"WHITES Only" Can Kill A Mockingbird

[FrenchieCat]

"they're gonna pull in the next election is the same old scam they've been pulling on us for decade after decade after decade.When their economic policies fail, when the country's coming apart rather than coming together, what do they do? They find the most economically insecure white men and scare the living daylights out of them. "-- BILL CLINTON
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/13/bill-clinton-flashback-al_n_96433.html

As far as I am concerned, this is the only explanation for the "Indignation" against Obama for his temerity to have made statements regarding the very familiar Wedge issues that keeps rural Americans voting Republican. There has been books written on this subject, and we have all witnessed Republicans boldly use these wedge issues, and we have seen Democrats ponder about the fact that these voters tend to vote against their best economic interest. In fact, this has been an issue explored for the last couple of decades. There is no mistery here in what Obama said, and it has long been stated publicly and privately by public figures. The fact that he may have used inartful words, does not merit the type of reaction by both the media and the Hillary campaign and supporters that it is getting.

"The natural base of the Democratic Party, working-class folks, looked at both parties and saw they weren't going to get any more help on economic issues. The one place they thought they could make a difference was on these divisive social issues, so that's how they've been voting." - Jim Webb
http://www.alternet.org/story/42726/?page=entire

Apparently, what we are finding out via this election season is that only certain White People are allowed to analyze the voting patterns of White Middle America, and how Wedge issues affect their decisions. I have located quotes from Jim Webb, Bill Clinton, Howard Dean, John Edwards, and other notables making similar comments without the same kind of vitriol and indignation that seems to have been reserved for Barack Obama. Lou Dobbs does it nearly every day on his show.

Dean had told a DNC meeting that white folks "who drive pickup trucks with Confederate flag decals in the back ought to be voting with us." Maynard Jackson praised his words as "very gutsy," while New Orleans native Donna Brazile called Dean's comments "the medicine to cure my depression."

Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., whose father's 1988 presidential campaign had some success building a biracial coalition around economic populism in the South and Midwest, was one of several black Congressional leaders to endorse Dean soon after the "flag flap" erupted. Jackson praised Dean for moving past the Democrats' "stereotypical and condescending approach of appealing to whites in the South with a 'balanced ticket' and 'social conservatism.' Dean dares a new approach--to join whites and blacks around a common economic agenda of good schools and healthcare."

But Dean's approach--both in his campaign and with his new "fifty-state strategy" for the DNC--was hardly a hit with white national party leaders, who complained bitterly about the expense of hiring Democratic organizers, in the words of ex-Clinton adviser Paul Begala, to "wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose."http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070212/moser/4

And North Carolina Sen. John Edwards cleverly exploited regional pride by telling Dean, “the last thing we need in the South is somebody like you coming down and telling us what we need to do.” Dean’s flag image was “condescending,” he said.

Dean was forced to say, “I do not condone the use of the flag of the Confederate States of America” and to add that “I regret the pain that I may have caused” to blacks or whites.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3403684

David 'Mudcat' Saunders stated these kind of utterances on a daily basis :

"It's very simple. I am much, much more a rural advocate than I am a Democrat. And I'm plum fed up with the way rural America—56 million of us—have been screwed. What deregulation and these trade treaties, what corporate pirates have done to us is unconscionable."
http://www.mensvogue.com/business/politics/interviews/articles/2007/06/david_mudcat_saunders

"I thought that we were getting screwed in the southern Appalachians, with our loss of textiles and furniture jobs. You know, with these ridiculous trade treaties. But as I look at rural Iowa, I've never seen people screwed like these people have been screwed out here.....Think of a guy whose farm has just been foreclosed on and he's lost his health insurance and his wife's lost her job. He's sick, and both his kids have left home because they couldn't find a job.

