Pajamas Media

84 Comments

1. james wilson:

Race is the only thing that made him a candidate, or is keeping him competitive.

Aug 17, 2008 - 11:15 am 2. judithod:

And Frank Rich carries on the “racist charge” in his NY Times editorial today (8/17). As this article states, the problem with Obama is not his race; instead, it’s his total lack of experience for the office of president. The over-eager Dem machine pushed Obama too early; he needs to complete at least two terms in the senate, obtain experience in leading and governing, and gain a world view beyond Chicago.

Aug 17, 2008 - 11:18 am 3. Jay:

Obama is not a real Black. He is not from my part of town. His face should be on 1.5 dollar bill and the back of the bill should be a picture of the slums of the Chicago south side.

Aug 17, 2008 - 11:27 am 4. Ed Wallis:

…UMM…

JUST WHO, PRAY TELL, SAID “…TYPICAL WHITE PERSON” to describe his grandmother…the grandmother, by the way, who WITH HER HUSBAND raised The Obamboozler after his OWN African father deserted him and his Left-radical mother dumped him?!

Leave Rev. Wright’s and Party Chair Dean’s bigotted statements aside for the moment. The Democrats simply have a way with racism…simultaneously generating and being sanctimoniously offended by it.

Aug 17, 2008 - 11:57 am 5. Blogging Andrew's Liveblogging of Saddleback Mountain O!:

[...] La Shawn Barber: In his color-coded article, “The Color-Coded Campaign,” John Heilemann doesn’t just hint that racial prejudice will prevent Barack Obama from winning the White House. He states it directly and without equivocation. The reason America’s first black major party presumptive presidential nominee hasn’t blown out the intractably boring and uninspiring John McCain in the polls, given “surging” Democratic voter registration and voters’ disenchantment with Republicans, is his skin color. [...]

Aug 17, 2008 - 12:29 pm 6. djaces:

I seem to recall that in Michael Steele’s Senate contest, he was subjected to great deal of blatantly racist tactics, not the self-generated and vaporous sort that Obama faces and the response from all those claiming we’re all incorrigible racists for failing to embrace the Obamessiah was most often that he deserved it for choosing to be a Republican.

Aug 17, 2008 - 12:32 pm 7. Akatsukami:

Once again, progressives confuse racism with realistic cultural distinctions.

Being “black” isn’t about having sub-Saharan ancestry, or being descended from slaves (call a Jamaican “black”, and see how long you last). “Black” is a cultural confection devised by progressives in the 1960s, and elaborated by thugs since then.

Being “black” is about having six children by five different mothers, and never having been married to any of them. Being “black” is about treating women worse than Muslims do. Being “black” is about being illiterate and ignorant, about never having held a job, and being proud of it.

There are “blacks” of purely (so far as can be told by looking at them) European descent. We call them “rednecks” and “yahoos” (and sometimes worse things). Conversely, there are men and women of African slave descent — Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, Condoleezza Rice — who are accused of being “inauthentically black”. And their accusers are literally correct; “blackness” is transmitted by example in the ghetto, and lecture in the classroom, but not by genes.

Obama isn’t “black”; he’s superficially educated and too effete. But he tries hard to convince people he’s black, in the hopes that they’ll either be enthralled by the gangsta, or afraid of it.

Aug 17, 2008 - 12:46 pm 8. CR:

This Obama guy is black? I thought he was a white guy who spewed so much B.S. that he became permanently stained by it. Is there an affirmative action rule for POTUS? Do votes for him count twice because he’s a minority? Obama is an unqualified ninny, no matter what color you paint him. Of course he’s going to play the race card – that’s the only card he has.

Aug 17, 2008 - 12:49 pm 9. OLDPUPPYMAX:

Were it not for his race, the Daley machine would not have taken him under wing, Illinois would not have put him in the state senate, he would not be a US Senator and he would not be the dem candidate for president. So yeah, I guess it IS all about race with the Obamessiah.

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:09 pm 10. The Wizard:

Face the facts….Obama is THE RACIST!!! But his inability to capture the white house will be based on the fact that he is an empty suit…a charlatan, sychophant and an elitist. He offers nothing to America but his hubris.

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:14 pm 11. Lisa:

The first instance I can recall of the Obama campaign injecting race (and sexism IMHO) into the election was after Hillary won in NH in early January.

The Obama Campaign Co-Chair Jesse Jackson Jr. accused Clinton of crying over her appearance but not over Katrina.

The implied accusation was that she was just a self centered woman who cared about her hair more than poor blacks.

The SC primary followed immediately upon that comment and Clinton lost it due to the large AA turnout. Don’t tell me that his comments didn’t have an effect.

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:14 pm 12. mishu:

Obama must be racist because Clarence Thomas is his least desirable justice in the Supreme Court.

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:16 pm 13. Herr Morgenholz:

America is ready for a black President, just as it is ready for a woman President. What it is most certainly NOT ready for is either an inexperienced little punk, race hustling, machine politician from Chicago or a Hillary (which defines itself). I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Both the first black President and the first female President will be conservative Republicans. We’re more than happy to bitterly cling to our guns and bibles beside darkies and broads, provided said darkies and broads share our worldview.

(That was snark, by the way, but true.)

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:31 pm 14. Concerned Citizen:

Senator Obama is not “black”, he is more ARAB than black. And he’s more WHITE than either of those.

“Mr. Obama is 50% Caucasian, that from his mother. What those who want Mr. Obama to write history by becoming “America’s first African-American president” ignore is that his father was ethnically Arabic, with only 1 relative ethnically African Negro – a maternal great-grandparent (Sen. Obama’s great-great grandparent, thus the 6.25% ethnic contribution to the senator’s ethnic composition.).

That means that Mr. Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother’s side. He is 43.75% Arabic, and 6.25% African Negro from his father’s side.”

Note: To claim minority status under U.S. law, you must be 12.5% of the racial component you claim for minority status.

