Bush's swaggering, bombast = "strong and resolute" Obama's confidence and knowledge = "arrogance"

[EffieBlack]

Some of these pundits and politicians need to just come out and call him outright an "uppity Negro" because that's exactly what they're saying.

As much as they'd like for this President to just scratch his head, look down and say, "To tell the truthm I still can't fathom how come the American peepulz made me president, but I sure am grateful to be here and really hope y'all will just tell me what to do so's I can make sure I don't mess up" he's not going to do it. He's the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, damnit. He's the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH at this particular moment that the entire country - not just one district or one state - has chosen to be the leader of the nation and the free world. And yes, he's a black man. I know that flies in the face of their long-held notions of racial superiority and entitlement. But they need to just get over it.

I was very glad to hear Keith Olbermann call this out the other night. More of us need to do it.

[Catshrink]

1. You're right, it's a euphemism for "uppity"

[EffieBlack]

2. He's doesn't show enough "humility"

I don't recall either Bush or Clinton EVER being accused by these people of such a transgression.

[Orrex]

3. I forgot he was black for an hour.

[glowing]

5. Honestly, what does that even mean? How do you forget someone is black.

Pres. Obama is always well spoken and gives a good show. He's also extremely intellectual. Its like mental sex; its just that good. Maybe its an age thing? I'm 30... obviously people recognize different ethnic heritages within one's social group... but its not the issue... just another aspect of the person.. I think Chris Mathews needs to broaden his social circle to include people who are not just white old foggies.

[izquierdista]

8. ...just another aspect...

It is an age thing. I'm 53, and when I was growing up, race was THE most important thing in describing a person. As young tyke, when I heard adults talk or half paid attention to the news shows my parents were watching, I learned that race was essential information to convey when telling a story. As I grew up, I had to shake it off, keep telling myself that it was just another aspect, not THE defining characteristic of a person.

To say "I forgot he was black" is to say "for a moment, I forgot those stereotypes that I was constantly fed", and bite your tongue before finishing with "but then I remembered what I was taught". That's why liberals are less racist than conservatives; they can go beyond accepting what they were taught as being the gospel truth.

[JohnnyLib2]

10. Agreed.

And in that sense, the statement was more inept than awful. Well, sorta.

[glowing]

12. I suppose it was a good thing the Civil Rights created diversification within schools.

Now, I'm not stupid. I do know racism still exists. For example, my ex who is bi-racial, would get pulled over many more times than I ever did or even my white male friends. AND when we went out on dates or were walking around holding hands or showing affection... older white and black people would give us the dirtiest looks. I was so into him and our moments we could actually find in our busy college lives, I didn't even realize until he pointed it out to me. We went to school in South Carolina, and he had lived there most of his life. His dad married a white lady from Amsterdam (she had money and then they took away her inheritance for marrying his dad). He grew up unaccepted by the black community and most of the white community... Thank God for most kids not giving a shit what adults say to them. LOL.

So, I know its still an issue for some people... Its just a stupid thing to say on National television. It makes it seem that somehow his whiteness is better. What he saw was an American President giving a damn good SOTU address. What I found more disturbing is the panned view out into the seats of congress... Way too many old white suits sitting in the crowd... AND if they are like Tweety, then they shouldn't be there any longer. They are irrelevant for moving the country forward. Its time to get fresh, young blood into the assembly. If you are at least my age, you are more likely to pass Single Payer health care, reforms in education including college, address inadequate infrastructure, fix immigration issues, move forward on green initiatives (along with the jobs that come from them), and allow ALL of our nations citizens their civil rights allowing GLBT's to serve their country and marry in their country. (unless you are those idiots who broke into Landriue's (sp) office.. we don't need another generation of Rove)

[Orrex]

19. That's a really solid assessment.

A related aspect that I still see from time to time is when people point out, in a pseudo-complimentary manner, how someone defies perceived racial stereotypes, like "he's black, but he's not lazy," or the like (which I've actually heard verbatim!).

