Video: “Don’t Think of a Black Man”
posted at 3:42 pm on March 12, 2008 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
An unwitting video companion piece to TNR’s examination of how Team Obama (or in this case, his supporters) plays the race card even when it’s unwarranted, which isn’t to suggest that it always is. My bloggy goal for today was to google around and dig up statements by Obamites heralding the Messiah’s race as a point in his favor, as a counterweight to the criticism of Geraldine Ferraro; luckily Tom Maguire had the same idea and executed it better than I could have. Is there a gushy, embarrassing, near-lyrical Andrew Sullivan contribution to the sample? Of course there is. Is there a shamelessly hypocritical Josh Marshall racial double standard among the oeuvre? Of course there is. As Maguire says, no one’s claiming that Obama’s race is an unmitigated benefit to his electoral chances; one look at the exit polls in Mississippi or Ohio proves that. But the idea of a black politician moving the culture towards a post-racial society or “restoring America’s image in the world” by winning the White House is sufficiently attractive that even John McCain’s own advisors seem sweet on it. Why acknowledge that, though, when you can demonize Hillary Clinton as a closet racist? So here you go. Another dress rehearsal for the general and the GOP.
Update: Sean Wilentz, the author of the TNR race-card piece, nails Orlando Patterson’s dopey “Birth of a Nation” op-ed. Here’s Patterson’s response.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Is this like telling people not to think of an elephant and they immediately start thinking of elephants because they can’t help it?
James on March 12, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Nice!
Like, I bet it almost wrote itself. Or, did you fish it out of a Hilary dumpster?
mksmithwriter on March 12, 2008 at 3:49 PM
That was soooooooo funny that I think I just ratcheted up a logarithm!
RushBaby on March 12, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Everybody likes the idea of an Obama. Compelling life story, racial diversity, achievement, something new……
The problem is the candidate doesn’t match up to the hype. He’s way too inexperienced to be the savior he portrays on television.
The GOP has the same problem in reverse. McCain is supported by the most superficial for the same reason Obama is supported. McCain’s problem is that he does have a record and it runs counter to the base of the party. His campaign has to sell McCain as a nice conservative patriot when, in reality, he’s a cranky bastard who hates social conservatives almost as much as the leftists who are in control of the GOP.
highhopes on March 12, 2008 at 3:53 PM
“His dangerous sexuality”? Huh?? He’s a skinny, big-eared guy whose own wife says she doesn’t like to be in bed with him in the morning because he’s too smelly.
AZCoyote on March 12, 2008 at 3:54 PM
What about those luntz focus groups?
Being black was the only achievement cited.
liberrocky on March 12, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Just last month, Willie Brown said: “I think most white politicians do not understand that the race pride we all have trumps everything else.” No one raised an eyebrow.
If a white politician made that very same statement, the MSM would join others in instantly labeling him or her a racist.
The hypocrisy is ridiculous and the MSM’s failure to report on or at least intelligently discuss this hypocrisy is an abject dereliction of duty, albeit it completely unsurprising.
Bob L on March 12, 2008 at 3:55 PM
“McCain’s problem is that he does have a record and it runs counter to the base of the party.”
What “base” exactly is that?
Because I consider myself part of the Republican “base” and I like McCain.
Yeah, he’s not perfect. But when viewing him next to what the Democrats are going to offer, he’s Ronald Reagan, General Washington and Audie Murphy all rolled into one big, lovable candidate.
NoDonkey on March 12, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Kinda reminds me of this.
see-dubya on March 12, 2008 at 3:58 PM
I could never like a man who called me racist for wanting secure borders without granting wholesale amnesty to drug dealers and those whose income is based on human trafficing.
Yes, McCain’s a better choice than Obama but your standards are very low. You want to order the cheeseburger instead of the hamburger. I want the steak that was taken off the menu! Oh! and I resent being told to shut up and order the cheeseburger because it is better than the hamburger and you have no other choice.
Put another way, you are willing to settle for an ersatz Ronald Reagan. I want the real deal. Triceratops doesn’t come close to RWR in character, intellect, or vision.
highhopes on March 12, 2008 at 4:05 PM
To exclude the probability that many blacks will vote for Obama, simply because of his skin color, and that many women will vote for Clinton, simply because of her genitalia - takes “political correctness” to new lows.
