Obama on white people

Gateway Pundit, quoting the Philadelphia Inquirer, quoting Barack Obama speaking on a Philadelphia radio program said:

"The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity," he said. "But she is a typical white person.

This is a selective quotation. If you listen to the audio, here is what Barack Obama said:

Barack Obama said:

The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity, she doesn't, but she is a typical white person, who if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, there's a reaction that's been bred into our experiences.

It is a shame that someone trying to give a nuanced explanation ...

3-21-2008 12:07 PM

curomo

N2sooners & Willhelm...

did you actually listen to that speech or are you just trolling? He didn't throw anyone under the bus, he gave an honest assessment of the racial situation in this country. Honesty that I haven't seem before in my 15 years of paying attention to politics.

He didn't excuse or defend his former pastor, he acknowledged the problem and challenged all Americans to fight it. And he didn't just address the problem in the black community, but he nail the concerns that I have a white conservative.

If you want to find fault in his speech, it is only that he acknowledged that the problem is bigger than he can address. I'm concerned that there is no clear plan, but...

3-21-2008 12:18 PM

willhelm

He didn't throw anyone under the bus, he gave an honest assessment of
the racial situation in this country. Honesty that I haven't seem
before in my 15 years of paying attention to politics.

Well, then you have not been paying attention. These things have been said for decades by conservative blacks like Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, and Walter Williams to name a few.

However, the speech was not, in itself, the tone of the truth of Conservative blacks. Obama's speech was self-congratulatory, blaming, divisive in that he claimed esoteric culture that "some" may not understand (what a fool).

Despite, glowing appraisal from an adoring press, this speech was purely cynical and Clintonian.

3-21-2008 12:28 PM

arifsali

These things have been said for decades by conservative blacks

That's trolling alright!

3-21-2008 12:29 PM

Willhelm said:

Obama's speech was self-congratulatory, blaming, divisive in that he claimed esoteric culture that "some" may not understand

I haven't listened to Obama's speech yet and after hearing this characterization I think I'll pass. I get all of the self-congratulatory, blaming, divisive, and condescending rhetoric I need from Willhelm right here on Clipmarks.

3-21-2008 12:31 PM

arifsali

Is that white boy Sean Hannity running out of sound bites or what? They are another breed of trollers, instead of talking about their own candidate, they talk about the opponents (they don't have any candidates, ouch).

3-21-2008 12:54 PM

This is a selective quotation

But you seem to dismiss what he had already said about her. "her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe." And he says that is just like a 'typical white' person. If I said anything negative and said it was typical of black people, is there any doubt that I would be called a racist?

And n2sooners come on - typical does not mean all and you know that (or are you professing your prejudices?)

You are right, it doesn't mean all, just most. So he thinks MOST white people are afraid of blacks and use racial slurs all the time. No stereotyping on his part at all....

3-21-2008 1:13 PM

OK, fine, let's read the whole section of the speech where Obama bashes white people:

Barack Obama said:

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

So Barack called his grandmother ...

3-21-2008 1:39 PM

So, I guess it would be okay then if I said Wright was a typical black person?

3-21-2008 1:42 PM

The point is that this behavior is typical of a lot of people, black and white. In many ways Wright and his believes are typical of African-American culture, and not everything that he said was untrue.

3-21-2008 1:51 PM

Well, if you were willing to acknowledge & recognize the complexity, contradictions, and the potential for both right and wrong within human beings I suppose you could get away with talking about the "typical black person".

But I get the sense from this conversation that's a pretty big "if".

3-21-2008 2:21 PM

Well, if you were willing to acknowledge & recognize the
complexity, contradictions, and the potential for both right and wrong
within human beings I suppose you could get away with talking about the
"typical black person".

I do...

3-21-2008 2:27 PM

My comment was directed at n2sooners in response to his question, ratilfar.

3-21-2008 2:40 PM

My apologies.

3-21-2008 3:00 PM

Well, if you were willing to acknowledge & recognize the complexity, contradictions, and the potential for both right and wrong within human beings I suppose you could get away with talking about the "typical black person".

You really believe that? In this day and age where you can be fired for using the word niggardly, you really believe any conservative white person could use the phrase 'typical black' when referring to a negative trait and not be skewered for it?

3-21-2008 3:18 PM

If that person said something that was just as nuanced and eloquent as Obama, sure.

But as I said, I have a feeling that's not what you're talking about.

3-21-2008 3:45 PM

So, if I were to equate something a black friend of mine does or did to things the pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church does and then say it was alright because I believed he was just a typical black person, it would be alright as long as I did so eloquently and with nuance?

3-21-2008 4:01 PM

You've already failed on the nuance front by saying that Obama's pastor is like Fred Phelps.

But Obama DID say that Wright's anger was reflecting a tendency among African-Americans who came of age before Jim Crow was abolished:

For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own fail...

3-21-2008 4:08 PM

You've already failed on the nuance front by saying that Obama's pastor is like Fred Phelps.

And you have shown your lack of objectiveness by suggesting there is any real difference between the two.

