What in the world is Jonathan Capehart saying here:
If blacks want to guarantee that Obama is a one-term president — and thus fulfill the No. 1 goal of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and all other Republicans — then they should demand that Obama release a black agenda tomorrow. And if he doesn’t do it, they should continue to pummel him as someone who doesn’t care about African Americans. As Allison Samuels points out in Newsweek this week, “the black war over Obama†has black leaders fearful that “West and Smiley could discourage black voters from turning out when the nation’s first African-American president stands for reelection in 2012.â€
Is he really saying that it shouldn’t matter what President Obama does so long as he is re-elected?
I really struggled with the title for this post. The first title that occurred to me was “If not now, when?” The Obama Administration hasn’t pursued a “black agenda” since January of 2009 other than the “rising tide lifts all boats” that Democratic and Republican administrations have pursued for decades which, when Republicans pursue it, is roundly condemned.
Black voters comprise one of the most important if not the most important component in the Democratic coalition. When you are most needed is exactly the right time to press your case. If the argument against doing so in 2011 is “don’t threaten the president’s re-election!” what will it be in 2013?
Black voters have not been well served by the Democratic Party which, understandably, takes them for granted. The Democrats’ strongest ally in this is the Republicans who just can’t help themselves: they continue to give a platform to their looniest, most racist partisans.
Unfortunately, black voters are faced with a Catch-22. If they don’t turn out in numbers to re-elect President Obama, he’ll be defeated. If they do turn out in numbers, whether he is re-elected or not they’ll be ignored.
Glib, Dave. Other than her mystical appeal for Ashenazi Jews in her YT paean to Israel, I challenge you to cite one overt political/racist exaltation of Michele Bachmann.
Unfortunately, black voters are faced with a Catch-22. If they don’t turn out in numbers to re-elect President Obama, he’ll be defeated. If they do turn out in numbers, whether he is re-elected or not they’ll be ignored.
It’s only a Catch-22 if black voters don’t give a damn about their own interests. If they do, they won’t turn out for candidates that always ignore them, but will support different candidates that actually may do so. If those candidates don’t deliver, vote for someone else the next time. Lather, rinse, repeat, as necessary. However, experience shows that black voters really don’t care about their own interests at all.
But it’s not just black voters. Perhaps the biggest problem with American politics is that the parties have convinced us that no alternatives exist, and we had best vote for the disaster of one party over the catastrophe of the other. Thus we keep getting shitty candidates.
I’m reminded of Everett Dirksen getting angry at African-Americans for demonstrating for civil rights (at his Chicago office?)while he was trying to draft and pass the 1964 law. He exclaimed that he had supported and voted for every civil rights law that had come up in the Senate, but you (black voters) never vote for me anyway; how dare you protest me.
As I recall, LBJ thought Dirksen’s ego might get the better of him and the demonstration might doom the law.
“Perhaps the biggest problem with American politics is that the parties have convinced us that no alternatives exist, and we had best vote for the disaster of one party over the catastrophe of the other.”
Fair enough.
But I like Ken Hoop’s observation. And I decided not to comment when I first read Dave’s comment. Like who? I was thinking.
Herman Cain? Sarah Palin? Mitt Romney – the guy who supposedly can’t win because he’s a Mormon? Chris Cristie? Pawlenty? Ryan? Perry? Marco Rubio? etc
And then we have the steady state of race baiters on the left, although perhaps not candidates, like Sharpton and Jackson, Sheila J Lee, Maxine Walters, Ed Schultz, Cornell West or good old Tavis…… and even our very own M Reynolds, who, when confronted with, ahem, objective reality, has a tendency to invoke race. And who calls Clarence Thomas an Uncle Tom? The right? Not. I could go on. The whole concept is just preposterous.
I attribute the essay to a bad day, or a brain cramp.
and even our very own M Reynolds, who, when confronted with, ahem, objective reality, has a tendency to invoke race.
Show me where that happened.
