‘I Forgot He Was Black’
Posted by Jason Douglas on 01.29.2010
So had the rest of us until you brought it up...
"I was trying to think about who he was tonight. It's interesting: he is post-racial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and past so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about. I was watching, I said, wait a minute, he's an African American guy in front of a bunch of other white people. And here he is president of the United States and we've completely forgotten that tonight -- completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of his discussion. It was so broad-ranging, so in tune with so many problems, of aspects, and aspects of American life that you don't think in terms of the old tribalism, the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard. A very subtle fact. It's so hard to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it, but I am. I thought it was profound that way."
First, there's the obvious irony that Chris Matthews apparently only forgot "for an hour" that Obama is black, which would seem to indicate we are not in a post-racial era at all. For all the subjects in that speech, the moment where the President directly chastised the Supreme Court as they sat before him, the promises made on top of those not yet kept from his campaign, who was thinking about Obama's blackness? If you read Matthews' remarks and thought "What does that have to do with anything?" you are probably part of the post-racial America he's thinking of. If you share his way of processing things, not so much. Count me among those who were completely confused. Tribalism? Both Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann were clearly rattled by what they were hearing. It reminds me of a rant several years back from Chris Rock when he said calling Colin Powell "well spoken" was not a compliment. "He's an educated man. What voice were you expecting to come out of his mouth?" Had Matthews been remarking on the reaction Obama was getting, it might well have made some sense. But his fascination with Obama's delivery smacks of what Rock criticized. Yes, our first black President gave a major speech and not once sounded like Malcolm X or Al Sharpton. As far as I can tell, Chris Matthews was the only person on earth who was surprised by that. Well, maybe Harry Reid.
But Matthews wasn't done making confusing statements that night, as he came back under 90 minutes later to say this:
"I went in the room tonight, you could feel it wasn't there tonight and that takes leadership on his part, to get us beyond those divisions."
It takes leadership to get people to simply listen to what you're saying rather than consciously think about your skin tone? Does anyone have that problem with Michael Steele? When James Carville speaks, do you find yourself so enthralled with his odd-shaped head that you can't listen to what he's saying? If so, apparently it just means they're bad leaders, not that you need to take a serious look at your priorities. If you didn't previously hear the quote above and didn't know who said it, what did/would you think of it? Had those exact same words been spoken by Lindsey Graham, wouldn't there be a media firestorm? Olbermann and Maddow would have roast Matthews on a spit if he worked for Fox News and said that. If Matthews gets a free pass because he's an animated Obama supporter, what does that say about the standards we hold people to? Harry Reid was harshly criticized for using the word "negro", even in a context where he seemed to be ignorant rather than actively offensive. Is Matthews' choice of words any better than Reid's? Is a racist remark made in ignorance really any better than one made in hatred? Whether the person in question is a politician or a pundit with years of experience, shouldn't we expect them to know better?
I do not understand what the big deal is. Anybody who knows me knows I despise both Harry Reid and Chris Matthews for being so far to the left I consider them to be quasi communists. However, in all honesty, nothing was said with hatred. The country SERIOUSLY needs to act a little less PC or else we will become a victim of it (if we haven't al ready) like we did at Ft. Hood where even the most liberal of liberal have gone on record as saying that due to political correctness, steps could not taken to avoid that terrible tragedy.
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 08:18 PM
Like Maddow And Olbermeinkompf can afford a roast with their ratings.
Posted By: Guest#9070 (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Oh Chris Matthews how you mske assamed to be a liberal, why don't you anf the rest of the MSNBC crew just go storm the Fox News building and instigate a fistfight to the death? That's honestly the best thing that you could do for America... Sure you'll probably lode but certainly you'll take a few out with you(Aim for Hannity.) Man that'd be a victimless war.
Posted By: Tyler (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Oh Chris Matthews how you mske assamed to be a liberal, why don't you anf the rest of the MSNBC crew just go storm the Fox News building and instigate a fistfight to the death? That's honestly the best thing that you could do for America... Sure you'll probably lode but certainly you'll take a few out with you(Aim for Hannity.) Man that'd be a victimless war.
Posted By: Tyler (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 10:23 PM
You versus the English language.
Posted By: Guest#6952 (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 10:59 PM
To be perfectly honest, I completely agree with the sentiments eschewed by Chris Matthews.
