Sometimes I wish my homeboy had actually succeeded and was able to ship every one of you Negroes out of A-merry-ca. Then I wouldn't be suffering from all this angst and feelings of solicitude during this long political season.
I was right about A-merry-ca all along. This run for the presidency by the "O" man was bound to get down in the racial gutter eventually. I just didn't think that it would be the liberal and so called folks on the left that would take us there. I mean damn Hillary; could you have at least let us get out of the primary season before we went down this road? I knew it was going to get ugly when the right wing hate and slime machine crawled out of their holes just in time for the general. I was at least hoping that we would make it that far before the bullshit started. But no such luck. Here we are. Thanks to Hillary, white A-merry-ca is on racial alert, and it will take a miracle for the "O" man to pull this out now. Dick Cheney could beat him in the general, and he is about as popular as Mike Tyson at a NOW convention.
And I want to say for the record; right here and now, that I have changed my mind about voting for Hillary in the general if she wins this primary. Who am I kidding? I can't do it. Not if it goes down like this. As much as it would pain me to see a rethug in the White House again, given what I have seen from camp Hillary, I have to ask myself if it would be that much different with a rethug in power.
But Hillary can say mission accomplished. And she can make that secret 3:00AM phone call to her girl Geri, and say thanks for playing the race card so brilliantly. Now the folks over at FUCK NEWS have gone crazy over the "O" man's pastor, and they will not stop until the outrage is as great for the "O" man going to the church of a "racist" as it is for Geri's comments.
All this right in time for Pennsylvania. A state with more racist white folks than Alabama and Mississippi combined (I can say that because I live here). When I leave Philly, unless I am in a plane, I always head East or South. There is a reason for that. But I digress. Back to Hillary.
So "Ice Queen" I think you have lost my vote. And as a result, you will be 0-2 in the Field Household come November. Because there is no doubt in my mind that if you beat the "O" man, Mrs Field, Obamaholic that she is, will not be voting for your ass.
But I cherish my vote, and I am wondering what I should do now. Lord knows I can't vote for Mr. Morton.......and I don't want to waste my vote...damn it Hillary why did it have to go down this way? You broke my heart girl. Just like Bill broke yours by hooking up with that fat intern.
123 comments:
Look for the other candidates on the ballot, and see if you can vote for them. Otherwise, fuck it. I'm still ambivalent about voting for any of the presidential candidates as I've stated time and again, but the one thing that remains is that Hillary is the least vote-able as far as I'm concerned with the way she's made the campaign this ugly. Wow. Unfortunately, we'll never be able to recapture the "joy and excitement" people felt for the Democratic party in the beginning because of the top dog antics. Maybe voting for Mr. Morton will make Dems realize that our vote isn't a joke. I'm still oscillating, but let's do the research, man.
Get in the boat with me, Field and start rowing.
I'm not an Obamaholic; my choice was Edwards first. I actually was hoping Obama and Clinton would have canceled one another out.
But after the race-baiting coming from Hillary's camp, with Mammy Maggie being complicit in all of the mud slinging and going nuclear with race, I can't take it anymore.
The "O" man gets my vote because I need to send a message to Hillary Clinton; this is one Negro that walked away from your plantation and never will return. Book it.
I am one Negro who WILL NOT get back in my place, and you, Borg Queen, are NOT entitled to the job of POTUS.
Vote Cynthia McKinney! I always planned to do it.
As for the pastor, his sermon was BS. It's funny, cuz if Faux News ever saw or heard a Farrakhan speach, they would kill themselves. Hey, maybe that's not a bad thing.
Anyway, it's typical of her type; you know the passive-aggressive sneaky snitch bs that the one senior co-worker who keeps getting passed over for a position does. Their pissed at you, so they start talking about how much you're web-surfing or whatever..
But i don't know how long Obama thought he was going to go without the scrutiny regarding his pastor. I don't think you can blame Hilary solely for this "new" development. It was going to happen sooner or later...
Field, I can't believe you even seriously thought about voting for Hillary after all the crap she has done.
Sorry to tell you this Hillary has gone full Republican on your ass. She is no longer a Democrat and might have never been one in the first place. So, basically you were plan to vote Republican (Hillary) and did know it until now. Personally, I hate John McCain but compared to Hillary he's starting to look pretty damn good.
As for the flap over Obama pastor, he should have known better. When I say this I mean Obama ass knew eventually they would hit hard about his pastor views. At this point if I was Obama I'd switch church's quick. If he don't he can kiss the White House goodbye!
"At this point if I was Obama I'd switch church's quick. If he don't he can kiss the White House goodbye!"
anon.10:15PM, pretty much sums up how quite a few A-merry-cans feel about the "O" man's church and that's sad. Time to pull up the bus "O" man, someone else needs to be run over.
"but let's do the research, man."
Jose, help me bra, I don't know where to turn.
"Get in the boat with me, Field and start rowing."
LOL! Naw, I will wait for that "Black Star Liner"
brotherkomrade, I don't know fam. I just can't see myself voting for girlfriend right now. But if she is on the ballot here in Pa. come November...well, you never know.
Oh, well it looks like Obama is going to be bought down with this crap. However, we have a small bright spot this year. David Patterson will be the first Black governor of New York.
'Sorry to tell you this Hillary has gone full Republican on your ass. She is no longer a Democrat and might have never been one in the first place.'
Nah, she still wants to "give away the country" to us po folk who wants to stay healthy.
I don't know what alternatives we have left in the grab bag come November. But one thing is for sure. I can't vote for Hillary. She's turned too my tricks, games, and stunts. Until November, we've got to figure this thang out.
Field Mr. Wright has already retired from pastoring. Obama don't need to remove him self from his church because some white people has a problem with truth.
Pastor Wright knows about racism he is a black man. He has been preaching this message for over 20 years were was white America then? You can't preach something you don't know anything about.
His message is the same now as years ago. Black people empower your self. Fox news tried to use his pastor last year and it didn't work so I guess they will try again.
I just got through talking to my husband about this issue. And it does not matter that Pastor Wright has retired from preaching. What the powers that be are trying to say is that Obama attended this man church in the past for 20 odd years.
And yes most of what Pastor Wright said was spot on about America. But some of the other stuff he said was bizarre for many in main stream America. The truth is if this keeps up in the news it will hurt Obama badly. There is already talk that Michelle Obama is some kind extreme anti-America liberal.Now, this mess with his Pastor is not helping at all.
Here's the new Wright quote circulating around: "Jesus was a poor black man who lived in a country and who lived in a culture that was controlled by rich white people. The Romans were rich, the Romans were Italian, which means they were European, which means they were white, and the Romans ran everything in Jesus' country. It just came to me, within the past few weeks, y'all, why so many folks are hatin' on Barack Obama: He doesn't fit the mold. He ain't white, he ain't rich, and he ain't privileged. Hillary fits the mold. Europeans fit the mold. Giuliani fits the mold. Rich white men fit the mold. Hillary never had a cab whiz past her and not pick her up because her skin was the wrong color. Hillary never had to worry about being pulled over in her car as a black man driving in the wrong ne— I am sick of Negroes who just do not get it."
Hey Field and other folks - check out Keith Oberman's response if you have not. I find it to be genuine enough...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23601329#23601329
Naj in VA (forgot my blogspot login!)
I know many people, including a relative, who attend Obama's church. It is not a racist place.
They got other issues at Trinity UCC, but not racism. You are more likely to have bourgie black folks ignore other blacks than spew hatred to whites at that church.
But Obama's real problem is being detached from everyone. That's what a punk does.
A real man says, "Yeah, I know Rev. Wright/Min. Farrakhan! So what? You all know controversial people too".
WHO you know has nothing to do with WHAT you can do. Not saying that Obama's not a real man, but he is a little too neutral.
Miss you CPL, but I can't blame you for leaving. Field is the only person on the internet making any damn sense right now.
The funny thing is, I've sung in the choir at churches where the preacher regularly said worse things about us 'good white people,' but I frankly don't see any way Obama overcomes this one, unless he really is the Messiah or something.
Bring the Pain
Win or lose, this campaign has been cathartic for the Left. Finally we are facing issues head-on which have lain buried for too long. If Obama wins the nomination and cannot win the general because of race issues, it will still be a victory. If Hillary wins and loses the general, it will also be a victory.
I'm a white man and I agree with every word of Obama's pastor. I've said more inflammatory things than him often enough. White people need to hear these things, even if it's painful. People need to hear the truth.
The truth, FN, is that if 300 white people were killed in a single year in Philly, they'd send in the fucking marines. Murder of blacks has been treated as misdemeanor homocide for too damn long, and it's no insult to me as a white man to acknowledge it.
I don't hate myself for having white skin, but I'm also not proud of it. It's not me, it's a sequence of amino acids that control melanin production. There is no such thing as a white race. Race is a lie, and if it were true, interbreeding would not be possible. I have two cats with different patterns, are they different races? No, a cat is a damn cat.
The point is that americans don't like to accept responsibility and don't like to acknowledge painful truths. This is true about nearly everything. American society needs to face the pain, it needs to feel the suffering.
Most of all, it needs to face the inescapable consequences of laissez-faire capitalism. The economy is tanking because the working class has been squeezed dry. Do we really need another democrat to put a band-aid on this? Bring the pain.
-Anony Mouse
patterson is a super delegate already pledged to hillary.
Thanks to Hillary, white A-merry-ca is on racial alert, and it will take a miracle for the "O" man to pull this out now. Dick Cheney could beat him in the general...
Don't despair, Field.
The Borg Queen and her campaign of race-baiting won't win her the General Election. Sending out the Klan seamstress to bash Barack backfired on her fat-ass bigtime. In fact, the Borg Queen has been reduced to doing sumpin' she never does -- apologize, to African Americans for Billary's cracks in South Carolina and the Klan seamstress' digs.
The Borg Queen can't win the nomination because she trails Barack in delegates. Even if she wins Pensylvania, the math is on Barack's side.
November will be all about Barack Obama v. the oldest Republican senator alive. The polls show Barack will hand McCain his sagging ass.
I am willing it to be so.
Welcome to the cult, Field (I got tired of Hillary's bullshit months ago).
Didn't John McCain go talk to Pat Robertson & Jerry Falwell?
Gee, where were the media then?
When the Republicans would make a pilgrimage to Bob Jones University, where, oh where were the media?
Obama needs to get members of the church around him to beat back the media (interviews with members, maybe even a tour of the church and examples of what the church does for the community).
