Lost In the Obama Era

[question everything]

Lost In the Obama Era
By Allison Samuels
NEWSWEEK
Dec 22, 2007

Jesse Jackson can still get a crowd going — when he can find one. He appeared at a Los Angeles restaurant this fall, primed to discuss school dropout rates and home foreclosures. But only eight people showed up, mostly reporters. It's no longer Reverend Jackson's day in the sun, or any other black leader's whose name isn't Barack Obama. So where does that leave the leaders to whom black America has long turned in times of crisis — Jackson, and the Revs. Andrew Young and Al Sharpton? At times they can seem like jealous, cranky old men, as in December when Young suggested Bill Clinton was "every bit as black as Barack." Or when Jackson said Obama was "acting white'' by skipping a giant rally for the Jena Six.

But it's not just jealousy. They are also frustrated by mainstream voters' eager embrace of an African-American raised without a traditional African-American experience — who's not, in other words, an "angry black man." Reared in Hawaii by white grandparents, Obama didn't have a family history of segregation and Jim Crow laws. And sources close to all three reverends say the men are hurt that Obama hasn't sought their advice, even privately. (Still, Jackson has endorsed Obama.) The leaders appreciate Obama's dilemma. They know he'd lose many white voters if he reached out to leaders known primarily for advocating black issues. Obama's refrain is that there is just one America. It may be what America wants to hear — but the three lions of the old school couldn't disagree more.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/81612

[Colobo]

1. Welcome to the Obamanian era.

[IndianaJones]

2. Obama...a recipe for failure. nt.

[rufus dog]

4. no text needed

He will be a fine President and I am confident you will give him your vote in the GE.

[IndianaJones]

7. its not my vote he has to worry about not getting. nt.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. That is odd that Obama hasn't met with Jackson or Sharpton.

I guess he rather McClurkin?

[NYCGirl]

5. Well, Jesse Jackson Jr. is national co-chair for Obama's campaign. And as far

as meeting with Sharpton, it's not always a plus.

[IndianaJones]

10. because it may anger white voters? nt.

[NYCGirl]

12. No, because Sharpton is more than a bit of a fraud. NT

[IndianaJones]

13. because he angers white people? nt

[NYCGirl]

14. No, because of Tawana Brawley, his LoanMax commercials, and a few other

incidents here in NY.

[IndianaJones]

16. Sharpton is seen as a fraud by african americans? nt.

[NYCGirl]

17. Sharpton is seen as a fraud by a lot of people of all colors. And, BTW, forgot to

mention Sharpton's GOP friends (Roger Stone, etc.) in the last election.

[IndianaJones]

19. So you see the avoidance of angering white people as a positive for Obama?

I meet a lot of people that don't like Sharpton...they are almost universally white.

[NYCGirl]

25. Here's a picture of Obama at Sharpton's National Action Convention

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/05/obama_set_to_score_first_new_y.html


Well, I guess you don't know the same people I do.

[IndianaJones]

27. so you don't see it as a positive?

I know I hear Opie and Anthony railing on Sharpton. And Imus fans.

[NYCGirl]

28. The only white people to be angered by it are staunch, rockribbed, racist

REPUBLICANS. So who gives a shit?

[IndianaJones]

30. angered by Sharpton? nt.

[NYCGirl]

31. I suppose racists would be angered by Sharpton, but for a different reason

than anyone who isn't racist.

[IndianaJones]

32. why do all these african americans you speak of dislike him...

or think him a fraud?