Now you ask him if he's living in poverty, and he'll say 'hell, no, you know, I'm having some rough times, but I'm not living in poverty.' But you ask him if he's getting screwed, he's gonna say, 'hell, yeah.' Basically what we're gonna tell them is the truth. Those people that've been screwing you, we're gonna screw them."--David "Mudcat" Saunders -
http://smokyhollow.blogspot.com/2007/08/mudcat-saunders-john-edwards-is-plum.html

I know for a fact that Pollsters are allowed to determine via stereotypes that Hispanics will not vote for Black candidates because of Black/Brown conflicts. That didn't seem to enrage the Hispanic community, nor was the Black community up in arms about it.

"the Hispanic voter - and I want to say this very carefully - has not shown a lot of willingness or affinity to support black candidates."--Clinton campaign Pollster, Sergio Bendixen
http://www.digg.com/2008_us_elections/Clinton_at_Root_of_Racist_Stereotyping_Hispanics_vs_Blacks

But was Bendixen's blanket statement true?

"Far from it, and the evidence is overwhelming enough to make you wonder why in the world the Clinton campaign would want to portray Hispanic voters as too unrelentingly racist to vote for Barack Obama."
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713782


I wrote about this phenonemon here: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_frenchie_080413__22bitter_22_double_stan.htm

I received an email from a reader from Tennessee who stated that ......

I believe that there is, as you pointed out, a racial aspect to the Clinton/McCain outrage. It reminds me of the trial in "To Kill a Mockingbird," where Atticus states that Tom Robinson's real crime is that he had the temerity to feel sorry for a white woman. Poor whites, as exemplified by Bob Ewell, find Tom Robinson's compassion demeaning. Within that context, I find the outrage expressed by Hillary Clinton and John McCain is derived from the fact that Barack Obama, a black man, had the temerity to express compassion for small town, white Pennsylvanians who have seen their towns decay and their jobs vanish. I believe that McCain's campaign even stated that Obama was "arrogant!" The arrogant black man! Both Clinton and McCain are really saying that it's demeaning to small town whites when a black man expresses understanding and compassion for their life condition.

I am a 64-year-old white woman from a small town who is offended and outraged by the Clinton/McCain reaction. I find it elitist, racist, and hypocritical.

[panader0]

1. Great post and rec'd.

Race is a huge issue this year. It should be the war first, and the economic problems caused by that war. But, unfortunately, we, as Americans have not yet dealt with the bur under the saddle, the issue of race. Thank you Barack Obama, for serving this dish up to everyone and making us deal with it at last.

[FrenchieCat]

6. You are correct. It is the unspoken elephant in the room, in this particular case as well.

Obama really didn't say anything that has not been said....it just happens that it is he who said it, and not someone else of Whiter Hue.

What's the Matter with Kansas is not even the only book which talked in depth about exactly what Obama mentioned....and in much more descriptive terms.

Lou Dobbs is on CNN everynight making his stereotypical comments to millions, and singlehandedly was able to introduce another Wedge issue into the mix of our politics. And he gets paid for it.

[bettyellen]

7. the unspoken elephant is the "cling to" comment.... every Obama supporter pretends it didn;t happen

it's probably the most ignoed post by skinner ever. every BO fan pretends they never saw it at all. keep clinging to that...

[FrenchieCat]

14. It's over your head, obviously........

1 Timothy 1:19 - "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked."

http://christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/f/HonestyTrust.htm


The one word cannot be why there is the reaction that there is.

Understand that you are now debating about one word. Think about it.

David 'Mudcat' Saunders stated these kind of utterances on a daily basis :

"It's very simple. I am much, much more a rural advocate than I am a Democrat. And I'm plum fed up with the way rural America—56 million of us—have been screwed. What deregulation and these trade treaties, what corporate pirates have done to us is unconscionable."http://www.mensvogue.com/business/politics/interviews/articles/2007/06/david_mudcat_saunders

"I thought that we were getting screwed in the southern Appalachians, with our loss of textiles and furniture jobs. You know, with these ridiculous trade treaties. But as I look at rural Iowa, I've never seen people screwed like these people have been screwed out here."-David "Mudcat" Saunders
http://smokyhollow.blogspot.com/2007/08/mudcat-saunders-john-edwards-is-plum.html

