The black president argument (2008- ) says that America is no longer a racist country because it has a black president.
For example, Dr Laura in her n-word radio rant used it as her main proof that whites are not racist:
We’ve got a black man as president, and we have more complaining about racism [from blacks] than ever. I mean, I think that’s hilarious. … Only 12 percent of the population’s black. Whites voted him in. … I really thought that once we had a black president, the attempt to demonize whites hating blacks would stop, but it seems to have grown, and I don’t get it. Yes, I do. It’s all about power.
Whites voted in Obama, so how can they be racists? Blacks need to shut the hell up and stop being so “hypersensitive” about things like whites using the n-word.
There is some truth to it: in January 2008 I never dreamed that Obama would win, in part because of how the Democratic Party mostly plays it boring-safe (Mondale, Kerry, Gore), in part because I thought enough whites were still too racist.
So being proved wrong I have to admit that whites are less racist than I thought.
On the other hand, contrary to what many believe, Obama lost the white vote. McCain not just won it, he won it by as much as 90% in some states. Obama became president by winning the black, Hispanic and young white vote and a healthy share of the older white vote.
Obama won among whites under 30, those born since 1978. Which is good news since it means the country should become less racist in the long run.
In the short run, though, racism seems to have grown worse. It seems like some whites feel they can be more openly racist now that a black man is president. Some older whites fear for “their” country in a way they did not fear for it when white Democrats were president. The tea baggers come to mind.
The idea that Obama could bring a post-racial world or is proof of one overlooks three things:
- Most whites voted against Obama, some because they are against the whole idea of a black man becoming president.
- You can vote for Obama and still be racist. After all, whites who marry black can still be racist and that is a much bigger commitment than voting.
- Obama is only one man. Even as president his powers are limited. He has to work with Congress to get things done. Nor can he openly favour blacks.
Obama won the white vote among those who were brought up in a colour-blind way. They were taught that to see a man’s colour and hate him for it is wrong. On the other hand, they still stereotype blacks and look down on them in general. But that is just seeing the world the way it is, they think. It is not racist because there is no hatred in it. That is how post-racial they are.
See also:
Actually, Obama’s presidency has exposed just how racist white Americans are.
Not just towards black people – although that has definitely arisen again and again.
What is more obvious to me is how racist white Americans are to anything that does not fall neatly within the pre-defined bounds of white Christian America.
The whole controversy over Obama allegedly being a Muslim is one of the most glaring examples.
The idea that someone could be familiar with Islam and grow up around Muslims and recognise that there are some very positive aspects to Islam (as well as the negative ones) is so radical to many white Americans that they can only interpret that he is a Muslim.
The fact that he went to a black church for 20 years is insignificant. Because it’s not seen as a “proper” church… no prizes for guessing why.
The crazy thing is that Obama has disappointed many African Americans by actually going out of his way to be “the people’s president” rather than just “the black president”. Which is understandable from a political point of view. But it is glaringly obvious that no matter how much Obama tries to govern for all Americans, he will always be seen as someone who is not a “real American”. And for that he will be feared and hated with a passion.
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I agree. For example, those Tea partiers with all their signs regarding Obama. It’s disgusting.
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Right: since Obama’s election we have seen more out-and-out prejudice by whites. Whereas before he hit the scene they kept their racism under wraps, they let it all out after that fateful night in November. It seems some innate fear and paranoia about a “takeover” combined with their prejudice and caused an eruption.
“Obama won among whites under 30, those born since 1978. Which is good news since it means the country should become less racist in the long run.”
Are you sure about this?
I guess it could be so. But that must mean the U.S. was might racist way back when because the whites I know around this age are certainly not “un-racist”. You don’t even have to go looking for it: their racism will usually show up eventually given the right situation.
“Obama won the white vote among those who were brought up in a colour-blind way. They were taught that to see a man’s colour and hate him for it is wrong. On the other hand, they still stereotype blacks and look down on them in general. But that is just seeing the world the way it is, they think. It is not racist because there is no hatred in it.”
Precisely.
This is exactly how they think. Too many think racism = hatred, but nouveau racism doesn’t have much to do with hatred, and racism itself doesn’t necessarily have to include antipathy.
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Uhhh…africanblackmilitant, please. Just please. That’s ridiculous.
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Natasha W
How you think and what you think and what you say is of no relevance to me.
What makes sense to the SHEEP is not going make sense to the WOLF. What make sense to the FOX is not going make sense to the HOUND. What’s make sense to the REPUBLICANS is not make sense the DEMOCRATS.
So I rejoice in your disagreement, for you are my open arch enemy.
—
The EARTH – The WHOLE 196,940,000 square miles of earth, of which 57,255,000 square miles is land and 139,685,000 square miles is water, weighing 6 sextillion tons, travelling at a of speed 10371/3 miles per hour – All of it, EVERY last bit of it, BELONGS to black people.
—
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…Uh, okay.
*whispers to abagond*: troll alert
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“The EARTH – The WHOLE 196,940,000 square miles of earth, of which 57,255,000 square miles is land and 139,685,000 square miles is water, weighing 6 sextillion tons, travelling at a of speed 10371/3 miles per hour – All of it, EVERY last bit of it, BELONGS to black people.”
So… everyone else is just renting?
