Video: Obama’s “wise Latina” moment or something
posted at 4:45 pm on July 20, 2009 by Allahpundit
So lame is this supposed “gotcha” that I’m tempted to accuse Mediaite, which debuted a few weeks ago, of drumming it up in bad faith to create buzz. The “controversial” part:
That’s part of the African American experience. You are, in some ways, connected to this distant land, but on the other end, you’re about as American as it gets. In some ways, African-Americans are more fundamentally rooted in the American experience because they don’t have a recent immigrant experience to draw on. It’s that unique African-American culture that has existed in North America for hundreds of years long before we actually founded the nation.
Skip ahead to 5:30 and watch until about 7:20. They’re talking about how black Americans reconcile their national and racial identities; the boldfaced part is simply Obama saying that they identify more with the U.S. than with Africa because their ancestors came to America centuries ago and created a discrete culture. To believe that he was saying something Sotomayor-esque, i.e. that blacks are “more American” than other demographic groups, you’d have to ignore The One’s record as a national politician of staying as far away from racial controversies as humanly possible. As far back as the 2004 Democratic national convention, he was framing himself as a post-racial candidate (“There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America”); the only time he touched the subject on the trail was after the Wright controversy blew up and threatened to bring down his candidacy. Even here, he goes out of his way to say how not only black Americans but some white Americans he knows consider their visits to Africa to be life-changing experiences. The guy simply doesn’t throw “wise Latina”-type bombs. They’re not worth the political headaches. But as John Avlon notes today, we’ve already reached the point in some quarters on the right where Barry O is guilty of whatever charge is leveled at him, whether it makes sense or not. Presumably Mediaite’s counting on that to kick up some traffic. Have at it.
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So stupid. I hope people don’t try to make a big deal out of this.
BadgerHawk on July 20, 2009 at 4:47 PM
RINO!
/sarc
brak on July 20, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Whatever Allah
File this under “if a republican had said it…”
(as I learned last week that Jeff Sessions is a racist or something because he said “boy” 20 years ago, but Durbin and Leahy who blocked Miguel Estrada BECAUSE he was Latino is peachy?)
battleoflepanto1571 on July 20, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Please. Why so many facts? Why add all this context?
Just put up the quote and hammer away.
faraway on July 20, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Parsing what this bumbling jackass utters on a daily basis is a fool’s errand.
I should be just able to ignore this clown.
Why oh why does he have influence on my life? That’s my question. Trying to understand what comes out of his stupid mouth, shouldn’t be an issue.
The people who voted for this guy last fall should have bags on their heads, for foisting this idiot on the rest of us.
NoDonkey on July 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM
And as for Avlon, he considers President Obama to be center-left, so I’m not really sure he’s a good judge of ODS.
BadgerHawk on July 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Pretty much summed up my thoughts. It’s obvious what he meant. Dont dilute the real, and quite frequent, BS this guy puts out with stuff like this.
Dash on July 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Anything with Andersoon poopshoot won’t get my click.
He needs to dye his hair. Or something.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM
While I agree that this doesn’t rise to “wise Latina” level, I believe you’re wrong that he doesn’t throw those type of bombs. Remember “clinging to guns and religion”, remember “could no sooner disown my white grandmother”, etc. etc.
RightWinged on July 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
O.k. this is just lame. I agree with you Allah. Obama doesn’t make those kinds of statements. He’ll backtrack, say he said things he never said, and talk in meaningless platitudes, but he’ll never make a racial comment.
Rightwingguy on July 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
No, no, no… he looks nice with the gray.
Abby Adams on July 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Meh
BobMbx on July 20, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Elie Weisel should be ashamed for allowing himself to be used by this charlatan and criminal.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
His policies alone give us more than enough ammo to make him a one-termer. Making noise over this won’t help.
Patrick S on July 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
abby, he’s not that into you.
faraway on July 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Blowbama command: Load the TOTUS! Make ready! Aim! Talk!