Oh, and Field:
Repeat after me:
I am the Field Negro, and I am an Obamaholic.
hmmm, you are an expert on ass christopher.
field, I won't vote for either.
I said on this blog months ago that Republicans have know for sometime that Hillary is not electable, that she has too many negatives, a diplomatic way of saying a politician is disliked by the voters. But, in Hillary's case, it's not dislike but a burning hatred with a passion normally reserved for child molesters and gang rapists.
But what I hadn't realized until recently is that Hillary has decided that, if she can't get elected, she won't let Barack get elected either, even if it destroys the democratic party, even her chances of running for president in 2012.
But, field, Christopher, any of you who are up on the democratic party: Help me understand why John Dean, Ted Kennedy, the DNC and other leaders haven't intervened to bring this race-baiting and destructive politics to end? Don't they realize that it's driving black people, their most loyal voting block, and many progressives away from the polls?
"The Borg Queen and her campaign of race-baiting won't win her the General Election. Sending out the Klan seamstress to bash Barack backfired on her fat-ass bigtime. In fact, the Borg Queen has been reduced to doing sumpin' she never does -- apologize, to African Americans for Billary's cracks in South Carolina and the Klan seamstress' digs."
-Too little, too late.
MacDaddy,
Speaker Botox told them both to stop their bickering.
But Barack isn't doing any bickering -- he's on the defense, having to address the shit thrown at him by the Borg Queen, Billary, Mark Penn, Howard Wolfson and Geraldine the Klan Seamstress.
He's got the upperhand now and Barack must begin talking about the issues Americans care about. He needs to visit every college and university in Pennsylvania, as well as every plant, high-tech company and Starbucks. And Barack can't forget the rural areas between Philly and Pittsburg. He carried Utah, Idaho and Colorado. I mean, WTF? Even I was surprised at that.
"Oh, and Field:
Repeat after me:
I am the Field Negro, and I am an Obamaholic."
Nope, I am O-Aid free :)
And this thing with the "O" mans church.Like these right wing nut jobs don't say worse shit in their churches every Sunday morning. There just isn't any of us there to hear it. See, this is why I don't f**k with organized religion.
"The point is that americans don't like to accept responsibility and don't like to acknowledge painful truths. This is true about nearly everything. American society needs to face the pain, it needs to feel the suffering."
Thanks for those comments Anony Mouse. Why don't YOU have a church? You need to be preaching what you are putting down here from a pulpit somewhere.
Field, I'm glad you saw the light. You don't need to sip the Obama-Aid, but hang in there. We must stand strong, or at least do something to show those who still support the Borg Queen to shove it up their ass.
Tonight, I did my part. I wrote one of the hardest posts in my life on my blog. I addressed it to someone I thought was a sane voice in the progressive blogosphere, and asked the questions no one has asked.
I don't give a fuck what flak I take for speaking the truth. Enough is enough. I'm tired of seeing race divide us, especially from those who supposedly call themselves "progressives".
I'd like to think of them as Storm Thurmond Democrats because the name fits.
The night of the MSNBC debate in Ohio, I realized then where this campaign was going. I knew that no matter how much Obama tried to dodge that Farrakhan bullet that was so unfairly shot at him, that was the beginning of linking Obama with blacks that were thought of as being angry, dangerous, and ungrateful. Like you, Field, I thought for sure that the racial bullsh** would rear it's hidious head and show us his filthy face when the GOP gang got ahold of him. But HC and her good folks have given them a head start.
When I got up this morning and turned on the television, I was pissed to see that Fox and CBS were featuring the angry, black preacher in Illinois, acting like he was some kind of killer. I knew that this was the beginning of the end for Senator Obama.
What's crazy is how white folks are so called afraid of black men. If anything we should be the ones that are scared. We're the ones that's been raped, beat, murdered, suspended from a tree, tarred, drug from the back of a truck, to mention a few of the many crimes that were commited against us.
I decided the night that Obama lost Texas that I would sit on my vote in November. And that is so unlike me. In fact, I'm pissed off at HC that she has pushed me to doing something that I completely disagree with, not voting.
But I knew the night of March 4th, there is no way in hell that I would vote for HC. She pissed me off so bad that night that it took me a full 24-hours before I calmed down. Her little acceptance speech sent me over the edge and sealed the deal for me. I'm paraphrasing, but when she said, "When that call comes, we don't need a president that will be giving speeches and getting on the job training.", I leaped off of the couch and begin cussing and fussing at the television. And when she said that little girls can look at her and say this is what they can grow up to be, I was even more pissed.
If Obama had said that little black children could look at him and know what they could grow up to be, he wouldn't have made it out of SanAntonio that night in one piece. The media alone would have tore him apart. Plus, we know that Obama's little girls can never look at HC and seeher as an inspiration.
Field, I cannot give my vote to a woman that has made it painfully clear how she feels about my black behind. I just can't do it. I just won't do it.
P.S. I'm back in my crib, with internet access. So, I'm back! Forgive me for the long post. I was making up for lost time. **smile**
A
Field Negro,
Great Blog! I've been visiting for a while, but I finally decided to post a comment.
But I gotta say something.
No offense, but I hope some of y'all are joking around 'cause I sense a little bit of a defeatist attitude with this Jeremiah Wright situation.
Come on now. What kind of glass jaw do you think Obama has?
I'm not gonna lie. This has the potential to be a big headache if the media catches on. But it's far from terminal.
Unless y'all believe Hillary's hype that PA is some kind of sudden death, end-all-be-all contest . . . unless you continue to allow Hillary and her supporters to set the terms of engagement, I see no reason to think he'd fold under the pressure. It's called a bad news cycle - it ain't the end of the world. He might lose some independent, Lou Dobbs-types of voters. But he'll have 8 months to win them back.
The math is the math. And the math says he's in a very strong position. Hillary can't spin that. Jeremiah Wright doesn't change that.
I mean, think about it, Hillary actually lost this thing about a month ago. But did you see her or her supporters start acting like the world was coming to an end? She lost 12 in a row; went into debt; fired her campaign manager; had in-fighting amongst her staff; went bipolar; and even got disowned by Mark Penn . . . it don't matter. All she did was change the subject.
But you mean to tell me that Obama gets his first sign of adversity and it's time for him to pack it up? Y'all are already thinking about 3rd party candidates?
I don't see it. If Obama's that soft then he should have never got in the race in the first place. Call me crazy, but I think he's a lot tougher than that.
Hey Field Negro - once again, great blog. Keep speaking truth.
@b-serious...
Backing you a 100%. I was thinking the same thing. You expressed my thoughts eloquently.
May I send you my "talking points" in the future...just to have you flesh them out in your clever and thoughtful way?
There's always hope. Apparently tickets to Obama's appearance in Indianapolis this Saturday were snapped up in thirty minutes, so I'm curious to see how he'll handle this. I'm confident he will be fine.
I hate how the mainstream media is complicit in smearing him like this. That's why I hope Obama reinstitutes the Fairness Doctrine when he takes office to give them the middle finger.
It may be up to us on the grassroots level to throw the nasty uppercuts for the "O"man. Quite frankly, I don't mind doing the dirty work, either.
This church story will probably die out soon because Obama can throw the church thing back at McCain. Remember Jerry Falwell and John Hagee? Their comments were far and beyond more racist than anything Wright has been quoted as saying. Maybe that's an inconvenient truth to white Christian people, (or maybe not) because the MSM's conservasphere (Matthews, Hannity, Scarborough, O'Racist) still ass-kisses to McCain whenever possible. But remember the brouhaha last year about Rezco(obama) and Wal-Mart(clinton)? I think that disappears from the people's minds as well.
So it's not all over for Obama- not by a long shot. You forget who he's running against- Mr.Morton. Bringing him down will be hard, but it won't be difficult. Francis Holland is already on it.
In fact, these recent events have pissed off a lot of liberals, fence sitters, and Obama-cans. White people are not too pleased. Obama may receive even more support from the Superdelegates, who ain't too happy with Clinton's slash and burn tactics.
~
Upper-caste North American Negroes, please spend one day in one of your local non-accredited middle schools or one of local non-accredited local high schools.
Go in, incognito as a substitute teacher, and then get back to us and let us know if you think our immediate problem as a people is Geraldine Ferraro, Hillary Clinton, or the MSM (Fox and other MainStreamMedia). I have met the enemy, and the enemy is our lower caste.
Obama, is not going to save these Negroes from themselves.
The type of Negroe that would shoot down a white girl for her ride and her ATM card will also shoot down your upper-caste Negroe wives and your upper-caste Negroe daughters, too.
I know, I know, you whine that white folk don't get alarmed about black-on-black crime; tough!! We need to get alarmed about it (black-on-black crime) and the dismal academic performances of our children.
Jesus is a myth; Jesus is an anthropomorphism of the Sun. Any Negroe (Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr included) telling you that Jesus existed, is lying.
Anthropomorphism, as in the Sun took on human form and dwelled here on earth with human-kind for 33 years.
Obama, is not going to save you nor is he going to save these low, low dog lower-caste Negroes from themselves.
The honorable Elijah Muhamud, said that, "you must separate yourselves."
Separate yourselves from these low-gut Negroes, because when white folk start spraying Negroe-icide, you do not want to be in the immediate vicinity.
But then you have already separated yourselves, right Field?
`
Field,
Obama has been prepared for this. If he wasn't thisclose to getting the nom they wouldn't be coming at him with double barrels. He has to do his part and stay positive, we have to do our part and vote. If enough people participate things will sort themselves out. These are some col and calculating people who see their careers going down in flames. If they're going down they want to take as many people with them. They're really just pissed because they backed the wrong person. You know that saying about how we make plans and God laughs at us...well they'll find out soon enough. Regardless of who wins we as the voters really need to stand up and assert ourselves in the political process and stop letting other people's interests determine our quality of life. These 60-80 year old politicians are the past and their time is almost up and they know it and they are pissed! Obama will be fine no matter what. He is respected, admired, feared and has powerful supporters as well as a huge swath of the public in his pocket. If his campaign gets torpedoed it will be because not enough people stood up or understood the real deal or cared about it to do something. What contingency plan or agenda do the Obama supporters have invested in the political process? Would the time be ripe for a viable alternative party? Is this the new American Revolution? How serious are people about change?
Amid all of this hoopla is the unheard millions that are crying out for change. They see all this crap as the same ol crap that they are sick and tired of being sick and tired of it.
I have way more faith in people, especially young people, to reject this divisive bullshit.
