Before I post this let me say that I reserve the right to post something else if it's so big that it changes the race. Right now the writing is on the wall....
Barak Obama is closer to being the president than any man of color has ever been. Tonight my be the death blow to Hillary Clinton. I wasn’t going say anything else about it. The wave of momentum is just too great. I knew it was over Saturday morning when the lady at the car wash asked me if I had went and voted for Obama before I started washing my truck. Who am I to kill the dream? I don’t want to kill it. I’m voting for Obama since Jon Edwards dropped out. I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t take the time to tell the truth about what’s really happening here. After we finish dancing in the streets celebrating his nomination, we need to tell the truth about what’s going on. I hope I don’t get the Tavis Smiley treatment. It’s okay if I do.
- There is no mistake about it to me. Barak Obama’s campaign is no longer a revolution for change. He is running so far to the left and has so many endorsements from the establishment of the Democratic party, he is now the establishment of the party. He had to take that position from Hillary in order to keep the money flowing to win. With the large percentages of black voters casting ballots for Obama, we have now married the Democratic party for at least the next four years. That’s right, the same party that’s been taking you for granted since the Civil Rights Bill was passed. Now Obama has to win because if he doesn’t we are screwed. We better hope that all the white men that chose the brother over the woman also hate McCain because it will be rough.
- Since the key to winning is white voters, please don’t get upset when Barak Obama won’t show up at events like the State of the Black Union or answers questions geared towards the African American agenda. It’s obvious we are going to vote for him anyway so he doesn’t have to speak on those things. I am all for a candidate that wants to run for everybody. I love the idea of a true united country. However, there are two Americas like John Edwards said and we happen to be mostly in the poorer one. It’s a good thing for Obama that most black people with a little money don’t want to be reminded that their cousin’s don’t have any. A candidate of any color running for president should be able to speak on the disparity and a black man isn’t being racist if he questions that. How we are we going to be united if everything isn’t even? If this was two white people running we would be ready to shut down any campaign that took these issues for granted. Now we don't care anymore and that's disheartening.
- If this election was a game Oprah Winfrey would have to be the MVP. Why? Because she told white and black people that Obama was safe to vote for. There is no one with the appeal Oprah has. White people love her and she’s everything most black people hope to be. She’s rich, she isn’t judged by her color, and she rarely acknowledges the “element”in the community. Most black people outside of Illinois never heard of Barak Obama. Half of them still don't know anything about him now. Oprah told them and white America he was a safe black man approved by her and he ran with it. I’m not sure what position he could give her but it needs to be something good.
I am voting for Barak Obama because he is the best candidate left for me. I am also voting for him because of the historical significance. That bothers me somewhat because I am long past voting for inspiration. I have been living in a city ran by black people my whole life and it hasn’t been a paradise. I can only imagine if this national thing goes wrong. I just need this thing to work if it happens. If nothing changes then I’m going to be heartbroken.
3 comments:
Have you done any research on his record whatsoever? You are not dealing with Marc Morial, et al.
Additionally, Obama was touted long ago as the potential first black president; long before Oprah's endorsement.
And to vote in the primary, you too would have to be a registered member of the party that has been taking all the rest of "us" for granted for years. Why not register as an independent? (I'm not saying that you or anyone should be bound to this party, but since you made the statement, I'm questioning it.)
You said before that he would not be able to win if he were to run on a racial platform. Has that somehow changed? What he SHOULD be able to do, and what he can successfully accomplish are two totally different things. Further, what white candidate do you know ran on the platform of race. And I'm not talking about showing up at a few churches, I mean the nitty gritty that you seem to want from Obama.
Let's not forget, the brother is biracial, and was reared by his white mother and grandparents. It only stands to reason that he would speak on the unification of all people.
Frankly, the begrudging vote is just as bad as saying a black man can't be a successful president. And that is sad.
Hello Breez,
I respect your opinion but I never said a black man can't be a successful president. I don't think I said anything negative about the man himself either. What I am doing is judging him through the same view I would judge any candidate regardless of his color which is what he says he wants anyway. We can't ask everybody to come together for vote for him then make it about his color if someone has a problem with something. That's a contradiction to everything Obama has been running on.
Besides, why can't I expect a lot of the man that is about to break the ceiling wide open? Once he's sworn in and starts the job, is it ok if we find out he was in over his head because he's black? Why can't I expect him to reach Mt. Rushmore status during his term? Actually, with all this undying black support, shouldn't we expect more than the average president? What is so wrong about that?
Thanx for dropping thru Cliff. Come back anytime! Supporting New Orleans is and always has been - at least for me - the right thing to do.
Here's a great "out-of-the-mouths-of-babes" site that linked to my blog posts on NOLA awhile back that I think you'll find inspiring:
http://qhst-seniors.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-can-we-do.html
The kids' comments give me way more reason to "hope" than this presidential race ever could. The kids at least see the disparity, speak it and want to make a difference.
I completely agree with your post for all the reasons you've listed. But I won't be heart-broken if nothing changes, it'll just be politics as usual - exactly what Sen. Obama said it wouldn't be.
At least Breez is honest in acknowledging that, "What he SHOULD be able to do, and what he can successfully accomplish are two totally different things." My only question then is, "Are we to vote for him just because he is Black despite the fact that he most likely will not be able to successfully accomplish any substantive change in our lives?" I think that vote is even sadder.
And no, no white candidate has ever run on the platform of race, but John Edwards at least came out of the gate sounding like he would. Bi-racial brother notwithstanding, institutional racism is real. My two bi-racial sons experience it every day since they look more like me than their father. And though they have much love for that side of their family and the United Nations they call friends, it does not keep them from recognizing and speaking that truth.
If we all want to get along, and work together to foster real change, some people are going to get pissed off. I'd rather get pissed off trying than acting like everything is alright and then nothing happens at all.
Post a Comment