"Think of a guy whose farm has just been foreclosed on and he's lost his health insurance and his wife's lost her job. He's sick, and both his kids have left home because they couldn't find a job. Now you ask him if he's living in poverty, and he'll say 'hell, no, you know, I'm having some rough times, but I'm not living in poverty.' But you ask him if he's getting screwed, he's gonna say, 'hell, yeah.' Basically what we're gonna tell them is the truth. Those people that've been screwing you, we're gonna screw them."--David "Mudcat" Saunders

[bettyellen]

45. uh, no... including faith and racism and guns in a laundry list of items clung to...

as if people turn to these things out of desperation or bitterness.... was fucking stupid.
saying it's one word i am debating here is disingenuous, and i bet you know that to...
sheesh. he mispoke big time, it was an insulting comment... fairly foolish anyway you look at it.
what's the big f'ing deall in admitting that? the whole lot of you have your collective heads in the sand pretending it didn;t happen... pretending it's all about bitter. skinner tried to set you straight, but no, it'll be hill's fault. hill is clenis 2.0 around here. pathetic.

[UALRBSofL]

49. Obama, No Pass This Time

My grandpa always said, people tell the truth more when they think no one is listening! Obama told the group in San Francisco the truth about his feelings toward rural america. Only one problem, rural america heard about it! Obama has been touting "CHANGE" throughout his campaign and many kept asking "Well, what's he going to change?" It is Obama who does the change, like a chameleon. We don't need your kind of change Obaama. We gave you a pass on Rev. Wright, we gave you a pass on your "BONE-HEADED" real estate venture with Tony Rezko, we gave you a pass on Michelle calling America "REALLY MEAN" and that for the first time in her life she was "PROUD" of this country. We even gave you a pass throwing your grandma under the bus, "just a white person". But, no pass this time Sen. Obama. You just don't get it! It's about the voters, stupid!

[TLM]

59. Those would be the same voters Bill Clinton called scared insecure racists? n/t

[DemVet]

61. Yeah, that's what Barry meant.

Right. Yeah. Uh huh. :eyes:

[bettyellen]

70. too bad he said it then, huh?

[sansatman]

56. Excerpted Transcript of Barack Obama Comments:

"But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there's not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Barak Obama



http://arizona.typepad.com/blog/2008/04/bittergate-what.html

[bettyellen]

63. I knowand guns religion and "antipathy"... like i said. a laundry list... of things

fulfilled gainfully employed happy people don;t feel the need to "cling to".
Listen, I like Obama., but that was foolish. Maybe you can go and argue it with Skinner, because if he can't get through to you, no one can. :

[SteveM]

66. There is another elephant Obama stumbled over...

"Clinging to guns."

Connecting "bitterness" to folks "clinging to guns" plays into a stereotype often seen in these threads: that gun-owners are mainly reactionary white men who are fearful of losing their "status" in American society and are prepared to violently defend that status. No matter, millions of women own guns and that women are the fastest growing market in gun sales. No matter, millions of blacks own guns. No matter, millions of Hispanic, GLBT, Asians, etc., own guns and that much of this expansion in arms ownership has come about with the passing of Jim Crow gun laws in the South. That increasingly-old stereotype must be maintained.

Had Obama a better education on guns and the "gun culture" he might not have stepped in that pile left by folks on the left (mainly WHITE persons on the left, I would venture) who have juiced up their favorite issues by routinely attaching it to the "angry white male" bogey.

I am a white male -- a leftist, progressive white male -- and I cringed when I heard Obama. Most people who purchase guns do so for self-defense, not to defend some increasingly dubious social status, and not for some abstractly bitter reason.

I don't think this will bug Obama much, but he really needs to recognize he has played a role in enbabling a "liberal/progressive" animosity and prejudice which many white males are only too keenly aware of. I have confidence that he will continue the dialog on race to the benefit of all.