You see Race _is_ an issue in the United States of America. Everyone including our political leaders want to pretend it's not. But confirm one justice of latina persuasion to the Supreme Court it comes back. Black politicians of old still play the race card like it's a wild deuce in a poker game. A head of the Tea Party movement, Dale Robinson can be found on google brandishing a sign with the word niggar loud and clear in his red white and blue shirt.
Now if white people want to pretend like racism is a dead issue that's all well and good. You go ask a black person or a hispanic person or IDK... a MUSLIM person if racism is dead and buried.
Yeahhhhhhh.... so let's not all be patting ourselves on the back like we're this giant all-inclusive post racial country because if you want to believe that's the USA you live in I'm sorry you're wrong.
And you know what? Mr. Obama is a person that transcends bias while in the midst of his oratory technique. And if you pay attention during his speeches you not only forget his ethic backgrounds remember he is a once in a generation speaker.
At least Matthews has the balls to say what we all know and are very uncomfortable to talk about. Sure it might be reminiscent of that old grandpa hollering epithets at the Thanksgiving table about not buying a Toyota because the Japs bombed us at Pearl Harbor... but I really don't think he meant any serious disrespect to our commander in chief.
Posted By: The Weesel (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 11:06 PM
"When James Carville speaks, do you find yourself so enthralled with his odd-shaped head that you can't listen to what he's saying? "
Yes.
Posted By: The Squid was RIGHT (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Racism is only considered dead when white people don't want to admit that it exists. As soon as it's not to their advantage anymore, they play the race card themselves. Affirmative action primarily helps white women but you'd think it's putting thousands of young black men into top universities and keeping whites as a whole out if you listened to a lot of the stuff that gets thrown around, and looked at court decisions.
I dunno what the solution is. Years ago I made jokes about the first black head coach to lose a SB when the media made a huge deal about Dungy-Lovie in the SB, and got banned at every forum and harshly criticized for it, even though it was true, one of them had to lose, and the only black SB winner would be over another black coach. Whites would have never lose to a black head coach in the SB logically because it had never happened. I personally didn't care about it at all and just looked at it as two top coaches, but the media insisted on making it a big deal.
The best way to keep racism alive is to constantly highlight and make it clear that a black person succeeding in anything is a completely strange event and historical every time. So Obama makes a speech or does something right, make a big deal about him being black and doing that. When he screws up something make sure to focus on what that act was and don't mention his race at all, except to say you would criticize a white person the same. These are the general tactics used.
Posted By: Guest#7975 (Guest) on January 29, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Now if white people want to pretend like racism is a dead issue that's all well and good. You go ask a black person or a hispanic person or IDK... a MUSLIM person if racism is dead and buried.
Or you could you know ask a white student in a mostly black school. I am sure they will tell you racism isn't dead either. And what about that black politician calling a white politician boy? He hadn't been a boy for 30 years or so. Stop acting like whites are the only racist ones out there.
Posted By: Guest#0455 (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 01:09 AM
I think it's more the symbolism of the black president, and watching history unfold in that way. He was possibly even speaking through the eyes of the country, or ways that many people would/could be looking at it. I mean, the sight itself is nothing we have ever seen before.
I don't believe in the term post-racial. Just because you're taken aback by a black president standing in front of a white congress doesn't mean the man is inferior, and we can't force ourselves to be literally blind to race. If I were to say I was proud to see our black president up at that podium, would you chastise me and say I'm not part of our brand spanking new post racial society? I voted for Obama, and will keep voting for him, but I will keep acknowledging that he is a black man. Matthews may have had poor word choices, but I believe he was speaking with the best of intentions.
Posted By: James (Registered) (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 01:44 AM
You know I agree with you 455, but aside from the South whites are generally not discriminated in any way close to the ratio everyone else is. My point is that race is still an issue and while it's never acceptable on any level, it's endemic for people to throw up false rage when they're confronted with a problem they wish they didn't have.
Posted By: The Weesel (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 03:10 AM
So, so true. The far left are as racist as the far right, but even less tolerable because of their sycophantism. It's the same with gays and disabled people, especially the paralympics where harmless jokes about participants in the archery event scoring "two spectators and a line judge" was countered with "THESE PPL R HEROES, THEY'RE AMAZING ALL OF THEM FOR OVERCOMING THEIR HORRIFIC PERSONAL AFFLICTIONS, SO BRAVE". I cannot stand the word 'brave' being used about disabled people, and trust me they can't either. Great article.