“The question no one wants to answer – particularly Mr. Obama and his supporters, is, “Why do you think he has an Arabic name? Why does his father have an Arabic name? Why does every ancestor on his father’s side have an Arabic name?”

The answer is obvious: They have Arabic names because his father’s side of the family tree is Arabic.

Need proof? Research the Kenyan records for yourself. You will find that his father was officially classified as “Arab African” by the Kenyan government.”

Link here:

http://kennethelamb.blogspot.com/2008/02/barak-obama-questions-about-ethnic.html

The race issue is a canard.

It doesn’t matter if Senator Obama is White, Black, Arab, Chinese, or Cherokee.

This election is about who will do the best job for the country. At this point, it appears that Senator Obama lacks the relevant experience to be an effective President. I don’t see what that has to do with anyone’s race.

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:41 pm 15. Martya:

The test question should be, “Would a white candidate with such a nothing background and so many secrets that he refused to discuss be put forth for as a candidate for president?” The answer is obvious and clearly establishes that it is the ultra-left wingers and the main stream media who are the real racists!

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:44 pm 16. Rachel Peepers:

Here’s a simple (yet popular) blue-eyed school girl’s response to the brown eyed handsome man’s performance last night.

With every blurred stance Barack muddled so pathetically, maybe even pathologically, through, the Obama clan, which had been running at best a Chinese-fire-drill of a Presidential campaign, had to be breaking out all over in the stench of loser BO.

If America ever wanted to see clearly the difference between the kinds of leaders they’ll soon be voting for, well, gang, they got a 20/20 view last night in that house of worship. And what they saw in the beautifully tailored though empty suit of Barack Obama was no Messiah.

As I see it, the McCain/Obama differences were like night and day.

If you want some kind of incoherent administration elected, if you want to be as far from Ronald Reagan as you can get, not to mention Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt (take your pick), Truman and Kennedy, then your flat screen TV showed you the face of the man to cast your ballot for in living color. The good Senator Obama.

What was watching Barack like for me metaphorically speaking?

Well, it was watching no Jackie Robinson.

It was poor Billy Buck letting the ball go through his legs in the World Series. It was Ralph Terry throwing the hanging slider to Maz in the 60′ Series. It was Jackie Smith dropping the Super Bowl pass in the end zone (and my dad’s a huge Jackie Smith fan). It was Sergio Garcia missing another 3 foot put in the PGA championship. It was Rosie O’donnell making a fool of herself on The View claiming the CIA was involved in 9/11.

It was the highly defined picture of an ultra liberal, ultra intelligent Harvard law grad being taught a lesson in right from wrong that he’ll never forget, by a man who lives the creed of every cadet that passes through the hallowed halls of the United States Military Academy.

Duty. Honor. Country.

John McCain was born to embody those words. And as long as he has a breathing and a metabolizing, this Annapolis graduate will live them.

Barack Obama is not in the same league. Sometimes, I don’t even think he’s on the same team.

Masquerading as if one has the character and courage to be President can only take you so far. Last night the gloves were off and so was the mask. The acting job was good for awhile, but over time it’s wore thin as tissue. Steep and Nicholson have nothing to fear from Barack.

Even worse for Barack, this performance was much more than falling and skinning his campaign knee. I’m afraid not even David Axelrod has the strategic or tactical Tide to remove these stains.

It was as if the candidates were both thrown into a bleach filled verbal washing machine. And the truth came out.

Sorry Barack. Game. Set. Match.

As the heretofore anointed one awoke this morning, in the distance he must have heard a mournful tone. Not a car alarm. Not the clang of train tracks. Not a dog barking. Not far off thunder.

More like a bell. And who does that bell toll for, Barack? It tolls for thee.

Illia iacta est. Or as they say in south Philly. The die is cast.

John McCain will be your next President.

Aug 17, 2008 - 2:09 pm 17. Dan R.:

Race will keep Barack Obama out of the White House. The “Bradley Effect” is real, although probably not as strong as the 10-point swing that we saw in both the California (Bradley vs Dukmajian) and Virginia (Wilder vs. Colemen) governor’s races.

I have no doubt at all that there are a significant number of white voters out there who might be telling their friends and the pollsters that they support Obama but who, when the curtain to the voting booth closes, will instead vote for McCain. I’m guessing that this is about 2-3% of the electorate, if not more.

So, if the latest Gallup tracking poll is showing McCain and Obama tied, my guess is that, in reality, McCain is 4 to 6 points ahead.

Aug 17, 2008 - 2:18 pm 18. Good Ole Charlie:

Speaking of the “Bradley Effect”…

I would guess that it’s mostly found in academia. No one in his or her academic right mind (especially if lacking tenure) would do else but vocally support BHObama. Why commit professional suicide?

However, when the curtain closes behind you, you take it out on the n—-r. Smile to yourself, open the curtain, and tell the pollster (with your friends listening – and checking): “Of course, I voted for Obama.”.

And walk away smiling at least internally.

Aug 17, 2008 - 2:42 pm 19. Ed Wallis:

“Dan R. (2:18pm),” please help me out here :

This “Bradley Effect” of which you speak, that will keep the likely Democrat candidate out of the White House…

…does it have to do with supporting Socialist policies for the U.S.A.?

…or with legalizing the killing babies already born…if they aren’t “wanted” by mommy?

…or with insulting half of his family, by racistly referring to a grandparent as “typical white person”?

…or surely it has something to do with a candidate for the Presidency of the U.S.A. having little-to-no experience – not to mention judgement – to qualify him for the job?

Is THAT the “effect” you were referring to, as to why “(r)ace will keep Obama out of the White House”?!!?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Aug 17, 2008 - 3:21 pm 20. inspectorudy:

How can you keep talking about the racist “Whites” when almost ALL of the Blacks are going to vote for BHO? You know that a large portion of the Black community do not agree with him on most of his views,(Most can’t keep up with them anyway). No one ever calls them racist. Here in Ga. there is a county that has a majority of Blacks and they voted most of the White office holders out in the last election and replaced them with Black faces. Not because the Whites were doing a bad job but because of the color of their skin. Since then they have lost their school accreditation and the amount of crime and gang activity has increased. The DA has a crime back log because she had no experience in the area of prosecution of criminals but she has a Black face. Is this where our race relations stand? Is BHO going to change it? Not with what I have seen.