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Go ahead and try to minimize this like good little lapdogs
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
typical white rich pole sniffer chatting amicably with mulatto mentally ill el presidente about the African American experience……racism won’t ever die if we DON’T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. gheeeeeeeesh
Ris4victory on July 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Whoops.
Patrick Ishmael on July 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Uh.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
To be fair, if one had, we’d be doing exactly what Allah did here, explaining the context, and in the context the word “more” has to do with Africa and America, not blacks and whites.
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
“Powerful moment for myself“
Really!!
canopfor on July 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
My family fought in every war this country has seen since the revolution. Let the jackass lecture me about roots.
alliebobbitt on July 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Hah! TOTUS left and TOTUS right strikes again!
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
But we’re constantly told that black folks in general feel alienated from America. I’m confused.
SouthernGent on July 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
You show those rookies how its REALLY done Allah. They need some flame training.
portlandon on July 20, 2009 at 4:56 PM
So why spend 20 years attending a Black Liberation Theology church?
rbj on July 20, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Uh care to explain or did you go to the Obama school of speaking?
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Seriously?
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Yeah, like that unique Anglo/Dutch/Germanic/Spanish/Franco/Italian/Nordic/Greco-American culture. Yeah, just like that.
Fletch54 on July 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
You should let him know then.
ernesto on July 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
My grandfather in the Navy never claimed to liberate Jews from Auschwitz, either. It seems Obama is trying to capitalize on his skin color, because voters no longer trust him or feel they know him. He is too far outside of mainstream American sentiment, and he needs big support for his Waterloo moment now.
alliebobbitt on July 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
The left is creating the controversy with this. I find nothing wrong with what Obama said there.
Mediaite is a dumb leftist site with nothing better to do.
jencab on July 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
You can spin this how you please but it is out and out racism that would end the career of a GOPer. Did you not read APs spin? Bet you did not. So typical.
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I agree, AP.
CP on July 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Yeah, gosh … next thing you know these crazy wingnuts will be quoting Obama calling his Grandmother/Mother a closet racist or something. Nuts…
Jaibones on July 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
He knows.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Its the old:
Your taking her out of context
Your putting words into her mouth
You heard what you wanted to hear
Are you sure you heard it right
Thats not the way I took it
Did you hear her clearly
Thats not what she mean`t
She didn`t mean it that way
and list goes on ad nausem!!Ugh.
canopfor on July 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Yes making grand general statement about African – Americans is ok
/sarc
The stupidity continues
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
With all due respect: Fercryin out loud. We did this crap back in 1968-1982. I call B.S.
If the election of Barack Hussein Obama does not abolish Affirmative Action and (man made disasters) once and for all, then we shall never be saved from our mortal sin of being born non-African.
Get a grip. It’s over. We have a black president and he’s not doing all that great. He also should not hold himself out as an example to black Americans like MLK. They did not have the “upbringing” that BHO did. I want his school records.
Only because I’ve stayed in contact with all my black friends from the late 60′s and into the 70′s. We’re all okay, but alot of them are wondering… “where’d this pr*ck come from”
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh! that is not to be spoken of! and besides, he is still trying to decide what new church to attend there in Washington.
Ghoul aid on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Exactly but look at how HA posters eat that line up
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
I dont think Obama believes in black supremecy, I just think he hates white people. Like most liberals do.
Aquateen Hungerforce on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
What a load of crap. There are righteously indignant minorities, and there are the European descendants who are oppressors and, therefore, should be subject to the “justice” of affirmative action. You can’t turn on the tv, without hearing about the injustice of white Americans.
.
“There’s the United States of America.”
“There’s the Congressional Black Caucus.” “There’s Black Entertainment Television.” “There’s the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.” “There’s the United Negro College Fund.” “There’s ‘Black in America, Part 2′ on CNN.”
“There’s the United States of America.” – my ass.
OhEssYouCowboys on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Just burnishing his “record as a national politician of staying as far away from racial controversies as humanly possible”. It took 20 years because you just can’t be too careful.
Jaibones on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
I hate Obama, because he’s a liar, a coward and a cheat. Perfect example of how every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie.
alliebobbitt on July 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
This is like something Media Matters would do – and it falls just as flat as anything they do.