Posted By: Cun\' (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 06:52 AM
"So had the rest of us until you brought it up..."
Isn't that basically what Matthews was attempting to vocalise?
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 07:09 AM
Let's not act like anyone running from office doesn't play the race card. Do not tell me a politician who is black doesn't go into black neighborhoods and proclaim the people "his" people. Same with Hispanics. You don't hear of white politicians going into white neighborhoods and proclaiming them as his people. The fact is that racism may still exist, however, it is not this huge deal that everyone makes it. Discrimination towards different ethnicities is not on the rise. I would expect that reverse discrimination is on the rise when race cards are played in the corporate world with affirmative action. Yes I said it. Affirmative action is nothing more than reverse discrimination.
Am I racist for saying that? No. I don't care what people are. When I take my kids to the park or mall to play at the play area, do I care if they play with black, brown, yellow, purple, or blue people? No it is about having fun.
If only the world looked at other ethnicities like a child....Children don't look at the color of skin to pick their friends. If this post is weird, I am going on 2 hours sleep lol.
Posted By: Rusty Park (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 09:56 AM
Your article was interesting, but I still become amused that people are whining about "unkept promises". He has only been in office a year, how the hell is any president supposed to "keep their promise" 25% of the way through their term, especially when you have the good 'ol boys network fighting anything that doesn't benefit them, or upperclass America?
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Check out Wyatt Senac on this past Thursday's The Daily Show. He owned Matthews.
Posted By: Guest#3148 (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 10:55 AM
"The best way to keep racism alive is to constantly highlight and make it clear that a black person succeeding in anything is a completely strange event and historical every time. So Obama makes a speech or does something right, make a big deal about him being black and doing that. When he screws up something make sure to focus on what that act was and don't mention his race at all, except to say you would criticize a white person the same. These are the general tactics used."
Posted By: Guest#7975
This is my point of view exactly. If it REALLY didn't matter, then it wouldn't be brought up at all.
Chungles, I think you're right about his intent. But have you ever had an ex go out of her way to prove she was over you? Didn't the effort she gave to look indifferent sort of prove the opposite? By Matthews bringing up race at an absolutely random time, he was forcing it into the foreground again. There can certainly be a time to discuss his observation, but minutes after the State of the Union Address wasn't it.
There's a generational gap at play here. Those of us under 40 for the most part never learned to look at everything through a racial filter unless we have been the direct victims of discrimination. For those our parents age, it was everywhere you turned. They remember the civil rights movement, and it may be natural for certain cues to make them think back to it. For those of us who are younger, while we're seeing a first, it isn't surreal to us. We didn't spend over half our lives thinking it could never happen. It's like it took a year for the lightbulb to turn on and for Matthews to grasp what the rest of us already saw: We have a black President, and while it was a huge milestone historically, that fact in itself is not of constant importance to those of us for whom race was never relevant to begin with.
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 02:05 PM
Your article was interesting, but I still become amused that people are whining about "unkept promises". He has only been in office a year, how the hell is any president supposed to "keep their promise" 25% of the way through their term, especially when you have the good 'ol boys network fighting anything that doesn't benefit them, or upperclass America?
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 10:54 AM
I don't think a president needs to be in office for more than a week to keep promises like "transparency", "posting legislation on the internet for five days before taking action on it", or "not hiring lobbyists". I'll agree he certainly can't keep EVERY promise he's made within the first year, but the basic stuff I mentioned is IMMEDIATELY doable, so yeah...there's a good REASON why people are complaining that he's lying. He hasn't even taken care of the small stuff; how's he supposed to be trusted to take care of the larger issues?
Posted By: Query (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 02:22 PM
^Sometimes I have trouble stomaching the crap that the Daily Show spews, but that Synec bit was hilarious.
Posted By: Weston Smith (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Chungles, I think you're right about his intent. But have you ever had an ex go out of her way to prove she was over you? Didn't the effort she gave to look indifferent sort of prove the opposite? By Matthews bringing up race at an absolutely random time, he was forcing it into the foreground again. There can certainly be a time to discuss his observation, but minutes after the State of the Union Address wasn't it.