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Abagond said:
“Obama won among whites under 30, those born since 1978. Which is good news since it means the country should become less racist in the long run.”
Natasha said:
“Are you sure about this?
I guess it could be so. But that must mean the U.S. was might racist way back when because the whites I know around this age are certainly not “un-racist”. You don’t even have to go looking for it: their racism will usually show up eventually given the right situation.”
That is why I said “less racist”, not “unracist”. I also said “should become”, not “will become”.
It seems like white racism now is not as bad as it was in the 1950s. It seems to have become more subtle, less hateful. But I did not live back then – someone like Hathor, who did and has seen all the changes since, would have a much better idea.
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What is Natasha W.?
Is she black?
I am curious.
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I am black.
Why?
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Natasha, I suspect the troll you spotted has multiple personality disorder.
This so-called africanblackmilitant’s rethoric sounds like a compilation of all the clichés that white writers put in the mouth of the angry black extremists they depict in their TV series. You know, these “black racists” that white folks seem to spot everywhere but that no actual black man or woman has ever met…
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I tend to agree with Natasha W in the eruption of fears of “takeover”. It tells me that even the most WIWL simply do not feel connected to African-Americans (AA) as human beings on the most elemental levels. That mistrust and questioning of intent is still there. Any gains Obama makes for families are seen as gains which only benefit AA. His reaching out to other nations in attempts at a global union is seen as him not caring about Americans.
Even WP who voted for him are suddenly suspicious, and I feel like I’m being asked to believe in the Tooth Fairy in order to see their reasons for this suspicion. I’ve never seen such a rush for people to get a president out of office. There is nothing that could convince me otherwise that whites who have a problem with his being in office, backing it up with BS reasons as they do, are poorly masking their latent racism. As soon as someone tells me about their issue with “Obama’s spending” by conveniently forgetting the white douchebag who poured trillions upon trillions of dollars into a pointless war – unchecked, I automatically assume I’m dealing with a racist.
You can show them how far in debt the nation was before Obama’s presidency was even a twinkle in a liberal’s eye, you can prove to them that Homeland Security has deported more undocumented citizens (Obama-haters’ favorite excuse “immigration!”) this year than last year, and that was still more than the year before… but at the end of the day they only see a black man where they think a white man could do a better job. Point blank.
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@ Everyone,
We need to all stop responding to African_Black_Militant (this wil be my last post to or about him). He is clearly incapable of having an intelligent conversation, even with other black people.
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@ Natasha W and Victoria,
VERY well said and I totally agree.
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WIWL = Well-Intentioned White Liberal
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@ Wisla
“What is Natasha W.?
Is she black?
I am curious.”
That question is virtually meaningless on the web.
There is no way for anyone even to ensure that Abagond is Black.
Besides that, it doesn’t really matter.
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African Black Militant:
If you continue to plagiarize you will be banned. Please write your own thoughts.
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I removed African Black Militant’s first comment on this thread as it was plagiarized from here:
http://wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com/2009/10/brother-x-squared-speaks-on-barack.html
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Dahoman X: I was thinking that.
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Abagond,
What has ceased is “discrimination in plain sight” and the violence. During the transition into integrated environments, there was still an ugly reaction and harassment. The thing I noticed because I left the south in 1970, that white folks attitudes in the north have seem to remain constant. In other words there is a status quo. Some white people don’t seem to have a problem and others are clearly racist. I get annoyed when I point out to a coworker that their attitudes are racist and they are surprised.
Employment and housing has improved, not as much redlining as in the past, but Black folk are getting sold those non conventional mortgages was up.
I do know that Black people do have better protection under the law, than before the Civil Rights Act, even though it may not appear to be so.
I also like to say that pretending not to be racist can go along way to changing their own attitudes. White guilt is good.
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What has ceased is “discrimination in plain sight” and the violence. During the transition into integrated environments, there was still an ugly reaction and harassment. The thing I noticed because I left the south in 1970, that white folks attitudes in the north have seem to remain constant. In other words there is a status quo. (Hathor)
Good points, plus the very real threat of black retaliation. I think that racism has remained the same since the end of slavery, just, variations on a theme and more media to present it to the masses. I’ve been on the internet since the early to mid 1990’s, and was totally surprised by the violently racist comments on blogs, message boards and comment sections on mainstream news sites. Just wow. As far as more overt expressions of racism in ‘honor’ of the ‘black president, I have seen on the media, white citizens ‘acting out’ to a higher degree.
I have also heard from family and friends their recent experiences with racism on the job, and, in places off business. My niece who works in a relatively upscale restaurant, said that a young caucasian female, under 30, came into the restaurant, with a tattoo on her chest,that clearly stated, ‘trust no ‘n—ga’s’! While I would identify that as definitely racist, her companion was a young black male. hmm.
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“a young caucasion female, under 30, came into the restaurant, with a tattoo on her chest,that clearly stated, ‘trust no ‘n—ga’s’! While I would identify that as definitely racist, her companion was a young black male. hmm.”
I’ve seen Black guy wearing the same tattoo. I think it’s meant to be more Gangsta than Klan.
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@Gen
yeah I know what happend to her?
As for this post before Obama white people were wearing their mask now they have taken it off and their inner racist thoughs are coming out.