I will say it again. Obama will win. At this point in the primaries... it is mathmatically impossible for him to lose. AND, the powerbrokers in the Demo party are not stupid. They will not give it to Hillary because they KNOW it would be political suicide. In the general election, it will not just be about the president, but other democrats for House and Senate. They will not risk losing it all for the Clintons.... they were not willing to risk it all with Bill, and they will not do so now for Hillary. Fox News does NOT represent sentiments of this country. Stop giving them so much credit. The days of the right wing reactionary influence are coming to an end. Bush guaranteed that. Have a little faith people, Obama himself said this will not be easy, but we will get there. Oh yea, check the latest numbers on Texas, Obama looks to win the delagates. Results wont be complete til June it is projected.... my mom says it is because the sheets for people to sign in were 12 names to a sheet and they are still counting, 12by12.
Texas Caucus Back to top
Democrats
Candidate Votes % of votes Delegates won
Obama 23,918 56% 0
Clinton 18,620 44% 0
Uncommitted 38 0%
41% of precincts reporting
@ shonufded,
lol! That's not a bad idea. Maybe we should try to coordinate a web of talking points from the black blogosphere to aide Obama in his candidacy. That could actually be quite powerful! Just click on my name if you want to catch me. I'm strapped for time, but always open to ideas.
This is what I posted over at Jack and Jill about the Wright controversy. I think someone already alluded to this idea over here:
The way to take the sting out of all of this is for Obama to open the doors of the church.
As long as the media gets to portray the church as some amorphous mob of black militants, Obama will continue to get dogged by the questions.
You open the doors of the church. And you do the very thing that best undercuts those fears of the unknown: You give it a face. You give it a name. You give it a culture; life and context. You take away the mystery. Why? Because ignorance feeds off of that mystery.
I guarantee that would be one of the highest rated shows of the year. I'd even go one step further. I'd consider setting up a brief discussion with about 10 church members. Let Hannity ask his questions face to face.
Don't engage in a tit-for-tat with McCain's connections or Hillary's [that should be our job]. It's been rightly noted that Obama doesn't get to play by the same set of rules. Don't shy away from the issue or try to stay above the frey on this one. This is one of those issues that people use to define a candidate if not answered properly (fairly or not). Meet it head on. Discuss the elephant in the room.
Step in the lion's den. This would demonstrate an openess that's rarely seen in modern politics. It would show a sense of confidence and moral conviction. Whether they agree or disagree, people, particularly conservatives, at least respect a person who is willing to stand by their convictions.
He's gonna have to do it sooner or later. And he should do it by inviting his main critic, Fox News/Sean Hannity. Obama could even bring his own camera crew as insurance (just in case Sean tried to distort what happened).
Field,
I see you are coming over to my way of thinking. If Obama doesn't get the Dem nod come Denver, then black folks should just stay home come election day or vote for Nader.
We need to send a clear message that we aren't going to take this race baiting. That the Dems or Rethugs will not take or votes or lack of votes for granted.
The Dems can't win Massa's..er the white house without us. Fuck'em all.
Besides will things really be any different for black folks with McCain in office? Really? When Bill was prez blacks actually increased in prison population. Things didn't change that much for us. If it wasn't for the economy we would have been just as screwed under him as we were under Reagan.
We also need to get a list of all of those Sambos in the CBC that supported Hillary and vote them out of office as well. That would also send a strong message to the Dems.
I know that post may sound angry, but it's not. For years people have said that we as a people shouldn't just vote blindly fo the dems. The problem was that our options were pretty limited. Now that Hillary is race baiting just like the rethugs, blacks folks are upset enough to finally send a strong message to Establishment. We need to send that message.
McCain's religious pastor supporter wants to kill all the Muslims. Honest to God.
LINK
I think that's a tad worse than anything Rev. Wright might have said.
Keep the faith Field,
Yours,
Steven D
It ain't over till it's over. I still believe he'll get the nomination and it's a long way til November. Anything can happen. There are plently of skeletons in McCain's closet too.
Obama can beat the church issue.
I agree with b-serious' suggestion that he needs to face it head on. People love him because he is different from the usual pol., i.e. Hillary. He needs to exploit that difference and now get down in the gutter with Hillary. He needs to do something most pols never do and that is be honest, up-front and transparent.
And, by the way, there are plenty of whites who support Obama and are disgusted with Hillary's tactics. And I bet that more of Hillary's white supporters migrate to Obama as she continues race baiting. Obama may never get the majority of the white blue collar vote, but Hillary's educated whites will see through her.
*sigh*
I'm big on being organized, ready, and planning ahead - but I'm trying not to do so in the belief that Hillary will be the dem-nom come November. However... I live in GA and, as far as I know, you have to vote either Dem or Repub here. Does anyone have information/links on the options if you'd like to vote independent???
I just can't do it - if her name is on that ballot, there is nothing in me that would allow me to vote for her, or Mr Morton (lol, I love that) come Novbember. I don't feel I'd be able to not vote either...
I also don't believe in the "super ticket" idea. In the event that she steals this thing, and we somehow see the Clinton/Obama ticket... I still don't think I could do it. I don't care for her, and it would truly bother me that he joined forces with her - Question: As an Obamaholic, how would you honestly feel about this option?
@ Christopher - You remind me of myself in your optimism. Every time I get a chance to read a post by our 'on the fence' fam, I get a little down. 2.3 seconds later I perk up and think to myself "Hell naw! Our man still has the most votes, the most states, and the most delegates... I need to order my dress b/c I have a ball to attend in January 09'"
There's plenty of room in my Barack Bubble of Optimism for anybody who wants in!
-k
Nsangoma said: “Jesus is a myth; Jesus is an anthropomorphism of the Sun. Any Negroe (Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr included) telling you that Jesus existed, is lying.”
Kinda like saying Cleopatra didn’t exist man. It was only 2,000 years ago and the man made a splash (and we have reliable history of people’s existence for shite even older than J.C.). Even if you don’t believe he was the son of God, at least give Jesus props for actually being on planet earth. Still, even when you lose me with your line of thought or raise my hackles, Nsangoma, I have to admit you sound awfully cool saying it.
Admiral Komack said: “Didn't John McCain go talk to Pat Robertson & Jerry Falwell? Gee, where were the media then?”
God, I hope McCain didn’t go see Falwell recently, since he’s been dead since mid-2007. If Falwell is still in the game post-mortem, I’m running for the hills. He was scary enough when he was alive.
Field said: “See, this is why I don't f**k with organized religion”
I don’t even like f**king with organized politics, man. Like Nietzsche said, “Hell is other people” (or something like that). Organize anything more meaningful than a softball game or TGIF thing at the local drinking place and someone in the group will start poisoning the whole thing. But it’s not the religion that’s the problem; it’s the churches and the self-styled religious leaders who are the problem.
BTW, FN, are you SURE your wife isn’t slipping O-ade into your morning coffee? I know you aren’t onboard fully for O yet, but you’re drifting. I think Mrs. Field is slowly exposing you to the heady drink that is O-ade.
Auto, I will come home to the Pesky Fly very soon. Thanks for letting me know you miss me.
Honestly, I hadn't counted on the Borg Queen going to town with her scorched earth tactics, but there you go. And I'm not drinking Obama-aid, either. But, it's time for the brotha to "Man UP", call out Hannity and Colmes and invite them to his church and shut them the hell up about this whole issue.
He should extend an invitation to Hillary as well. Who would look like the fool if they decline the invitation?
Not Obama, that's for sure. He needs to meet this head on.
We got an idea about how fast the Clintons get rid of those who get in their way or interfere with their agenda. Obama needs to demonstrate loyalty to those who have helped him get where he is.
That would be standing up for his pastor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Someone upthread said he needs to acknowledge he knows who he knows, but emphasize that they don't influence how he will operate.
Jack Kennedy had this problem in 1960 - his being a practicing Irish Catholic and all. America wanted to beat him down about how the Pope was going to dictate foreign and domestic policy.
Kennedy didn't run from or denounce his denomination; he basically said "The Pope will have no say in how I run the Country. I will be the President of the United States; not the President of the Vatican."
Shut up crackers from coast to coast. And as my parents related to me (I wasn't born yet) they didn't give a rat's ass (my father's words) about Kennedy's religion. What they cared about was being able to go to the polls without being lynched, shot, bitten by dogs or waterhosed to exercise the basic right to vote.
They believed Nixon was too shifty to be concerned about civil rights, so they voted for Kennedy.
Which was no mean feat in the 5th Ward of Houston, Texas in 1960.
Sean Hannity is a bigot and a religious thug nut case. Fake News knows that the times are changing and they're still trying to prove a relevancy they don't have.
What has gone unnoticed is that Hannity himself, when he said "When will the MSM get brave enough to go after Obama on his religion?", he was BASICALLY ADMITING THAT FAKE NEWS was not a legitimate news organization.
How could we have missed that one soupcon of truth coming out of the minions of Roger Ailes' mouth?
NSangoma You tell "true lies" but this time you are on to somthing, lower caste negros are a plague to all people. Their trade ( rape robbery & murder) is praticed in the poor minority neighborhoods and once perfected used on the upper classes or white neighborhoods. So, white folks are only getting the results what they thought never concerned or affected them the lack of education of the lowwer caste self hating negroes.
~
... lack of education of the lowwer caste self hating negroes.
anonymous 10:02 AM
anonymous, I have no idea what "true lies" means, but I can tell you this, I have worked in the North American Negroe schools in my vicinity that have lost their accreditation.
I know for a fact, that my state provides these non-accredited Negroe schools with the same math and science textbooks that are used at my daughter's prestigious majority white private school and at the majority white suburban schools.
The majority of the Negroe children in these non-accredited schools will not open their textbooks and use them. Hell, they are given 2 copies of the text, 1 to leave at home and 1 to be used at school; no need for backpacks to lug heavy books home. And the Negroes still will not study.
Dread-locked Negroes wearing their pants half-way down their buttocks, and in some cases half-way down their thighs, coming to school to sit in class with mp3 players plugged into both ears. They listen to rap music and share it with their friends and get hostile when you tell them to put their mp3 players away.
They come to school to see their boys, to bang, and to talk to girls; they don't care about their educations, the girls are not that much better.
I tell the 1 or 2 students in my classes that are paying attention, that they must separate themselves. Not from white folk, but from Niggas!!
Obama as POTUS is not going to be able to do a punk-damn thang with the wealth of this nation that white folk and the mainland Chinese do not want him to do.
Geraldine Ferraro, am not the problem.
