I predict Barack Obama will be our 44th President on November 4, 2008.
NYTimes writer Frank Rich hit the nail on the head with his recent op-ed piece "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/opinion/02rich.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin After reading the article, I felt motivated to revive my blog and put in my two cents about the presidential election as it winds to a close. Excellently written article which I urge you to read!
To begin with, I am a 50 year old lesbian of color, a self-defined eclectic Christian & naturalized American citizen of mixed (African, Chinese, Hispanic & European) racial descent who has very clear politically progressive views. With all that being said, I am also a registered independent who believes in ideas not parties. Finally, as one of the original, surviving co-founders of Colorlife Magazine I wanted to share some thoughts on this incredibly historic presidential election as it draws to a close.
I'll admit that back in 2007, when I heard white liberals gushing about Obama my immediate thoughts were, "They love him because he sounds white, is ivy-league educated, good-looking and intelligent." or as his future vice-president Joe Biden infamously stated according to the NY Oberver, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." I was skeptical of this Barack Obama candidate regardless of what a great speech he made at the 2004 Democratic Convention.
And, then I got just as perturbed when I kept reading emails from the people of color whom I knew who described him as if he were the messiah coming to save us folks from the evil white man. After all is said and done, I thought to myself, the dude is a politician fer cryin' out loud!
Nevertheless, Obama is a brilliant politician as his impeccably well-organized, technologically savvy and efficient campaign has borne out. His campaign is like Howard Dean's in 2004 but on steroids while McCain's campaign didn't reflect the disciplined, mean machine you would expect from a military guy.
Yes, originally I thought, like all the other pundits, that Hillary Clinton would win the nomination and my numerous diehard Obama supporter friends or Hillary-haters (some of them) kept debating with me about why my reasoning was defective. Basically, it boiled down to faith even among the atheists in my milieu. (I'm proud to say that I have friends who span the religious/spiritual spectrum as I consider myself open-minded unlike those frightening voters who are bible-thumping, self-righteous and close-minded.)
I'll admit that back in 2007, when I heard white liberals gushing about Obama my immediate thoughts were, "They love him because he sounds white, is ivy-league educated, good-looking and intelligent." or as his future vice-president Joe Biden infamously stated according to the NY Oberver, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." I was skeptical of this Barack Obama candidate regardless of what a great speech he made at the 2004 Democratic Convention.
And, then I got just as perturbed when I kept reading emails from the people of color whom I knew who described him as if he were the messiah coming to save us folks from the evil white man. After all is said and done, I thought to myself, the dude is a politician fer cryin' out loud!
Nevertheless, Obama is a brilliant politician as his impeccably well-organized, technologically savvy and efficient campaign has borne out. His campaign is like Howard Dean's in 2004 but on steroids while McCain's campaign didn't reflect the disciplined, mean machine you would expect from a military guy.
Yes, originally I thought, like all the other pundits, that Hillary Clinton would win the nomination and my numerous diehard Obama supporter friends or Hillary-haters (some of them) kept debating with me about why my reasoning was defective. Basically, it boiled down to faith even among the atheists in my milieu. (I'm proud to say that I have friends who span the religious/spiritual spectrum as I consider myself open-minded unlike those frightening voters who are bible-thumping, self-righteous and close-minded.)
The Chorus said:
****YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE OBAMA CAN WIN! YES, WE CAN!***
My pessimism about the state of present-day American racism led me to think a white woman would be a more practical choice to beat out a white conservative in the General Election. And, yet I knew it would be equally tough, perhaps more so, for a woman to win given the state of American sexism for that matter. My bottom line remained - Let's Get the Republicans Out of Office nomatter what. My position held steady: I was never married to Obama nor Clinton.
One of the most interesting developments of the campaign was the controversy surrounding the Reverend Wright. It really laid out starkly the big contrasts in thinking between white liberals, politically progressive people of color and the mainstream so-called liberal, racist media.
Here's a copy of an email I sent to two of my most respected women friends - both African-American. I won't publish their responses because I haven't obtained their permission so I'll just publish my thoughts on the Wright controversy:
====================================================
MY EMAIL:
Well, this has been a very interesting thread! Thank you Eva & Liz! I've thoroughly enjoyed your thoughtful, well-laid out comments!!!
By the way, I found two other interesting posts re: the Clintons and Rev. Wright (this post quotes a white minister from a Wash. D.C. church the Clintons attend entitled "Don't Use Wright to Polarize")
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/25/pastor-of-clintons-forme_n_93418.html
Here's a clear-eyed sounding post re: the Clintons supposed connection to the Rev. Wright (according to Michael Moore there is one but not according to this web site)http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/apr/25/CLINTONWRIGHT/
Basically I agree with both Liz & Eva. However, I still remain disappointed that the almighty quest for the highest office of the land has driven Obama (who I quite honestly believe is the better candidate) to do whatever he needs to do (basically pander to the white controlled racist media and his ignorant white campaign strategist Axelrod) even if it goes counter to his better judgment (his original assertion in his Philadelphia speech that he could not "disown" the pastor who married him, baptized his children and was his spiritual counselor for 2 decades anymore than he could disown his Black community). It's also why it may unfortunately be his undoing which is what Hillary is hoping for as Senator Clinton is one determined, hell-bent candidate!