Aug 17, 2008 - 3:38 pm 21. redqueen:

Unfortunately, by tarring as a racist anyone who prefers a little patriotism, economic realism, and experience in a presidential candidate, I fear the left is only fueling a potential conflagration. How many already-disaffected people will believe that the first presidential candidate of their race was thwarted by pure racism, especially after listening to the diatribes of black liberation theologists, the calculated race-baiting of the left, and the candidate’s own wife? And what will that disaffected population do about it? Will they seek revenge on the supposed racists? Will there be fire, looting, and violence? If so, will the ones who used race-baiting as a political ploy disavow any knowledge or responsibility?

Aug 17, 2008 - 4:01 pm 22. Roy Lofquist:

Dear Lashawn,

Glad you are on Pajama’s. About time for a little wider recognition.

Aside: For you folks who don’t know Lashawn, she belongs on that list with Blackwell, Steele and Sowell.

You go girl!

Love

Aug 17, 2008 - 4:15 pm 23. Akatsukami:

“Unfortunately, by tarring as a racist anyone who prefers a little patriotism, economic realism, and experience in a presidential candidate, I fear the left is only fueling a potential conflagration.”

In both directions, so to speak.

After years of being told that Bush is the same as Hitler, that being a Republican is the same as being a Nazi, and that opposition to Obama is tantamount to racism, will people react with the hoped-for horror? Or will they shrug and say, “Well, the Nazis had spiffy uniforms and got to kill people they didn’t like, so…”

Aug 17, 2008 - 4:17 pm 24. Dave II:

Rachel – another great post (glad you reposted it over here!) and with some super sports analogies this time! No need for sarcasm this time, right, when the whole spectacle itself said just about all that needed to be said….

Now, as for “race” infuencing this election???
Simply put: “NO”…it is not even near the top 5 or 6 of deciding factors for the VAST majority of Americans (though I will say not 100% everyone, of course, but that small minority won’t determine the outcome anyway.)

Where it IS a factor is in the liberal media’s mind (and Obama’s also) in trying to explain why this once shiny, new and exciting “phenom” is starting to turn a year meant for a sure-fire win…into a sure-fire loss.

What they have not taken into account is Obama’s hubris and ego…AND underestimating by a country-mile, the appeal and regard the country has for John McCain.

It is becoming more and more apparent the Dems nominated the wrong candidate in a burst of exuberant youthful enthusiasm, combined with a healthy dose of Clinton fatigue, and dash of good ol’ sexism thrown in for good measure.

What we will see coming in the next few weeks, as the buyer’s remorse sets in, is a constant nipping from the bottle of “racial” kool-aid.

An addiction hard to break in the first place is made even tougher when things don’t go your way.

Aug 17, 2008 - 4:42 pm 25. James:

“Could racism really keep Barack Obama out of the White House?”

Hopefully

Aug 17, 2008 - 5:22 pm 26. A.M. Mallett:

Rachel … you are the Bam!

Aug 17, 2008 - 5:48 pm 27. Javelin:

Herr Morgenholz,
Wow, you are such a champ. What exactly is your worldview, you seem like the kind of person who couldn’t even find the continents on a map or globe.

Aug 17, 2008 - 5:54 pm 28. Javelin:

That’s it Martya, inject a little right wing political corrrectness and call the left and media racists, millions of them. You are no better than the people you criticize, even worse I imagine. But being Right these days means being a cretin like most talk show hosts.

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:01 pm 29. Dark Helmet:

Ahhh….. tooth pick, still dibbling the tak show host mantra. How so very not clever.

There is one fact here in all this, that is that if hussian barrak looked like his white trash whore of a mother, he wouldn’t be in the race.

If that’s not a racial issue, then what is?

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:48 pm 30. fred:

So, Mr. Heilemann, what do you call a black person who is going to vote for John McCain? An “Uncle Tom?” I know a couple of black guys who are going to vote for McCain. And I certainly am not going to vote for Obama (I’m a former Leftist, by the way), so does that make me Uncle Tom’s master?

When I look completely under the hood of Obama’s life, intellectual formation, and voting record I see a man who at 47 years of age is still a believer in Marxism. I’m 53 and left behind socialist thought when I was 32. So, because I’ve identified Obama as an unrecontructed Marxist, I’m a “racist.” Boy, you really are quite stupid, but I’ve come to expect that from the members of the Fourth Estate and Fifth Column.

Aug 17, 2008 - 7:21 pm 31. Rachel Peepers:

AM: thanks.

Dave II:

“No need for sarcasm this time, right, when the whole spectacle itself said just about all that needed to be said….”

Exactly.

Regards,
Rachel

Aug 17, 2008 - 8:36 pm 32. punditius:

My theory is that Barack Obama is being played by Robert Downey, Jr.

Aug 17, 2008 - 8:41 pm 33. Dave:

Mr. Heilemann, like many liberals, is a true racist. His is stinking and covert. He ignores the millions of successful blacks in this country, and knows in his heart that he is a superior “paleface.” Hence, his soft bigotry of lowered expectations for all non-palefaces.

Aug 17, 2008 - 9:15 pm 34. Peter:

Unlike some people I spent my working life depending on others for my very life. First in the Service and then in law enforcement. Some were white, some black and some of other persuasions.
I shall not vote for Obama. I don’t trust him to protect my grandchildren. If that’s racist, so be it. I’ve been called worse.

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:01 pm 35. cubanbob:

Obama is a light weight nothing Marxist. If he was white he would be a fringe party candidate. American is ready to elect either a woman or an African American. But not if they are far left. If the republicans had any sense they would start looking for truly qualified and genuine conservatives who happen to be woman and minorities.