`
"Geraldine Ferraro, am not the problem."
And apparently the schools in Plano, Texas didn't you a very good service with a crappy sentence construction like that. I'm sure you didn't have dread locks and pants hanging off your thighs either...
~
... Kinda like saying Cleopatra didn’t exist man. ...
deacon blue 9:49 AM
deacon blue, let us be clear. There is no evidence of the physical existence of a Jesus.
There is historical physical evidence of a belief in Jesus, but no historical physical evidence that Jesus ever existed.
`
"I have changed my mind about voting for Hillary in the general if she wins this primary. Who am I kidding? I can't do it."
You've made my morning!
I don't see how Pastor Wright's comments are going to sink Barack. Everything he says is true. And Trinity has started to answer its critics. There's a video on their site in which a Jane Fisler Hoffman (who is white) explains the history of UCC and why she attends Barack's church and she addresses the hateful e mails they've received. We'll see if these videos get any play.
http://www.tucc.org/about.htm
So, who wins if black folks and progressives don't vote in the General election?
Lord knows I can't vote for Hillary or McCain. Lord knows I don't want to not vote in the general election.
What is an American to do?
~
... the schools in Plano, Texas ...
brotherkomrade 10:52 AM
I do not live in Plano TX, but I have worked there as a contracting network engineer.
There are 2 sides to Plano TX, the high-tech side and the Negroe side. brotherkomrade, which side of Plano TX, doth thou speaketh of?
I can tell you this about the high-tech side of Plano TX, very few Negroes working and residing there; lots of Asians though, hmmm, I wonder why.
I can also tell you this, I twas considered an anomaly on the high-tech side of Plano TX. The white folk and the white police did not bother me, but my on black people did.
Black service workers at the hotels there gave me the dirty eyeball whenever I checked in. Waz dis nigga doing up in here?
No problem from white folk behind the registration desk, problems again only from my own so-called peeps. I had similar experiences with blacks working in the local grocery stores and restaurants.
Field,
Please digress on why the only directions out of Philly are East or South.
Mold
I was about to give up on you Field, but true intelligence always gets you where you should be.
If Pennsylania is worse than Alabama or MIssissippi I know why you don't drive West! Why do think we call it Cinci-ssippi?
But I digress. I came to that conclusion about Billary DURING the S.C. campaign. She will say or do ANYTHING to win! ANd if she can't have it no democrat will.
"I do not live in Plano TX,"
mmmm,rrrriiiight. Now you nut-up.
There are 2 sides to Plano TX, the high-tech side and the Negroe side. brotherkomrade, which side of Plano TX, doth thou speaketh of?
Which ever one you hold the highest contempt for, son.
I can tell you this about the high-tech side of Plano TX, very few Negroes working and residing there; lots of Asians though, hmmm, I wonder why.
You tell me, I'm dying to know. The more you write, the more I learn about you. Btw, this sentence did not end with a question mark.
Black service workers at the hotels there gave me the dirty eyeball whenever I checked in. Waz dis nigga doing up in here?
What did you do to them?
Interesting..never had that experience before. I mean, I've stayed in hotels and I've had the unfortunate experiences of having to attend conferences therefore getting served by black and Latino workers and not once did I get those looks. Did you tip? I here self-hating bourgeois Negroes are terrible tippers.
No problem from white folk behind the registration desk
..or so you think. Don't play that with me. I've lived in Houston since '79 to 2000 and I can tell you that that 'smile' can only be taken for it is; just a smile. For all anyone knows she was looking at your neck for noose size.
You may go now...
Nsangoma:
How much physical evidence do we have of anyone that far back in the day? Anyone have the prophet Muhammad's body, either? Or busts of him? Much of what we know of the existence of any ancient personage is historical. There is plenty of documentation about Jesus, dating back to within less than a human lifetime of his ministry...whereas we rely on stuff about Alexander the Great and others as "accurate" that was often written generations or centuries after the person died.
I'm just sayin', ya know? But I respect the fact that you think he was too fringe to be proven and that you don't trust the source materials...even if I disagree with you. And I sure don't want to drag this too far off topic. ;-)
~
... And I sure don't want to drag this too far off topic. ;-)
deacon blue 11:56
Why of course you do not, you will lose.
The New Testament of the so-called Holy Bible was written a minimum of 70 years after Jesus supposedly existed. And it was written by people who never met this Jesus, who supposedly existed.
Saul was struck blind by the Sun; he is the light of the world. Solar metaphors.
`
~
... Btw, this sentence did not end with a question mark. ...
brotherkomrade 11:49 AM
... And apparently the schools in Plano, Texas didn't you a very good service with a crappy sentence construction like that. ...
brotherkomrade 10:52 AM
`
"And I want to say for the record; right here and now, that I have changed my mind about voting for Hillary in the general if she wins this primary. Who am I kidding? I can't do it. Not if it goes down like this. As much as it would pain me to see a rethug in the White House again, given what I have seen from camp Hillary, I have to ask myself if it would be that much different with a rethug in power."
I totally agree with you here. I've been dying for a democrat in the White House and now will be without a candidate if O doesn't win. That's not because it has to be my candidate or no one. I just think that HRC has proven that she would spin her "accomplishments" in health care and the war and the economy and just everything--she'd sell out to multi-national corporations/the military industrial complex shamelessly. But what would make it in my opinion worse than a Repub doing the same thing is that these same advisors she has now would continue to perpetuate the notion that she was the "people's" president, a lot of dems would probably believe it, just like they believe that Obama is attacking *her,* that she's the "working class" candidate, and that she's winning even though she's solidly in second place. I just can't stand that kind of mindfuck. I'd never vote for McCain, either. But at least with him we wouldn't have to listen to Dems telling us we were on the right track, blah blah blah.
"Which was no mean feat in the 5th Ward of Houston, Texas in 1960."
My kindred brother...my whole family hails from the "Nickel" as my uncle would say.
I listened to a lady this morning on CSPAN who said that the church which is located on the south side of Chicago has non-black members and is heavily involved in local community activities.
O just needs to focus on the good deeds of the church and not the ex-pastor. Also rather than respond to things put out in the media he is far more effective when he is on offense. For example, talking about his personal life in previous books allowed him to forego spending to much time explaining his past drug use and whatnot.
Offense, offense, offense and less reaction to Hill. Just like when a kid throws a temper tantrum in the middle of the store--a parent could wop them upside the head, but then that would only make the child holler more. Better to ignore them and if they are lying on the floor leave them right there until they figure out they are not going to get their way and shut up.
I hate to admit it, but what Hilary and Geri concocted may indeed help sway some fence straddlers to their side. They've introduced the thought that some misguided members of our society are so desperate to believe - that we as Black people are by some strange twist of reality now, privileged.
I have been impressed with Barack Obama, but I have been uneasy about his candidacy. My intuition tell me that this asccociation will cost him the nomination.
I do think if he were to get the nomination, McCain or his party could not use that against Obama. It would be Hagee vs. Wright. McCain has continued to embrace John Hagee.
I think the raw deal Obama is getting will only serve to help black people. Some black folks needed this wakeup call.
I wrote about it in a creative way over at my blog.
http://ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com/2008/03/good-negro-down.html
Nsangoma said: "Why of course you do not, you will lose."
I'm not interested in a pissing match. Keep your intellectual arrogance if you must. I was being civil (or so I thought). I admit it, you have a bigger dick. (But I use mine with more finesse).
Redlipstick, thank you, sista to sista, ya know.
Well, it's still early. But, so far, the media and public response to Mr. Wright is not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
By the looks of it. A lot of people are willing to put Wright in the "crazy old preacher" category along with the likes of Pat Robertson and the rest. I've heard some suggest that they'd like a clearer explaination from Obama. However, I'm surprised to say that most people have not been willing to condemn Obama via guilt by association.
Checked out MSNBC and CNN - it's no more than one of a string of stories being discussed. Quite frankly, the proposed do-overs in MI and FL are still getting more attention at the moment.
Of course, Fox News has Wright as their lead story. But that's expected.
Listened to some (liberal) talk radio this morning and a lot of the callers (black AND white) said it wasn't a big deal. Some white folk even empathized with Wright's perspective (re: race relations, etc.) - I was shocked, but they said it.
I think we really might be making more of this than it is. Dick Morris even said this story wouldn't have wings. McCain's campaign doesn't seem to want to touch it. Hillary's been silent so far.
Outside of the usual suspects (conservative white guys like Bill O'Reilly, Joe Scarborough and Hannity) this story doesn't seem to have the buzz needed to make it past the weekend.
It hurts him among the flag waving crowd. But those people weren't voting for him anyways. As for fence sitters . . . those voters have been breaking for Hillary lately anyways (my thesis: late deciders are not "change" voters, they go with the safer pick).
I could be wrong. But it looks like Obama's positive vibes and good reputation MIGHT just be strong enough to help him avoid a PR nightmare.
I think it comes down to this: At the end of the day a lot of people look at Obama and just don't see an angry black man.
Overall, the media's giving it the same amount of scrutiny that they gave Michelle Obama's comment about a month ago.
This is not a campaign killer.
Your "plight," though to me it is a non-starter, reminds me of a song about the Titanic that I taped off the air years ago. I never did find out who wrote or played it. In it Jack Johnson, the heavyweight boxing champion of that day, is portrayed as having been refused permission to take part in that ship's maiden voyage, on his way to a fight in London. (Never mind that the ship was actually headed in the opposite direction.) One of the verses goes, "They wouldn't let Jack Johnson on board, they said this ship don't haul no coal." So he just sat down on the wharf in New York with his fishing rod and waited for the ship to go down.
I am certain that the great majority of people here would jump to their feet and loudly applaud that sentiment, but I, being a lifetime noncomformist and proud of it, wouldn't. It was a great song, yet somehow or other I've never been able to share the joy of the song's Jack Johnson at seeing debris from the ship wash up in the harbor, because surely he must've realized that it was a sure sign that out there in the dark North Atlantic thousands of innocent people had met a sudden, untimely, icy, watery death, and furthermore had had several agonizing hours to see it coming.
Yeah, yeah, I know about the Middle Passage and all that. But the ship we are on is a different model and is still afloat, and we, along with a great number of our most recent ancestors, have, for better or worse, been aboard it for centuries now, and, no matter what our dummy confreres might say, we are damn glad to be still on it and that it is still intact, though hypocrisy is too fashionable to allow them to be as candid as Muhammad Ali was, when, a long time ago, he is reputed to have said, "I'm glad my grand-daddy caught that boat."