[babylonsister]

2. Excellent post! I reserve the right to return to it after KO, but rec'd! nt

[oviedodem]

3. Quite frankly I have reached a point know where I think this has become

purely a racial thing at this point. I tried to say no but hearing these "subtle" digs from the Hillary campaign, the RW smears, the "boy" comment today.

It comes down to this: An utter dread/fear within washington about a person of color becoming president

plain and simple. After hearing on Hardball tonight what the Hillary campaign is telling the SD I am 1000% convinced.

[Raine]

9. I believe it too

they want to taint Obama with the "uppity" label and scare the voters with that, it's racial. :-(

[bellasgrams]

19. Uppity isn't a black issue. Women have used that word for

yrs. in the text of 'uppity women aren't respected'. 'Men don't like uppity women', meaning they don't like women that have made it a little farther up the ladder than some men. It's true in many jobs. It's not meant as a hateful remark. Just a simple example of the unfairness in the workplace.

[FrenchieCat]

25. The difference is that women are a majority of the population......

and so they have a certain leverage that other groups that are called "minority groups" don't have. It really isn't a difficult thing to figure out.

Of course women deal with Sexism, much of it institutionalized, just like racism is. And in fact, what am talking about is indeed institutionalized racism.

[FrenchieCat]

12. And unfortunately, if it turns out for the worse, and White people allow

this new wedge issue to cloud their thinking, President McCain it will be. Because, what I will tell you, is that after all of this, there are just too many people that will not vote for Hillary during a general election. And the same folks that she is now "using" via this issue will also not vote for her come november....because she will be the one painted as an elitist when the time comes....and very few will come to her defense.

[bellasgrams]

17. BO made it about race, anytime either of the Clintons referred

to someone that was black, and it was a true statement with no venom just a statement, BO called them racists. The Clintons who have been in public office for about 35yrs. have always been a friend to the black community but BO wanted that vote, so he did what he did to take that vote away from her. You guys call Hillary all kinds of names but she has done nothing compared to the ultimate dirty dealing of BO. All though we all know what he did you don't hear the Hillary team attack BO for it. It's POLITICS, as dirty as it can get.

[FrenchieCat]

21. You can repeat that till you are blue in the face if it convinces you......

Unfortunately, I totally disagree with your take, and it isn't based on what I would have liked to see happened, it is based on what I actually did see with my own eyes.

Read this article that I wrote back in January for perspective, and then get back to me in a PM about your own timeline.
http://www.gerardbutler-afterdark.com/2008/01/black-community-backlash_10.html

[democracy1st]

55. OK now I see whats going on

The Clinton's along with their supporters feel as though black people owe them. The Clintons got the same amount of respect in the voting booth as any other Democrat running for office would have.

[mamalone]

4. Interesting....

yesterday I drew the exact same analogy between To Kill a Mockingbird and this current "outrage" in a post here on DU. It makes me feel smart that someone else made the same connection:)

Thanks for researching and posting all of these quotes and commentary... I had no idea that this was such a timeworn political ploy. Very interesting indeed!

[FrenchieCat]

16. Yep....it is evident!

[meow mix]

5. K&R

[Raine]

8. Insightful

THANKS for posting! :thumbsup:

[JoFerret]

10. "To Kill a Mockingbird " is a novel -

- a story - premised on white privilege and racism.

Set in a society founded on white privilege and racism.

Atticus Finch's liberalism and good works are girded by that society.


(That said: Your use of the book here to bolster your point of view does not work for me.)

[screembloodymurder]

30. Wow!

I feel your shame.

[JoFerret]

31. What are you talking about?

Please make your point in English not code.

With what are you taking issue?

[quiet.american]

11. This excerpt from your post nails it:

I find the outrage expressed by Hillary Clinton and John McCain is derived from the fact that Barack Obama, a black man, had the temerity to express compassion for small town, white Pennsylvanians who have seen their towns decay and their jobs vanish. I believe that McCain's campaign even stated that Obama was "arrogant!" The arrogant black man! Both Clinton and McCain are really saying that it's demeaning to small town whites when a black man expresses understanding and compassion for their life condition.