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As much as I agree that Obama’s presidency means a lot in the course of American history I saw this situation coming from a LOOONG ways away. White kids were running through the dorms of the college I graduated from crying and screaming and hugging each other and I sat there and thought “Shit” shaking my head “people are all mixed up on the depth of the situation here”.
I wasn’t thrilled about any of the presidential candidates–great rhetoric so what? When I tried to explain on election night and after election night (a mistake obviously) why Obama winning made me shrug so much everybody (even people of color) got mad and tried to debate me down about my stance. I have never believed that President Obama was Jesus with the Second Coming. I would never place that kind of faith in one man in a political office.
Of course *sarcasm* we live in a post-racial post-feminist post-EVERYTHING society. Sure. Being on the working class/poor divide where politics don’t seem to help your family at all sometimes gives you a bit of prospective. But I’m happy President Obama is where he is: Racism is bursting its seams everywhere you turn. I am happy that at least people here are talking about it in its many forms.
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>>You can show them how far in debt the nation was before Obama’s presidency was even a twinkle in a liberal’s eye, you can prove to them that Homeland Security has deported more undocumented citizens (Obama-haters’ favorite excuse “immigration!”) this year than last year, and that was still more than the year before… but at the end of the day they only see a black man where they think a white man could do a better job. Point blank.<<
I've never considered myself a conspiracy theorist before…but I'm wondering if "forces" didn't conspire to get Obama elected–as a diversion to keep the rabble from seeing what was really going on behind the curtain when the economy went south.
What if the Republican Party had nominated Romney? Heck, he might have won, which would have kept the heat on the Republican party and all their cronies.
When you follow the money, you see that it's really still going where it always went. The corporate environment has scarcely changed–the laws still favor their profits. Big Health will profit very nicely from changes in health care laws, while changes that would have helped small businesses (such as the much-lobbied bill that would allow trade organizations to negotiate collectively for large-business health insurance rates for small businesses) go unheard.
Exporting labor to China? Forgotten. The fact that China is buying the treasury bonds we're using to fund the wars? Forgotten. Getting off Saudi oil addition by any means necessary? Forgotten.
Heck, Obama has even legalized default credit swaps.
And Boeing has just opened a large-aircraft plant in China for the express purpose of allowing China to build large aircraft that can compete on the international market with Airbus…and Boeing itself. Boeing will still collect a license fee, but they'll shut down at least part of their American manufacturing (the part that builds the same kind of planes their Chinese buddies are building).
Same old, same old. Money talks.
But everyone has been successfully distracted from the people pushing the buttons and pulling the levers by the black man in front of the curtain.
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What this “black president argument” reveal is people like Dr. Laura aren’t even trying to hide their disgust for non-white people anymore. They truly believe there is some invasion of the browns occuring.
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Abagond
Your going to ban me anyway. I’m too black and miliant for your blog.
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If your on youtube…check out my page.
http://www.youtube.com/denilson200
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The first 35 seconds of this vid sum my belief and everything that I think
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What a lovely and romantic photo of the president and first lady.
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RDKirk great points.
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@ Thad:
I said:
What is more obvious to me is how racist white Americans are to anything that does not fall neatly within the pre-defined bounds of white Christian America.
The whole controversy over Obama allegedly being a Muslim is one of the most glaring examples.
Thad said
20% of Americans believe this and somehow this has become a “white” thing?
Most whites don`t believe this and plenty of non-whites (particualrly certain latinos I could mention) do.
Obviously most whites don’t believe this, and it’s not only whites. But the people who do are predominantly white and it is a direct manifestation of time-honoured white American suspicion of anything different and anything a bit too brown.
20% of Americans is still over 50 million people. Think on that! And only about 35% actually think he is a Christian, despite him attending church for 2 decades, having repeatedly stated that he is a Christian, and the fact that no one who knows him seems to have noticed him doing anything Muslim-y.
To even seriously think that he is a Muslim requires some kind of brain damage.
Obama is probably going to get voted out after a single term. Which is not a problem in itself, except it is sad that it’s primarily going to be due to hatred and fear of “The Other” and not actually related to his character or policies. And then the same voters who hate Obama will elect someone like Palin, who the whole world regards as a complete joke.
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BDKirk,
When you mentioned that Boeing’s manufacturing going to China, once again I thought of “what jobs” were going to be created.
I guess everyone will be owning a pushcart business. As my grandmother described the depression, “Hoover pushcarts”.
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Eurasian:
You are not getting it: Obama is a SECRET Muslim, so of course there is no proof of it. If there were, it would not be secret, would it? 😉
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I don’t understand- how could Obama win if most of the whites didn’t vote for him? But in any case, voting for Obama doesn’t prove one’s anti-racism. You can still be racist and vote for Obama, you just can’t be a KKK, hating kind of a racist.
There’s also a “magical Negro” moment that made some whites vote for him.
I don’t know about blacks (if they hoped that he’ll be more black president than a “general” one).
As for Obama being a Muslim: I don’t think he is Muslim…. But even if he was Muslim… why is that such a big deal? Isn’t America supposed to be the land of freedom , especially freedom of speech and freedom for every individual to express their beliefs? 😀
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Thad said
“20% of Americans believe this and somehow this has become a “white” thing?
Most whites don`t believe this and plenty of non-whites (particualrly certain latinos I could mention) do.”
