I’m definitely not. They both have a long history of discrimination against white males.

JiangxiDad on March 5, 2008 at 10:52 AM

The problem with my team is that whenever we try to pin something on the Dems, it sticks to us. With regards to race, that is because most conservatives have trouble expressing cogent, sane and rational racial ideals without dipping into their personal well of prejudice.

Obama’s church, Hillary’s pandering are both fair game. But when you try to completely rewrite history to suggest that blacks historically discriminated against whites, you cross the line.

That is the type of comment that will prevent Republicans from ever getting over their own racial problems. We constantly try to pin this on “them.”

Clearly any idiot suggesting that white men are more historically discriminated against than women or blacks is lying, stupid or in denial.

Every generation of my family has been terrorized by racist white bigots. My mother and father, both highly educated professionals, lost friends and were personally harmed by racist violence.

I have been called “nigger” to my face and behind my back. I have been threatened with deadly violence because of my race. Half of my family is white, and at least half of my friends are.

None of my white friens or family have endured as much outright bigotry. There has never been a place that I have visited or patronized which would not allow whites. Whereas I have twice been asked not visit certain establishments because I am black.

None of the unfortunate racism I’ve encountered makes me love my country any less. Actually, these experiences illuminate the great lengths many, if not most, Americans would go to eschew and reject racism. That goes for Democrats and Republicans.

The problems arise when we get our hackles up. People stop using logic and begin to react emotionally.

***
It’s only natural for their to be some backlash on the part of white male Christians against the current tide of PC. A lot of people seem try to act as if they are not being reactionary, when it is both obvious and expected that they would.

White Americans have a tragically integral role in our country’s darkest periods as well as our brightest. The guilt from those darker days has made it very difficult for some people to function free from that guilt. Some people repress it. Others totally deny its existence.

I don’t think contemporary whites should feel any more guilty about slavery than contemporary blacks do about being sold by Africans to America, Spain, etc. I do think that many Americans are so sharply affected by their personal guilt that it causes them to lash out.

Until there is an honest acknowledgement and understanding about the impact of slavery, Jim Crow, lynching, and being called “nigger” enough to make you question your worth, by all Americans, no American will be free from the guilt and/or pain.

We need to get over comparing our party’s roles in the past and make the Republican party the party of America’s bright future.

//lunch, no edit, sorry for typos and hanging prepositions

***
correction:
I do have a friend who is Serbian that lost family in what used to be Yugoslavia. He is white…I guess.

***

Anyone who voted for Osama because he is black would never admit it.

I think there are many Republicans who secretly voted for Obama precisely because he is black…and because John McCain is about as exciting as a toejam sandwich.

Anyone who voted for Osama because he is black would never admit it.

Labamigo on March 5, 2008 at 12:33 PM

I don’t know about that. Also note the groups on the right…

I was a liberal when I was young but didn’t know what I was doing. As such, I often “excuse” young people for their errors. Others, not.

JiangxiDad on March 5, 2008 at 12:01 PM

I was never afflicted in that way. You and the Professor have this in common. Glad for both of you, and us :)

Anyone who (didn’t) voted for Osama because he is black would never admit it.

Labamigo on March 5, 2008 at 12:33 PM

Your favorite neocon voted for Hillary Clinton yesterday afternoon, after dabbing a bit of holy water behind my ears just for good measure. The polling place itself at the time was fairly deserted and while there were a few volunteers there, none seeme…

ihasurnominashun on March 5, 2008 at 11:58 AM

Well said. I agree with every word. I was a liberal when I was young but didn’t know what I was doing. As such, I often “excuse” young people for their errors. Others, not.

Put Michael Steele on the ticket w/ McCain. He is quite viable….then Steele in 2012 or 2016!

shooter on March 5, 2008 at 11:22 AM

I actually like J.C. Watts more than Steele. My dream ticket was Fred! and J.C. what an amazing prospect for the transformation of the Republic to its former glory!