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:19 pm 36. Is Barack Obama Racist? « Blog Entry « Dr. Melissa Clouthier:

[...] LaShawn Barber has a must-read piece over at Pajama’s Media about how Obama injects race into the presidential race: At a fundraiser in June, Obama said this about Republicans: [...]

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:20 pm 37. A.W.:

You know, recently I came to a sad conclusion: America is not ready for a black president.

But the problem is not on the right. In fact, that is why it took me so long to figure out that it would be this big a problem–because I only looked at the right. But the truth is, the left is too racist to have a black president.

Mind you, they will vote for him, mostly. But the rest of us will listen to this situation and go, wtf? We are not allowed to criticize him without being called a racist? Then f— you dems, we won’t elect him in the first place.

The good news is that I think McCain wil ultimately beat him. And of course the dems will claim for years to come that racism did Obama in. And they will be right. They’ll only be wrong as to which side’s racists were the problem.

But like I said, it is a sad thing. All things being equal, I want a black president. And a woman to be president. And so on. But this is not “all things being equal.” This is the world’s first affirmative action president. You want proof? Ask yourself this. Which white politician is Obama the most like? The obvious answer: John Edwards. He’s a handsome, well spoken (mostly), lawyer of virtually no political experience. Oh, and without the radical associations that are hurting Obama. Oh, and unlike Obama, Edwards was a good lawyer. Now even the democrats are not so lacking in seriousness as to nominate Edwards; but Obama? sure, vote for the unqualified guy because after all, he is black.

And then we are all supposed to pretend that the only concern with obama is the color of his skin. Sheesh. What they are asking for is the opposite of Martin Luther King’s dream: to judge him by the color of his skin and not the content of his character.

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:31 pm 38. Fen:

John Heilemann doesn’t just hint that racial prejudice will prevent Barack Obama from winning the White House. He states it directly and without equivocation.

He’s right, but not how he intends. Its the Black Liberation Theology. Dr Cone, Obama-fan and champion of BLT, pointing to Obama’s church, the Trinity “madrassa”, as an archtype for black liberation theology which “will only accept the love of a God that participates in the destruction of the White enemy“.

Thats where I chose to vote against Obama. He’s spent 20 years worshipping at that racist altar.

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:43 pm 39. indga:

I’m not white, and I’m not voting for Obama. Does that mean I’m practising intra-race racism? Or does that mean I’m exempt from the charge?

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:50 pm 40. Django:

It’s both creepy and fascinating to watch the rationalizations of Obama’s supporters who are so desperate to have a national savior that they will excuse literally anything to get their empty, non-entity of a messiah into the Oval Office. Fat, aging liberal baby boomers want their self-gratifying racial catharsis. They don’t care what happens to the country as long as they get it.

Obama has stated plainly and openly in his two books that he hates white people. He belonged to a church that is founded on and run by racial hatred of whites until it was publicized and became politically inconvenient. Race is indeed a factor in this election – among white liberals who endorse black hatred of whites to expiate the guilt they collected from watching pedantic TV shows on race and ’70’s blaxploitation movies while growing up in their lily white suburbs. That’s the real dirty secret of this campaign.

Aug 18, 2008 - 12:02 am 41. jvon:

I’ll be voting for McCain not because he’s white, but because Barack Obama is the biggest assclown to run for President that I hope to ever see.

Aug 18, 2008 - 12:44 am 42. Barb:

Obama has played the race card since day one. Who else could get away with calling his grandma a “typical white person.”?

Aug 18, 2008 - 3:44 am 43. Arrogance, thy name is Obama « docweaselblog:

[...] what is more insulting is the trope that the only reason anyone wouldn’t vote for Obama is that he is black, and you are therefore a racist. Even after his exposure as a long-time adherent to a disgusting, [...]

Aug 18, 2008 - 3:46 am 44. Sissy Willis:

Great point about Michael Steele, La Shawn. As I realized way back in December of ‘06, Barack “Whatever-It-Takes” Obama has been playing the race card from Day One:

Did Obama just call me a racist?

Aug 18, 2008 - 3:48 am 45. John Samford:

Two problems La Shawn;
First Ohhhhhh……BAMA isn’t black. His father is listed as Arab. According to the US Government, Arabs are white for entitlement purposes.
Second, if Elected, Ohhhhh…….BAAMA would NOT be the foirst blak President. He would be the 5th, if one credits all the historical rumors, some of whih have persisted for centuries. If one goes beyond rumors, he would be the 2nd.
IIRC, it was Harding that didn’t deny it when his opponents accusd him of being black.
Cooledge bragged about his mother being Indian. The American indian had interbreed with Negro slaves by that point in American history to be considered black under the law.

http://www.geocities.com/cureworks1/5blkpres.htm

Aug 18, 2008 - 4:47 am 46. MrMojo:

When people ask why I don’t like Obama, I just tell them I’m a racist first thing. It’s what they believe anyway, and it saves me time from having to discuss his stances on the economy, national defense, social issues, etc….

Aug 18, 2008 - 4:49 am 47. Jabba the Tutt:

Michael Steele has a conservative Republican is an Oreo and race traitor to the “progressives”. Therefore, to vote against Steele was to vote “pro-Black”.

This is how the liberals “think”. Face reality. They’re sick, sick, sick.

Aug 18, 2008 - 5:21 am 48. Deb D:

I worry that if Senator Obama is elected, it will be considered racist (and maybe illegal?)to criticize the president. If it’s racist to criticize him now, what kind of a country will we be living in then? Sounds a little Hugo Chavez-like–too much so for me to want to vote for him (in addition to his Marxist, anti-American, anti-white, radical-loving views). There’s just too much going on in the world that requires a serious president, not one who has a thin skin and sees a racist around every corner in the country he’s supposed to defend.

Aug 18, 2008 - 5:22 am 49. TomP:

uh, I don’t think, ah, ah, that, that, I think, that, that, on, on, an issue..like this, ah, ah..