By that line of reasoning owning slaves in America was not a white thing either – fewer than 2% of whites owned slaves while there were Cherokee Indians and even blacks who did.
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But more than 1% of whites benefited from slavery. So I don’t think it’s same.
Still, if most of the people who see Obama as Muslim are white, you can call it a “white” thing. But you can’t claim most of the whites believe in that nonsense, if only 20, or 30% do.
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Mira said:
“I don’t understand- how could Obama win if most of the whites didn’t vote for him? “
Because not everyone is white in America and you need only 50% + 1 to win.
In 2008 America was:
68% non-Hispanic white
15% Hispanic
12% non-Hispanic black
5% Asian American
So you can get 32% of the vote without a single white person voting for you. You still need another 18% to win, but you can get that on 27% of the white vote (27% of 68% is 18%).
Here is how well Obama did by race:
44% white
95% black
67% Hispanic
63% Asian
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Ah, I get it! I know not everybody is white in America ( 😉 )- I just thought Obama needed at least some whites to vote for him. (And some obviously did vote for him).
However, if these numbers are correct, it means majority of whites DIDN’T vote for him (44% is less than 50% :D).
But I’d say whites under 30 voting for him is a good sign. Not too good- it doesn’t really prove anything- but it would be worse if they were the ones who refused to vote for him. (In my country, for example, people under 30 are the most conservative, nationalist, xenophobe group). Obviously it’s not the case in America- but God knows what they’ll think in a few years.
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One more thing: the above numbers are logical, but are we sure all non-whites voted for Obama? It’s not really important for this discussion, but it would be interesting to know.
In any case, I can see that it’s quite possible most of the whites didn’t vote for him.
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I can imagine there was quite a bit of impulsive and protest voting for Obama from white American voters, as opposed to true political motivations. It doesn’t really surprise me, having experienced first hand how mainly white Americans avoid political “hard talk” like the plague. Throw a few distorted views of world history, culture and politics on top and you have them, the “average” white American voters. The large consensus I always heard was “the less government, the better and everybody for themselves”. It always amazed me how quickly people who bring up intelligent (but uncomfortable) arguments are dismissed as “commies” or “whiners”.
Another reason for at least some of the white votes I can imagine is that racists tend to underestimate and belittle those they see as inferior. Along the lines of “this black man speaks of change that we can’t quite relate to but what can he possibly accomplish? He’s black. At least he’s not a mouthy woman or a senile village idiot. So of the two evils let’s choose the more harmless.” — Just my theory.
Obama has not only brought out the true racist nature in many white Americans, his presidency is also making the separation between white Americans and other white people around the world even larger. A lot of (continental) Europeans are shocked about how much mob resistance Obama’s reforms – which were long overdue and still quite soft by European standards – are facing, mostly because of his heritage. Those mobs are not even listening to, let alone understanding, what the man has to say. Not only does it show how racist many are but also a fanaticism that gives suicide bombers a run for the money.
** Just a remark independently of the above comments of some megalomaniac… Planet Earth belongs to nobody. It has a proven track record of over 4 billion years without humans. Earth can very well exist without them. Especially without humans who believe their group is better than another and even more so without fanatic militants of all kinds.
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Europeans are shocked about how much mob resistance Obama’s reforms – which were long overdue and still quite soft by European standards – are facing, mostly because of his heritage.
This is true. So, so true.
Also, while many see the first American president as an important step, when it comes to many things, they see him as an American president like any other- and it does seem many Americans don’t see Obama that way.
At least he’s not a mouthy woman or a senile village idiot. So of the two evils let’s choose the more harmless.
lol 😀
I can imagine there was quite a bit of impulsive and protest voting for Obama from white American voters, as opposed to true political motivations.
What do you mean by “protest voting”?
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By that line of reasoning owning slaves in America was not a white thing either – fewer than 2% of whites owned slaves while there were Cherokee Indians and even blacks who did.
Precisely, Abagond. There was a white construction of slavery, but slavery itself was never an exclusively white thing or even a thing which defined most whites in the world.
Yes, I`m aware of the dogmatic arguments regarding this. No, I don`t think they adequately describe what was going on.
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ES sez:
20% of Americans is still over 50 million people. Think on that! And only about 35% actually think he is a Christian, despite him attending church for 2 decades, having repeatedly stated that he is a Christian, and the fact that no one who knows him seems to have noticed him doing anything Muslim-y.
I`m not saying that this is a good thing or an insignificant thing.
I am asking how is it that a minority white position becomes “typically white”, especially when minority black positions, when described as “typically black” are routinely denied here as ignorant stereotypes.
I am not responsible for what some Tea Party redneck believes.
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Mira, how did a majority of whites benefit from slavery, exactly – concretely speaking?
In capitalism, a majority NEVER benefits.
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Saying there is no racism in America because a Black man got elected president is as ludicrus as saying there is no more sexism in England because Margaret Thatcher was elected as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990
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@Mira
It might be that quite a few voters thought “well, I’ve been tricked into voting twice (!! how did that happen?) for the possibly worst president the USA has ever had, so let’s go the opposite way.”
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I dunno. A lot of older white people I talked to said tha Obama remined them of Roosevelt and that’s why they voted for him.
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“One more thing: the above numbers are logical, but are we sure all non-whites voted for Obama? It’s not really important for this discussion, but it would be interesting to know.”