Thanks for taking the time to bring this issue out. You're absolutely right.

[DearAbby]

35. Indeed...

If one can ask the fictional character Tom Robinson...No good deed goes unpunished...his crime, he felt pity for a white woman.

[JoFerret]

37. Robinson

...that was indeed his crime.


But what was Atticus Finch's "crime"?

Many AA families do not want their children reading this book in school.

I understand why.

[DearAbby]

38. Thanks

corrected the name

[yellerpup]

13. Good job of pulling all these anecdotes together.

I fit the demographic that ought to be for Sen. Clinton. She is my senator and I was very pleased and excited to vote for her on Daniel P. Moynihan's recommendation when she ran to represent NY in the Senate. When her campaign contacted me today and asked me for feedback I told them that had she lost me by the incompetency of her campaign. I did not vote for her in the primary in NY because she had been unresponsive to my pleas not to fund, enable, or otherwise encourage the war against Iraq and especially, ESPECIALLY not enable opening a war on another front, namely, Iran. She voted for the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment and that's where she lost me for good. Barak Obama represents hope. He is smart, omigod smart, and I find him inspiring. People are not signing up to vote in record numbers for the same-o-same-o, if you know what I mean. I was raised by bigots and rejected that. For those of you who don't know what the consequences are of "going against your raisin'" in the South, the short answer is alienation. I do not regret being estranged from people who hate, although it is very uncomfortable to be unwelcome within your own blood family. It is time for America to live up to the ideals we represent to the rest of the world. I want Barak Obama to speak for me on the world stage. I want us to elect him because he is the smartest, best communicator, most compassionate problem solver we have had the chance to vote for, maybe ever. K&R! :kick:

[grantcart]

15. the real outrage is not that he is talking about small towns or guns or religion

everyone knew that if not put in the best terms but that it is generally true: that poverty's largest growth has been in small towns where now one in four children are growing up in poverty.

The real rub here is the connection with super rich in San Francisco. It is the image of the 'elitist' (we all know that it is meant as a euphemism for uppity) black talking about white people before other white people. CNN pictured their detailed expose of the bittergate statements with graph after graph comparing income, education, average value of houses, between PA and Marin county.

Can anyone ever cite a similar situation where there has been such an attempt to value the impact of what was said by the circumstances of 'where it was said'? Had it been a white politician like Kerry or Clinton or McCain saying it there would have been a one cycle notice some red faces and some humorous references. It simply reminds us that Obama has to be twice as smart, twice as ethical, twice as effective. Any misstep will be taxed at 10 times the cost.

It doesn't matter in the long run. Regular people simply don't get as involved as the media or as we do.


Here is a rare moment on CNN where Toobin finally gets off script and just rips everyone involved in trying to make something out of it. http://www.bittervoters.org/2008/04/cnn-continues-to-twist.php


edited for spelling

[KoKo]

18. The Mocking Bird itself (not the book) is a bird who mimics the songs of other birds

and does it in beautiful voice to lure it's mate. It's what it does. It's vocal abilities are incredible and it's songs mimicking other birds are beautiful to the ear and incredible in their accurate presentation.

Just saying...about Mocking birds...they are lovely and enchanting...but they mimic ...learning the song to lure...

Nice Post though...K&R.

[FrenchieCat]

27. I turn your attention to this

"Who screwed us?" he asks, voice rising in incredulity. "The Clintons screwed us." And, he adds, "Anybody that says different is delusional."

The Clintons did it with NAFTA, and the Bubbas know it, Mudcat says. Why, it's no wonder Hillary once sat on the board of Wal-Mart.

"The slogan of Wal-Mart is the same as what the Clintons' policy has always been for rural America: 'Always less,' " he says. (Actually, Wal-Mart's former catchphrase was "Always low prices," but you get Mudcat's drift.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/03/edwards-consultant-mudcat_n_66934.html

[GoldieAZ49]

20. Any objection to anything related to Obama is race related

I don't think so.

