Obama: My Grannie's a typical white person. !!

[2rth2pwr]

Is this the real Obama?



http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/16851906.html

610 WIP host Angelo Cataldi asked Obama about his Tuesday morning speech on race at the National Constitution Center in which he referenced

his own white grandmother and her prejudice. Obama told Cataldi that "The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any

racial animosity, but that she is a typical white person. If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know (pause) there's a

reaction in her that doesn't go away and it comes out in the wrong way."

We doubt this story will have legs, but wonder if Hillary Clinton referred to a "typical black person," would we ever hear the end of it?

[NYCGirl]

1. UPDATE:

UPDATE: We gave the Obama campaign a chance to respond to this post. "Barack Obama said specifically that he didn't believe his grandmother harbored any racial animosity, but that her fears were understandable and typical of those often shared by her generation," said Obama's PA spokesman Sean Smith, who added that Grandma is 86-years-old. He might have meant that specifically, but that isn't what he said, especially as he spoke of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, in the present tense. The Clinton campaign has not yet returned our request for comment on Obama's remarks. We aren't holding our breath for a Clinton comment.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/16851906.html

[bunnies]

5. Thank you. nt

[2rth2pwr]

74. Funny thing is, we have lots of people here defending the

quote without any type of campaign spin.

[shayes51]

36. Many have said that "her generation"

is the greatest generation. I guess Obama doesn't see it that way.

[jenmito]

51. Are you DENYING that someone of her generation wasn't TYPICAL by having a "reaction" of Black

people?

[NYCGirl]

53. Way to twist words! You should work for His44!

Or maybe you already do.

[EffieBlack]

54. Many in the so-called "greatest generation" tolerated, perpetuated and enforced segregation

and blatant discrimination and had to be dragged kicking and screaming into change.

My father was a part of that "greatest generation" - he served in a segregated Army, was turned away from restaurants, barber shops and hotels because of his race - more often than not, it was the members of that "greatest generation" who shut the door in his face or simply turned away without a word or any offer of support.

He had to travel to his Army base by train on which he and the other soldiers interacted, played cards, shared comaraderie, etc. But when the train pulled into Cincinnati's Union Terminal, he had to get off of the train - in his Army uniform - and then reboard the Jim Crow car because they were crossing the Mason-Dixon line. The only thing worse than being humiliated by the very country for which he was putting his life on the line was the reaction of his "buddies" to the black soldiers' humiliation.. Silence. No one complained. No one stood up for them. No one said a word. They just watched them go and went right back to their card game.

And it when those soldiers returned home and the black soldiers begged them to help bring about change, they got much the same reaction. While certainly some of this generation stepped up and fought for civil rights, they stayed on the sidelines, letting African Americans of all ages and white baby boomers lead the charge.

So please spare me about the beauties and wonders of the "greatest generation." Yes, they fought World War II and did many good things. But that's not the whole story. It's a shame they didn't do more at home to help the black members of their generation.

[shayes51]

122. And some that I know (white) marched with MLK in Selma.

[EffieBlack]

136. You apparently didn't read my post carefully - I said that

And my point still stands.

[Mags]

61. too late!

[goclark]

130. My my, now we're picking on something new

I wonder why every word that comes out of his mouth is examined like a root Canal.

Maybe that is one difference. I didn't pick every word of his speech apart.

I, like millions of others, marvel at the man for so many reasons.

Let's see,where is McCain? Now that is a question the entire world needs to focus on ~ Does Grandpa even know what country he is in at the moment?

Bom Bom Bom Bom, Bom Iran!!!!!

Why don't they play that all day long ~ now that is one dangerous Senior citizen. :scare:

[MNDemNY]

132. Honestly, why would you expect, or want the Clinton campaign to respond to this?

[Eurobabe]

141. Oh I love your DREAM ticket.

:loveya:

But I am not crazy about Barack's statement. I haven't analyzed my reaction yet.

[SoFlaJet]

2. member since

8/27/07...OK now I understand

[2rth2pwr]

13. Something significant about that date?

I've seen implications that someone new is a troll, that someone who registered years ago is a mole,

and now the date 08/27/07 comes up. Looks like some people will find what they're looking for if they try hard enough.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[2rth2pwr]

55. cute, what are your thoughts about what Obama said?

[boston bean]

98. .

And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions - the good and the bad - of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.