The aspect that you're describing, with race as "essential information to convey" is indeed very common. I hear stuff like "I was talking to Helen, she's that black woman who lives on the corner, and she said..."



And your last paragraph is very good.

:thumbsup:

[glowing]

37. Its just weird to me. Its like the last question that is even asked about someone.

AND if its something that matters to someone, I choose not to be around them. But the major reason for racial division is to keep people from coming together and a letting the PTB continue to rule. If you are happy having just little bit more social status than the one "below" you, you won't turn to the one's who are really at fault for making life more unequitable. Propaganda works.

[Empowerer]

38. The flipside is how some people bend over backwards trying to show they don't ever "see" race

to the point that I can't help but laugh.

Like the time I was going to have lunch with a professional colleague whom I had never met. We were going to meet in a crowded restaurant so he asked me what I was wearing. I told him, "I'm wearing a red dress. And I'm black." He got extremely flustered and stammered "ummm. What color red is your dress?" I told him again, "I'm black. I'll be easy to spot." He said, "How tall are you?"

When we finally did meet, I asked him why he was so reluctant to identify me by my race in this circumstance. He said that it was racist for him to notice what color people are. I gently explained that it was perfectly ok for him to notice that I'm black if he's trying to find me in a room full of white people since my skin color is my most visible distinguishing characteristic. It was no more offensive than if he noticed I was female or had dark hair. The problem came, I told him, if he were to make a value judgment about me based upon my skin color or if, for example, I called him to apply for a job and he asked me what color I was. But noting the color of my skin in order to pick me out of a crowd - not racist, just smart.

[Webster Green]

9. It was a weird thing to say, even for an idiot like Tweety.

I couldn't believe what an ignorant statement he made.

Makes me glad I didn't replace my TeeVee when it finally died a couple of years ago.

[Raineyb]

26. It means "You're one of us"

Since all those good things I want to say about you couldn't possibly be ascribed to a black guy.

Which some people seem to think is a positive statement.

:shrug:

[glowing]

30. Which is disgusting, outdated, and racist. Tingle or no tingle... Somehow

non-white male in his book is somehow less.

[Raineyb]

31. Exactly! And yet when you make this point people either cannot or refuse to

acknowledge the point (for the most part). I can't help but think that it's refusal rather than inability especially when it's deemed "irrelevant" to the discussion.

[treestar]

25. Time to go home, Tweety!

[JohnnyLib2]

4. I think it's a double jeopardy situation:

First, the point you make, which shows up way too much and often barely disguised.

And second, the fact that a bright and (yup) audacious leader tends to generate some plain old envy and resentment and need to undermine no matter what his/her background is.

--Sends my admiration for the man higher all the time.

[boobooday]

6. It's all about the "uppity"

Read any Freeper thread and it becomes abundantly clear. How dare he LEAD?

He doesn't know his place.

So obvious.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. If you're a white, Christian Republican, then it's "Texan Swagger" and the greatest virtue.

[EffieBlack]

34. Exactly!

[unblock]

11. i'd agree if they treated him differently from most democrats

truth is, gore was called arrogant and elitest, bill clinton was called arrogant and elitist, hillary clinton was call all sorts of nasty things, and so on. they do it to pretty much all of us, because *all* democrats are arrogant and elitist as far as their concerned. it might have something to do with the fact that we try to pick the best people for the job.

they hate him primarily because he's a democrat. from their perspective, the fact that he's black is just hate gravy.


now, a separate question is, why do they hate democrats so much in the first place? *THAT* might come back to the fact that they identify democrats with blacks and black-sympathizers (even though there are plenty of non-race related reasons do be a democrat).

[Jennicut]

14. Don't forget John Kerry too.

Every Dem is arrogant and elitist to them but Obama is black on top of it all! Heavens, what will they do with that?

[givemebackmycountry]

16. John Kerry was NOT arrogant and elitist...get your facts straight...

John Kerry was FRENCH.