_______________________________________
Dude, I spend 23 hours of my day acting like a self-righteous prick on this website, of course I've never had a girl do that...
Kidding aside (you be the judge of that...), having watched the video, that specific comment 'I forgot he was black' didn't seem particularly out of place in the context of the point he was attempting to make.
It didn't seem like he was trying *hard* to make any point - within the context of him discussing the 'post-racial' phase America has been routinely touted as being in upon Obama's election, the remark doesn't seem as sensational as it's being made out to be.
It seems like these 'lefties making racial gaffes' stories are being sensationalised by the Right to assuage any accusations towards them that their staunch anti-Obama rhetoric may be racially-motivated. Not that, for the most part, they are (it's merely more of a case that Obama's politics are anathema to the vested corporate/profit-over-people interests of the Right) but the more they can distract the spotlight onto ineffectual 'lefty' pundits, the more they can sprinkle such clearly-racial bait as 'Obama wasn't born here' without much mainstream scrutiny.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Frankly I'm tired of hearing about Obama this and Obama that.
The man is supposed to be our leader, but he's been treated as a celebrity since day one.
"Today Barack Obama buys a new pool table!" or "Michelle Obama's beauty secrets" arent something myself and I'm sure others care too much about. Today I bought myself a Diet Sunkist.
Is that worthy of making the news?? If I was Barack Obama, it sure as Hell would be!
Posted By: Guest#7865 (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 07:23 PM
They call it black metal, but there are no African-Americans involved in the genre.
Isnt that ironic?
Posted By: Mr. Irrelevant (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 10:43 PM
I forget Obama is black sometimes too. He needs to pepper more of his speeches with "I'M RICK JAMES, BITCH!" or "DY-NO-MITE!" to help me remember.
Posted By: Zingy (Guest) on January 30, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Does being black mean something?
Posted By: GTM (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 01:12 AM
For what it's worth, Matthews was roasted by a number of prominent left wing blogs for his comments. And Chris (Guest) may think Matthews is a quasi communist, but when Bush was the President he spent about the first 5 or 6 years praising him and ignoring serious political failures.
Say it with me now, Chris Matthews is in the media, which makes it clear that this is not communism, its opportunism.
Posted By: Ray Church (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 10:04 AM
I absolutely used to love Chris Matthews, until he started to get a "tingle up his leg" everytime Obama gave a speech. The comment was just a comment, that really made no sense at all, other than him clearly trying to keep the fact that Obama is black, an issue in the public's eye. Because lets face it, for the last year, every time someone has gone against Obama's agenda, they are immediately demonized as a racist and a bigot (see health care protesters, see tea party protesters). And once again, it doesn't take a genius to figure out, if Rush Limbaugh said the EXACT same thing Matthews did, it would be hell on earth.
Posted By: gwpbrian (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 12:30 PM
What? "411 Moderator Person" wont let me crack a funny about Obama actually being a white guy wearing shoe polish?
C'mon! Thats Americana! Al Jolson did it, and Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder turned it into a bit in "Stir Crazy"!
Posted By: Guest#8389 (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 01:53 PM
Hmmm...
"but when Bush was the President [Matthews] spent about the first 5 or 6 years praising him and ignoring serious political failures."
- Posted by Ray Church
"I absolutely used to love Chris Matthews, until he started to get a "tingle up his leg" everytime Obama gave a speech."
- Posted by gwpbrian
Coincidence, gwpbrian?
Your point regarding Limbaugh fails to acknowledge that Rush has a history rich with denigrating racial remarks. That him uttering the same line as Matthews would raise hell as you imply, would simply be a result of the fact it would have many, many precedents to lead us to judge it was a 'racist' comment.
"Take that bone out of your nose and call me back"
When Matthews comes out with something like that, rather than this sensationalised taken-out-of-context nonsense, call me back.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 03:17 PM
First off Chungles, I want to applaud you for not resorting to namecalling towards me in your response. Must have been tough for you.