[HuffleClaw]

58. any excuse to dismiss an unpleasant truth? n/t

[2rth2pwr]

77. What else is typical of white people?

[woolldog]

101. Well, since you asked...

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

:rofl:

[Maraya1969]

143. White people tend to have lighter skin than black people.

Hope that doesn't offend you.

[DJ13]

3. Oh look, another post about race

:eyes:

[Yes We Did]

4. Sure makes you wonder...

And they say there is not racism on DU.

No, blatant racism isn't allowed, but hints at it... well, that's just politics.

[EFerrari]

21. No one here has any doubt that you enjoy these racist posts.

The wonder has worn off.

[2rth2pwr]

9. Typical white person? I didn't say that , or bring it up.

[Forkboy]

63. Um...it's in the subject line of your OP.

So I guess you DID bring it up.

Amazing disconnect though...points for that.

[2rth2pwr]

86. I see what you're saying, but it was Obama who brought it up.

[maddiejoan]

6. wow

typical white person?

Is there such a thing?

[Tellurian]

32. "Typical white person" is a racial epithet..

and Obama's words!

[cliffordu]

49. DING DING DING We have a winner!!!

Is that the fake outrage post of the day????

[Tellurian]

126. If it works for Obama, it works for me!

[reggie the dog]

37. yes, according to what I learned in sociology class

there are also typical blacks, typical gays, typical men, typical women, and typical cannabis users. It has to do with the different ways we are socialized.

[RememberWellstone]

7. Typical? WTF??

Oh my...the speech is so far gone from this thought process. Is this the same Obama? Where did the other guy go?

[Mags]

39. This is his so called Unity for ya. Wow, he has really crossed the line now.

[ecstatic]

8. It's fine to disagree with Obama's policies; but what you're doing is disgusting

and despicable. You are giving comfort to right wingers by continually focusing on swiftboating Obama through distortions rather than discussing the race in an intelligent, thoughtful manner.

By the way, ufck you

[2rth2pwr]

10. distortions? wtf?!

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[2rth2pwr]

16. Pastor Wright? Who's talking about crazy Uncle Wright?

This OP is about Obama.

[Straight Shooter]

56. Your caps lock is stuck.

And that's not all.

[robbedvoter]

15. OP posted BO words - no further comment. I missed the distorion.

[JuniperLea]

38. Astounding, isn't it? eom

[JuniperLea]

35. Who said it?

The poster or Obama?

Jesus Mary and Joseph!

[indimuse]

12. what?

wh-at?

[woo me with science]

131. huh? nt

[Juche]

14. Most people are racist

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/Instructions

I read in Malcolm Gladwell's book that 80% of white people and 50% of black people are racist against black people in the sense that they associate them with negative traits (ineptitude, criminal behavior). I score in that category too.

Sooooooooooooo, pretending it doesn't exist doesn't help anyone.

[robbedvoter]

17. So, everyone is racist except the ones who are for BO? When does the unity start?

[Juche]

28. No

I'm an Obama supporter and IAT tests show I have preferences for whites over black people. As I said, the majority of people (even black people) have this preference. Its not an insurmountable issue, but it is there and its not going away. Supposedly one of the best ways to decrease this preference is positive black role models, which Obama would be considered as.

[usrbs]

80. I did that test too

I actually didn't show bias against black people in that test, but boy was I biased against women and even more against old people. And I'm not that far away from being an old woman!

[robbedvoter]

139. So, you're a "typical white person" then. Like BO's grandma.

Just checking. I for one like that my candidate of choice think more of me than that.

[2rth2pwr]

18. Then why doesn't he just get it over with and say that that's what

he believes and then we can move on.

[EFerrari]

19. Obama has started an important conversation

and in the smallness of your soul, all you can do is try to kill it.

Cool! So glad you're on our side!

[2rth2pwr]

22. He says- "typical white person" and you blame me?

[EFerrari]

27. Yes, I do. Because his intention was to be clear and yours

is to spread hatred.

Good job!

[2rth2pwr]

84. Don't blame the messenger, this is all over the news now

and I had nothing to do with that.

Words matter.

[EFerrari]

95. I'm not blaming the messenger. I'm holding the agent accountable.

Words do matter.

[2rth2pwr]

113. The agent? you mean the people from the Matrix?

or are you referring to my avatar or what?

[DemGa]

23. So a "typical white person" utters racial or ethnic stereotypes?

Oh my, it keeps getting deeper.