:sarcasm:

:hippie:

[Jennicut]

17. LOL! How could I forget?

[unblock]

28. yes, kerry... and dukakis, and the list goes on....

[treestar]

24. Good point. And they are insensitive to the terms that shouldn't be used

or they know and use them in protest of "political correctness."

That is why they love their token blacks, like Thomas and Steele and Condiliar. To their simple minds, all they have to do is point to them to prove they aren't racists.

[Number23]

32. People who whine about "political correctness" don't ever seem to realize that what they are truly

whining about is their inability to be bigoted assholes and not be called out on it.

I see so many people on DU whining about "political correctness" and without fail, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM has been tied to racially questionable, idiotic statements. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM.

[burning rain]

33. Oh, they can be very bold about it, saying, "You got your blacks--we got ours."

.

[Cosmocat]

27. SPOT ON ...

Agree on all points ...

[firedupdem]

13. Exactly....

You summed it up perfectly!

[OHdem10]

15. Obama stood up to the Republicans. The typical Democrat either

cowers and caves or hides under the desk. For a Democrat
to stand up and put them in their place, is arrogant.

"How dare this guy 'talk back' to us?".

[WeCanWorkItOut]

18. Obama knowledgeable? A President must depend on his advisors.

Unfortunately, his advisors are not very good at health care reform,
nor particularly disinterested.

Is it still Obama's fault, because he chose such people?
I suggest that it's more the fault of the media and academia,
the people who let the health cost situation
get worse and worse, over the decades,
because they didn't want to notice the injustices.

It's true that Obama is brighter than Bush, but
I'm not sure that's the issue. The big issue is,
how can we get a better discussion of the big issues?
The only benefit we've had from the long health debate so far,
is that it it's not just about the uninsured any more.
Many people, not all, have now heard about "bending the cost curve."
But we need to go on to have a good, intelligent discussion about
how to do it. I wish Obama would spend more time trying
to promote this discussion, despite his advisors.

[polichick]

20. I too was glad to hear Ketih call them on it! Absolutely racist. nt

[donheld]

21. War = Peace

[wndycty]

22. I had to use that as my twitter/facebook update

:kick:

[sellitman]

23. I tried to imagine dubya taking unscripted questions from a room of Democrats.

Then I woke up.

[Sparkly]

29. Plus he's a smarty pants and nobody likes that.

Except other smarty pants.

Really, remember they said about Gore, "Nobody likes the smartest guy in the class?" So we got the dumbest one in Bush.

Seems it's really macho and strong to be idiotic, but the anti-intellectuals consider brains "arrogant," like the POTUS isn't supposed to know things we don't and be all smarter and stuff. And yeah, especially when he's black.

(Didn't Pres. Clinton once say that smart and strong aren't mutually exclusive?)

[depakid]

35. Actually, they'd be saying (and did say) similar things about Gore and Kerry

Fits their narrative about the "liberal, know it all elites telling you what's good for you."

[DevonRex]

40. I don't know WTF your problem is but I'm sick of you having NOTHING good to say

about Obama and now even denying that there's any racism involved in republicans' reactions to him. You deny RACISM??????

And you didn't even watch the meeting because you hate him so much. You predicted the democratic party's downfall if Obama even MET with them. And today you said he'd lose in a debate with some mythical "progressive" out there. :rofl:

And don't act all surprised that an actual Democrat is pissed off at the bullshit you've been spouting. Even the Democrats here who criticize Obama regularly have said that he did a fantastic job at the meeting which you were too *good* to watch.

We get it. You hate Obama. You hate Democrats. You're too almighty great to deign to watch Obama do anything, AND racism doesn't exist. :eyes:

[Doctor_J]

36. That's why we're going to have to enact some media realignment

before things improve. It's going to happen

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. There was a guy in GD yesterday attacking the way he talks.

He's one of the best orators this country has ever seen, and even his talking gets criticized.

[DevonRex]

41. Let's face it, there are people here who hate him as much as the pukes do.

They're the ones who are too "good" to watch the SOTU or that meeting the other day.