Coincidence? If you've read any of my comments on any number of articles on 411, you know that I have not been the biggest fan of Bush. He was a trainwreck domestically, who didn't seem to know where the Veto stamp was his entire 8 years. Early on he was more interested in getting his photo-ops with Ted Kennedy to show everyone he could "reach across the aisle" (see No Child Left Behind). I didn't agree with going into Iraq, however I also didn't agree with the opposition supporting it and then try and act like they were against it all along. I too have plenty of problems with the Patriot Act, but then again when 98 Senators out of 100 vote yes for it... not much I can do about that. I liked Matthews because he actually truly was pretty fair and balanced, until the messiah came around, and MSNBC went so far Left they make Fox News look like Moderates.
Bottom line, is the difference between you and me Chungles, is that I have no problem pointing out when those that are closer to me on the politcal spectrum fuck up. Everything that the left accused Bush of for 8 years, Obama has doubled down on. Escalation of the Patriot Act, escalation of a war, closing down Gitmo with *wait for it* no exit strategy. The list goes on and on. Plain and simple I wasn't a huge fan of Bush (voted for him in 04 because John Kerry is nothing more than a Washington Windbag and had NOTHING to offer this country) but I'm certainly not a fan of Obama, and the funny thing is, people like Rush predicted that the country would be exactly in the state that it's in the day Obama took office. Anyone could've seen this a mile away. Once again, the real hope is that the GOP does have a big November, because then maybe things will get done, with a ambitious President in the White House, and some true checks and balances with the opposition. Right now all we have is people coming up with solutions that nobody wants.
Posted By: gwpbrian (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 06:21 PM
I thought the OJ aquittal in 95 was enough to prove racism was dead. I remember how black people celebrated. Why not, here was a guy who killed WHITEY, got away with it, and wrote a book about it. If America had racism, that never would have happened.
Posted By: Bryan Jones (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 08:59 PM
What a shockerChungles came to the defense of a moron on his favorite network.
Imagine if Hannity had said the same thing. Of course, what do you expect from a guy like Chungles, he is a Keith Olberrmann wanna be hack.
Posted By: Guest#5046 (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Because lets face it, for the last year, every time someone has gone against Obama's agenda, they are immediately demonized as a racist and a bigot (see health care protesters, see tea party protesters). And once again, it doesn't take a genius to figure out, if Rush Limbaugh said the EXACT same thing Matthews did, it would be hell on earth.
Posted By: gwpbrian (Guest) on January 31, 2010 at 12:30 PM
I am growing weary of hearing this refrain. EVERYTIME? Please, there are plenty of other reasons to criticize the inconsiderate behavior which was, at times, exhibited by SOME of the people attending those rallies.
Regardless, let us try to avoid blatant generalization. Rather than attacking the critiques aimed at those who oppose the legislation, why not just attack the legislation itself? Its much easier.
P.S. - If the guy behind the Tea Party wasnt photographed holding a sign with the word "Niggar" on it, there might have been fewer accusations of racism.
Posted By: Guest#3852 (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Who cares what dude said. Big deal. Folks always making something outta nothing. I forgot Bush was an idiot on 9/11. So what!
Posted By: US (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 05:29 PM
And please do tell, what "guy" is behind the entire tea party movement. Just curious.
And we got Joe Wilson who screams out "You Lie" to Obama, and all of the sudden he's racist. Former President Jimmy Carter himself said that the movment against Obama's agenda is "racially motivated." Forget about Left wing extremists like Keith Olbermann saying it, that's the Former President of the United States. I do not doubt that there are racist people in this country. I have no doubt that some of those people in those crowds, are racist. The majority of them, I would venture to say, don't give a shit what the color of Obama's skin is, they just don't like his policies. By all accounts, Obama is still very well liked. People like him. People would love to "have a beer" with the guy. He's likable. But poll after poll shows that people aren't crazy about his agenda.
Almost everyone can get behind and idea like "Let's Fix Health Care." How you go about doing that, is a whole other ball game, and that's what Democrats have been missing for the past year.
Posted By: gwpbrian (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 06:25 PM
"the difference between you and me Chungles, is that I have no problem pointing out when those that are closer to me on the politcal spectrum fuck up."
Had Matthews truly 'fucked up', I'd - I'm so indifferent to an American TV pundit I don't even watch over here in Limeyland - *emotionlessly* accept that. What do I care if some guy apparently alligned to the Left (by the way, difference between me and you - while I consider myself 'liberal', I don't ascribe myself to some immutable position on the political spectrum - that's a purely American phenomenon of recent times) makes a racial gaffe?