"a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

[reggie the dog]

40. no

a typical white person, especially in the working classes, is socialized to think that black men are more dangerous than white men and have a certain apprehension when they cross black men on the street. I had this when I was younger and it only went away when I made an effort to consider all people equal in my own midn. The fact that the only people to ever pull guns on me were white also helped. The problem is they were white cops pulling guns for no justifiable reason. It made me fear cops, even if the majority of cops are honest. So then I had another prejudice to deal with.

His grandmother was a typical white person of her generation. My grandparents have never lived around black people and do not even realize that it is racist to say things like "everyone knows blacks are dangerous" because everyone they know in their own age group knows the same thing because they were basically all socialized in the same manner.

[Hoof Hearted]

94. His granny wasn't in the "working classes."

And this assertion that the "typical white person" goes around using racist epithets and the statement Obama made was racist itself.

OBAMA didn't say anything about her "generation" - his spin-masters said this afterwards in an effort to effect DAMAGE CONTROL.

[Lucinda]

24. One of the talking heads just hit on this the past hour or so...

I've been channel surfing so I can't remember who was talking about it, but they said Obama's comment, combined with Ferraro responding to Obama's speech, was guaranteed to keep this in the news a while longer.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[progressoid]

44. Hey - not fair posting the whole statement.

We don't want context. We want slices of sound bites. Something that can be misinterpreted and argued over again and again and again.

[HuffleClaw]

68. if he'd only omitted the word 'white'

pity he didn't

[Mags]

76. what is the difference?

[woolldog]

26. Really dumb comment

It appears as if Obama is trying to sink his own candidacy? I thought he was smarter than that.

This has already hit abc news and will be all over soon.

[cali]

29. All the hillbots

posting that they're just outraged, can take their racist outrage and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[stray cat]

30. Why is Obama even considered black and not white?

Isn't he half of each? Its not much different thatn if Hillary referred to her grandmother as a typical white person.

[woolldog]

34. b/c race is a socially defined/negotiated category

and not a genetically defined one.

[JuniperLea]

31. PR 101...

Don't say anything.

Ugh... typical white person? Typical WHITE PERSON???

Ugh...

Somebody take that shovel away from the man!

I would never, ever, under any circumstance, utter, write, or intimate such a phrase as "typical Black person"... I can't quite get my mind around "Typical White Person"... ugh...

Can I change my name to TWP? How about I start a gang and begin spray painting TWP all over town.

I don't know whether to laugh, cry, spit, or wind my watch.

[IndianaJones]

33. his granny is a racist....that pretty much makes her a typical white person. nt.

[reggie the dog]

43. read the entire quote in post 25

before you make your next comment. You are making a fool of yourself.

You are from Indiana. It is false to say that a majority of people in Indiana were socialized to have a bit of fear and apprehension when seeing a young black man on the street?

[bicentennial_baby]

41. Breaking on MSNBC....

here we go. Sigh.

[better tomorrow]

42. especially with Joe Scarborough discussing it....double sigh

[K Gardner]

45. JESUS H CHRIST !!!!!! Scarborough with a smug look, breaking news?????? I swear to

god, I almost wish he'd tell them ALL to fuck off. This is obscene !

[kwenu]

46. Does the story about Hannity's Neo-Nazi BFF have legs?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. Now you're attacking his grandmother?

Yikes.

[Iris]

104. No. Basically, he attacked his own grandmother.

[2rth2pwr]

117. twice this week.

[cliffordu]

48. THAT'S BECAUSE SHE FUCKING IS!!!

A question for you white folks.....

Who do you look at the hardest standing at the Bank machine?

DO you have any black friends?

[IndianaJones]

50. an honest man. nt.

[cliffordu]

57. Thanks, Indy!

:toast:

[Bluebear]

65. 'THAT'S BECAUSE SHE FUCKING IS!!!111111111" - well that's helpful.

[cliffordu]

72. Did you think about the questions I asked??

A question for you white folks.....

Who do you look at the hardest standing at the Bank machine?

DO you have any black friends?

[Bluebear]

78. I didn't have to think about them

because I am a progressive person who is not a bigot. Also, I never ask questions of "you black folks". I guess I don't think in color.

[cliffordu]

87. Nice, to be one in 15 million, huh?

:puke:

America is a racist nation, or there would have been riots in the streets after the lack of Government response to Katrina.

[Bluebear]

91. Google my threads about Katrina.

Seriously. Some of us do "get it".

[cliffordu]

105. Then you are one in 15 million who do get it,

Why the outrage at my post? Obama said she had the same feelings and mistrust and used the same racial epithets that MY parents and grandparents used, and THEY were as racist as the day is long.