I invoke race to the same extent Dave does when he writes, above:
The Democrats’ strongest ally in this is the Republicans who just can’t help themselves: they continue to give a platform to their looniest, most racist partisans.
One of the views that I share with Michael is that I think that racism is the Original Sin of the modern Republican Party. What I mean by “Original Sin” is that even if not guilty of it, it is hard not to be tainted by it. The party simply wouldn’t be where it is today without accepting white Southerners, many of them racists. All that needs to be mentioned in that regard is some of the names of the prominent figures from those early days of party’s transition: Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms.
Under the circumstances when a Republican candidates gives an odd explication of the Civil War, defends the Confederate battle flag, or uses an ill-considered turn of phrase (thought of as a “dog whistle” by some), it should be no surprise if it smacks of racism.
Are Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann racists? I honestly have no idea. But some of the things they say certainly give me pause and I have little doubt that they don’t do anything to convince black voters that they’re not racists.
Steve Harvey makes a pretty strong (interesting) case for African American’s supporting Obama to me, which seems to be backed by many other A.A. leaders (according to Newsweek story.) I don’t
know what standing Van Jones has with A. Americans, but he is an Obama supporter whose inclusive activism I find appealing.
Michael –
If you force me to, I’m sure I can go back in the archives, find and and regurgitate such posts. You’ve done it a good half dozen times. Seems like a waste of time. But if you are questioning my veracity, I’ll do it.
Better to fess up and call it an emotionally driven mistake. But if I have to, I’ll go dig them up. And that would show to the world someone, shall we say – in the most positive light – “less than forthright.”
Drew:
I’m not doubting your veracity, I’m doubting your judgment.
I’ve asked you several times in the past: When did racism suddenly disappear from the earth. You respond with nonsense about black racism.
So, let me be specific.
1) I assume you agree that white racism existed under Jim Crow and slavery. If not there’s no point in further conversation.
2) So when exactly did all of that go away? Did the racists all die one day? Did they all have a sudden change of heart? If not then these folks do presumably still exist. Are you able to acknowledge that white racism still exists?
3) If you find you’re having a hard time answering that easily and honestly, you may want to ask yourself why.
“Other than her mystical appeal for Ashenazi Jews in her YT paean to Israel, I challenge you to cite one overt political/racist exaltation of Michele Bachmann.”
Citing Wilkins as one of her favorite author goes a long way towards that end.
Steve
“I assume you agree that white racism existed under Jim Crow and slavery. If not there’s no point in further conversation.”
Of course. That’s patronizing and stupifyingly simple minded. Beneath you, by the way.
“So when exactly did all of that go away? Did the racists all die one day? Did they all have a sudden change of heart? If not then these folks do presumably still exist. Are you able to acknowledge that white racism still exists?”
Yes. But the current crew of Republican candidates, as stated, does not exhibit it. Yet the left has made an absolute industry of race baiting………for votes; for political gain. Appealing to the most disgusting of instincts. And blacks have become the most prominent race baiters of all; and racists, invoking it at every possible opportunity for personal or political gain against whites and hispanics. That’s all many talk about: race. Are you able to acknowledge that? If not there’s no point in further conversation.
“If you find you’re having a hard time answering that easily and honestly, you may want to ask yourself why.”
I agree. I did, easily and honestly. You?
Speaking of leftist racism and race baiting…….
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/08/16/ed-schultz-sorry-for-deceptively-editing-that-rick-perry-video/
You guys need to look in the mirror and have a moment of clarity. And you do it all for political gain.
Disgusting.
just because missteps are made in identifying/commenting on racism doesn’t mean it isn’t a highly potent factor in American life and politics.
I generally avoid this complex topic but was motivated by this thread to follow some links I came across today starting with Hiding in Plain Sight: Racism’s Role in the Tea Party GOP’s Efforts to Destroy President Barack Obama and the U.S. Economy
I will need to read this other article The Role of Race in the Devolution of the Left” a second time to more fully take in what appears to be a knowledgeable/ accurate history of racism in American politics over the last 50 years.