3-21-2008 4:10 PM

Wait. So

Wright says "god damn america".

Fred Phelps says "god damn america".

So Wright=Fred Phelps.

Is that the way it works?

3-21-2008 4:32 PM

They both hate America. One believes God hates gays, the other believes God hates whites. They both believe America is being punished because of that group they hate. They both have truther conspiracy theories. They both preach hate to their followers. They are both bigots.

3-21-2008 6:06 PM

I'll refer you again to Obama's speech.

I don't think you can say that for Phelps and his ilk that they grew up in a time when their rights were denied by the government and they had their opportunities curtailed because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. It would not make sense to say that "For the men and women of Fred Phelps generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years."

Is Wright a good guy? I don't know, I don't really care. I'm not a big fan of clergymen anyway. But I buy Obama's argument that you can't reduce Wright to just "god damn the USA".

Which gets back to my original ...

3-21-2008 6:23 PM

You got proof to back that up n2?

3-21-2008 6:32 PM

You got proof to back that up n2?

Actually, I'm not positive that Phelps is nearly as conspiracy minded as Wright, although I think they both have that "chickens coming home to roost" mentality over 9/11 (to quote Wright).

So, how would you feel if McCain attended a church with this on their website?

“We are a congregation which is Unashamedly [White] and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the [White] religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are a [European] people, and remain "true to our native land,"… We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a [White] worship service and ministries which address the...
read more»

3-21-2008 6:34 PM

Oh, and it sounds to me like you two aren't up on the preachings of Wright. If you think this is all about him damning America, then you are sadly mistaken. That is just the tip of the iceberg, but you won't find much of the real truth just relying on the MSM.

3-21-2008 6:40 PM

Again...links would be nice, from credible sources.

3-21-2008 6:57 PM

Try checking other clips here. Of course, most of those are from conservative sources since the MSM won't touch it with a ten foot poll. And you will simply shoot down the source because it is way easier than debating the substance. So how about you find out for yourself instead of asking others to hold your hand just so you can flame them? I'll give you a hint though, try looking up Wright's sermons on youtube and seeing the inflammatory things he says yourself.

3-21-2008 6:59 PM

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

The Pastor as well as ...

3-21-2008 7:29 PM

Of course, most of those are from conservative sources since the MSM won't touch it with a ten foot poll. And you will simply shoot down the source because it is way easier than debating the substance.

I point out that in this clip TWICE we have seen quotations from Obama that were selectively edited to make him appear anti-white. I guess it easier than having to deal with the complexity of what Obama said about race.

3-21-2008 7:40 PM

There was nothing selective about those quotes. Obama DID say his grandmother used racial slurs, he DID say she was afraid of black people, he DID equate her to Wright, and he DID say he believe she is a typical white person. There is no context you can put that in where it isn't a slam on most white people.

3-21-2008 7:43 PM

Because if you throw in black and African in there, that is word for word from Obama's church, and I don't believe he has condemned the church and as far as I know he is still a member.

It will be a LOOONG time before explicit white identities and groups will be as acceptable as explicit black identities and groups, which makes sense. White identity has been thoroughly tainted in the US. European descendents organized as whites to disenfranchise and exploit blacks.

I don't see why you should care. Ethnic identity is not being denied to White Americans, who can start or join Jewish groups, Irish groups, Italian groups, Scottish groups, French groups, British groups, etc. Or churches for that matter.

3-21-2008 7:46 PM

There was nothing selective about those quotes. Obama DID say his grandmother used racial slurs, he DID say she was afraid of black people, he DID equate her to Wright, and he DID say he believe she is a typical white person. There is no context you can put that in where it isn't a slam on most white people.

OK, I guess now that we're repeating ourselves, this conversation is over. I have given the whole context of Obama's remarks and readers can decide for themselves if Obama was slamming whites or not.

3-21-2008 7:52 PM

I guess it is up to each person to decide for themselves. Some of us think being equated to Wright is an insult while others don't.

3-21-2008 8:12 PM

yanceducat

The tone of the people supporting Obama is the same as always, basically name calling and extreme rationalization for themselves and Obama.

Obama could rob a Bank and they'd be saying, "Well look at the history and the special culture of course he robbed the Bank and he did it in such an elegant and nuanced way.

His speech was honest? How in the world can anyone know that? A speech can write itself you know. You see what kind of impression you want to make, figure out what line of gab will go over and spit it out.

You've actually got to know someone through years of experience,not just believe in them, before you can have a clue of when they are lying or not.

3-21-2008 8:54 PM

n2...your making the allegations, if you don't have anything to back them up, don't expect me to taken them seriously.

3-21-2008 10:29 PM

n2...your making the allegations, if you don't have anything to back them up, don't expect me to taken them seriously.

If you want someone to actually bother wasting time looking up for you what you could look up for yourself, then you shouldn't tell them up front that you are going to dismiss anything they post if you don't approve of the source. Wright's sermons are all over the internet, and I am not going to play tag trying to find them from a source of which you approve. If you want to dictate the source, the find it yourself.

3-21-2008 11:30 PM