Lifting one's trifling derriere off the wharf and voting for a Democrat as President, Obama or Clinton, would be an absolutely essential way to keep the ship away from today's bergs that are always threatening the country, in the guise of the Republicans. And voting for Clinton if Obama doesn't make it would carry the additional virtue of breaking out of being arm in arm with the nemesis of American Rainbows (i.e."black" people) from the start, the Angry Euro ("white") men, who have hated her to the death long before it ever occurred to those who are now stumbling about with their eyes clouded over by a perceived slight committed in the heat of political battle.
Like I said before. If Obama doesn't get the Nod over Hillary, then we shouldn't vote. We need to send a clear message to the Dem establishment that we will not take this type of racist behavior.
If you feel the need to vote then vote for Nader. Let's get him to the percentage he needs to run again in 2012. it's always good to have that threat to hold over the Dems head. If they try this shit again we will vote for nader or some other green party guy and make them a viable 3rd party. It would also make them and more impotantly us a continiuted threat to the dems. Somebody will take us seriously.
fromthedeskofdanfreeman.blogspot.com for the full plan..
Many have heard about this preacher for months now. In fact, I think the New York times reported some time back that Obama had to be persuaded to distance himself from him. How is it now Hillary's fault that this has come to the attention of the broadcast media? It was bound to happen sooner or later.
Well me and my daddy decided loong ago that we wasn't voting for Miss Ann. She f'd up w/ South Carolina and the endless parade of handkerchief heads she has rooting for her. Including my very own congresswoman-Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Here's to hoping someone runs against her a$$. Super-delegate my foot! Her district voted for the O, so she needs to get w/ the program.
This time around, I'll make like all my progressive and liberal friends in 2000 and vote for Nader. At least he tells the truth. Suer he is crazy-true believers always are.
As to Pastor Wright- yup, he tells the truth. And they are tying the O up w/ it. He needs to go a UCC like mine. When my family ain't there- the black membership shrinks to like 6. AND there are only 5 of us.
Oh yeah, I can vouch for what you say about white folks in these parts. Must be that eastern european heritage. They some afraid of black folks-some foaming at the mouth racists. Always whinning here in the Mistake on the Lake about how busing et al, ruined their neighborhoods. Shoot-Negroes like me and mine could buy and sell 'em ten times over. Nothing but PWTs. Coming from NYC to here was a real eye-opener.
Heck, I get queasy when I see the Star & Bars when I visit the south, but I'm beginning to think the better white folks are there.
Peace-- just posted a presentation that has some commentary from Mumia Abu-Jamal about an article from a contributor to The Nation magazine called "Postcards From Ohio" His commentary was entitled: NAFTA Democrats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrRY8By-ok
FN
Check out this House Negro!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU&feature=related
This guy has been doggin Obama every Sunday. He should be running for office. I'd like to see Fucku News play this video. He's a big hypcrite.
Cheer Up Field!
I have something fun for you to read to help you reconnect with your inner realist.
This annotated memo from the Clinton campaign was just the tonic I needed this morning to help wash the taste of Clinton's nonsense from my mouth.
Here is my favorite part of the memo and annotation:
If Barack Obama cannot reverse his downward spiral with a big win in Pennsylvania, he cannot possibly be competitive against John McCain in November.
[If they are defining downward spiral as a series of events in which the Clinton campaign has lost more votes, lost more contests and lost more delegates to us ... I guess we will have to suffer this horribly painful slide all the way to the nomination and then on to the White House.]
There is more. Enjoy!
Please send Pastor Wright's church an email: info@tucc.org.
This is guy is NO LONGER a pastor at this church but his image is still on the website. I've asked them repeatedly to take it down. But they haven't. The new pastor has several youtube videos which are nice. They've also got a link on the website about the black value system.
Black folks we understand that all religious leaders say controversial things. My paster goes off about abortion. I'm pro-choice. He also goes off about homosexuals. I'm not only for gay rights. But I'm for gay marriage. I'm straight.
Please write an email to this church and ask them to not only take down Pastor Wright's image but to mention that he no longer is a pastor at this church.
email: info@tucc.org
One more thing.
This silliness about Rev. Wright might have been a real problem for Obama except for two things.
1. Everything Wright said in the clip they are showing is 100% fact. Not only is it fact, but the drug trade he is taling about can be traced back to specific members of the Bush administration including the Vice President.
and 2. Geraldine Ferarro. If hse had not been flapping her mouth for the last week, things might have been kind of tricky. But she has and the Clintons need to put a lid on the racial commentary for a day or two.
This story is going to die down over the weekend.
Just another moving part in the big dynamic picture that complicates the anticipated outcome. If we come out from under these attacks, it will only be by a hair and prayer.
Thanks FN for joining the club.
The
Ain't.no.way.I'm.voting.for.that.race-baiter
Club.
Yeah...FN and Mrs. FN will join the other 10 immedate family members in NOT voting for Hillpatine.
We're way off topic here, but I didn't want your assertion,
"There is historical physical evidence of a belief in Jesus, but no historical physical evidence that Jesus ever existed." @NSangoma
go unchallenged--
"Almost no educated person these days doubts that Jesus lived. Some accept it on faith, others on the testimony of a brace of ancient chroniclers, both Christian and Roman."
Although scholars are at odds over the authenticity of certain "physical evidence," contrary to popular belief, some might actually exist, apart from that of "ancient chroniclers."
"Here, in this bone-box, or ossuary, once lay the earthly remains of "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."
I stand corrected CPL--that's what I get for not paying attention!
I haven't decided what I will do if Obama doesn't win. I have all my eggs in one basket, and I never thought about plan B. I said last night that I am an "liberal", at least that's what Fox News would call me, and I can't see myself voting for McCain. Accept for the war, McCain is about as liberal as they come. Sure he says he believes in Small Government, and sure he says he's a conservative, but when it comes down to him and Hillary, war just doesn't seem so bad.
So he has a temper problem, I'll take that any day over evil. Yes, I said it, she's evil and a monster.
I eat my words, too. If Hillary wins, I will not vote for her. I will write in Mickey Mouse before I give my vote to her. I'm a democrat, but I just may change my affiliation to independent, and vote for Nader.
For example, in the 1992 primaries, Bill Clinton lost Colorado, Vermont, and Connecticut to Jerry Brown, he lost Iowa to Harkin, he lost Maryland, New Hamsphire, Massachuttes, Delaware, and Rhode Island to Tsongas... and yet HOLY CRAP still won every one of those states in the general election. Shocker.
But even if you go back further to more competitive contests, I find no evidence at all that losing a primary in a state provides any statistical disadvantage should you become the nominee. Carter lost the New York Primary in 1976 (and Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, etc.) but still won all those states in the general. On the other side, Ford lost the Indiana, Idaho, Montana, and California primaries to Reagan the same year, and still won all those states in the general. (Yes, that's right -- Ford lost to Reagan by 30 points in California in the primary, and yet won the state over Carter in the election.)
Obama's church is a standard church. Rev. Wright goes off the
deep end sometimes, but that is not his standard sermon and does not represent the church's beliefs in any way. Also he's not racist. He also said this:
The good news that's coming is for all people! Not white people—all people. Not black people—all people. Not rich people—
all people. Not poor people—all people. I know you'll hate this... not straight people—all people! Not gay people—all people. Not American people—all people. ...God's good news isn't just for Americans, it's for all people. Say "all people"! Jesus came for Iraqis and Afghanis. Jesus was sent for Iranians and Ukrainians. All people! Jesus is God's gift to the brothers in jail and the sisters in jeopardy. All people! The Lord left his royal courts on high to come for all those that you love, yes, but he also came for all those folk that you can't stand. All people!
"Fat intern?" More like "pleasingly plump." Yum Yum!
And besides Field I thought black guys liked 'em big.
JESUS BLACK PEOPLE, get it together. Hello our ancestors survived slavery. Black folks survived Jim Crow Laws, KKK, lynchings. We can survive four more years of Republicans. We need to send a message to the Democratic party. Do not take us for granted?! Do not disrespect us like this? And do not remain silent.
So, the democrats are showing there true colors. You don't put all your eggs in one basket. So, now some of you are figuring out what to do. It's simple. Stay home. Vote for McCain or write Barak in. BUT DO NOT VOTE FOR THAT 'MONSTER'. Show some self respect. When someone slaps you, spits in your face, and pushes you - DO Something about it. The problem is black people have been on that Democratic plantation for so long. Some of us our afraid to leave it. Even when master continues to beat the hell out of us and tell us we're no good. This is an excellent time for black folks to leverage our vote.
~
We're way off topic here, but I didn't want your assertion, ...
shonufded 5:15 PM
Ne-ger-ta-roe please, you are embarrassing deh Field-Hand wid yo' ignuzz.
Now Israeli authorities have indicted the owner of the "James Ossuary" as a serial forger. ...
www.thenazareneway.com/ossuary_of_james.htm
The White establishment has always wanted Black folks to distance themselves from each other. All of us
Black folks have heard much of the same thing in many of the churches we attend - and let's not start on Hagee - McCain's preacher friend - okay?
I could care less what they say about Obama, I'm still in his corner whether he wins or otherwise. What has been so great about this whole process so far is seeing who people really are - and I trust many of us will not forget what we have seen and heard.
As for Hiliary, look for the trial coming up this Fall in California - you ain't seen nothing yet! LMBAO
DIS DE LAS' WORD ME BREDRIN...O man will prevail, despite the bull, and McCain will be a straight opponent--and will make a surprisingly great prez if O man can't beat him. It's a win win sit, boss. Mr Morton has already told the GOP attack dogs he doesn't want any part of this shit. Too bad Hillary's not so inclined.
So...don't worry. We win either way. Mr. Morton's gonna go 'Nam on he right wing, not us. It is in the cards and you just gotta believe...
PS I have the right wing analog to O man pastor on my blog...
PPS--you chose THIS weekend to come to DC--I'm at the Jersey Shore!!!
@NSangoma said..."Ne-ger-ta-roe please, you are embarrassing deh Field-Hand wid yo' ignuzz."
Why do you have this penchant to degrade others on this blog?
Surely, you have the intellect to debate a point with out decending into name calling or casting aspersions on my knowledge.
Your supercilious attitude is demeaning an other wise civil discussion.
I said the follwing:
"Although scholars are at odds over the authenticity of certain "physical evidence," contrary to popular belief, some might actually exist, apart from that of "ancient chroniclers."
I said that "some might actually exist."
