Obama is not Black enough and you cannot say that he is any less qualified to be President of these United States than any other candidate past or present for that office. I am looking for the person who can incorporate all the wisdom, strength, blend it with a sense of faith, realizing the urgency, and get busy. I am looking for the strategist who can do something about world affairs. I am looking for the one who is genuine and fresh yet who has all the tools and credentials to look after my domestic issues and keep me safe. His friends gives me cause for concern
If that’s Barack Obama, it’ll be okay. If it’s someone else, let them be heard.
What are your thoughts?
February 11, 2007 at 6:15 am
I think it is wonderful to have him in the race.
February 11, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Last Sunday we saw not one but two Black NFL head coaches win competing in the Superbowl, which is the first time this has ever happened. God Willing, and the way things are going, we may run out of nationally prominent “firsts” by the time my future children become adults.
Could he be the first Black president? Why not? Why not Barack Obama? Granted, we’ve all joked about how there may never be a Black president and the dangers he or she might face between election day and inauguration. Granted Obama has received a lot of hype without the close substantive scrutiny that, say, Hillary Clinton or Rudy Guilani has been under.
But his message is about hope. And why not hope for achieving the impossible? Were it not for hope and faith we would never have seen the end of chattel slavery.
February 11, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I just received the blog post and I’m excited about him running. I hope the nuts don’t start taking shots at him. Let us pray daily of his safety.
February 12, 2007 at 2:10 am
Voting for a party should be passe’ in this country.There is good and bad in all….The bad weights the good down.
Obama may seem like some one who is not seasoned enough for the job but our present president is supposed to be and look at the mess he has gotten us into…… with no end in sight…… no obvious strategy….. so many of our soldiers killed …. exorbitant amounts of money spent… etc.
I could ” tolerate ” an Obama / Clinton ticket, however.
February 12, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Unfortune for us Connie, that is a pipe dream in Amerkia, expecting party and race to be passe.
February 12, 2007 at 1:07 pm
The Muslim rumors have damage Obama.
Many people believe he was raised a Muslim. I have heard the question asked 10 times this past week by people who are sure that he is a Muslim. It is like the Saddam and 9/11 thing.
Playing in on the fears of white folks and Jews already.
February 12, 2007 at 1:08 pm
The digging for dirt on this guy has started. The media created him, and they won’t let him go unscathed. His 15 mintues of fame is not short lived.
February 12, 2007 at 1:09 pm
As a 19 year old I can point to nothing in my life that the Democrats have done, atually passed and done, that is actually progressive and will help me. I see Obama as a tool of the white establishment.
February 12, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I’d agree with you Jack. There are many Democrats who I think have lost their way as the party of FDR and JFK. I’m very much at odds with most Dems and hope Democrats, so let’s hope Obama is different.
February 12, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Let’s hope that fool Ralph Nader is not around spliting the vote to allow a Repub to win in 2008.
February 12, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Teniquita, I totally disagree. I’m not sure Bill Clinton was ever President if not for Ross Perot. He pulled away tons of fiscal conservatives while bringing some new independent thinkers in to his tally.
February 12, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I think all these 3rd parties especially the Green Party, and for that matter, other third parties, are kinda foolish by putting so much resources into the race for the White House. They need to focus on the local level first, city council, state house, yes some Congress and Senate. Get more elected offices on a local level getting their message out. When these dumb voters see how its done on the local level, they can then translate these votes to the national level, until then shills they will remain.
February 12, 2007 at 1:18 pm
With all do respect, I think that the view regarding third parties as “dividing” is a fiction. For that matter, if there were an analygous situation for Republicans nationwide - as there is here in NY with the Conservative party - I would extend my view to that.
February 12, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I think third parties can have a positive influence on democracy. We currently have a 2 party oligarchy that drives the country. With only 52% of the country bothering to turn out to vote in the Presidential elections, maybe those who feel burned by a vote going to a third party just didn’t make the best case for his/her candidacy, and I can assure you that the repubs and dems will find some modern day negroe to run and deplete the Black and minority vote.
February 12, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Yall jumping the gun…Last time I checked, we live in America. Anyone can run for President so long as he or she meets the Constitutionally minimum requirements. Should such person make a better case than one of the 2 major party endorsed candidates, and a voter should vote for such a person, then so be it. That is the real world.
February 12, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Reality check folks. Most of the money the Greens get is money from the GOP and Dems to hijack young Democrat and Republican voters in primaries.
February 12, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Brenda, you some kind of anti-semite or anti-zionist?
If Obama is a card carrying muslin, he will be exposed.
February 12, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) made his first misstep a few days ago when he joined only a handful of Democrats in opposing a Senate reform banning the increasingly widespread practice of legislators hiring their family members on their campaign or PAC payrolls.
Bad…Bad…
February 12, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I think if racist redneck white southerners got over Goldwaters Jewish roots over 40 years ago then I think Obama might also if those bible thumpers would give him a chance. The only ones Ive seen who question that he might be a Muslim come from the evangelical far right and they arent likely to vote Obama. If anything, prejudice will brings Obama down because of his race. And for those who advocate evangelism in the Muslim World yet be against Obama because of fears he could be a Muslim…they are nothing short of complete hypocrites. If anything…Obama will probably be hated among conservative Muslims because of the fact he didnt follow his fathers faith…Islam
February 12, 2007 at 4:56 pm
The basic political fact on the Democrats’ side of the fence is that Hillary and Barack are sucking up about 95% of the money. Edwards can at least stay within shouting distance by virtue of his trial-lawyer connections, but still he is at a severe disadvantage. Overcoming it will require Edwards to harness some sort of Generation X phonemal,something exciting and compelling…to cause fatcat Democrats’ donors, organizers and fundraisers to turn away from the Hillary and Golden Boy!!
February 12, 2007 at 5:01 pm
What in the hell are Republicans doing up in heah messing in Democrats business?
February 12, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Hey Loo,
go ahead and change your party affiliation and vote for your next president, obama
February 16, 2007 at 1:46 am
Two prominent black elected officials in South Carolina — State Senators Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson — endorsed US Senator Hillary Clinton on Tuesday. The influential duo told the AP they were courted by Senator Obama, but decided to endorse Clinton because they want the Democrats to win in November. “I love Obama, but I’m not going to kill myself … Everybody else on the ballot is doomed [if Obama wins the nomination]. Every Democratic candidate running on that ticket would lose because [Obama] is black and he’s at the top of the ticket — we’d lose the House, the Senate and the Governors and everything,” said Ford. Just imagine the backlash if a white politician had made those same remarks.