I voted for Obama…eventually. I was behind Clinton all the way and was really disappointed she didn’t get the nomination. Obama’s run seemed hasty to me and I read him as a bit fickle, not to mention our views on certain issues weren’t quite aligned. But I attended a conference at an HBCU in 2005 where he was the main speaker and I remember him being really passionate and serious about his work. He came off as the type that when given a job, will put his whole life into it. And he also has a sense of humor — a professor friend of mine asked him after the conference, “Can I make you a sandwich? You look like you are starving, poor thing.” (He is extremely thin and tall in person.) He just laughed really loudly and didn’t look offended at all.
So yes, I did. But although Obama got 95 percent of the black vote and a majority of non-white votes, you have to keep in mind that most Democratic nominees have similar percentages. The vast majority of blacks are Democrats so, for example, Al Gore got 90 percent of the black vote in his run against Bush. And 65 percent of the Hispanic vote. Not far from Obama’s percentages of 95 and 67. So people trying to portray this idea of blacks (and other non-whites) voting en masse for Obama because he was black aren’t being very honest.
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Thad,
Mira, how did a majority of whites benefit from slavery, exactly – concretely speaking?
I never said it was majority of whites- but it wasn’t just those 2% of slave owners who benefited.
In capitalism, a majority NEVER benefits.
Tell me about it! 😉
Femi,
It might be that quite a few voters thought “well, I’ve been tricked into voting twice (!! how did that happen?) for the possibly worst president the USA has ever had, so let’s go the opposite way.”
I get it. That sort of thing is a norm in my culture (you don’t usually vote for somebody, but against somebody else), so I didn’t see that as a particularly interesting thing.
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Natasha,
Thanks for the explanation. Indeed, these numbers almost match (percentage of black/Hispanic vote for Al Gore and Obama).
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>>So yes, I did. But although Obama got 95 percent of the black vote and a majority of non-white votes, you have to keep in mind that most Democratic nominees have similar percentages. The vast majority of blacks are Democrats so, for example, Al Gore got 90 percent of the black vote in his run against Bush. And 65 percent of the Hispanic vote. Not far from Obama’s percentages of 95 and 67. So people trying to portray this idea of blacks (and other non-whites) voting en masse for Obama because he was black aren’t being very honest.<<
In addition, remember that although Obama was the fourth black person to run for president since the 60s, he was the first to actually get substantial black support.
Even in his case, it wasn't until he proved he was electable among whites that he gained black backing. So it's false to say that he got the black vote only because he is black–the record shows blacks will vote for white candidates even with a black choice available.
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@ Thad:
ok, so my initial statement was a bit too blanket. Obviously the “Obama is a Muslim spy” people don’t represent all white Americans. But I think it has become quite clear that the fear of The Other is such an overwhelming element in anti-Obama circles, even if many of them never admit to it. There is such a high level of hate and mistrust directed his way, yet unlike Dubya, for example, he hasn’t really done anything particularly objectionable (well, to a reasonable observer, anyway).
These last 2 years of the Obama presidency have shined a light on ugly attitudes that are very much part of mainstream America, that many had assumed had been banished to the annals of history. Although I figure most black people knew those attitudes were still there.
In Australia we recently had a Prime Minister who was well-known for his ability to speak Mandarin (he was a former foreign minister). This ability was almost universally respected in our country because he was a man of the world. If Obama spoke Chinese, it would only be taken as proof of his alleged Communist sympathies. For such an advanced nation as the US, it is astounding the degree to which so many people blatantly celebrate ignorance.
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Thank you, thank you, and thank you, Abagond. Brilliant post once again. I’m getting really sick and tired of hearing this argument; it just begs for a fountain of vomit.
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@Mira
I never said it was majority of whites- but it wasn’t just those 2% of slave owners who benefited.
Ahn. Understood and agreed. Still, I`m willing to bet that it was a small minority which concretely and directly benefitted.
@EA
But I think it has become quite clear that the fear of The Other is such an overwhelming element in anti-Obama circles, even if many of them never admit to it.
I wonder. I mean, I`m sure that`s part of it. But the more I listen to the Tea Party clowns, the more I`m convinced that for a lot of those people, it`s pure, hardbitten cynicism. If it were a gay president, they`d say he was a peodphile. If it were another white demo like Clinton, they`d come up with another Lewinsky scandal.
The strategy of the right in the U.S. is to destroy the Fedferal Government. Do do this, all they need to do is to prevent the government from operating. Constantly stirring the pot over non-issues does that. While we waste time defending the president from big-lie charges, we aren`t agitating for, say, socialized health care. When we need to go to bat for the rights of gays to be treated like human beings, we aren`t asking why Bush`s tax cuts for the rich aren`t being reversed.
So I really wonder how widespread those ugly attitudes really are and how many of that 20% is just acting like jerks because it fits in nicely with Republican smoke and mirrors policy.
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@ Thad:
I get the impression that those ugly attitudes are virtually mainstream now. All those lines like “we want to take our country back” for “real Americans”, are as I see it, just code for wanting the brown foreign guy out of office.