All you have to do is mash-up campaign promises with any number of directly contradictory things Obama has decreed from on high as President Government.
You evil neocon new media types can do better than this.
Good Lt on July 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Relying on morons to bolster an argument is not a good tactic. You might agree with what Avlon said (which would be bad enough, in and of itself) but to cite him is just silly. Avlon’s article was an exercise in the public display of stupidity.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Just absolute silliness you crackpot. You idiots would have a GOPer for dinner over this.
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Nope! I’m from the Obama school of Teleprompter Dependence. I double declare my answer as:
Uh.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Holy s***, my computer tried to play the video and opened a black hole of swirling narcissism and undeserved accolades. Thanks a lot, AC and BO.
Flyover Country on July 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Our side is not obliged to be “fair” to Obama. The whole we’re s’poze to be better than them is just a stupid trap.
I wanted Obama to fail.
I am glad he is failing.
I plan to be completely unfair about it.
boris on July 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
I miss humping robot.
lorien1973 on July 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
It’s a Democrat thing, Gent…we’re not supposed to understand.
JetBoy on July 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Calm down. I’m not tearing at you and suddenly you’re attacking me because I was hoping you were exaggerating your obvious bitterness about being here.
I read what AP wrote, and it makes sense.
The word “more” can easily be referencing black Americans’ feelings about African and the US; in fact, it makes more sense to read it that way than to assume he’s saying only black Americans are authentic.
That you want to rail on AP because he believes that, even though he’s given evidence to support his claims and has not shown in the past a willingness to overlook Obama’s errors, is senseless.
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
This is LAME people. LAME
Obama is going to ruin us with this healthcare plan and unrestrained spending. THIS LAME stuff is going to mask the real damage he’s doing.
STICK with the facts.
Here’s a link to Ash Soular’s OBAMANATION. She was on TEMS today. Take a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtcWU1lyssk
originalpechanga on July 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Would this be the same candidate who declared that the reason people opposed him was because he didn’t look like the presidents on our currency?
MarkTheGreat on July 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
How many other Americans really know their ancestry? I bet you would find that most realize that it is about WHAT THEY DO…not what their ancestors did.
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Here’s how the comments on this seem to be going…
OMG, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO HATE OBAMA 115% OF THE TIME! YOU ONLY HATE HIM 90% OF THE TIME, SO YOU MUST BE A LAP-DOG DEFENDER WHO’S SPINNING FOR THE MSM!
Seriously, people, calm down.
CP on July 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Is this some sort of assertion Obama was not born in Kenya?
Links to unambiguous, certified documentation are appreciated.
Stephen M on July 20, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Because we know they are all the same. /sarc
This is really getting stupid
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Exactly. As long as “historical injustices” are used as excuses to create niche groups that must have their “needs and issues” addressed at the cost of everyone else, there is not a coherent nation united by a set of ideals. Just a bunch of squabling babies crying to get theirs.
Why historical injustices are proposed as the reason to be for modern injustices will ever mystify me.
Aquateen Hungerforce on July 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
lame
Terrye on July 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Up next? Obamadollah’s. I just hope they use one of the kids cause they’re so cute. Michelle always looks mad. Obama can’t be trusted. But Sasha and Malia .. maybe doubleheadded dollahs’ will work out. Just fine.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
First Kenyan reference this thread as far as I can tell.
CWforFreedom on July 20, 2009 at 5:06 PM
The context makes it quite clear that he is comparing African-Americans, who have ancestry in this country, going back centuries to recent immigrants.
Of course he seems to be making the assumption that most American blacks share the same ancestry, and that there are few recent immigrants.
Such a belief is no more or less true than it would be for whites, or any other cultural group.
MarkTheGreat on July 20, 2009 at 5:07 PM
He was absolutely not born in Kenya. Uh.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:07 PM
News flash.