People convince themselves that they are not racist because it is unpleasant for them to think about what that would mean to their good intentioned self image. Scratch the surface and they are just as racist as anyone, without the use of the "N" word....ew....

And by the way, I'm a dyed in the wool poor white trash honkey. Life experience taught me how racist a society we have here....

And while I'm at it, Wright had every right to say what he did. I've said the same shit myself.


C

edited for headline: "get it", and then for "while I'm at it"

[Bluebear]

107. You are new at DU. May you enjoy interacting with true progressives here.

Now is an unfortunate time to be joining but you will find a community of really decent people here who might restore your faith in at least a portion of humanity :)

[cliffordu]

110. Why, Thanks, Bluebear!!

:hi:

[Straight Shooter]

52. My parents are in their eighties, so generational or not, that's a stupid comment.

This is what happens when Obama veers off script, his subconscious does the talking.

He's showing his anti-age bias again, also, by linking it to people of her generation.

[woolldog]

62. It IS a generational thing

but it's not a politically smart comment.

[jenmito]

67. Are you saying typical 86 year old white women DON'T have an unease around black men?

Get real. That's REALITY.

[Straight Shooter]

83. Guess what? 86-year-old white women have unease around WHITE men, too.

And teen-agers, and whatever pulls their insecurity string, just like anyone else develops insecurities about another group of people. But let me add that the only people I have EVER witnessed to express prejudice and unease around black men has been white men, and those were only a few.

So call me lucky for having lived in Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas, and having friends and associates of all colors and cultures.

By the way, you want to talk about prejudice? Look at how men avoid fat women. That is, when they're not mocking them.

[jenmito]

108. You don't have to "teach" me anything about unease of old white women...

I have a grandmother now in her 90s (white). When I had my first boyfriend, who was black, she said I should break up with him "for the sake of the children" which we weren't even THINKING of having at the time. We went on to be engaged in college, and my brother and sister both ended up marrying Black people and having wonderful families. And now I'm married to a Japanese guy and my other brother is married to an Indian woman. My grandmother didn't like when she permed her hair because it made her look "Black." So I know a LOT about having not only friends and associates of all colors and cultures, but family members, too. And even though MY grandmother could've been OBAMA'S grandmother, her son-my father, grew up without a prejudiced bone in his body and passed that on to us. Yes-it's a generational thing. And we're talking about race.

[Straight Shooter]

116. I think you took offense where none was intended. n/t

[WDIM]

59. she is a typical middle america white person

Obama is very honest I love it! She is a typical middle america older white woman. Its just honesty. Whats wrong truth hurt?

[Hoof Hearted]

103. great. more stereotypes. you are VERY helpful, please keep going.

[WDIM]

106. Stereotypes can also be true.

[2rth2pwr]

115. Don't stop now.

[phrenzy]

60. If This Gets Turned Into Another Issue, I'm Finished

He is trying to call for fucking HONESTY here. Many people on DU are pretending they don't understand or even believe the base point of Obama's statement. This is up there with the (undeserved) "anything to win" stereotype of Hillary supporters.

If this sticks.. I am really done with politics and will not vote for the first time in my adult life. I just can't take this shit anymore.

[2rth2pwr]

90. Words matter. Don't tell me that words don't matter.

[Bluebear]

64. "she is a typical white person"?? - what if someone called someone a "typical black person"?

Somehow I don't think the topic of race is being advanced by this whole thing.

[jenmito]

71. See post #1. He meant of HER generation.

[otohara]

66. He Speaks The Truth

and you people can't handle the truth.

[Bluebear]

69. Do tell, what are some more "typical white" traits ("Truths") we can observe?

[otohara]

81. Well, Typically White People Do Harbor Some Racism

and to deny it is a lie. How is it Barack Obama is referred to as AA or black when he's 1/2 white, but my son isn't labeled Japanese when he's half Japanese and has a Japanese name?

Hell, my Mexican mom harbored racism over own people and used to slap me if I uttered any Mexican sounding slang and tell me not to talk like a stupid Mexican.

The world harbors racism, it's everywhere.

[Bluebear]

92. My parents were horribly racist.

I guess you either learn racism or rebel against it. I knew it was wrong from the moment I heard it.

[WDIM]

89. i guess typical is all what you've grown up with.

I'm white.
I grew up with parents that locked the door when we drive through the black or hispanic part of town. To me thats typical
I grew up with parents that say things about people of different race not realizing how naive they are to say that. To me thats typical.