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@ Natasha W:
But although Obama got 95 percent of the black vote and a majority of non-white votes, you have to keep in mind that most Democratic nominees have similar percentages. The vast majority of blacks are Democrats so, for example, Al Gore got 90 percent of the black vote in his run against Bush. And 65 percent of the Hispanic vote. Not far from Obama’s percentages of 95 and 67. So people trying to portray this idea of blacks (and other non-whites) voting en masse for Obama because he was black aren’t being very honest.
I agree entirely. I’m sick of hearing wingnuts claiming “blacks are the real racists, they only voted for Obama because he is black.”
Um, no, they voted for Obama because the Republican Party has demonstrated time and time again that they are no friend to black people.
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I think that your right Abagond in your assessment of the attitudes of whites towards Obama and what they/we think it represents in terms of racism.
Even though electing a black president doesn’t have much effect on racism, I do think that having a black president for several years might actually help break down stereotypes held by whites in the long run.
Studies have shown that stereotypes originate with a fear of the unknown. After Obama, most WP will be used to the idea of POC in positions of power whether they like it or not.
Think back to that New Yorker Magazine cover with the Obama’s dressed like black militants. It was a representation of real fears held by whites of what a black president would mean. Those fears will be for the most part gone by the end of his time in office.
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@EA
Again, I dunno. It’s a big country with lots of different people. I’ve spent most of this winter break reading a slew of pop titles like “What’s the matter with Kansas?” and trying to come to grips with what’s happening up there. As far as I can see, it’s a very complicated process that’s not reducable to simple bon mots. I certainly don’t think that the Tea Party is mainstream, but it is scary that they’re not just an isolated band of lunatics, which is what they should be, by all rights.
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I suppose if Obama was a reactionary and paranoid warmonger like Condoleeza Rice for instance (or was she just brainwashed and mislead?), he might have his initial popularity among white American voters overall conserved until now. The problem is that he’s actually intelligent and that his political ideas do make sense – objectively speaking, perhaps not by American standards though…
Anyway, the irrational fear of “socialism”, without bothering to make any efforts understanding its true meaning, is a curse hanging over (mainly white) America. It seems like paranoia is more widespread in the USA than anywhere else in the world.
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The strategy of the right in the U.S. is to destroy the Fedferal Government. Do do this, all they need to do is to prevent the government from operating.
I see this strategy occurring time and time again, year after year. I’m almost becoming numb to it.
Anyway, the irrational fear of “socialism”, without bothering to make any efforts understanding its true meaning, is a curse hanging over (mainly white) America. It seems like paranoia is more widespread in the USA than anywhere else in the world.
Because they don’t want their tax dollars to go to non-white people even though it would help everyone including paranoid white people in the long run.
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Abagond,
How do you know Obama is a secret muslim?
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I was joking about that – that is why I added a 😉 .
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Sadly, the right wingnut movements in the US are appeased and left unchecked because people feel they’re harmless.
I don’t think they are. These movements give birth to the likes of ‘Timothy McVeigh’ types, and lots of paranoia.
For some reason, these right wingers and Dr. Laura type feel they’re the ‘real victims’ because they can’t unleash their ignorant beliefs (which they believe to be true).
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I agree Mel, it seems like people are getting bolder and bolder with their racism and nobody seems to be bating an eyelash.
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Femi,
>>Anyway, the irrational fear of “socialism”, without bothering to make any efforts understanding its true meaning, is a curse hanging over (mainly white) America. <<
It's a codeword. It's been used ever since Martin Luther King, when it became politically incorrect to use the n-word publicly. King was a "socialist." Bobby Kennedy was just "liberal." Jesse Jackson was a "socialist." George McGovern was a "liberal." Any time a black man gained national prominence, he became a "socialist." Bill Clinton was a "liberal." Even Hillary Clinton is a "liberal." Joe Biden is a "liberal." But Barack Obama is a "socialist." Zero difference in political platform, just a difference in color.
This is patently obvious. Did you see the clip where the Florida television reporter asked Joe Biden to prove Obama was not a socialist? Biden was so startled to hear someone actually call a presidential candidate a socialist that he looked visibly awestruck and asked, "What did you say? Was that a serious question?"
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In most eras throughout history this happens; When the economy goes south the loons come out of the woodwork en- masse. These tea party imbeciles are indicative of this. This isn’t protesting, it’s akin to school ground bullying. code words for race are substituted for the old time racist name calling and sayings. Oh yeah, immigration is a close second. After all, one needs to have some sort of target for their pent up vitriol. Why not the the most oppressed in society? Instead of going after the corporations, moronic politicians, greedy people in general who hold the reins of power, they choose the weakest in the power paradigm. Let the games commence!
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@ Herneith:
Ain’t it the truth? ^_^ Unfortunately ~_~
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Gen & Ms Queenly & Thad:
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Oh. OK, Abagond. Didn’t realize we were banned from talking about that person.
Still, if you’ve got tools to do some IP checking, I would. It smells to me. Then again, I’m a paranoid type when it comes to the internet.
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Ok. Gotcha. I wish someone had warned me though because Abagond you lost that “fan” and I gained one on my own blog….