Aug 18, 2008 - 5:28 am 50. David M. Crowder:

Here’s how it goes
In OH 2006 a Black man named Ken Blackwell born in the USA ,ancestor of former slaves,ran for governor in OH. I voted for him. He’s like me.However many of the same people who are in Obamaland right now called Blackwell a “sellout” and oreo etc.These same people hate Justice Clarence Thomas.Its caused a real riff in my family because I call Obama half-white and half Africa.He found his “bLACK SIDE ” IN Chi-TOWN.He’s phony , he another trick offered to Blacks who follow the Dems like sheep.Its so sad

Aug 18, 2008 - 6:01 am 51. TomJW:

Yeah, Obama’s racism could keep him out of the White House. He should play up his inexperience, it wouldn’t hurt him so much.

Aug 18, 2008 - 6:06 am 52. Richard:

I read that John Heilman article and he is the kind of white guy who thinks its cool to use words like “wonder bread” and “paleface” to show us that he is a cool white guy. He’s not like those other uncool white guys. He wants to be accepted as a cool black guy, except he’s not. I noticed in several General Motors ads that referred to one of their cars as “not being another whitebread version.” Well, my response to this is: hate yourself all you want to, but don’t think you’re persuading me to do likewise.

Aug 18, 2008 - 6:53 am 53. Richard of Oregon:

Where can I get a bumper sticker/tee shirt/ coffee mug with some good antiracism slogans like “typical white person” or “forgive me, I look like all the other presidents on the money”? BO has given a wealth of stupid statements that cry out for parody.

Aug 18, 2008 - 6:58 am 54. Double The Pleasure, Double The Fun « The Reluctant Optimist:

[...] win in November it won’t be because he was applying for a job well above his pay grade. It will be because of white racism. Is anyone besides me getting tired of how Barry is transcending [...]

Aug 18, 2008 - 7:18 am 55. David Ross:

While it is interesting that Kenya classed him as “Arab African”, we don’t use Kenyan law to define our racial categories. Genetically he’s a Luo. That’s less Arab as the Darfuris in Sudan. It’s more comparable to John Kerry – who is related to the Moroccan king; and I would add the Safavids but they’re mostly Persian.

We are agreed that Obama isn’t black either. The group in Africa from which our blacks come are the Bantu. The Bantu in Kenya are called the Kikiyu. If Obama were Kikiyu, he could claim to be black by the American definition.

I suspect that the dominant Kikiyu in Kenya reclassified the Luo as “Arab” themselves. Why? Probably on the way to claiming that the Luo were foreigners and to seize all their property. That’s how things are done in Africa *shrug*

Aug 18, 2008 - 7:52 am 56. Brian G.:

The “you are a racist if you don’t vote for Obama” meme is going to continue until election day. When Obama loses, and he will, we will hear for years about how Obama lost because of racism.

And, Deb D above is right that iof he actually wins, any criticism of him would be racist.

Aug 18, 2008 - 7:55 am 57. Sue:

Lest we forget: George Soros, a self-avowed hater of America; Peterson of insurance fame; plus every billionaire in Hollywood, Chicago and DC ALL support Nobama. He may be what he seems to be, but they’ll be calling the shots. All these “guys” made their money off America and all want to destroy it….makes you wonder? They’ve “got” theirs and that’s the end of the game as far as they are concerned.

Aug 18, 2008 - 8:05 am 58. Tantor:

The reason why Obama makes bogus accusations that the Right will make an issue of his race is taken from the well-established playbook of black grievance-mongers who do so “to keep whitey on the hook.”

It’s also a tactic from Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”, Obama’s mentor. Alinsky’s Rule 12 says to pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.

Labelling his opposition as racists polarizes the confrontation, tars them with hurtful slander, and denies them sympathy. Obama learned a lot by teaching those “Rules for Radicals” workshops when he was a “community organizer”. Doubtless he would run America the same way.

The reason why Obama gets such a starry-eyed welcome from the witless Left is that electing him will prove, PROVE, that they are not racist and so give them greater moral authority, they think. The Left consistently confuses the messenger and the message. They believe that electing a Messenger who can not be challenged will force acceptance of his messages. If Obama supports universal health care and you oppose, YOU ARE A RACIST! Do you see how fun that will be for the lefty race-baiters? It relieves them from all that tedious and pesky thinking.

Meanwhile, trudging through this smog of race-baiting and identity politics, conservatives like me oppose Obama because he is a doctrinaire liberal and liberal ideas don’t work. His oratory has a soaring quality to it though not much substance. When you examine what he says in detail, much of it is foolish or simply falls apart.

However, I don’t think Obama’s cultists actually listen to his words. They just listen to the tone of his voice, like dogs. If he looks calmly into the camera and explains in his measured reasonable voice that the surge didn’t actually work, that it was the Sunni sheikhs who just happenned to turn the situation in Iraq around spontaneously, the absurdity of that claim does not penetrate the thick skulls of the lefties. All they hear is that confident tone, which reassures them he knows what he’s doing.

Aug 18, 2008 - 8:13 am 59. Roy:

Every time I listen to Obama’s ideas for America, I conjure up visions of Jimmy Carter’s failed presidency…..Lord help us.

Aug 18, 2008 - 8:36 am 60. Vivienne Avare:

Right fron the start the biased Blacks voted one sided for their own! You would expect them to be embarrassed for promoting their color OVER qualification, for the most important job in the free world! It wouldn’t matter who Obamas opponent was, they will vote 90% and more for prideful ambition! What a disservice to America. How dare they call others racist, at least we try to be informed and/or fair and choose the deserving candidate! Ex Democrat

Aug 18, 2008 - 9:10 am 61. Steve White:

Let’s not get too carried away about Senator Obama’s race.

Politically, he’s most certainly black. Who says so?

White America, that’s who.