Obama's grandma is from Kansas. Kansas is probably one of the most white bread states in our union. Obama's grandma is in her 80s. That is a generation that grew up in segregation. They were taught on both sides to hate one another. But it doesn't matter because that same fear that his grandma has has also been passed down generation to generation. So guess what its still typical

[IA_Seth]

70. As a Clinton delegate for my state convention...

I agree with him, that IS the typical reaction of a white person, generations aside.

Those that are in denial either live in a very liberal area (lucky bastards!), or are ignorant of the sad reality of white america.

Sad but true, a good share of even those white folks who would never label themselves as 'racist' would pause when coming across a black man that is unknown to them.

The supporters of both of our candidates have really disgusted me lately.

[Danger Mouse]

73. He's right. Let me tell you a little story. I went to college in Baltimore...

which, as you probably know, has a significant black population and a very high crime rate. My school (Johns Hopkins) was in a good neighborhood, but not crime-free. College students have money and often lack street smarts, so they make ripe targets. Students were regularly mugged, on occasion there was a sexual assault...even had a murder during my junior (maybe senior?) year during a break-in.
I had a class about urban outcasts in my junior year, and during the discussion section, I heard one girl say that she'd feel perfectly safe walking through waverly at night if she were a big black man. WTF?
She wasn't the only one to express sentiments like these, in fact, I'm sure a lot of the white students there felt that way, especially if they were from a rural environment and weren't used to being around blacks.
This doesn't mean people are racist...it's just as he said...they have a reaction that comes out the wrong way.

[XemaSab]

82. Obama said

we should not treat white people who are askeered of teh ghetto as if they're racists. :shrug:

(edit: added the word NOT :banghead: )

[Danger Mouse]

85. i don't think that's what he said at all...

or are you being sarcastic? :P

[XemaSab]

111. I edited the post

:banghead:

[angie_love]

75. a very politically stupid thing to say. I understand the nuance, anyone making this an issue

is stupid. But the media will savage Obama on this comment while letting McCains comments pass. I wish this would go away but after this comment I don't think so.

[otohara]

88. Tyipcal Media Response

typical stupidity, over and over and over. Gawd, we're so fucking ignorant and in total denial.

[Hoof Hearted]

79. Yeah. That was really helpful. He just can't seem to stop himself now, can he?

If he gets our nomination it will be the greatest exercise in humiliation we've suffered since McGovern. Possibly worse.




"... .. The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society..........


Who are we to blame this latest ugly gaffe on, because of course, it simply cannot be Obama's fault, right?

[WDIM]

96. Sorry Obama isn't PC enough for you!

atleast he is honest!

[UALRBSofL]

93. OMG I just heard Obama say on MSNBC

His grandmother was a typical white person. I just stopped in my tracks and put my hand over my mouth in shock.

[angie_love]

99. Please, just stop with the faux outrage. I'm really getting so pissed off at you guys.

[BooScout]

97. a typical white person?

Now who's making racist remarks?

[Hoof Hearted]

100. We're not supposed to notice and if we do, we're supposed to agree, and if we don't

WE'RE the racists.

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Got it?



.

[AllentownJake]

102. Sigh

One of my best friends who I respect a great deal when she found out I was supporting Obama told me "America isn't ready for a black president" that was 8 months ago. She's multi-racial and it wasn't racism it was what she had experienced her entire short adult life (I was 28 she was 26). She said that eventually the race issue would come up and that white America would rip the guy a part over something stupid or some misstatement. Sigh....She also said America isn't ready for a woman president so even if Hillary succeeds in winning the nomination I expect her to be ripped to shreds by the media the same way Obama is getting torn apart right now. She was of the belief that only a white man can become president because America really hasn't matured yet from our checkered past on women and people who aren't from Europe. I'm still fighting and hoping my friend was wrong but that conversation 8 months ago seems to make alot more sense now. I guess I was ignorant to the real situation out there because I'm a white male and have not really experienced things the way women and people of color have.

Well hoping that she's wrong on both accounts because another Republican will be a disaster.

I'm still going to fight till November with donating to the democratic nominee, volunteering for the democratic nominee but right now I have lost my rosy idealist glasses over the challenge we face in November.

