okie wrote:snood wrote:Tell me something he has said or done that would make you think he himself is "trying to capitalize" on race.
Well, I have read his book, and there is an entire chapter devoted to race. He has fully recognized the importance of pandering to groups, as most Democrats do, one important one being the black community. He spent alot of time building a base of support in Chicago to launch his political career from, and it is my opinion that is one reason he landed in company with the likes of a man that is clearly a racist in my opinion, Jeremiah Wright. He also makes it clear in his book, and I have heard the same in debates and speeches, that since he is of mixed heritage, he is therefore more qualified to represent black people as well as white people. He makes the same assertion in regard to other nations that may be Islamic for example. He claims he understands that culture and can bridge the gaps of misunderstanding.
You may argue that his argument has merit, but he is clearly emphasizing the importance of skin color and so on, and trying to say that he is more qualified because of the color of his ancestors' skin. He is trying to capitalize on it.
I am suggesting that constantly identifying people by outward characteristics is not a profitable endeavor if we don't want to be judged by our outward characteristics. I think we should be alot better off to try to forget them, quit classifying ourselves according to them, and instead begin to think of ourselves in terms of our character and other more pertinent definitions, as individuals instead of a member of a group according to how we look or where our ancestors came from 2 or 3 hundred years ago.
So I answered your question as to why I think what I said. And I am certainly not alone, even the Clintons have adamantly claimed, at least Bill, that Obama has played the race card. I seldom believe Clinton, but in this case, perhaps he had a point. The Clintons played the race card alot to get where they are, so they should know.
I suppose that one could make the argument that by offering himself as the racially transcendent candidate he is, in effect, capitalizing on the issue of race, but I think that would be unfair.
Obama, although born of a white mother and a black father, is considered by virtually everyone in America, including himself, as black. Why this is the case can be the subject of another thread, but it, undeniably, is.
Arguably he could lay claim to being "white" with as much logic as supports his claim to being "black," but then he would almost certainly engender criticism for denying his black heritage
If he never discussed his race he would still be considered black, by both his supporters and his detractors.
Most of his supporters want him to be black as do some of his detractors for related, but opposite reasons.
Many of his supporters want to vote for a black person for president. I don't think this is the main reason most of them will vote for him, but it's a nice side benefit for them. You vote for someone with whom you agree and whom you admire and you also get to vote for a black man and prove you are not a racist. Interestingly enough, I think he would lose support from some of these voters if he laid claim to being white, not because they don't want to vote for a white person or only want to vote for a black person but because, as I've already indicated, I believe his laying claim to being white would somehow be seen as running away from his black heritage. There is something sad about this, and since Obama is almost forced to identify himself as black by a world that seems instinctively compelled to label individuals (with skin color being a primary label), I think its unfair to accuse him of "playing a race card."
I really can't think of examples where he has tried to accuse his opponents or critics of being racist and never as a smoke screen to escape accountability for an error or misstatement. This is what I would call using the race card, not pointing out that his mixed heritage make him uniquely qualified to lead both whites and blacks.
You're right though that he is not race neutral, but then I don't know how he could be.
There is no way you're really this stupid. What purpose is served by pretending you are?