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RDkirk, I’d like to add that socialism in turn is a code word for ‘welfare’; what lies at the heart of the socialism fear is that Obama will take money from [hard-working] whites and give it to lazy [black] welfare queens and illegal immigrants [Hispanics]. This belief that Obama just wants to support welfare causes for [non-whites] is stemmed from the xenophobic and racist beliefs of many white [right wing] Americans. I remember a European critic pointing out that part of the fear of ‘universal healthcare’ in the U.S. is that it may help or aid poor blacks and Hispanics. It’s a codeword. It’s been used ever since Martin Luther King, when it became politically incorrect to use the n-word publicly. King was a “socialist.” Bobby Kennedy was just “liberal.” Jesse Jackson was a “socialist.” George McGovern was a “liberal.” Any time a black man gained national prominence, he became a “socialist.” Bill Clinton was a “liberal.” Even Hillary Clinton is a “liberal.” Joe Biden is a “liberal.” But Barack Obama is a “socialist.” Zero difference in political platform, just a difference in color.
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I have never been more proud of President Obama than I was when he decided to not agree with the “Americans” that believed a mosque should not be built in New York. This could have been an issue that he could have tried to take the position of catering to a group of people who have no other reason to condemn this mosque other than racism. This country is supposed to be a melting pot with respect for all religions. I am so glad he recognized that and decided to stand his ground and show how much integrity he has.
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What’s funny is that these same fools don’t even know what socialism is. This is another tactic used to shut down discourse about race. They hurl it about like an insult.
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A real socialist does The Times crossword in his head and introduces the National Health Service(not all at the same time).His name was Clement Attlee.This country may have done a lot of crap stuff over the years but that was’nt one of them.Byexx.
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Yipes! I didn’t know all that stuff went down with the banhammer and all. Note taken Abagond lol.
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This. I think the way politic has been in Bush era vs Obama era speaks volumes about how “post-racial” we are. Not to mention how “articulate” our president is. *eyerolls* Yeah- racism has been brought up more now. Because we can’t ignore it anymore and voices of people of color aren’t being silenced as much. (well, we can and they are, but it’s harder) And I also think there’s more obvious racism because we now have a president who isn’t fully privileged, and some people are lashing out to try and reassert their privilege over PoC.
I think you’re right. We’re getting there. The future is more hopeful. We just aren’t there YET, and it’s incredibly privileged for us white folk to use ONE black president (who we’ve claimed isn’t really American, isn’t Christian (or “isn’t Christian ENOUGH”), etc all despite evidence to the contrary- things I don’t think has ever been said about a white president) to say that we officially can’t be racist anymore and any PoC who says otherwise is just oversensitive and hates white people.
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The ugly truth was made known the day after the elections when there was a spike in the purchase of guns, and an increase of traffic to hate group websites. Can a racist vote for Obama? Yes, because it has happened. I remember seeing an interview, in which the person made it known that he didn’t like blacks, but wanted to see what he could do. Just because somebody voted for Obama does that make that person not racist? Definitely not.
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We Boomers will have to be dead before the US will have a chance to be a “post-racial” society. It can’t happen while a generation that was raised in apartheid is still in control of society.
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RDKirk,
I agree with you that America is NOT a “post-racial” society, and like you, I don’t see it becoming one for quite some time.
I find the racial backlash since the election of President Obama to be deeply disturbing and frightening. I didn’t find it unexpected, but it is still frightening to see it all play out.
Even in the 1980’s it would have been unheard of for anyone except those on the fringes to suggest overturning the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act. Yet, both are actually being discussed by what is now the so-called mainstream, but only a couple of years ago was the lunatic-fringe.
What I find scariest about the “Tea Party Crowd” is not so much the individuals that are part of it, but rather that the entire so-called “movement” was a corporate-media creation, sponsored partly by Dick Armey and Rupert Murdoch (and those are the folks we KNOW about). This racial backlash crap is being generated by the “elites” at the top. I just wish that the white folks who are allowing their inner racist to respond to it and promote could open their eyes and see how they are allowing themselves to be used to attempt to destroy the very nation they say they love, while (as you pointed out) serving as a distraction from the real issues.
@RDKirk, “I’ve never considered myself a conspiracy theorist before…but I’m wondering if “forces” didn’t conspire to get Obama elected–as a diversion to keep the rabble from seeing what was really going on behind the curtain when the economy went south.”
I agree with you on the above statement, as well. I have wondered the same thing (and worse) myself.
After all, think about the movies in which the actor playing the president of the United States was black. They are all disaster movies, “Deep Impact,” “Independence Day.” You only see a black man playing the president when things are getting really, really crappy.
I guess that’s so he can be the scapegoat when the proverbial feces hits the fan. Too many white folks (especially the ones on FOX) seem to have forgotten that the deep doodoo that Obama inherited was left for him by a line of white presidents and politicians.
But back to your “conspiracy theory.” The night of the election I was stunned….not because I didn’t believe he wouldn’t get the votes to win, but because I didn’t believe he would be “allowed” to win. After all, in the 2000 election, voter disenfranchisement was rampant in some states and the the Supreme Court stole the election……..but worse, after the advent and widespread adoption of the electronic voting machines (which are notoriously vulnerable to hacking and rigging), and since one or two of the companies that produce and provide technological support have strong ties to the Republican Party)…..and in the 2004 election voter disenfranchisement shot through the roof and that election was STOLEN!
So, since “they” had stolen two presidential elections already…….why didn’t they steal this one? Why didn’t they “help” McCain win the way they helped Bush win?