No place did I state with abolute certainty that it was a fact. And nothing that you have presented so far disproves or discredits the potential evidence.
On the same page I read:
"Magazine editor Hershel Shanks, the most outspoken advocate of the box's possible authenticity, published an article in Biblical Archaeology Review detailing mistakes in what he called a "badly bungled" investigation by the Israel Antiquities Authority."
Now, you're welcome to believe whatever authority you choose.
Neither you, nor I, have the scholarship to dispute or to uphold the evidence.
I know your mind is closed for business. What I've provided here in the way of repast is for those readers who may have nibbled or gorged themselves on what you have had to say on the subject.
Yeah, you're right: I've been colored, negro, black, and now (because of the branding of some black leaders), African American.
And, I'm damn proud of it. How about you?
You can use dialectal spelling to enhance your blackness to your heart's content.
Yet, it won't give credence to the points you make, or to your blackness.
I recommend a new tribute for your blog's sidebar -- Field Negro of the Year.
The recipient? Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Why should Obama switch churches? He was baptized in that church.
Pastors come and go. Sometimes they don't work out and are even offensive. Then they get fired.
Obama didn't make those comments, another free human being who just happens to have a pulpit and poor judgment made them.
Let's find another horse to whip. (Like Geraldine!)
Hey anonymous I feel you. I keep saying something similar but noone wants to take up the discussion. I mean if we keep doing the same things expecting different results, what does that make us. And its not just black folk that are guilty of this. White folks who have nothing in common with the folks who run this society continue to go for the okey doke as well. I would love for some of us to actually take up that discussion and not just constantly ignore it as folks who read this blog constantly do to my suggestion.
Has anyone else viewed the comments that followed the You-tube clip on Rev. Wrights controversial words about rich white men.People are calling Wright a racist and worse. Someone called him a black NAZI. The ignorance is stifling.
Whats absolutely amazing is that he(Wright) was specifically targeting "rich white people" so why did so many poor ones get offended. Talk about being bamboozled.
Also well said anony mouse!
Wow, black folks sure hate white women. Whityman will fuck over you in a heartbeat, take your money, rape your women, send you to war and you won't do a damn thang. Let a white woman in the picture and she is guilty of everythang, shit she ain't did, everythang. No wonder those North Carolina black men lubs to shoot the white women in the head and steal they money. What will hating white women get you? Whiteman/blackwoman can ride off in the sunset while the black man will have to shit or get off the pot. Because let your boy Obama get the nod. You think black mens got it bad now. The few black men who did get help from white guilters will be on they own now. It will be you have a black president there ain't no more racism. Kill that evil white bitch.
I haven't been myself all day. This thing has totally drained me. I'm angry because for 26 years or more, no one gives a d%mn about Rev Wright's views except the fact that Barack & Michelle goes there. And Barack is on his way to winning the nomination for the presidency & the haters must put a stop to it. The game is take down Barack because he goes to that church. Guilt by association! I'm d%mn angry because of the hate for a good decent black man. How long do we have to wait until another Barack comes along? Probably not in my lifetime. Hillary is poison! Have you heard anything from the Clinton Campaign today? No. Throw the rock & hide their hands. Evil scum!
I'm watching CNN on mf-ing rotation right now. This is ridiculous. I hoped the race wouldn't turn this racial. I'm over it. And I'm with you, I refuse to vote for Hillary. I refuse. Nader 2008. :-/
Nsangoma, I really was serious that I don't want to take this commentary off topic. But since you threw down the gauntlet by suggesting I was just giving up, come on over to my blog and respond to my March 15 post. Show me what you've got when we're in an approriate arena for this fight. See you at: http://holyhell.wordpress.com/ if you have more to throw at me. you don't get to talk so much trash and not be challenged on it.
"P.S. I'm back in my crib, with internet access. So, I'm back! Forgive me for the long post. I was making up for lost time. **smile**"
Angie, nice to see you back. I hope all is well in your world. It sure ain't good in ours right about now :(
anon. 10:28PM, I don't think the black folks on this blog hate "white women", just a certain senator from New Yawk.
"The few black men who did get help from white guilters..."
Do you happen to have the number of those "white guilters" I could use about $100,000.00 thanks to the frat boy and his f*****g economic plan.
"Has anyone else viewed the comments that followed the You-tube clip on Rev. Wrights controversial words about rich white men.People are calling Wright a racist and worse. Someone called him a black NAZI. The ignorance is stifling."
mellaneous, why are you surprised? Isn't this what I have been preaching about these Seperated States of A-merrry-ca all along?
shonufded, don't worry about nsangoma, I suspect he keeps his shrink very busy. I actually find him amusing. What's scary is that he actually makes some good points every now and then. But then what's that saying about a broken clock?
Chris, you would choose this weekend to leave your city. And BTW, I just left H20. WTF? :)
Anyway, I am here in full effect.
"And besides Field I thought black guys liked 'em big."
Yes anon.7:04PM, but there has to be some curves...let me stop, I don't need the sexist tag. Wait, I already have it.
" Please digress on why the only directions out of Philly are East or South."
Because Western PA might as well be the DEEP South. And Northern PA ain't much better. Although I take that back, I will drive North as well. But only to go to New York and all points North :)
@justice58:
"And Barack is on his way to winning the nomination for the presidency & the haters must put a stop to it."
As you know, this is media driven. With all that they can expose on Hillary and Bill, isn't it curious that the media is keeping quiet, and focusing on Baracks's shortcomings.
And they want us to believe that they're "fair and balanced," and that America has been cured of it's racist sickness.
~
deacon blue, 12:33 AM, that Jesus, http://holyhell.wordpress.com, looks like a white boi to me.
What was that Mary was heard to say?, "God my baby daddy."
`
Nsangoma, if you can't dig your head out of here long enough to respond in an appropriate place, instead of dragging this commentary off topic, don't bother saying anything at all. Stop wasting the space and other people's time. I've given us a place to duke it out without steeting this commentary off course. Man up or shut up.
I don't think he's lost the election yet. But if HRC is nominated I am voting for McKinney. I must say I had been feeling guilty about my unwillingness to vote for HRC but I don't any more!!!
deacon blue, I featured your site [with your challenge to nsangoma featured front and center on one of your posts)on my sidebar. Let's see if a certain individual takes you up on your call out. Ohhh I love a good e-fight :)
~
deacon blue, please demonstrate Extra-Biblically, dat God am Mary baby daddy.
`
If Obama supporters hasn't seen race in nearly every comment and gesture from Hillary's camp then there wouldn't have been too much made of Obama's minister as Hannity has been the only one yelling the loudest about the church's doctrine listed at their site.
Race baiting has been coming as much coming from Obama's camp as Hillary's. Starting back with her comment about King, if not before, claiming the statement had racial undertones.
Besides, race and gender became a part of the race, when both announced their run.
You can't want others to denouce racial comments from their supporters yet Obama's surrogates are allowed to be racial as they want.
If Obama loses the nomination, he be as much to be blamed as anyone else. The same holds for the presidency.
I find fascinating the notion, that if he loses, then it's Hillary's fault, and the same if he wins -- all due to her so-called race baiting.
anon 7:48,
The King comment did have racial undertones...period. It was started by Hillary. Everything the Clinton's does is calculated. We f-ing reacted because we don't play that sh%t when it comes to Dr.King. Not now---not ever!
Capeesh!
Field I have enjoyed reading your blog over the last several months and this is my first entry.
As a 54 year old black man who grew up in the deep south, I recall as a child asking my mother why do we have to stand at the back of bus when there are empty seats up front only to be greeted by a frightened look by my father. Later on when we were along, my mother explained why she also gave me a small history lesson: blacks where once slaves in this country, when she finished even as a child I began to cry. So, I can really understand why Rev Wright and others may think and disclose this type of rhetoric. After all these years, and what I have gone and continue to go through, I don’t consider myself racist but I do have some residue. I have been watching CNN, MSNBC, and another just to see what Fox noise is saying and I believe the O-Man can turn this to his advantage and help the racial divide in the process. HRC, her committee along with other want to bring race into this election while The O Man did not, so, I think
it is the perfect time to begin really talking about it along with everything associated with it: Poverty,
Crime, Disparity, Education, Healthcare…..… Turn a lemon into lemonade.
~
anonymous 10:05 AM, the resolution begins at home not at the DNC. Negroes must go to school, and once there, they must study!!
HRC has nothing for them,
BHO has nothing for them,
the mainland Chinese have nothing for them but a hard row to hoe, a hard way to go.
`
Nsangoma
PIG!
Count me out of voting for Billary in the fall. I WILL vote, but just in the other races.
These people have really hurt me. They have agreed to cast off Black people to win. They want all of Barack's new energy voters, but they won't come out in November for Billary.
I still think Barack can win. People forget he is up in NC (112 delegates).
While I don't think they should get a do-over, I think he does better in FL and Michigan that he would've in January.
~
justice58 10:33 AM, if that Icon is supposed to be you, then one could say that you are trying too too hard.
About that adam's Apple ...
`
Nsangoma,
Trying too hard for what,Pig??
Field, even if the only reason I made your sidebar is for the entertainment value of a potential e-fight, I am honored. (Since I know you're not much for organized religion and faith-based stuff). When my wife shouted out the "Oh my God" and told me about the link this morning, it actually made my eyes well up for a second. Even if I'm gone tomorrow from the sidebar, I appreciate that you found even that much worth (whether substantive or entertaining) in what I have to say to give me even a brief shout-out.
Nsangoma, I'm still not gonna respond to any of your questions in this commentary. And BTW, I know you once told FN you were the "true Field Negroe" so I wonder if "Anonymous Field Negro" in my comments is you. If so, cop to who you are. If not, come and make your points where they belong.
Uh Oh You guys,
Get ready for another round of this nightmare! Suzanne Malveaux of CNN reported there are a group of black Ministers organizing to come out & denounce Barack for denouncing his pastor!
Geez, I can't take this sh%t! Enough already!
~
deacon blue, the western world is moving into the post-Christian era; you need to start running and catch up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/science/
20tier.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/post-christian
`
anon 7:48...you have no clue what you're talking about. Stop spouting foolish lies.
I think something that people should know that for a black politician trying to get into Chicago "black politics" they need to be a member of Wright's church...hell Oprah is a member and most of the people at the church are middle to upper-class blacks, this is no street corner Christian version of the NOI.
Obama should have been quite this church as soon as he joined the U.S. Senate and released a public statement at the time that he just found out about these things that the Wright has said and thrown him under the bus right there, if he knew what was good for him. Obviously he did not.