=====================================================
What was the break-down of the differing views on this Wright controversy from those 3 groups, you ask? And, remember that Obama gave the speech on race largely because of the Wright mess. Meanwhile McCain, of course, was under no pressure to write about the state of race relations in the USA.
In a nutshell, the corporate owned media was beside itself in showing what a crazy radical preacher the Rev. Wright was and that Obama absolutely had to unequivocally renounce any similar views if Obama wanted his candidacy to remain viable. White liberals fully concurred and were waiting to hear Obama throw Rev. Wright under the bus.
My Black friends had some heated arguments around this with their white liberal friends/lovers as I recall. The main and interesting point is that these Black Obama supporters couldn't care less about what Rev. Wright preached at the pulpit as they know hyperbole is a hallmark of many a Black preacher. What they were most concerned about was how this whole controvery was in danger of ruining Obama's chances and they suspected Rev. Wright might have been profitting from all this attention. After all HE was not the one running for office - why all the focus on HIM. Isn't it true that parishners all the world over don't always share their preacher's views on everything so what was the big deal?
My biggest concern is that Obama's chief strategist Axelrod was following the white liberals and mainstream media's distress that Obama should not associate with someone who espouses such radical political views. Well, Axelrod won out.
When you run for the highest office in the land there has to be some soul-selling involved. McCain clearly revealed his willing contract with the devil as he transformed from the 2000 McCain that many people respected to the 2008 McSame.
All in all, I saw a minimal amount of soul-selling from Obama and quite a bit of grace under fire.
Today, the WSJ printed an opinion piece by Peggy Noonan http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122539802263585317.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_mostpop with some great points to make. For instance, Noonan points out,
"A great moment: When the press was hitting hard on the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter, he did not respond with a politically shrewd "I have no comment," or "We shouldn't judge." Instead he said, "My mother had me when she was 18," which shamed the press and others into silence. He showed grace when he didn't have to."
As we await the climax of this enormously exciting presidential race, I become more firm in my belief that Senator Barack Obama is a candidate we much need at this time. His unique, multi-racial/multi-cultural family and biracial background affords him a perspective that's critical as this country heads into an increasingly racially diverse 21s century and majority people of color population.
****YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE OBAMA CAN WIN! YES, WE CAN!***
My pessimism about the state of present-day American racism led me to think a white woman would be a more practical choice to beat out a white conservative in the General Election. And, yet I knew it would be equally tough, perhaps more so, for a woman to win given the state of American sexism for that matter. My bottom line remained - Let's Get the Republicans Out of Office nomatter what. My position held steady: I was never married to Obama nor Clinton.
One of the most interesting developments of the campaign was the controversy surrounding the Reverend Wright. It really laid out starkly the big contrasts in thinking between white liberals, politically progressive people of color and the mainstream so-called liberal, racist media.
Here's a copy of an email I sent to two of my most respected women friends - both African-American. I won't publish their responses because I haven't obtained their permission so I'll just publish my thoughts on the Wright controversy:
====================================================
MY EMAIL:
Well, this has been a very interesting thread! Thank you Eva & Liz! I've thoroughly enjoyed your thoughtful, well-laid out comments!!!
By the way, I found two other interesting posts re: the Clintons and Rev. Wright (this post quotes a white minister from a Wash. D.C. church the Clintons attend entitled "Don't Use Wright to Polarize")
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/25/pastor-of-clintons-forme_n_93418.html
Here's a clear-eyed sounding post re: the Clintons supposed connection to the Rev. Wright (according to Michael Moore there is one but not according to this web site)http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/apr/25/CLINTONWRIGHT/
Basically I agree with both Liz & Eva. However, I still remain disappointed that the almighty quest for the highest office of the land has driven Obama (who I quite honestly believe is the better candidate) to do whatever he needs to do (basically pander to the white controlled racist media and his ignorant white campaign strategist Axelrod) even if it goes counter to his better judgment (his original assertion in his Philadelphia speech that he could not "disown" the pastor who married him, baptized his children and was his spiritual counselor for 2 decades anymore than he could disown his Black community). It's also why it may unfortunately be his undoing which is what Hillary is hoping for as Senator Clinton is one determined, hell-bent candidate!
=====================================================
What was the break-down of the differing views on this Wright controversy from those 3 groups, you ask? And, remember that Obama gave the speech on race largely because of the Wright mess. Meanwhile McCain, of course, was under no pressure to write about the state of race relations in the USA.
In a nutshell, the corporate owned media was beside itself in showing what a crazy radical preacher the Rev. Wright was and that Obama absolutely had to unequivocally renounce any similar views if Obama wanted his candidacy to remain viable. White liberals fully concurred and were waiting to hear Obama throw Rev. Wright under the bus.