[NYCGirl]

34. I explained above

In November 2005, Sharpton appeared in advertisements for LoanMax, an automobile title loan company. Sharpton was criticized for appearing in the ads, as LoanMax has been accused of predatory lending charging fees, and for marketing them to primarily poor, urban and African American audiences. The ads featuring Sharpton were run in predominantly African American markets.<44>

On December 7, 2005, he ended his relationship with LoanMax. In a letter to Rod Aycox, LoanMax president and chief executive officer, Sharpton said, "I respectfully, but firmly decline your offer for further engagement on my part, and will not engage in any business relationship to promote auto lending with LoanMax." Sharpton said he had not done the research before agreeing to the commercials.<45>

In 1995, Sharpton led a protest in Harlem against the plans of a black Pentecostal Church, the United House of Prayer, which owned the retail property on 125th Street to ask Fred Harari, the Jewish tenant who operated Freddie's Fashion Mart to evict his longtime subtenant, a black record store, The Record Shack.<37><38><39> Sharpton told the protesters, "We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business."<40> On 1995-12-08, Roland J. Smith Jr., one of the protesters, entered the store with a gun and flammable liquid, shot several Jewish customers and employees inside the store and burned it down. He killed seven in the store, and himself.<41><42> Sharpton claimed that the perpetrator was an open critic of himself and his nonviolent tactics. Sharpton later expressed regret for making the racial remark, "white interloper," and denied responsibility for inflaming or provoking the violence.<12><43>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Sharpton#LoanMax_spokesman

And this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley

[IndianaJones]

39. I have heard all this on Opie and Anthony....

and hear it from white people all the time. This doesn't show that large numbers of african americans think him a fraud.

[NYCGirl]

41. I've never heard Opie and Anthony, so I have no idea what they are saying. NT

[IndianaJones]

44. all the things you are saying. they are in NYC I believe.

I listen to the Tom Joyner show just about every morning. Sharpton is on at times. I don't hear these things mentioned there.

[NYCGirl]

46. OK.

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

47. You're a fraud, whatever your race, for stirring up shit that shouldn't

have been. I'm impressed - not.

[IndianaJones]

48. coming from you...a compliment. I realize Obama would not defend Sharpton.

Its one reason he will lose.

[hedgehog]

64. Why would Sharpton need defending by Obama? nt

You forgot to ask why Obama hasn't defended Sharpton since Sharpton has stopped beating his wife.

[NYCGirl]

49. But he looks to Opie & Anthony for his racial views. Doesn't that count for

something?

:sarcasm:


:hi:

[1corona4u]

33. Why would Obama let a fraud endorse him?

[NYCGirl]

36. Sharpton is not endorsing him. NT

[1corona4u]

38. Oh, so Jackson did?

I'm totally confused now...

[NYCGirl]

42. Jackson's son works for the campaign, but Jackson Sr. did not endorse him. NT

[1corona4u]

51. Gotcha.

[NYCGirl]

52. No, no "gotcha". What are you supposed to have "gotcha"d me for? NT

[1corona4u]

54. Oh dear God, LOL....

Now we can't even say Gotcha anymore, LOL....I meant it as got ya! As in I understood. See what these talking heads do to us....they make everyday words taboo...;-)

Kind of like Santa not being able to say "ho, ho, ho", anymore...LOL...

[NYCGirl]

55. OK, there's been so much rancor and just plain nutjobbery in her tonight that

one gets awfully defensive.

And, BTW, the "ho, ho, ho" bit was a hoax.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/hohoho.asp

It seems that the Santas were cautioned about "ho ho ho" (and to substitute "ha ha ha") not because of any perceived sexist remarks, but because they were scaring the children!


:hi:

[1corona4u]

56. Hey it's cool!!

:hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

58. "nutjobbery in her "

I'd like to try that. How does that work? :evilgrin:

[Pirate Smile]

40. He's met with both of them. He had dinner with Sharpton not that long ago, before

he had a rally at the Apollo Theater.

[babylonsister]

45. I guess you've decided now, no, cat girl? nt

[Catherine Vincent]

59. Decided what? nt

[babylonsister]

61. Who you're voting for, or at least cheering on.

Fairly obvious, though last we 'talked' you claimed you hadn't made up your mind.