But maybe I’m just idealistic.

JS on March 5, 2008 at 11:15 AM

No, I think you are like most conservatives. We do not make our decisions based on race, sex, or other identifiers. Something liberals are incapable of doing. I say that as a recovered liberal who drank that koolaid at one point in my life. I realize now how incindiary and evil political correctness really is. Groupthink is the downfall of our country and what liberalism is founded upon.

Pablo on March 5, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Thanks for that. I was thinking about the immigration issue when I made that comment. Happy to be wrong about him because I like him too.

Seems like a smart friendly guy from his tv appearances, but others have pointed out that he’s not particularly conservative.

Next to McCain, Steel looks like Pat Buchanan. I saw someone mentioning that he’s pro-amnesty, but he’s not.

I’d be quite comfortable with Steele a heartbeat away from the WH, and I think it would be a great ticket.

I’m still boggled as to why african americans feel the need to support the democrat party that didn’t want to include them as first-class citizens until they found it politically viable and profitable.

Why not? Aren’t they as dumb as most voters?

Why do people seem to forget the negatively disproportionate civil rights legislation voting record of the democrat party senate and congressional members of JFK and LBJ compared to that of the republicans?

Put Michael Steele on the ticket w/ McCain. He is quite viable….then Steele in 2012 or 2016!

shooter on March 5, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Seems like a smart friendly guy from his tv appearances, but others have pointed out that he’s not particularly conservative.

The only reason a minority or a woman hasn’t been elected President is because there hasn’t been a viable candidate.

Put Michael Steele on the ticket w/ McCain. He is quite viable….then Steele in 2012 or 2016!

Just setting up the premise, shooter. ;-)
Pablo on March 5, 2008 at 11:08 AM

and I, the assist.

Turn on Fox… substance, substance, substance.

Seems to me that the left has a race problem.

Dirty Fact: both Race and Gender matter in American politics.
Dirtier Fact: Race is more important than Gender
Dirtiest Fact: Democrats are not as nuanced as they portrayed themselves to be.

natesnake on March 5, 2008 at 10:27 AM

In American politics maybe, but not much that I’ve seen on the Republican side. Ideology trumps race and gender for Republicans, easily. McCain ought to be saying that loud and clear, but he won’t.

Time or Newsweek will likely do an entire issue in which they trace minority representation/political disenfranchisement. There will be justly moving photos and stories which will be more explicit than the underlying subtext of the campaign thus far. Tapping into residual feelings of white-guilt may actually help drive folks to the polls…so as to assuage our collective guilt.

If Obama is defeated (for whatever reason) I suspect we’ll be treated to its binary cousin, namely “America is not yet ready.”

moxie_neanderthal on March 5, 2008 at 10:28 AM

Shirley the way to avoid this disenfranchisement horror is to count the Michigan/Florida delegates in the nomination battle. Just to be sure, I mean.

you’re kidding, right?

Just setting up the premise, shooter. ;-)

rplat on March 5, 2008 at 11:05 AM

Sorry. Should have added the snark at the end.

Race…..as other commenters have said the effect runs both ways. From my insulated, middle class, white, Texan neighborhood it appears to be more ‘he is black = gets my vote’ then the other way around. But I’m from a ‘notoriously racist’ state, so nevermind what I said.

I too am a Texan, but not the same Texas you’ve defined.

Exit questions: First, does anyone here think such a match-up is possible? Second, if a Clinton/Obama team is formed, will it successfully unite the Democrat party? Third, if the answer to the first and second questions is “yes” does McCain have a snowball’s chance in hell this November?

NemoParticularis on March 5, 2008 at 10:49 AM

It would be a very tough ticket to beat. That’s the downside to crossing over for Hillary…..I’m not sure she would accept the VP spot, but Obama might.

Look, the race problems within the democrat party bring special joy to the Hee Haw Damiens of the world. I just don’t care to associate myself with them, that’s all.