But the fact is, he didn't.
He made a comment that he should have known would be easy bait for an opposition so intent on trying to show the public 'look, they're more racist than we are!', but within the context of his remark - talking about the post-racial phase American has been *frequently* touted to be in since Obama was elected - it wasn't a 'fuck up'.
"Everything that the left accused Bush of for 8 years, Obama has doubled down on."
This is ridiculous. You people have been so skewed by your blowhard punditry that you've been manipulated into this mindless conclusion that America is practically on the brink of destruction. It's weird.
"the funny thing is, people like Rush predicted that the country would be exactly in the state that it's in the day Obama took office."
What state, exactly? Please enlighten me as to the bizarro-world you believe America was living in prior to Obama taking office. Because, from my sane perspective, your economy was kapoot, your banks needed rescuing, your health system sucked, the world hated you, your debt was astronomical and you were involved in two costly wars, only one of which could ever be justified.
"Once again, the real hope is that the GOP does have a big November, because then maybe things will get done, with a ambitious President in the White House"
Until you've got Palin in office, the GOP will always be the 'No' party, constantly alligned to that stance so as to undermine a President that isn't adhering to the corporate interests for which they represent.
The fact you have a bunch of eunuch Democrats who are also in the pocket of these corporate interests hardly helps the ambitions of Obama.
One final point. I don't get MSNBC over here but surely MSNBC's apparent turn to the left was business related? With Fox owning the market with their far-right position, surely it just made sense for a network to re-market themselves as a parallel alternative?
Surely it made sense with the likes of O'Reilly shouting over anyone for MSNBC to offer their own blowhards?
It's all symbolic of the deterioration of politics in your country, where partisanry has been promoted for profit.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 08:16 PM
i didn't read all of the comments, but i highly recommend that some of you read some articles on white privilege and male privilege
Posted By: Guest#1419 (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 09:30 PM
And please do tell, what "guy" is behind the entire tea party movement. Just curious.
Posted By: gwpbrian (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 06:25 PM
While I highly suspect you already know the answer, I'll play your game. His name is Dale Robertson, founder of Teaparty.org.
Now, at no point did I claim that he, or any other person, is behind the "entire" movement. As you are also probably aware, many tea-party groups have spoken out against the man and his attempts to profit from the movement.
This proves my point. Not all tea-party members can be classified as racists. Likewise, not all critiques against the tea-party need be based on racism. Do away with the absolutes.
Posted By: Guest#4599 (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 09:51 PM
Where was the tea party when Obama wasn't president? Hum? And the only reason why people say that white people are racist because the history of what white people have done. Along with white people making up excuses for racist white people. Hell other races do talk about white people but those other races have no problem talking about themselves too. White people never make fun of themselves like your shit dont stink. You all built up steoretype to help your ownself esteem. Hell white people are afraid to be the minority anywhere. And you want to talk about whites being in a all black school, hell I been to all black school and all white schools and all blacks school black people hate on eachother more then hating on the only white kid. While all white schools they want that token black kid so they can ask stupid question and say stupid racist sounding shit. Hell I know a couple of white people that are treated good being the ony white kid in a cliq sort of like eminem and they get treated with way more love then some token white kid. Especially if they like hip hop. It's only white kids who have a problem with those kids because they want people to be just like them. All because A white kid loves hip hop dosen't mean that he want's to be black. so stfu and keep on expressing your little stupid opinions on your bumper sticker to help you self esteem. I will be over here having fun with my girl, doing real research, and just having a good time. I know there is going to be a little penis, insecure, sensitive guy spreading some b.s. Just remember that our little kids are watching but what do you care. And when I say white people I mean white americans. I cant really speak for any country even though I have heard that uk is worst then the U.S.
Posted By: Heart and soul (Guest) on February 01, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Niggers suck.
Posted By: David Duke (Guest) on February 02, 2010 at 05:00 AM
And we got Joe Wilson who screams out "You Lie" to Obama, and all of the sudden he's racist. Former President Jimmy Carter himself said that the movment against Obama's agenda is "racially motivated." Forget about Left wing extremists like Keith Olbermann saying it, that's the Former President of the United States. I do not doubt that there are racist people in this country. I have no doubt that some of those people in those crowds, are racist. The majority of them, I would venture to say, don't give a shit what the color of Obama's skin is, they just don't like his policies. By all accounts, Obama is still very well liked. People like him. People would love to "have a beer" with the guy. He's likable. But poll after poll shows that people aren't crazy about his agenda.