The accusations are tiresome and have become expected and meaningless.



Liberal elitism is rejected in middle America regardless of race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_elite

[FrenchieCat]

22. I'm sorry, but do you have a sourced argument to make?

If so, I'd like to hear it.

If you think that your 4 sentences ruled out what I have laid out in my op, your are sadly mistaken.

[TahitiNut]

23. It took me until this year to discover the whole Ewell family are DUers.

:scared:

[EffieBlack]

24. GO, Frenchie, GO! n/t

[knixphan]

26. truthiness.

I was JUST having a talk about this, Chat Francais!

Great post.

Truth is just hurting all over this month.

[SanchoPanza]

28. Interesting

But I'm a bit skeptical on the racial aspect of it. The "Elitist" caracature has been the Republican's stock and trade since 1988, where Dukakis spent too much time administering to Massachusetts rather than campaign, allowing the Bush I campaign to get away with several "wedge issue" smears virtually unchallenged. Dukakis went from a double digit lead before the convention to losing the popular vote by 8 points. It should also be noted that this kind of caracature worked to Bill Clinton's advantage in 1992, when he was viewed as the semi-populist reformer up against the "elitist" George W. Bush who didn't even know the price of a gallon of milk. You want to know what really sounds elitist?

"Message: We care."

That George H. W. Bush could never effectively answer this charge is what doomed him. He felt comfortable in the assumption that Americans would never elect as Commander-in-Chief someone who evaded military service. Yes. The irony is beautiful.

The issue of this Primary season being considered "dirty", in my opinion, has more to do with the quantity of attacks than the actual quality of them. It's not out of the ordinary for Democrats to paint Republicans as elitist compared to their "down-to-Earth" selves, whether its true or not in any meaningful sense. It's not even all that rare in Democratic primaries, and neither are the narratives "flip-flopper", "out of touch", etc.

What's illustrative about this tactic is that, when countered early enough and forceful enough, it's not the most effective there is. That Barack Obama is a black man is probably just coincidental. Economic moderates in the Democratic Party would be saying the same thing no matter his race or ethnicity.

[FrenchieCat]

33. I am not talking about Elitism, you are.

[SanchoPanza]

34. You are, you're just not seeing it

The portrait Clinton, McCain, and their respective surrogates are trying to paint is one of an snobbish, Limosine Liberal who thinks Small Town America™ is too stupid to see what their economic interests are and as such vote for people who speak their dumbed-down language of Guns, God, and Gays. I am not making the argument that this is in anyway an accurate portrait. In truth, it never has been of any candidate that I know of off-hand, and I'm reaching back to 1796 when John Adams was portrayed as a Republic-Hating Monarchist who thought the President should be no less than an Elected King.

That Barack Obama is black is, in all liklihood, neither here nor there. Just take heart in that, thus far, he's proven to be a far better counter-puncher than any Presidential candidate of any party that I know of, and this is in large part why he'll probably be the eventual nominee. He sees what's going on, and is acting accordingly.

[Cali_Democrat]

29. FrenchieCat nails it again

The double standard is real and very evident in this election. Look at the way Jeremiah Wright was treated when he said American foreign policy was to blame for 9/11. The sad thing is that Wright was right.

When Jerry Falwell said gays caused 9/11, there wasn't nearly the same outrage in the media or among Americans in general. Of course he was dead wrong when he says gays were to blame for 9/11.

Blacks are on very thin ice when it comes to criticizing America. The Corporate Media and many Americans would rather blacks shut up, sit in the corner and lick their wrists.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Good Negroes.........

as long as they are not angry, arrogant, uppity or speaking too much truth to power.

[cliffordu]

36. Outstanding post, Frenchiecat.

I have to say I find Lou Dobbs, self-appointed millionaire spokesporker for the "middle class" to be just this side of a fucking NAZI in his hatred of minorities and his xenophobia. He is as disgusting as anyone on Phox.