Africans are much more likely to start and succed in a new business when they come directly from Africa. If they get corrupted by victumhood and welfare attitudes, they are less likely to take education and prosper.
seven on July 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
If African-Americans identify more with the US than Africa, why the need for the word ‘African’ prior to the word “American’?
catmman on July 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Appreciate the respect, but I have no idea where you’re coming from. My whole point is that Obama isn’t talking about differences between races not that he should.
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
I also agree that had a white Republican said something this careless, it would be a career ender, and Allah would be among the first to declare that we must abandon them as damaged goods.
MarkTheGreat on July 20, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Ok, so, question:
there were african americans in America BEFORE we founded the nation? I thought those were the native Americans that we subjugated before we shipped in the black people and subsequently subjugated them? I am really confused about all the races we’ve screwed around with.
Our president is horrible, by the way.
Mommypundit on July 20, 2009 at 5:09 PM
You give The Precedent too much credit. He’s not nearly as articulate as you. The idiot messiah actually said, “What they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.”
“on the dollar bills” … LOL. Sounds like something a foreigner would say. Yep. And a stupid foreigner, at that.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Thank you for this post, Allah. After the fact-filled, full-context criticism the left (including Obama) has leveled against the right these past 8 years, it would certainly be a shame if our side let Obama go criticized unfairly. He needs people with large podiums on the right to stand up for him because, really, he’d be all by himself in his defense without them.
I’m sure Obama will return the favor by defending the right from unfair attacks from the left, pointing out the reality of the situation. Or maybe he’ll resume smearing us all as racist, poor-hating, special interest-loving rich snobs in 15 minutes. You know, one or the other.
amerpundit on July 20, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Exactly. This country endured absolute agony during the 60′s and 70′s and even into the early 80′s. How dare this idiot break open the wounds the divided us for well over 100 years but were healed through the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., JFK, RFK and all that excelled beyond their reach?
Talk about punching MLK in the mouth. Shame on this opportunist.
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
We let them define the battlefield. Thats why this stuff gets a pass.
p0s3r on July 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
This seems more like lefty generated faux outrage than anything the right as a group is going to make a big deal about. Let’s stick to the larger issues.
BadgerHawk on July 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Smoke and mirrors. Let’s stick to the issues, where Obama is failing miserably. I don’t give a rat’s behind about his heritage.
NebCon on July 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
And you know what, yeah, this is offensive and every putrid thing from his face is offensive. He is condescending in being and essence.
Mommypundit on July 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Good grief. I almost, Almost…wish for a forced law to make people of different races/ethnicities/colors/beliefs/etc/….to create children.
End the insanity, already.
People are different COLORS. Get OVER IT.
bridgetown on July 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM
I thought the liberals were the PC police. Now he can’t even make a generalized comment about blacks?
He is right. Unlike recent immigrants, most blacks are from here, and logic would dictate that they have less of connection to the country they emigrated from. This is just common sense.
It’s like saying that whites, in general, have little connection to the countries their families were from as most have become assimilated with little concern towards keeping their former culture alive here.
I’ll agree with you there.
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM
opened a black hole….
Flyover Country on July 20,2009 at 5:01PM.
Flyover Country: That sounds awfully distrubing!:)
This is probably what you seen!
Barack OBollywood!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA-451XMsuY
canopfor on July 20, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Maybe not bombs, but I think he slips up enough to show what he really thinks. Remember the whole “typical white person” comment? Remember the “bitter clingers” and the black liberation theology that he sat through? Yeah, I’m pretty sure after listening to some of his books that he’s not too fond of whites.
theotherKate on July 20, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Conservatives are required by “the prisoner’s dilemma” to blow this out of proportion to punish the democrats for all they times they have unfairly accused us of racial statements. It’s not nice but it has to happen to achieve equilibrium.
DFCtomm on July 20, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Yes, but…Barack Obama is a liar.
Knott Buyinit on July 20, 2009 at 5:16 PM
theotherKate on July 20, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Of course he’s not fond of “whites”
He chose JOE BIDEN to be his VP.
How could you choose more of a dumbass WHITE MAN for the VP of America and still win?