I would say the best thing Obama can do now is kneecap Hillary...she has so much dirt between her and Bill it is not funny. He has not went there yet, but he should (not him directly but through surrogates). He already has a former Clinton lawyer out saying that Hillary lied about her foreign policy experience. That is good but not enough.
He needs to get his surrogates (not him) to remind people of Whitewater, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broderick, Marc Rich, Norman Hsu, the MacDougals, Vince Foster, Travelgate, and Denise Rich’s campaign contributions after her husbands pardon.
He needs to link all of that to Bill's current dealings with Stan Lee and in Kazakhstan with the dictator there. They need to link that or imply there is more in the White House documents she won't release and also with her failure to release her tax return.
To make it short he needs to take over the news cycle again and stop letting that dried up old bitch keep him on defensive and take him off message. He needs to put her on defensive for the rest of this race...but do it in a subtle way to where he looks above it...and he needs women to do it and to point out Hillary is no "victim" and she should stop playing the "gender card" get some of those white female governors who support him to get aggressive.
If he doesn't do this he might lose the nomination. He has to hit her so hard that Super Delegates are reminded that 8 years of Clintion scandals polarized the country and gave us 8 years of George W. He can also probably raise her negatives some and lower her appeal to voters against McCain and use those polling results at the convention to show she is not electable.
I worry that Obama is just not ruthless enough. Lets get something straight. The average voter has an IQ of 100, that ain't saying much. These people also have short memories. Hillary know this and is playing to that level of ignorance, Bill is a master at it.
Obama appeals to white folks who are educated because he speaks in a way that is so abstract only they can get it and have time to reflect on it. The typical Low brow Joe 6 pack does not have the intelligence or time to pontificate about "better angels" he wants someone he can understand, respect, and who will "kick ass".
Obama had to figure out a way to get touch and dirty like James Bond. Notice James Bond kicks all forms of ass and never wrinkles his suit and rarely stains his shirt.
Hillary also lied about helping to start the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
" several current and former lawmakers(Edward Kennedy, Orrin Hatch) and staff said Hillary Clinton had no role in helping to write the congressional legislation, which grew out of a similar program approved in Massachusetts in 1996".
This conniving b%t%% is lying about her experience and trying to get away with it. Shut her down now!
Me and my housemate (both white women) are not going to vote in Nov if Hillary Clinton is the Dem nominee. We have been discussing this all along and our commitment on this keeps getting stronger and stronger. This racism ... it's not just her it's the Democratic Party's as well, in being passive and letting her call the shots as she has been.
Neither of us has ever sat out a presidential election since were were 18 and we have always (sometimes feeling under duress, "anything but Bush" etc) voted for the Dem nominee.
The other day, a person who answered the phone for our county's Democratic Party started attacking me for being someone who would make it so John McCain would be elected. he referenced me wanting 100 more years in Iraq. It is the same old same old: "Vote for the Democrat because it is the lesser of evils."
Not. This. Time. Not for us. F*** NO.
The local Democratic Party guy told me that he thinks people who won't vote for Clinton if she is the nominee are doing so for "irrational" reasons. He kept saying irrational. Over and over. He characterized my reasons as irrational. He characterized others who feel this was as irrational. He was arrogant, self-righteous and nasty.
He seemed to think he was winning the argument when he "got me" to say I would rather see McCain in the White House than Clinton. It's true. I am not shamed of this. She is a dangerous and deceptive person. Better to know what we are really getting than have this wolf in sheep's clotheing (sorry, no offense to wolves).
I think that Democratic Party guy accurately represents the larger Democratic Party's perspective on this. They are arrogant. They expect us all to fall into line in an "anybody but McCain" kind of way They feel okay insulting us because after all they don't have to worry about our respect because they believe we will break and vote for Hillary after all when push comes to shove.
No. No no no. For real. If Hillary Clinton is the Dem nominee neither I nor my housemate will vote.
/rant
Field man, I've been reading you for a while now and absolutely love this site! But lately I'm convinced you HAVE been sippin' on that O-Ade from Mrs. Field. :-) I just want to ask, has anyone considered that this story's exposure was a pre-emptive strike from the REPUBLICANS? And why if this sinks Sen. Obama does no one attribute any blame his way?
Back before he announced, Rev. Wright's daughter who has a weekly segment on Rev. Sharpton's radio show expressed hurt and concern that the senator's "handlers" (read Axelrod, et al.) had convinced him it wasn't a good idea to have Rev. Wright officiate at his announcement ceremony last February. He was there, but not in the capacity they'd all originally planned - Sen Obama included. So, back then, they saw the presence of Rev. Wright as a liability. When the issue came up in the news in Sept./Aug. '07, he didn't "denounce" Rev. Wright then. Not like today, when he threw the Right Rev. Wright under the provervbial bus yesterday on CNN and in this post today:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/on-my-faith-and-my-church_b_91623.html
My issue is the senator's honesty and courage of his convictions. Now if the issue is just winning - okay. But don't be on the stump saying you're for "change from politics as usual" but you ARE politics as usual. I prefer the Devil I know to the one that I don't.
I agree with Zack, he could have said, "This is my church, my pastor, my spiritual advisor" and let the chips fall where they may, opening up a real and honest dialogue on race and poverty in this country. He was perfectly positioned to do that because he had the ear, heart and minds of PLENTY people of ALL races. But he chose to straddle that line, until now (he's on CNN talking about "We have real issues of race in this country..." Sounds like what Edwards said COMING OUT OF THE GATE!
Rev. Wright didn't lie Field, you know he didn't. Though I didn't care for his characterization of Bill Clinton "riding us dirty like Monica" 1. Because I'm a woman and I'd prefer any reference to my being ridden be done in private, not in front of the church :-) 2. Because as a member of the middle-class, I made more money and certainly enjoyed an economy under Clinton that was unparalled by the last 7 years of Shrub!
Call it what you want, but this race is looking more and more about having the first Black president than issues, experience or what is right. And if that's all it's about, again - okay. But don't say it's because he's more experienced than anyone else, he's not. Don't say it's because he'll speak for us, he has not. And I can feel the machetes coming out already but so be it - if Sen. Obama was a white man or a woman with his time in service and experience, he would not be poised to take this nomination. That's just the truth.
And when have you ever seen Rev. Sharpton threatening to sue to DISENFRANCHISE voters? What kind of civil rights is that? The kind you have so as not to threaten the chances of the first Black man becoming president, that's what kind. 1.7 million people went to those polls in FL on Jan. 29th (myself included) to vote on important LOCAL issues AS WELL AS the nominee. The most important issue was getting a VERIFIABLE PAPER BALLOT. Given the 2000 selection that put Shrub in the White House, that in itself should have made those on whose behalf Rev. Sharpton's now threatening to sue get up off their asses and go vote! Damn choosing the nominee! Hell, I voted for Edwards, my vote didn't count anyway!
All I can say is "Samantha Power, Rev. Wright, make some room up under that bus because there'll be plenty others joining you if people don't "keep it real!"
Well thank goodness, I respected your earlier position to vote for her anyway but confess it made absolutely no sense to me.
Still undecided whether I will vote at all if she is the nominee but I will NEVER vote for her after what she and her campaign have done. They've trashed every belief and principle I've ever held dear. If she is the dem option and I decide to vote..well...for the 1st time in my middle aged life I'll have to vote rethuglican.
@ded:
"Call it what you want, but this race is looking more and more about having the first Black president than issues, experience or what is right."
I really hope you'll get to read this.
All that you have said above is right on, as far as it goes.
Let me give you another take. In the end you may still disagree with me, and that's okay.
Let me startle you a bit I hope: it is about "...having the first Black president...."
This country's problems are behavioral. Those behaviors spring from the beliefs that are held.
In order for behaviors to change, beliefs must change.
The psychological Renaissance of having a black president at this time in our history is more important than issues, or for that matter, the oft-repeated call for amorphous change.
Indeed, we need change, not a change of political parties, not a change in Washington, not a change of issues, but a change of beliefs--beliefs that set all these things that we don't like into motion in the first place.
Let me show you what a black presidency can achieve:
A black child, now born, or soon to be born, will come into a world where he/she will not feel/know the limitations of a barrier of any sort--a black president can do that.
A white child, now born, or soon to be born, will come into a world where he/she will feel/know that blacks, too, can aspire to be the best this country has to offer, that it's not his/her privilege alone--a black president can do that.
Should he be a good president, or a superlative president, or just a so-so president will not matter so much, as the mind-altering explosion of beliefs that a black presidency will indelibly etch upon the hearts and minds of the people of this country.
Electing a black man as president can do all that.
We need change, for sure: a change of beliefs, which will change perspective, which will change perception, which will change behavior, which will change our individual and collective experience, which will change beliefs.
The Circle is complete.
I think it's the most important Circle this country can invest it's collective energy, time, and aspirations to achieve.
What think you?
In the end, the country may choose to postpone the medicine it knows it needs to take to heal itself.
If not Barack now, a Barack will have to emerge in our future for this country to continue to lead the way in this new century and this new millennium, without the distraction of race hindering or sapping the energy--mentally, emotionally, and physically--of those involved in the process of advancing this nation and the whole of humankind.
Electing a black president is epochal in its thoroughgoing impact on the culture and people of this nation.
Circle,
I appreciate the feedback and let me say that I agree with you – in theory. Your take doesn’t startle me at all. I agree that:
“A black child, now born, or soon to be born, will come into a world where he/she will not feel/know the limitations of a barrier of any sort...A white child, now born, or soon to be born, will come into a world where he/she will feel/know that blacks, too, can aspire to be the best this country has to offer, that it's not his/her privilege alone..”
However, we’ve had plenty of pretty great “firsts” in this country to which Black children can and have aspired and to which white children can and have yielded their “privilege.” If beliefs were not changed by them, I doubt just “having” a Black president will do it either.
The part of the senator’s spiel about “bottom up vs top down” is one with which I actually agree - because beliefs change when people honestly engage, communicate and share experiences which then shapes perspective. (Seems it's when they reach that top that general right and wrong and good, common sense fly completely out the damn window!)
Just having the first Black president will not change the beliefs of those who don’t want to change - and there are many. I can’t agree that the “having” is more important than the issues or than being a good (not necessarily superlative) president. If he cannot positively effect some notable change in the issues affecting our daily lives and the negative worldview of our nation as a whole, the blowback from all races will create a far more explosive situation than the “having” ever did.