I cannot believe what comes out of his mouth on a daily basis. I cannot believe he is on the television on a daily basis...


I have no idea how these rich celebrity entertainers have the temerity to believe they would ever speak for me.




:patriot:

[AtomicKitten]

39. Obama reminds me of Atticus Finch in demeanor and sense of justice.

Still lost in your reference I guess because I just watched this movie two days ago and have been thinking about it.

I'd like to get on to the general election and finally a genuine clash of ideology. I really look forward to Barack speaking for me.

K&R

[Scurrilous]

40. K & R

:thumbsup:

[dailykoff]

41. Funny you mention mockingbird

because I was just thinking that the CIA has all their little media mockingbirds chirping away in overdrive. Kinda pathetic that Obama gave them such a meager little song to sing.

And funny in a surreal kind of way, like we're looking at the CIA-GOP-Bush-Klinton machine melting down at last. Couldn't come a minute to soon!

[Tatiana]

42. OUTSTANDING post, Frenchie. Simply outstanding.

Thank you for pulling this all together.

There is a "Southern Strategy" element to these attacks. Be afraid, rural, struggling white Americans. Be afraid of (and jealous of) the uppity, elistist black man.

Only problem is, Pennsylvanians are way smarter than McCain or Clinton thought. They aren't buying what those two corporatists are selling.

[FrenchieCat]

47. Well, the strategy is the southern one.....because remember what

Rendell said about that middle part. Ironically, Rendell can say anything--No problem.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said bluntly.

Mr. Rendell had unilaterally declared Pennsylvania to be Alabama circa 1963. Was he suggesting that Pennsylvanians are uniquely racist in ways that folks in the states Mr. Obama has won so far aren't? By the way, Mr. Obama won Alabama on Super Tuesday, thank you very much!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08043/856727-153.stm

[Catherina]

43. That's beautifully done Frenchie

I believe that there is, as you pointed out, a racial aspect to the Clinton/McCain outrage. It reminds me of the trial in "To Kill a Mockingbird," where Atticus states that Tom Robinson's real crime is that he had the temerity to feel sorry for a white woman. Poor whites, as exemplified by Bob Ewell, find Tom Robinson's compassion demeaning. Within that context, I find the outrage expressed by Hillary Clinton and John McCain is derived from the fact that Barack Obama, a black man, had the temerity to express compassion for small town, white Pennsylvanians who have seen their towns decay and their jobs vanish. I believe that McCain's campaign even stated that Obama was "arrogant!" The arrogant black man! Both Clinton and McCain are really saying that it's demeaning to small town whites when a black man expresses understanding and compassion for their life condition.

I am a 64-year-old white woman from a small town who is offended and outraged by the Clinton/McCain reaction. I find it elitist, racist, and hypocritical.

:applause:

[bridgit]

44. Cool, it's a Boo Radley moment...I've always been partial to: Boo...

Major Conflicts

Man vs. Society: The conflict of man vs. society is basically one that deals with the prejudices, and values that the society holds. The individual that poses a different view than the society, is discriminated against, for not "flowing with the norm".

Boo Radley vs. Society: The fear of the unknown plays a major role in this conflict. Viewed as the town freak, the parents of the community tell stories of Boo, and warn their children against going near him, or even worse: becoming him. These stories and the curiosity built up inside every child leads Radley to be set off from society. (girl howdy, can I relate)

Lessons, morals, applications:

Don't attack something if it hasn't harmed you:

This lesson is taught to Jem and Scout by Atticus when he teaches them about the mockingbird. He says that the mockingbird is innocent and only sings for you. It is therefore wrong to kill it. The examples of the mockingbird within the novel are Tom and Boo. Tom was attacked by the entire white society in Maycomb County. These attacks and accusations destroyed his innocent, respectable life. Arthur "Boo" Radley was also an innocent victim to the taunts and of the people of the county. Because of their aversion to his life they separated him from any chance of leading a normal life. Unfortunately, prejudice is still applicable to today's society. Perhaps not as rampant as when the novel was written, but its venom can still be observed. The racial prejudice that was around in the 1930s, is still around 40 years later. Some things just don't change.