From the 1600s to just recently, our country pretty much lived by the ‘one-drop’ rule: if you had one drop of ‘negro’ blood, you were black. The southern states (and not a few northern ones) used that rule in the Census, in voting, and in the courts. Black Americans were held to that rule, and it wasn’t until, oh, Tiger Woods, that most white Americans began to see various people with some black and some other racial ancestors as ‘multi-racial’.

Barking up that tree gets you nowhere.

I’m not a fan of Senator Obama but I don’t need to invoke race in any way, shape or form. As far as I’m concerned, he is an individual, and he can call himself whatever race he likes.

I live in Chicago. I’ve seen Senator Obama up close and personal. I know his record. I’ve seen his accomplishments. That’s all I need to vote for someone else.

Aug 18, 2008 - 11:29 am 62. Rubicon:

From my perspective and that of a number of friends I have spoken to, Obama played the race card in order to reaffirm his victim-hood status. By doing so, he can claim he was robbed.
If Americans were to have opportunity to hear a Clarence Thomas speak as a candidate, or a Michael Steele, or a Thomas Sowell, and the policies they would support, many would vote for them in a heartbeat. But Obama has told the people when in Democratic primary he is a leftist, while he now is trying to portray himself as a centrist. All the while, he is simply another candidate, but he is also one using his race as a means to garner votes.
As for the Katrina response & the race factor, I think a few intelligent questions are in order folks.
I do not accept that the response to Katrina was based on race.
A. The majority of citizens in New Orleans were black. It was impossible to ignore. So any failure to respond to anything could have been “labeled” as racist, when in fact it was a population density issue alone.
B. It is totally unreasonable to assert that within the Department of Homeland Security, ALL of the Democrats, liberals, Blacks, and others who may sympathize, would have cooperated openly and without riot, to the abysmal response to Katrina. In fact, to assert such appears to be totally irrational and/or opportunistic.
The failure to respond adequately to Katrina was the failure of a huge government bureaucracy. Once again, Americans saw an example why we cannot count on the government when crisis hits, AND we should fear anyone who proposes a government bureaucracy to manage anything in our lives.
Based on the huge bureaucratic failure to Katrina, imagine what damage will be done if the federal government can establish a new bureaucracy to manage national health care?
Our system may need fixes for some of its failures, but it does NOT need to be managed by the federal government.
Also, there are too many who are uninsured. There are methods we can employ to get them insured & to provide for portable insurance while people change jobs. But, there are also not 47 million uninsured. While any amount is too much, lets not count the 17 to 24 million illegal aliens in those numbers since they would not have been insured by the system in the first place. And IMO, they should not be insured by a taxpayer funded system. Employers of illegal aliens are getting away with this already. Taxpayers subsidize many of the costs of illegal aliens in America. Lets not add national health care to this list!

Aug 18, 2008 - 11:44 am 63. JC:

Throughout all the months of campaigning the one who raises race over and over is Obama. ANyone that followed his hate speech anti-US motivated minister all those years has some racist in him. I’ve yet to hear any conservative reporter point out that Obama is Black. They repeatedly point out that he is not qualified. 95% of black voters say they will vote for Obama,is it because he’s black or qualified,is that racist?? When all you have is about 145 days as a US Senator vs. years of service I guess you need to play the race card. If conservatives/ Republican’s are so racist then why does Condoleezza Rice hold one of the highest positions in government? Hopefully people will start to see that Obama lacks the experience needed to be the commander in chief and not his color. Not that John McCain is any great choice, but what else do we have. More & more Obama appears to be an empty suit. Silver spoon educated puppet. Pelosi “worlds greatest author” is touting him as a savior sent from heaven. It sounds like he’s the oscar nominee for actor of the year rather then president.

Aug 18, 2008 - 11:51 am 64. Paul From Hamburg:

Why do have this idea that, when Obama saw his father for the last time, his father gave him this advice: “Lord loves a working man. Don’t trust whitey. If you catch it, see a doctor and get rid of it.”?

Aug 18, 2008 - 11:56 am 65. William Krebs:

As I recall, Senator Obama campaigned against Michael Steele in Steele’s 2006 senate race. In particular, he urged African-American voters not to vote for Steele on the basis of racial solidarity.

It seems that Senator Obama’s views on racial solidarity depend on whether solidarity advances his ideological agenda.

Aug 18, 2008 - 12:12 pm 66. Sara:

I will never vote for a racist. Obama is a racist. I won’t vote for a female who hates men or vice versa, either.

I am not sure it is possible for the Democrat Party to be the source of our “first” diversity President because diversity race doctrines and it’s resulting behaviors of segregation and scapegoating other tribes, is racist. It is basically being taught “race pride” and race dominance which is racial superiority.

A lot of this has to do with White Americans permitting limo liberals to retool a post segregation era hate and discriminaion machine. White are not victims here. White Americans have allowed it and cooperated with it. Whites have been too easily cowered and spoken for.

Aug 18, 2008 - 12:56 pm 67. fred:

“It seems that Senator Obama’s views on racial solidarity depend on whether solidarity advances his ideological agenda.”

If you were schooled in Marxism-Leninism this is no problem. Deception in the service of the revolution or the advancement of socialism is no sin. In this the Marxist-Leninists share a similar doctrine with Muslims and their practice of taqiyya.

Aug 18, 2008 - 1:08 pm 68. Obama and Color-Coded Racial Double Talk… « The Tizona Group:

[...] Pajamas Media Posted in Obama. [...]

Aug 18, 2008 - 8:17 pm 69. Voolfie D:

Rachel Peepers, I love you.
Marry me.

And all the rest of you…
…who are you people?
Where have you been
hiding?

I want to attend this party,
because everyone I know
is a brainwashed ninny
who can’t make simple
distinctions, and for whom
no amount of evidence could
crack their world view, based
as it is in Sensibility, and
nothing else.

Re Obama….I see him as a
white guy who has a new
nuanced race hustle…

…truly the fact that he
is allegedly black and that
he can sustain some soaring
platitudes seemed to have
given the Democrats and the
media everything they needed
to stick their heads where the
sun don’t shine one mo’ time
…which they so love to do.