It will only confirm, in the minds of those whose beliefs have/will not change that they were right. Like it or not, we are still in that kind of space in this country. It will reinforce the PTSD (Post-traumatic Slavery Disorder) of Blacks who dared to believe and it will further alienate others who'd not tried engaging before now. And the very people who supported him the most just for the “having,” will benefit the least if it all falls apart.
I totally agree with your circle! Beliefs must change, but IMHO, that change cannot just be based on the “having.” It requires a substantive base around which those perspectives can be shaped (and I’m just not convinced he is that base) and a vigilant people willing to hold feet to the fire.
And yes, “If not Barack now, a Barack (or Barbara!) will have to emerge in our future...” because where we are now is hardly leading, and certainly nowhere near “advancing this nation and the whole of humankind.”
Not trying to be all doom and gloom here, it's just the way I see it.
I always enjoy learning about the views of others, especially those views that disagree with mine.
Thanks for the exchange.
@deb:
Just having the first Black president will not change the beliefs of those who don’t want to change - and there are many.
I couldn't agree with you more.
I don't think that we're far apart here. It's just that I believe that it will take another 20 years or so for the value of a black presidency to kick in, to reach its maximum effectiveness.
I'm willing to allow that much time to have sustained racial progress.
@deb:
"If he cannot positively effect some notable change in the issues affecting our daily lives and the negative worldview of our nation as a whole, the blowback from all races will create a far more explosive situation than the “having” ever did.
From what I've seen of Obama, I believe that he'll do his best to leave a presidential legacy to be the envy of history.
Clearly, I, too, would like to see those "positive effects" and "notable changes" of which you speak but, I don't think, for enduring progress, that that will define his presidency, so much as the mind-shifting assault on the collective psyche of this country that a black presidency will ultimately make.
I think that this is the nub of our disagreement, if I may say that. I think that we can have it both ways. It doesn't have to be either/or.
@deb:
"It will only confirm, in the minds of those whose beliefs have/will not change that they were right."
I'm willing to take that chance. The country seems willing to take that chance (example: Obama's surprising successes in mainly white states, a sign of the desperation of the times to put race behind us, and chart a new course, one where politics as usual will not be business as usual.)
@deb:
"It will reinforce the PTSD (Post-traumatic Slavery Disorder) of Blacks who dared to believe and it will further alienate others who'd not tried engaging before now. And the very people who supported him the most just for the “having,” will benefit the least if it all falls apart."
I think I'm more optimistic about a Barack's presidency than you are. However, I don't see him as some kind of black messiah, and if blacks or whites are projecting that expectation upon him, he won't be able to deliver.
Yet I believe this: white and black America will use this opportunity (of a black presidency) to work extra hard to assure the success of a new black president.
Blacks nor whites will want to see him fail. Too much is at stake.
Lest you see me as an insufferable Pollyanna, let me say that that doesn't mean all whites, nor all blacks.
All don't have to be on board for this train to leave the station.
Sure there'll be detractors from day one on the opposing side. But it won't matter.
America is showing that it's desirous of starting a new chapter in its long history of racial strife and distrust.
And I'm going to do my best to help it write it.
As you know, the problem is not a black one, but a white one.
Also, @deb:
However, we’ve had plenty of pretty great “firsts” in this country to which Black children can and have aspired and to which white children can and have yielded their “privilege.” If beliefs were not changed by them, I doubt just “having” a Black president will do it either.
And I have been privileged to see many of them.
It's not the "Firsts" that concern me the most, it's the seen and unseen "barriers" that they had to overcome, as Firsts, that I resist: it can restrict one's outlook, it can hold some forever locked into their perceptions, perceptions derived from the generosity of white societally-imposed perspectives.
Whites imposed them because they served white America for a time. They could have removed them at anytime without there ever being one First.
It's hard to unlock a door once it's been closed. A great deal of our life energy (as a black people) has been lost in the struggle to unlock doors, energy that should have been used in creative and constructive endeavors.
Incidentally, it takes as much energy to lock a door and keep it locked, as it does to open a door, and keep it opened.
This country is hobbling its potential and short selling its future all because of its preoccupation with race.
A black president, I feel, will at last get that barrier out of the way, and free the national psyche to be about healing and mutual growth and advancement.
Since I've come full circle again, I'll bid you adieu.
You express yourself amazingly well, and I have enjoyed your posts.
Please continue to post here and, if you have a blog, I'll visit you from time to time to learn further of your world view.
I'll probably use another guise (nickname) than the one I used here, which was used purely as an expediency
Circle...As do I and thanks to you for the continued exchange. I agree, we are not far apart, however after a little over 50 years of waiting, I’m more than a little impatient for the “value” of a Black presidency to kick in AND reach some degree of effectiveness, hence my desire for a good yet not necessarily superlative president I think he/she is already out there, if we could only divorce ourselves from a system that has done nothing more than lead us around by our proverbial noses. Wishful thinking I’m sure, but thinking nevertheless.
Unfortunately (or fortunately for some who are sick and damned tired of my “angry Black woman” rants), I do not have the luxury, nor at least at this point in my life, the desire, to wait 20 years for “sustained racial progress” when it is at hand now if we would only throw our support behind a person whose goals are not merely the "having."
That being said however, tell me what you’ve seen in Obama that leads you to believe “that he'll do his best to leave a presidential legacy to be the envy of history,” rather than the bidding of those eager to carve a “we won the White House” notch in their belts? Those, who I believe by the way, have propped him up as a “balm” to please us and the masses of others who feel the guilt of days past like a troublesome pebble in a shoe - the extraction of which offers relief from the annoyance without any substantive change in beliefs. I, for one, take no pleasure in the idea of, “There! Are you satisfied now???” If anything, it grates on my last damn nerve and diminishes the impact the truly qualified can make.
“Clearly, I, too, would like to see those "positive effects" and "notable changes" of which you speak but, I don't think, for enduring progress, that that will define his presidency, so much as the mind-shifting assault on the collective psyche of this country that a black presidency will ultimately make.” Okay we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one. In my mind, enduring progress without positive effects and notable changes isn’t progress. It is Stepin Fetchit, writ large. You’re right though, we CAN have it both ways - if we have a candidate who is both Black and qualified. Is that too much to ask?
“I'm willing to take that chance.” If I had my druthers, I am not - primarily BECAUSE of the signs of “desperation.” We are not, as I see it now anyway, charting some “new course where politics as usual will not be business as usual.” We are headed IMHO, for politics AND business as usual and I’m wa-a-a-y tired of that.
Yes, you are more optimistic about a Barack presidency than I am and that’s okay. Don’t let me rain on your parade. Glad, though, you don’t see him as some kind of black messiah because you are right, those Blacks and/or whites projecting that expectation upon him are in for a rude awakening if/when he is unable to deliver. As for white and Black America using this opportunity to work extra hard to assure the success of a new Black president, that remains to be seen and pardon my cynicism, but experience on a smaller scale, has given me first-hand knowledge of the opposite happening. But again, I could be wrong (always have to leave that door cracked!).
“Lest you see me as an insufferable Pollyanna...” Pollyanna yes, though I agree, “All don't have to be on board for this train to leave the station.” Detractors are only those of us who need to be reasonably convinced by some tangible evidence. Insufferable - no. I appreciate the sounding board.
I don’t think the problem is simply a white one. Our contribution, to our detriment, is palpable as well. Many of us have been so sucked into the idea of “privilege,” status and acceptance that we’ve lost sight of the goal.
“It's not the "Firsts" that concern me the most, it's the seen and unseen "barriers" that they had to overcome, as Firsts, that I resist: it can restrict one's outlook, it can hold some forever locked into their perceptions, perceptions derived from the generosity of white societally-imposed perspectives.” Okay, now we agree! And for some Blacks, it takes years to break down those barriers not only externally, but more importantly, internally. True freedom for me has been conquering those internal barriers. Hard fought, sometimes solitary, but well worth it. I keep working at it every day. I look forward to the day when “First Black ...” doesn’t have to define our success. Probably won’t see it my lifetime, but I’m hoping.
“This country is hobbling its potential and short selling its future all because of its preoccupation with race.” Again, I agree. I’ve decided to make a trip “across the pond” this summer. I have a Black friend who is an artist and researcher, born in Holland and now living in Germany who’s just gone back after a 3-week visit. Our conversations about the differences in my life and his has not only piqued my interest, but spurred me to act in the interest of making more informed decisions about what’s wrong and what’s right about what we’re doing here (getting the hell out of dodge for a good change of pace is also a big part of the reason!).
“A black president, I feel, will at last get that barrier out of the way, and free the national psyche to be about healing and mutual growth and advancement.” Ever the optimist! Oh well, if for no more than balance, it’s necessary to have people like you around!
“You express yourself amazingly well, and I have enjoyed your posts.” Thank you. I have really enjoyed the mental stimulation. I love the written word, it frees one doesn’t it? I’m always lurking on Field’s site because I love his raw truth. I may not always agree with him, but I love the way he puts it out there. Commenting there is not for the faint of heart however! I do have a blog that I started not long ago to exercise my writing and mental muscles. Here’s the link: http://lets-be-clear.blogspot.com/ come by anytime!
@deb:
"That being said however, tell me what you’ve seen in Obama that leads you to believe “that he'll do his best to leave a presidential legacy to be the envy of history,” rather than the bidding of those eager to carve a “we won the White House” notch in their belts?"
He will feel the weight of the office upon his shoulders.
He will feel the muted aspirations of his people, and the heart- wrenching hope of those whites who believe that he can make a difference.
He will feel the historical significance of the moment.
He will take his cue from his faith, that inner urging that has been the impetus behind his journey, and the assurance of his success.
There's a new spirit afoot, whether he wins this thing or not.
Can't you feel it?
He didn't start it. But he's been caught up in it, as well as many others in this country.
Again @deb:
"Those, who I believe by the way, have propped him up as a “balm” to please us and the masses of others who feel the guilt of days past like a troublesome pebble in a shoe ..."
I agree that it looks like guilt, but it's more than that: the country sees in Barack those things that it wishes to see in itself, and in its perception of the presidency, the most prestigious position of this country.
The people feel that the position has been sullied, and they wish to restore decency and honor to it, and, by extension, decency and honor to this country.
I know, I'm the eternal optimist. But if you could stand in my shoes just for a day, you would be as sanguine about our future as I am.
Good things are coming.
Stay strong. We're in the best of times and the worst of times, but the wise ones among us will prevail.
Thanks for your URL. I will visit, as I have said.
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