The man is Evil. okay, maybe not purely evil, but he’s SICK with an agenda, Obama is…
bridgetown on July 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Dumbest controversy ever. Obama is absolutely right. Historically, most African-American families have been in America longer than white, Hispanics, or Asians. The import of slaves from Africa stopped around 1810 or so. Most white families trace their roots to the immigrant explosion of the mid to late 1800s. Obama is dead on accurate on this one. His historic knowledge can be selective. He didn’t mention at all the role Africans in what is now present-day Ghana played in selling slaves to the slave traders when he visited Cape Coast. But on this point, he is 100 percent accurate: Most African-Americans have longer American roots than other racial groups. It’s a fact.
fleiter on July 20, 2009 at 5:18 PM
You’re confusing tactics with concepts it seems. Yes it would probably end the career of a GOPer. But not because it is out and out racism.
anuts on July 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
As to the quip, The Precedent makes only the first half of a comparison. Call it awful English, a disjointed thought process, flat-out stupidity … but it’s clear that he is saying something that he doesn’t want to fully state, out loud. Make of it what you will, but he pulled back from finishing his comparison. If you want to be nice to The Precedent, chalk it up to his meager intellect. If you don’t give him the benefit of the doubt (as no one should, given what he has been saying and doing for a while, now) then he is trying to say that blacks in America are more American than others in America. Of course, he’s talking about one subset of blacks in America, which he is not part of.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
The Liberal Party,from the start of Liberal primaries,on through the presidential race,are the ones who defined the
Rules of Engagement,and have been the ones who have consta
ntly been the group that has brought up race as well as gen
der,if one remembers HilRods outrage on the way Team Obama
treated Hillary!!
canopfor on July 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
That interpretaion is less reasonable than saying they identify more with the U.S. than other recent immigrants do, who have less “American” experience.
So you are the one trying to spin this, not us.
boris on July 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
His grandmother disagrees.
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Sometimes you’re a freaking genius, Allah. You’re most of the reason I come here. But then sometimes I wonder if your evil twin who has been living under a rock has taken over your posting duties.
What political headache? Barack Obama spent 20 years in the church of a guy who spewed anti-American hatred and conspiracies about the government creating AIDS. He then proceeded to defend the guy on national television.
Even when he did finally condemn the rhetoric, he accused all white people of being afraid of black people on the street at the same time. And that’s without even getting into the fact that he threw his white grandmother who raised him under the bus.
He said Americans are bigots who cling to guns and religion. His wife said she hadn’t been proud of this country in her adult life.
And now you say he doesn’t get involved in racial controversy such as the “wise latina” quotes because it’s not worth the political headache? What headaches?
amerpundit on July 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM
He’s not evil. He’s smart. Don’t forget that. HIs grandmother, who raised him, nurtured him, fed him; and his grandfather who raised him, nurtured him, fed him, taught him, encouraged him, pushed him, loved him, held him, hugged him. Well, that was just a typical White person.
I don’t buy it. Barack? You can’t push racism into the issue any longer, bud.
Even Al Sharpton doesn’t have anything better to talk about except Michael Jackson.
/get a grip
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I’d like to agree, but I believe this will only backfire. Accusing Obama of racism in bad faith will only feed into the idea of Republicans as racists.
And then, if he finally does say something overtly racist, we’ll be the boy who cried wolf.
People seem to forget, but the only reason the Dems get away with this is because they have the media on their side. We don’t. It’s a big difference.
Esthier on July 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I see no controversy here and this one doesn’t interest me. Obamacare takes up all my energy in the critique department.
sherry on July 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Who needs the Media when you have Truth on your side?
Key West Reader on July 20, 2009 at 5:22 PM
The point of his statement was to remind us that he is the First Black President and to simultaneously dispell the growing perception that he hates America and American values.
I’m black, black, black, black, black, black, black.
And Amerikkkan.
Sounds like he feels the need to shore up even his black base these days. Because, you know, Peggy the Moocher is still waiting…
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM
allah goes so far out of his way to defend The Precedent that it boggles the mind. This is not the first time he’s pulled this stuff. He’s always looking for the “real strategy” behind The Precedent’s moronic moves.
progressoverpeace on July 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM
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