Last time it was John Kerry,
and I was simply astounded
that their “political philosophy”
was so chimerical that they
could embrace that poodle.

(Remember his line from the
Dem convention…”My mother
taught me that trees are
the cathedrals of nature”

(Retch)

McCain grokked something
and the media have not yet
caught on, but they will.
McCain is contrasting himself
by being firm and clear.
Great strategy! Watch the
media get it and the bigass
editorials will be trotted out
suggesting decisiveness is
a mental aberration.

I only wish there were television
commercials all about Obama’s
agreeing to “any time any
where” meetings. Because that
could be stuck in his face now
to great effect.

John McCain in a small town hall
meeting saying, “Come on,
Barack. Keep your word. The
American people want to know
who you really are. Throw away
the teleprompter and let’s have
a civil discussion to allow the
voters to compare and contrast”.

Could the media ignore that
commercial?

It’s funny to watch the guy
trying to sustain his nuanced
and thoughtful pose as he
uh uh uh uhs his way into
an answer.

Did you catch his response
on the abortion question the other
night?

“I’m absolutely convinced that
there is a moral and ethical element
to this issue.”

Wow…that is substantive,
intellectual, and just pretty
gosh darn nuanced, wouldn’t
you say?

That’s really stepping up there
and putting it all out on display.

This is the kind of bold, principled
leadership America needs. A new
breed of politician…

Anyway, Rachel, call me!

Aug 19, 2008 - 6:21 am 70. Blogs For Victory » Tuesday Morning Open Thread:

[...] Shawn Barber takes on the notion that race will be a big factor in whether Obama wins or [...]

Aug 19, 2008 - 6:58 am 71. John Samford:

If Colin Powell was to run for President, all those ‘racists’ would be trampling each other to vote for him.
“’splain me that, Lucy”.

Have they left yet? 11 days.

Aug 19, 2008 - 5:45 pm 72. ReCon USMC:

Here is a List of Blacks most Pale Faced would vote fore .
AND WE WOULD WELCOME THEM AS MC CAIN VP .

WALTER WILLIAMS
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
THOMAS SOWELL
CLARANCE THOMAS
JC WATT
SHELBY STEELE
MICHAEL STEEL
BILL COSBY
LA SHAWN BARBER
LARRY ELDER
STAR PARKER
KEN PARKER
PLUS THE COL. WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN FLA .THAT GOT KICKED OUT OF THE ARMY FOR SHOOTING OVER A AL QUADA TERRORIST HEAD THAT WAS TELLING AL QUADA WHERE HIS MEN WERE AT WHILE WORKING FOR THE COL. AS A INTERPRETOR .THE AL QUADA INTERPRETOR TOLD HIM WHERE THE WERE HIDING AND HIS TEAM SHOT 14 AND CAPTURED ANOTHER 21 .

THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE SINCE THESE ABOVE MENTIONED ARE ALL BLACK UNLIKE OBAMA .
NOT ONE OF THE ABOVE IS A RACIAL SOCIALIST AND DON’T HAVE ANY ANTI AMERICANS IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS .
PS- I LEFT OUT COLIN POWELL AND MS RICE BECAUSE THEY ACTED LIKE CONSERVATIVES BUT THINK LIKE PACIFIST VERY WEAK PROGRESSIVE LIBERALS .

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:44 am 73. ReCon USMC:

When 95 % of all Blacks support Obama and 94.9 % can’t tell you why other than he is Black …….Isn’t that racist ?
I have ask several College educated White Obama supporters why they support Oboma as well .
They all say he is about HOPE and CHANGE .
But when I ask them what that HOPE and CHANGE is they give me the same answer back as the Black folks do . OK OK OK ….. JUST BECAUSE !
OR AMERICA IS A TERRIBLE COUNTRY OBAMA CAN FIX .
THAT’S FUNNY SINCE CHICAGO IS WORSE OFF NOW THAT IT WAS WHEN OBAMA BECAME A STREET ACTIVIST AND A LOCAL STATE SENATOR AND THEIR STATE SENATOR FROM ILL.

Aug 20, 2008 - 7:03 am 74. Judy, NYC:

it’s not the race thing that bothers me about obama. it’s the other galaxy thing. and while i feel somewhat badly that he and his wife, close pals, money moguls and cult followers had to leave their planet for lack of must have white people to eat, i am still not voting for him.

Aug 20, 2008 - 8:00 am 75. swtexasflyer:

Must be new math when 60 percent of one race doesn’t vote for Obama and is racist. But 90 percent of another won’t vote McCain and isn’t racist. Don’t vote for anyone based on speeches, attack ads or what they tell you when their lips are moving. Vote based on their voting record. It’s a poor choice, choose which one lies the least, Dumb or Dumber.

Aug 20, 2008 - 2:06 pm 76. Carol E.:

I’m amazed and elated at these posts. For a minute there, I really thought we’d lost it. Thank God there are still intelligent life forms on this continent. I’m a white woman, married to a black man. I avoid talking about things like politics, Katrina or that adulterous scumbag Chicago mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, with my husband, his family or his friends. They are voting for Obama because he is black or they are tired of Bush. Doing more homework than that seems to be too great a task. Katrina was the direct result of uh, uh, uh, uh, people that refuse to help themselves, because it is so much easier to rely on someone else. The Mayor of Chicago is being outsted and tried for his adultery, perjury, inappropriate use of city money, and his violence against the law officials that came a knocking on his door. My husband’s comment? “That’s how they do the black man…..” No, that’s how they do men that CHEAT, STEAL AND LIE. Mayor Nagin is the laughing stock of every state except LO, because his inexplainable lack of action and blaming tactics put him there. Elliott Spitzer, John Edwards, no matter the skin color, a skunk by any other name still SMELLS BAD. Obama will lose this election, not because he is black, but because he has no game plan, no answers, no solid advisors, no experience, no moral balls, oh, and he’s been hangin’ out with the ‘whitey haters’ crowd a little too long. When the red phone rings in the middle of the night and the missiles are flying toward New York, who will Obama call, his Grandmother?