The old saying should be amended - the first casualty of
warpolitical correctness is the truth.OhEssYouCowboys on March 12, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Sort of like using prostitutes while prosecuting others who also do, because it is wrong?
a capella on March 12, 2008 at 4:12 PM
“Why acknowledge that, though, when you can demonize Hillary Clinton as a closet racist? So here you go. Another dress rehearsal for the general and the GOP.”
AP, Senator Zerobama’s campaign is longing for a racial fight, from either Hillary now and in their brokered convention, or afterward, in the general election.
His race is being held up as the unassailable factor in both political races; neither candidate, Hillary nor McCain can score reasonable attacks without the racist reply being thrown.
localmalcontent on March 12, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Willie Brown said: “I think most white politicians do not understand that the race pride we all have trumps everything else.”
Speak for yourself, I know several black conservatives, including the beautiful Mrs.737, who vote Pubbie and will again this year because they want the best person for the job, regardless of skin color, you know, sorta what Dr. King was talkin’ about. They may not all want McCain, but they know he’s better than either of the dhimmirats.
“You want to order the cheeseburger instead of the hamburger. I want the steak that was taken off the menu! Oh! and I resent being told to shut up and order the cheeseburger because it is better than the hamburger and you have no other choice.” - highhopes
Great anology! Mmmmmmmm cheeeeeseburgerrrrrrrrr (drool)
Tony737 on March 12, 2008 at 4:17 PM
The hard truth is that the liberal press simply does not take liberal blacks seriously, which is why childish behavior on liberal blacks’ part is instantly filed in the “what’d you expect” drawer of the typical liberal journalist’s mind. They take conservative whites seriously, which is why there is any currency at all to the whine, “Imagine if a white Republican had said that…”
I mean, if a child said there’s a monster in his closet we’d tell him to go back to bed. If an adult said it, we’d ask him if he is feeling ok, or what he’s been smoking.
Akzed on March 12, 2008 at 4:18 PM
I didn’t see McCain mentioned in the article.
I have never seen such an extreme case McHate, I can just envision you in bed dreaming, mumbling “Farking McCain, Damn Amnesty!” over and over again in your sleep.
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 12, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I have voted and supported Republicans my entire life. I supported Mac in 2000 and I support him now.
America would be a better place today, if Mac had won in 2000.
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 12, 2008 at 4:22 PM
You hate Mac because he supports Amnesty. You love RWR even though he signed the last Amnesty bill.
I see, you are making a lot of sense here, hmmmm.
JayHaw Phrenzie on March 12, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Very interesting comment by Mr. Brown. So it is acceptable for Afro-Americans to vote based solely on race, yet it would be racist for white people do vote based upon the candidates race? If America takes Willy Browns advice, there will never be an elected black President. To vote for B. Hussein Obama for the lone reason that he is black is to disrepect the office for which he aspires, but then it seems his desire to hold high office knows no bounds. What Geraldine said was true. Were he white, with his credentials he would not be a contender for President.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on March 12, 2008 at 5:18 PM
That made me Laugh out Loud…for real! But, I’m a racist hatemonger…so it’s to be expected.
ihasurnominashun on March 12, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Patterson did not put forward any evidence or reasoned argument to prove that the ad was racist. He pretty much said he knows racism when he sees it and he sees it in the ad.
snaggletoothie on March 12, 2008 at 7:06 PM
I think Obama’s campaign is right to express outrage. It is true that Obama wouldn’t have been able to start his campaign if it weren’t for his race. It is, however, absolutely preposterous to suggest he is where he is now because of it.
Plus even if we assume that Obama is a product of the affirmative action, it is despicable of a supporter of the affirmative action to point that so late in the competition.
The usual defense of the AA policy is that it’s fundamentally more difficult to be black in this country. Hence all other things being equal the blacks should get a small bump in order to equalize overall chances. Assuming that this is your position, you should then shut up and treat a black person as someone who hasn’t overall received any special treatment.
As it stands now, Hillary’s message seems to be: you will use the AA whether you like it or not, but you will never be able to take credit for anything you achieve.
freevillage on March 12, 2008 at 11:05 PM