All I can guess is partly what you have already said about serving as a distraction, as well as letting Obama be the scape-goat, and I also think it may well have been “allowed” to appeal to white racist hysteria, create even deeper divisions within the country, polarize it even further, and drive the country even closer to a corporate-socialist facist state (where the wealth is re-distributed upward).
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RDKirk,
I would also like to comment on your earlier statements about socialism being a racial code-word with regards to black leaders and politicians.
I agree with everything you said. However, I would like to point out that the use of the word “socialism” actually predates MLK and the N word becoming politically incorrect.
It dates at the latest to the 1920s and 1930s…only then the code-words were more commonly, “communist,” or “commie” or “marxist” and they were used in conjunction with anyone (black or white) who had any role in promoting civil rights for black folks (and also promoting labor unions…particularly when it involved white and black workers forming unions together)
The 1920s and 1930s saw a vicious and violent rebirth of the KKK, which added to its tenants of people to hate: “communists.” After WWII and the advent of the Cold War and the Red Scare, the word “socialism” became more common, but “commie” was still the #1 codeword.
Until 2008 I can’t remember the last time that I heard anyone on the national news or in a political debate seriously call someone a “communist, ” “marxist” or “socialist.” President Obama has been called all three……..and in such hysterical tones that it is almost like being transported back in time to the 1960s (and that’s really scary).
Unfortunately, many younger Americans who were born after the civil rights movement and don’t remember much about the Cold War era, or were born toward the end of it, really do not understand the racial significance of the “socialist” and “marxist” labels thrown at our president and anyone who supports him.
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Am I the only American that thinks that Republicans are responsible for the downfall of economic horrible condition? And white people are willing to give power back to proven failure! White people gave America Nixon (resign as a failure) Reagan ( suffer from Alzheimer and refuse to resign) Bush (1) liar( READ MY LIPS) Bush (2) stupid ( Started a war in Iraq for nothing) causing American troops deaths for NOTHING! Turn a surplus into debt! Am I the only person that wonder why white people listen to Bill O’Reilly? A man that paid off a female not to sue him for sexual harassment and in my opinion a PERVERT! A man that has no respect for woman and NEVER really apologize to the woman he harassed! A man that has made racist and demeaning comments about all Muslims! On his show O’Reilly question President Obama’s morals! And talked about convicted felons that he claims President Obama associate with. If O’Reilly believe what he is saying nobody should sit down with him as a PERVERT on his PERVERT SHOW! Am I the only one that wonders why white people are listening to Glenn Beck a alcoholic and a racist! This man facts are made up of racist innuendos! Hate and divide is the programs agenda! Am I the only person that wonder why Rush Limbaugh is not denounce by every American especially white Americans? After his statement that he wanted President Obama to fail and the country to fail! Am I the only person that saw the double standard when Boston Mass. resident voted in a Senator they thought was against President Obama Universal healthcare reform plan for all Americans! BUT Boston Mass. has state run Healthcare! Am I the only person that saw a racist double standard when Senator Obama’s pastor was demonize and condemn . Call a racist and un American! A man that is a former Army and Navy veteran. Took care of former President L. Johnson while hospitalize! On the other hand Mitt Romney’s church teaches that all black people are evil! He sat in his church over 15 year and continue to so and was NEVER denounce or demonize for doing so! He NEVER was told to get out of his church and denounce his pastor! Am I the only person that see Governor Christie of New Jersey as a bully and a idiot that in his first year in officer lost 400 million for New Jersey! Eliminated a project that laid off 6 thousand dollars and would have employed 40 thousand citizen! Does anyone but me wonder why white American call Governor Christie a hero!
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…yeah less whites voted for Obama than McCain, but that’s not surprising given the red-blue divide of the last generation.
Obama won Virginia, North Carolina, and even Indiana. Demographics play a key, but I also think that Sarah Palin had a lot to do with it. About half of the hardcore Republicans I know voted for Obama only after being scared by how idiotic and dangerous Sarah Palin acts.
I hope she runs in 2012.
@abagond — I’d never heard of a Well Intentioned White Liberal (WIWL). That’s a good one. I thought it stood for ‘when I was little.’
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As far as people thinking Obama is Muslim, I don’t, but his comments like, “The Holy Koran tells us…” to a Muslim audience and, “The Muslim call to prayer is one of the most beautiful sounds on earth” could make alot of folks wonder.
He also attended a Muslim school as a child in Indonesia and said in his book, “I was a Jakharta street kid.”
Someone said he never did anything Muslim-y. Just those few statements the President said that I remember off the top of my head (There are other such statements) seems to counter not doing anything Muslim-y.
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@Eurasian Sensation
Well, it didn’t happen. Now what?
Actually, I think it is a good time to update this post with a “black president re-election argument”.
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@ES
“For such an advanced nation as the US, it is astounding the degree to which so many people blatantly celebrate ignorance.”
Yep, One reason why I feel so uneasy when I go back to visit.
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[…] The black president argument (2008- ) says that America is no longer a racist country because it has a black president. For example, Dr Laura in her n-word radio rant used it as her main proof that… […]
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[…] The black president argument (2008- ) says that America is no longer a racist country because it has a black president. For example, Dr Laura in her n-word radio rant used it as her main proof that… […]
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Obama loves Mahometanism.
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