I have yet to hear an African American opine as to what Obama stands for, or what his proposed CHANGEs are. They just know he is black. Interestingly, they can’t tell you much about Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas or Larry Elder, either (thank you, Recon!). Too much tv, not enough books. Intelligent, hard-working, well-educated, America-supporting black men and women are all around us. Would it have been such a stretch to have nominated one of them? The African American community has a wealth of intelligent members, that for some reason they choose to ignore. Maybe they aren’t angry enough… For too many in the black community, intelligence, hard work and patriotism aren’t fashionable.
The Saddleback Church debate was the writing on the wall for those who are too lazy to do their homework, and the last chapter to a lousy book, for those that do. I want to thank everyone here, for renewing my faith in AMERICA. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. It isn’t perfect, but we’re the best gig on the planet. Love it, support it, help to improve it, or move to … oh, um, oh, uh, uh, uh, China.

Aug 20, 2008 - 2:16 pm 77. Self-hating boomer:

Carol, that’s the mayor of Detroit.

Aug 20, 2008 - 5:24 pm 78. Carol E.:

Thanks, Boomer! And I’m sorry abuot the typos!

Aug 21, 2008 - 10:56 am 79. LD:

So many great posts in this thread give me hope that not everyone in this country cries and wets their pants at every golden word spoken by the Most Merciful Obama .

Tantor, your description of the way Obama gives speeches and the reaction of his “followers” reminds me of the way Hitler was described by those who watched him speak in person. Nonsense, delivered forcefully and charismatically, was able to enthrall the majority of an entire nation. Though I would argue that Obama’s oratorical skills are FAR short of the late Adolph’s, fawning praise of the leftist press notwithstanding (I still can’t believe Chris Mathews’ admission to having a tingling sensation up his leg when he hears the Messiah speak – or was it in his groin?…) I also don’t mean to imply that Obama is nearly as crafty as Hitler was. And while I haven’t read either Mein Kampf or The Audacity of Hope, I suspect they are equally crappy and worthless, so there’s something those two guys do have in common.

And JC, I think you should watch the Saddleback interviews (link posted to video). You might be pleasantly surprised at McCain if you give him another look. I had low expectations going in and was subsequently ecstatic after watching. The comparison between the two candidates made Obama look like such a stumbling, evasive imbecile that anyone even remotely objective would find it impossible to vote for him over McCain. Even if they weren’t a bunch of bitter, redneck crackers clinging to guns and/or their “faith”. This is particularly true since he has been built up to be such a soaring intellect and savior.

I’m going to hubdub to bet everything that Obama loses. He’s taken his train as far as it can go on hollow platitudes, and now it’s pulled into the first station and everyone can see it’s empty. All that can happen from here is that he digs a deeper hole for himself with every debate and every inevitable gaffe an America-hating, racist Marxist running for President is bound to make.

Aug 24, 2008 - 3:13 am 80. WR Jonas:

Great comments thread and it certainly gives an old Republican some encouragement. I don’t believe this country can survive an all Democrat government. It would be absolutely suicidal. But I am here to pose a question. One I have not seen addressed anywhere.
Can the Democrats survive a Republican victory? The MSM narrative is so openly biased I think the media will swiftly diminish. And in the process I can see a major implosion among Democrat factions.
If this occurs, and the dynamics are all there, will the National Party split into 2 or 3 factions and vie for total control? I think it is an interesting proposition that in the desperate grasping for power the Democratic Party has abandoned any principle which the majority could rally to. They have factionalized themselves to the brink of obliteration.

Aug 27, 2008 - 8:57 am 81. howiem:

I don’t understand the fuss about color – it should be obvious what color Obama is…..RED!!

Sep 11, 2008 - 4:58 am 82. And one more « I Don’t Live in Black and White… I Live in Shades of Gray:

[...] LaShawn Barber has a must-read piece over at Pajama’s Media about how Obama injects race into the presidential race: At a fundraiser in June, Obama said this about Republicans:”We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. They’re going to say, ‘You know what? He’s young, inexperienced, and he’s got a funny name. Did I mention he’s black?’” [...]

Sep 17, 2008 - 1:40 pm 83. Howard:

IS OBAMA FAILING TO WIN BECAUSE OF RACE?
Interesting article, however it would be even more interesting to see the same kind of analysis if the black candidate was Colin Powell, or Condelza Rice. If the black candidate had more experience, and didn’t vote present over 100 times … was not so far to the left … did not propose such radical changes to our society, such as a socialistic agenda … did not have negative associations, such as 20 years tied to a Reverend Wright, and other radicals … Threw his close friend of 20 years under the bus for personal gain …did not have a Muslim name, father and step father, just 6 years after 9-11, and while America, and it’s allies is in the midst of constant attacks from murderous Muslim terrorists … was properly vetted from the beginning … did not enjoy such overwhelming biased favoritism from the media … did not arrogantly create his own Presidential seal … did not disrespect historical American institutions, and traditions, as a way of selling his Change message … did not use accusations of race in response to every opposing argument … did not flip flop on important issues … chose Hillarry as his running mate … as well as several other substantive factors.

Sep 20, 2008 - 12:39 pm 84. Diogenese:

How do you spell RACISM?…A M E R I C A

White America invented the Race Card and have place it in every hand dealt in their crooked games of life to ensure you keep those who you fear simply because of their skin color is kept from a wining hand that would allow them to garner prosperity and advancement.

You Mr. Tidy Whitie have caused more death, destruction and mayhem than anyother race on the face of this earth and yet you have the audacity to even attempt to define those who do not look or act like you. And Thank God, he was smart enough to give some color to this world. Can you imagine living in a world without color and everything was white. Yes, we are in dire need of some Color in the White Blight House!!

Sep 20, 2008 - 5:48 pm

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