Obama '08?

Really? Is that what they're trying to convey with all that cheering, smiling and waving?

I'm not going to directly reply to the ignorant written defecation Okie and others post that accuse me of "making everything about race", at the same time the first viable black candidate is making a historic run. Anyone who can't see that race is part and parcel of the the story whether someone "makes something of it" or not, just simply ain't worth the effort.

But I couldn't help but notice (and I predict others will point out in the days to come) that a lot of the photos and films coming back from Afghanistan are overwhelmingly showing black people cheering Obama. I wonder what you guys (who don't think talking about race during the Obama candidacy is some kind of heretical or militant act) think that says?

I think a couple of things are possible. I think it may mean that all of the photos showing overwhelmingly white men in combat roles have something to do with the journalistic discretion of the producers of the films and photos - they show what they feel is their vision of what's really there. It might also have to do with the fact that the NG and AR units that are in war zones have the ethnic makeup of the areas they represent - a unit from North Dakota would be overwhelmingly white; one from a southeastern state might be overrepresented by blacks; of course a unit from Puerto Rico would be latino. that may explain a lot of what we see...

Or, it may be that when Obama is there, the blacks are like me - giddy over the prospect of having him in the white house, and so excited about a chance to see him - and they rush to the places he can be seen faster than do the whites and others, so that it appears that they are the majority there.

In any case, I think the stories so far (knock wood, its early) have been pretty favorable as far as how Obama looks in that setting.

I am making honest observations and asking honest questions.

I firmly believe this is more about politics than race, yet those people that love Obama's politics are also trying to garner votes based on race, to cast a guilt complex onto the rest of us for not voting for the first serious black contender because of race.

The general mood is that everybody should be excited about Obama being the first real black contender.

Well, I would be if he was conservative, but I refuse to vote for somebody out of guilt, because I have no guilt over it.

I will vote on his politics, and I don't care for his politics, period.

If snood was interested in honest dialogue, he will answer my questions with reasonable and courteous answers. If not, then it will be something else entirely.

Looks like all the bystanders that mugged for the cameras during OJ's slow chase.

Or, it may be that when Obama is there, the blacks are like me - giddy over the prospect of having him in the white house, and so excited about a chance to see him - and they rush to the places he can be seen faster than do the whites and others, so that it appears that they are the majority there.

H2O_MAN wrote:

Looks like all the bystanders that mugged for the cameras during OJ's slow chase.

Here I thought Okie's ignorance bordering on overt racism was going to be the height of stupidity today; then comes the waterboy with a submission that could win him the idiot of the month award. Those are the men and women defending your country you half-witted bigot. Try to show a little respect.

snood wrote:

Or, it may be that when Obama is there, the blacks are like me - giddy over the prospect of having him in the white house, and so excited about a chance to see him - and they rush to the places he can be seen faster than do the whites and others, so that it appears that they are the majority there.

That seems a fair guess to me. As much as I'd like to shake his hand or finagle a keepsake photo op; I'd step aside for you. Pay no mind to morons that think one can't be both happy with the man, his politics AND his already monumental electoral first achievements.

H2O_MAN wrote:

Looks like all the bystanders that mugged for the cameras during OJ's slow chase.

Here I thought Okie's ignorance bordering on overt racism was going to be the height of stupidity today; then comes the waterboy with a submission that could win him the idiot of the month award. Those are the men and women defending your country you half-witted bigot. Try to show a little respect.

Obama is an extremely popular guy and I have no doubt plenty of service men and women were very happy to be able to photo oped with him. The guy has more charisma then any other American politician in office and he knows how to work it.

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I am making honest observations and asking honest questions.

And I honestly think you are just woefully ignorant, near-irredeemably bigoted and a waste of time.

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I firmly believe this is more about politics than race, yet those people that love Obama's politics are also trying to garner votes based on race, to cast a guilt complex onto the rest of us for not voting for the first serious black contender because of race.

Okay, "this" (the presidential contest) is more about politics than race. No reason to lob that impotent "everything's about race to you" grenade everytime race comes up. It's going to come up, whether I bring it up or not. I couldn't give a rat's who you or yours vote for - if you feel guilty, that's your problem.

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The general mood is that everybody should be excited about Obama being the first real black contender.

This is what passes as "honest observation" to you. Well, a lot of people are excited about the first viable black candidate. I can only speak for myself, and I have no opinion about what you "should" be or do. If you don't get what people are excited about Obama for, you just don't get it. Period.

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Well, I would be if he was conservative, but I refuse to vote for somebody out of guilt, because I have no guilt over it.

Duh. You wouldn't vote for a liberal - I wouldn't vote for a conservative. Kinda answers your probing, incisive questions about whether I'd vote for Shelby Steele, huh?

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I will vote on his politics, and I don't care for his politics, period.

You want a cookie? WTF?

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If snood was interested in honest dialogue, he will answer my questions with reasonable and courteous answers. If not, then it will be something else entirely.

You really don't have anything of substance to say to me on this subject, as far as I am concerned. I'd as soon not talk to you about politics at all. You like baseball?

H2O_MAN wrote:

Looks like all the bystanders that mugged for the cameras during OJ's slow chase.

Here I thought Okie's ignorance bordering on overt racism was going to be the height of stupidity today; then comes the waterboy with a submission that could win him the idiot of the month award. Those are the men and women defending your country you half-witted bigot. Try to show a little respect.