Almost everyone can get behind and idea like "Let's Fix Health Care." How you go about doing that, is a whole other ball game, and that's what Democrats have been missing for the past year.
Posted By: gwpbrian
The Clintons pushed for health care reform, and I don't remember any tea party movements starting the moment Bill took office. The biggest point of contention from the Democratic base is that Obama has NOT done much to advance any sort of progressive agenda. If anything, he seems obsessed with winning Republican support even at the cost of losing his base.
I have never in my lifetime seen such vocal outrage from conservatives as over the last year. The outrage has not been aimed at the health care bill, it has been personally pointed toward Obama. This was Ted Kennedy's baby and I didn't hear anyone calling HIM a socialist, Marxist, etc. Why is that? As someone who supports progressive policies I am outraged by Obama's inaction and general lack of leadership. In the face of his inability and apparent lack of will to actually push a progressive agenda into law, why is the right so angry? If he were any more centrist he would actually become a Republican himself.
I'm not saying if you passionately oppose Obama's policies you must be a racist. I'm saying the level of anger I've seen is disproportionate when comparing him to other Dems who have pushed similar agendas. Why is that?
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Registered) on February 02, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Its so clearly projected prejudice on Mathews' part. I wonder if he even realizes it. He's always talking about Obama's race. Its embarrassing sometimes.
Posted By: C (Guest) on February 02, 2010 at 04:10 PM
Whats with all the left-wing hate? I never said one bad thing about anyone!
Posted By: Adam Graves (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 08:15 PM
I'm not saying if you passionately oppose Obama's policies you must be a racist. I'm saying the level of anger I've seen is disproportionate when comparing him to other Dems who have pushed similar agendas. Why is that?
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Registered) on February 02, 2010 at 11:13 AM
That is perhaps the primary question in regard to the Tea Party.
Posted By: Guest#1900 (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 08:38 PM
I'm not saying if you passionately oppose Obama's policies you must be a racist. I'm saying the level of anger I've seen is disproportionate when comparing him to other Dems who have pushed similar agendas. Why is that?
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Registered) on February 02, 2010 at 11:13 AM
1) Increased communication via the internet has made it somewhat easier for political movements to develop.
2) 24-news has devolved to a form where controversy trumps content for the sake of profit. This, as well as the increased number of talk-radio programs, has allowed absurd notions such as "death panels", controversy over the President's place of birth, indoctrination of school kids via video tape, etc to permeate the public discourse. This has led to unfounded fears.
3) The economy is in the SHITHOLE, and proposing any program that even has the chance of taxing people is going to piss them off. Unless its another war.
4) The guy proposing this agenda is black, his last name sounds funny, and his middle name is the same as the first name of a guy who we dont like (a fact that conservatives point too with glee) who represent a whole group of people who we are at war with because their "godbook" doesnt jive with our "godbook". Meanwhile, Tim LaHaye and Ron Hagee are working to convince people that shit is about to hit the fan, so we'd better get with the program!
5) Bigger population + cell-phone cameras + 24 news coverage = A LOT OF NOISE!!
Posted By: Grnraah!! (Guest) on February 03, 2010 at 09:00 PM
Grnraah!!: Thanks for a very good response. I may have to write an article about how the MSM has shifted from reporting news to influencing or outright creating it. I think the phenomenon has been largely empowered by politicians who constantly make decisions and statements based on how they will be portrayed in the media, rather than just focusing on the real implications of their actions.
Posted By: Jason Douglas (Registered) on February 04, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Also, quick note about Keith Olbermann being a left wing extremist. I will give you that he is very left wing, and his personality is extremist, but when you think about how far left the party can go, Olbermann's views are not that extreme. He doesn't advocate government completely overtaking health care, he doesn't advocate 3rd trimester abortions, he doesn't even really talk about leaving Iraq or Afghanistan immediately. The man is obviously a left wing warrior, but extremist? Not so much.
Posted By: James (Registered) (Guest) on February 05, 2010 at 05:28 AM
STAY CURRENT