BTW we are all guilty of the craziness that is going on this week with the sexism this and racism that stuff going on in our own houses. Today I realized WE NEED TO STOP. One of them is going to win. I'm guilty of it and will be the first person in the confessional. Before I was like Hillary started it want to play hardball...now I'm beginning to realize it doesn't matter who started this nonsense between us we both need to stop. Playing these games only makes President McCain more and more likely everyday. As much as I would enjoy the democratic response from Senator Franken I'd rather not have that happen. Doesn't mean we stop competing but we need to stop the bs over racism and sexism and which is worse or my candidate said this stupid thing about race or his surrogate said that stupid thing. WE ARE ALL DEMOCRATS. Lets stop eating each other.

[2rth2pwr]

114. I agree, please get Obama to tone it down.

[Straight Shooter]

119. You have a prescient friend.

Welcome to DU, and please pardon the mess! :hi:

[Hottest Housewife]

109. How does Michelle define a "Typical White Person?"

That would be interesting to know.

[npincus]

112. Obama IS white, and putting every utterence of his under a microscope is a different standard

than is being applied to other candidates. Now THAT'S racism.

[swishyfeet]

118. Good God!

The man just gave a 35 minute, nearly 5,000 word speech about race relations in this country; as true, as honest, as intelligent as anything you've heard in the last 40 years.

Two days later, the trolls are twisting and smearing his words as like they're in competition with the Free Republic.

Typical.

[2rth2pwr]

121. twisting and smearing? Those are his words and words matter.

[swishyfeet]

127. You're implying he is a racist

...or a reverse racist because of a double standard.

To say he got where he is because he's black, THAT is racism.

This is nothing. You know it. You don't care. You're here to smear.

Kitchen sink.

[2rth2pwr]

133. If you read his words and conclude he's a racist, I don't know

what to tell you.

[reggie the dog]

124. they took

this latest quote out of context. He said he is optimistic because less and less people are like that.

[oviedodem]

120. I can't support him any more; I'm done. This is a generalizing statement

that is stupid.

So while I thought I had a candidate I don't have one. C'est a la vie, camp Obama, you have lost this Black American.

Obama is a phony.

[Faygo Kid]

125. Who's the phony?

Spare me. My grandmother had the same reaction to black people generally, yet she gave them the shirt off her back as families and individuals in her neighborhood long before Brown v. Board of Education. That's what Barack is talking about, and he's right. We have to get beyond this.

Given the phony posts here on DU, I question who is the phony.

[swishyfeet]

128. Enjoy your time at Camp Clinton

If THIS non-story is enough to turn you off I can't imagine you'll be there long...

[reggie the dog]

123. a bit longer quote

"Well you know she is extremely proud and the point that I was making was not that my grandmother harbours any racist animosity she doesn’t but that she is a typical white person who if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn’t know. You know there is a reaction that’s been bred into our experiences that don’t go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way. And That’s just the nature of race in our society; We have to break through it. And what makes me optimistic is you see each generation feeling a little bit less like that and that’s pretty powerful stuff."

quite different from the short sentence you posted.

[Mezzo]

129. IOKIYBO nt

[eridani]

134. On the street after dark, I'm more worried about male strangers, period

My rather harmless (white) hubby once griped to me about women who crossed the street when he was walking in their direction. I had to read him the riot act about the real threats that women face from men--he pretty much gets it now.

[Jamastiene]

135. So, what is an atypical white person?

What can I say? I DO love the smell of bullshit broad brushed racism in the morning. NOT!

[WinkyDink]

137. He wasn't brave enough not to hedge: "If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know"....

What he meant was "BLACK people she doesn't know." Does anyone think he meant just any stranger willy-nilly? Is his white grandmother a certified paranoiac?

And what is that "reaction"? What is "the wrong way" "it comes out"?

Is Obama's paternal grandmother a typical Black person? How does/did she react to "somebody on the street that she doesn't know"?

[zulchzulu]

138. The YouTubeification Talkshow Radio Culture grabs another NON-ISSUE!

Tell me that it's not the case that someone might cross the street if they see someone they detect might "mug" them...ferchrissakes, have people just crawled out from under a rock?

I used to live in Philly and yes, if someone looked suspicious and it was dark at night and they were approaching me, did I cross the street? Hell, yeah.

[Levgreee]

140. Next line:"What makes me optimistic is that every generation is feeling less like that,"

it is a completely accurate, and unprejudiced comment, when taken in context.

[CJCRANE]

142. I wish the Republican

candidates were picked apart like this by the media.

Let's face it - Bush can hardly speak a sentence without a lie, fumble or a Freudian slip and McCain doesn't what country he's in...

[azmouse]

144. Just keep ignoring the fact that Obama is half-white.

I know you don't like facts.