[Catherine Vincent]

62. Still haven't decided. In fact, I won't decide.

I'm not going to put all my support behind one candidate that may lose the nomination. I'll support whoever wins the nomination. But thanks for trying to figure out who I support.

[ripple]

53. Because he's black, he should have consulted

The OTHER TWO black men that have run for president? Good grief.

FYI, he HAS spoken with both of them. Your implication still sucks. Has YOUR candidate met with all of the WHITE leaders of this nation?

Obama's campaign made a huge mistake by not vetting McClurkin. I'm well aware of that, as are my fellow lesbian buds. As infuriated as I am by that particular campaign error, I'm much more disturbed by those who attempt to use it as an excuse for their own bad behavior. Racism included.

[Catherine Vincent]

60. What's up with you?

I just thought it was odd he hadn't met with the two supposedly black leaders. At least that's what the article states.

Don't get your stepins in a wad.

[killbotfactory]

63. He has met with Sharpton.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/11/obama-soul-food.html

[1corona4u]

6. Hmm...

The leaders appreciate Obama's dilemma. They know he'd lose many white voters if he reached out to leaders known primarily for advocating black issues. Obama's refrain is that there is just one America. It may be what America wants to hear — but the three lions of the old school couldn't disagree more.


So, is he just paying lipservice to white voters then? About the "one America"?

[IndianaJones]

8. reality is going to hit the man hard over the coming weeks. nt.

[ripple]

57. I think he truly believes in 'One America'

and he refuses to be pigeon-holed into supporting a loaded and lopsided agenda. I find that commendable.

BTW, I really hope Biden gets into the Iowa top three. He's my second choice and I'd love to see him gain some momentum. If he can hang in there until February 5th, I think he'll be a serious contender for the nod.

[ruggerson]

9. I would like to see Obama outline what he envisions his presidency to be

I see a lot of talk about hope and change, which we all acknowledge is campaign fluff, and I see a laundry list of center/progressive ideas, none of which I find too objectionable - but who is this guy? Why is he running for President? I think I know, but it's not from anything he's given me on the public stage, merely from his biography, his age and some of his academic experience.

I get Joe Biden, I understand what motivates him. I get John Edwards, I see what he's about.

Obama needs to tell us who he is.

[IndianaJones]

11. I can't believe any Obama supporter would find this article positive.

I see it as a McClurkin moment for racial minorities.

[Bitwit1234]

15. Probably thinks he is too good to meet with regular black folks

who just happen to be the same as regular white folks.

[babylonsister]

43. Wow! Is that a revelation for you? nt

[sandnsea]

18. Not that there IS one America, but we need to create it

Are people really this stupid?

[IndianaJones]

20. Avoid angering the white voters as much as possible. A key to success apparently. nt.

[sandnsea]

21. Because the writer said so??

That doesn't even make any sense.

[IndianaJones]

23. what doesn't make sense? racists in America? nt.

[sandnsea]

26. Obama addresses racism more than any other candidate

Go ahead and run with the divisive garbage in the article if you want, it's the real racist bullshit and thinking people will figure it out.

[IndianaJones]

29. thinking people will figure what out? that most white people are racists, or that pandering...

to them is a waste of time?

[sandnsea]

35. There is no pandering going on

But keep up with your sick Clintonian attacks.

Don't look now, but the Clinton campaign is neck deep in trading favors for Dubai businesses.

[IndianaJones]

37. start a thread. I'll be saying I told you so in a few days. nt.

[1corona4u]

22. Define "one America" please.

I know I like my individualism....

[ruggerson]

24. There is no such thing

this country has been very divided since the Revolution. And we've survived just fine with the tug between federalism and centralized authority and the gap between people who believe that government can be a tool for higher good and those that demonize everything government does or aspires to do.

Obama can't "unite" us anymore than Bush did.

[babylonsister]

50. Baloney. He might if you'd let him.

But that's never going to happen. So just chalk it off to impossible.

He fucked up, we all know that, and you are ruthless in your disdain. We get it.