How racism works

[wtmusic]

"What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class? What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said “I do” to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard? What if Obama were a member of the “Keating 5”? What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

— Kelvin LaFond, Fort Worth"

http://startelegrameditwriters.typepad.com/letters_to_the_startelegr/2008/09/how-racism-work.html

[Orrex]

1. I don't know anyone who objects to Obama for any solid political reason

At best, the dissenters claim to have some problem with his "socialist" policies, which of course they can't name.

If you take a step back and really examine what the naysayers are saying, it amounts to "he's black."

Racism is undeniably at work here.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. There is no solid reason.

Barack Obama is clearly and unequivocally the better person for the job.

[Indenturedebtor]

8. Well there was a lot of the same stuff about Kerry and Gore though

I'm not trying to say that racism isn't an issue. But the issue is more the media manipulating the stupid and innatentive.

[Orrex]

9. Sadly true

Some of the basic anti-Obama arguments are the default anti-Democrat arguments, such as they are. Every squawk about Obama's lack of executive experience, or limited foreign policy knowledge (or whatever) are the same off-the-rack arguments that Conservative assholes make against any Democrat running for pretty much any office.

[Indenturedebtor]

12. Yeah and the whole "other" frame, etc

Republicans don't run campaigns they run propaganda excercises. :puke:

[qwlauren35]

15. He is populist and threatening...

to those "in power", because his views favor workers over large corporations.

He plans to compromise profits of companies that are attempting to "stay competitive" by using foreign manufacturing, service and engineering workers.

He is not in favor of drilling for oil, which would compromise Exxon, Mobil and all those with stock in those companies (most of us who have mutual funds!)

He does not support the repeal of Roe vs. Wade, and does not plan to ban abortion.
He is not willing to ban gay marriage.

He is not willing to trust that capitalism will effectively address the basic needs of American citizens, including healthcare.

He does not support the War in Iraq.

In other words, he's a Democrat.

[firedupdem]

3. Sad but very true commentary about AmeriKa n/t

[Oregone]

4. And the media complicitly follows this line of thought

Despite the night and day difference in intelligence/education/background/family, they play up the stereotypes, witch hunt his pastor, forgive McCain's transgressions. You can't tell me race isn't a factor in that.

A good example was their investigation of his hand gestures and if he were really flipping of Clinton. the Daily Show did a great spoof about black body language, trying to provide a reasoning for why the media seems to be so intrigued by this. Of course, it was funny parody, and there is no reason besides racism.

[ArmchairActivist]

5. IOKIYAR

Racism is real (duh) but the author of the original piece seems to be missing the point.

Obama could be white as the snow and a Minnesota Lutheran, and the same double standard the author is talking about would be in full effect.

No democrat of any color or stripe would be allowed to have the backstory McCain has. It's OK if you're a republican...

[kiva]

6. Second your point.

Can anyone honestly say that Al Gore or John Kerry weren't the best candidates--taking into account their intelligence, honesty, and integrity--and the Republicans still smeared them and convinced their faithful to vote for *.

[Karenina]

7. With that kind of backround

he would NEVER have made it to the state senate.

[applegrove]

10. So sorry racism still plagues you. We have it in Canada but it is

way less in most instances.

[samuraiguppy]

11. our country is so racist.

it grieves me.

[ColbertWatcher]

13. Great find and great letter. Thank you for posting. n/t

[hfojvt]

14. what if Obama was a former POW?

What if Obama's convention came after McCain's?
What if Obama got a kick from an unusual VEEP pick?
What if Obama had his own noise machine and M$M support?

[intheflow]

16. This is good coming out of Fort Worth.

The responses seemed to be about 50/50 candidate support, but of course the lock-step conservatives were completely ignorant windbags. But 50/50 in Fort Worth? That's got to be worth something, demographically.