On a different note I was quite shocked yesterday when the campground owner where I was staying in Cannon Falls referred to Obama (who was coming to town) as a N******. Here in MN overt racism like that is very rare.
What exactly are they looking for anyway? Or what are they looking for that, if promised to them, isn’t going to turn off independents at the same time?
Here’s about all I have to say on racism:
-Both parties use race for political ends.
-Racism will exist as long as there are humans on this planet.
-Institutional racism in the US is mostly, but not completely, gone.
I agree, Andy.
However, I see that everyone has missed the point of this post: Jonathan Capehart is arguing that black voters should support Obama without offering any discernible reason for their doing so, presumably for purely partisan reasons.
Yes. But the current crew of Republican candidates, as stated, does not exhibit it. Yet the left has made an absolute industry of race baiting………for votes; for political gain. Appealing to the most disgusting of instincts.
Equating white and black racism is like equating anti-semitism to Jewish exceptionalism. It works only so long as you ignore a mountain of history. It’s the phony evenhandedness of treating rapist and rape victim equally.
In other words, it’s immoral and appalling. It’s low and disgusting.
But nice try at limiting the discussion to current Republican presidential candidates — on my part. That leaves me limited to Romney, Perry and Bachmann, while you can troll for the disappearingly small number of outliers you think buttress your position.
When you’re ready to talk honestly, let me know.
Dave,
Did you read the entire Capehart column? This sure looks like a discernible reason for support to me:
“HARVEY: The disguise is — the disguise of it all — he’s not doing for black America what he should be doing. But let me hip everybody to something right here and understand this — and this is in layman terms: You are so wrong when you make that statement. But he is the President of the United States. He is not the President of The Hood. He is the President of the United States. But if you look at what he’s pushing, no one could benefit greater than our community. Healthcare? Who is lacking in healthcare overwhelmingly than anybody else? Who is that? Who is lacking in education overwhelmingly than anybody else? And who—who do you know could stand a tax break above anybody else? So all you gotta do is fit yourself into the equation and you’ll see that he’s doing everything he can. But, it’s not for us. It’s for the American people. And the moment we quit saying, “Us,†“Gimme gimme gimme,†and just plug yourself into the already existing system — which ain’t gonna change just ‘cause you want it to — then we can move on with this thing. The man is doing a great job.”
Dave,
Oh, I agree with your point, I was just making my position clear on racism more generally. I think what you describe is a natural consequence of coalitions in a rigid-two party, winner-take-all system. The argument basically goes like this: “Sure, President Obama hasn’t done all the things he could/should have for “insert group here” but if you don’t vote for him, the alternative is much worse.” Elections seem to be reduced to “least-worst” calculations even among base supporters – voting becomes an effort to prevent a bad outcome and not one of real political support.
Yes, I did. That’s the “rising tide lifts all boats” argument which is roundly condemned when Republicans offer it.
Nice try, Michael. No sale. You get back to me when YOU want to be honest. Let me help you out here.
You attempt to take the obvious issue that there is racism in America, and then turn it to a) attributing any objection to Obama’s policy stances as racist and b) indict the entire, or at least a majority of the, Republican party of being racist………………all while conveniently ignoring the horrific racist and race baiting stances on the left, or the history of the Democratic party. Its false, tired and hackneyed debating tactics. And Dave fell for it too. I’m sorry Obama is incompetant and falling like a rock, but spare us the desperation race card. Speaking of which:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/08/17/top_black_dem_were_supportive_of_the_president_but_were_getting_tired.html
I guess Maxine must be a racist as well – by your accounting – what with her criticism of Obama and all. But I suppose “that’s different.”
Perhaps you are blinded by the circles you travel in, or your reading list, but the treatment of, say, a Clarence Thomas or a Marco Rubio tells us that the left is ruthless in the invokation of race when politically convenient just to incite the partisans…….but the notion that Republicans just don’t like “those little brown and black skinned people” is just pure crap.
Oh the irony.