The importance of education can also be applied to life. Whether coming from the mouths of our parents, or teachers, it is constantly reminded that the road to bettering oneself is by education. Atticus constantly reminded Scout of this, and Harper Lee depicted it by contrasting the Cunninghams with the Ewells.

Respect (italic for *point taken*) and understanding are the key to peaceful coexistence. If one can achieve these two factors, then one can safely say that an armistice has been reached. Scout and Jem learned this by their dealings with Mrs. Dubose and Boo Radley.

Don't Judge Others: (including "WHITES" :shrug:)

Mrs. Dubose: She is also judged by the town. Others view of her is specifically expressed through Jem. He feels that she is an old hag who hates everything and scares everyone, especially children. When Jem is made by Atticus to go to her home and keep her company through reading and other activities he learns about the real Mrs. Dubose. He found that she was a genuine person who was only spiteful because of her addiction to the pain-killer morphine. But, she was inspired to spend her last days free from the drug. If the people of the town took the time to learn about Mrs.Dubose the way that Jem had maybe they would be more sympathetic and inspired as well.

http://www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/mockingbird.html :cry:

[FrenchieCat]

46. Obama is Atticus

[bridgit]

52. I still feel a compassion for Boo, wrongly accused & disparaged of society for his efforts...

Thanks for not linking Obama to Peck. It's too late in the evening to start linking to Melville :)

[grantcart]

48. kick

[Cali_Democrat]

50. Kick and Rec

FrenchieCat posts are must K&R's

:kick:

[bigbrother05]

51. K and R

[Ysabel]

53. k and r...aye frenchiecat (n/t)...

[democracy1st]

54. fantastic

:kick:

[bhikkhu]

57. K&R - In principle, the America I live in is not racist

And there has been far too many race and gender "unelectability" arguments made here already - boiling down, this time around, to "America is too bigoted to vote for either Democrat". Repeat it often enough and the lie starts sounding like truth.

But you hit the nail on the head, no denying. All this outrage has a bias to it, and an underlying source - whether it is how a black minister dares speak the truth about our country's history, or a black candidate who can speak the truth about historical demographic trends. The reactions are sad, petty and even disgusting, particularly from within our own party. Who here wants to roll back the times to 1930 or so? (That is a real question!)

Thanks, FrenchieCat. You lay it down better than I could, and this is far from done.

[FrenchieCat]

60. What else could it be?

unfortunately. :(

[TLM]

58. K&R fantastic....

Clinton supporters need to take a step back and look at what they are attacking.... finally a dem not owned by corporate interests, who is paying attention to the plight of real americans, and who represents a real change sweeping the old power players out of power.

And they are fighting him with every dirty trick in the book.


Hillary supporters.... would you have called other dems limo liberal latte drinking elitists... a year ago?


How could Hillary make it more clear she's a DINO? Rush is telling his listeners to vote for her, and her campaign is passing out right wing talking points to attack Obama with?

At long last.... and all that.

[indimuse]

62. words..

For a man that likes to talk and thought words matter the most, Obama sure is spending a lot of his time running from his statements.

[The Wizard]

64. Really good work here

How dare a mixed race man understand poverty and the pain associated with it. Anyone who isn't bitter isn't paying attention, and there's nothing elitist about understanding the human condition. The Clinton campaign is desperate, and McCain is a bigot appeasing Republican.

[smiley_glad_hands]

65. When she chose to use republican frames against her Democratic opponent she forgot she was a dem too

In the long run she is only hurting herself and the party.

[cooolandrew]

67. They are mostly freaking as their ploy is being exposed at last.

[cooolandrew]

68. We will ride this storm Barack has proven that over and over really.

[juno jones]

69. K&R!

Wish I could rec the article you have on the other site. And so many of those comments below it were amazing in themselves. Thank you.