My Black friends had some heated arguments around this with their white liberal friends/lovers as I recall. The main and interesting point is that these Black Obama supporters couldn't care less about what Rev. Wright preached at the pulpit as they know hyperbole is a hallmark of many a Black preacher. What they were most concerned about was how this whole controvery was in danger of ruining Obama's chances and they suspected Rev. Wright might have been profitting from all this attention. After all HE was not the one running for office - why all the focus on HIM. Isn't it true that parishners all the world over don't always share their preacher's views on everything so what was the big deal?
My biggest concern is that Obama's chief strategist Axelrod was following the white liberals and mainstream media's distress that Obama should not associate with someone who espouses such radical political views. Well, Axelrod won out.
When you run for the highest office in the land there has to be some soul-selling involved. McCain clearly revealed his willing contract with the devil as he transformed from the 2000 McCain that many people respected to the 2008 McSame.
All in all, I saw a minimal amount of soul-selling from Obama and quite a bit of grace under fire.
Today, the WSJ printed an opinion piece by Peggy Noonan http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122539802263585317.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_mostpop with some great points to make. For instance, Noonan points out,
"A great moment: When the press was hitting hard on the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter, he did not respond with a politically shrewd "I have no comment," or "We shouldn't judge." Instead he said, "My mother had me when she was 18," which shamed the press and others into silence. He showed grace when he didn't have to."
As we await the climax of this enormously exciting presidential race, I become more firm in my belief that Senator Barack Obama is a candidate we much need at this time. His unique, multi-racial/multi-cultural family and biracial background affords him a perspective that's critical as this country heads into an increasingly racially diverse 21s century and majority people of color population.
Obama fully understands (as evidenced in his smart use of state-of-the-art technology) the all-importance of innovation, technology, and greener ways of living on this planet that the rest of the world appears to grasp but the Bush administration did not and the McCain campaign showed little sign of understanding.
Needless to say, I would trust an Obama administration with our civil rights as queer people of color but I would not trust a McCain administration anymore than I did the Bush presidency. I won't go into the list of attacks on our civil rights as they are too long. I see the beginning of the end of the so-called Reagan Revolution finally coming to an end with an Obama win.
Like former President Clinton, another very intelligent leader, Obama appears to discern the all-importance of gathering the best minds around him as advisors to help him make decisions on the most challenging problems he will likely be facing as President of the United States of America.
The aspect I love most about US Presidential Races is the unpredictability, the pageant and the drama of it all. You see the worst and the best of the candidates exposed for all to see. There is nowhere to hide! This time around I have had the MOST FUN following this race. I couldn't haven't imagined a more colorful array of characters parading to become the next Chief of the so-called Free World.
I couldn't resist - here's my take on a few of these characters:
Former mayor Guiliani who is so reviled by us New Yorkers and yet managed to orchestrate such a rewriting of history - as far as his terms in office - the likes of which you haven't seen since___________you name it. His presidential campaign was such a joke...yadayada I lead during the attacks of 9/11, yadayada, therefore I should be the president. Thank God for Jon Stewart's Daily Show on Comedy Central!
The equally megalomaniacal Senator Clinton who thought herself to be invincible and very entitled and so forth.
The bland yet smart, rich corporate executive Mormon with the funny name Mitt Romney whose very religion was inherently racist up until fairly recently (in the 1970s they finally starting allowing Black folks to join).
The homespun, midwestern, weight-loss poster boy (he should've stayed fat so he wouldn't have thought of entering the race because this society is so fatphobic), over-the-top evangelical (Sarah's twin brother you could say) with the even funnier, improbable name of Huckabee.
Now, we hold our universal breaths and wait to hear who will be the winner in just 2 days. Let's all hope for the best!
Like former President Clinton, another very intelligent leader, Obama appears to discern the all-importance of gathering the best minds around him as advisors to help him make decisions on the most challenging problems he will likely be facing as President of the United States of America.
The aspect I love most about US Presidential Races is the unpredictability, the pageant and the drama of it all. You see the worst and the best of the candidates exposed for all to see. There is nowhere to hide! This time around I have had the MOST FUN following this race. I couldn't haven't imagined a more colorful array of characters parading to become the next Chief of the so-called Free World.
I couldn't resist - here's my take on a few of these characters:
Former mayor Guiliani who is so reviled by us New Yorkers and yet managed to orchestrate such a rewriting of history - as far as his terms in office - the likes of which you haven't seen since___________you name it. His presidential campaign was such a joke...yadayada I lead during the attacks of 9/11, yadayada, therefore I should be the president. Thank God for Jon Stewart's Daily Show on Comedy Central!
The equally megalomaniacal Senator Clinton who thought herself to be invincible and very entitled and so forth.
The bland yet smart, rich corporate executive Mormon with the funny name Mitt Romney whose very religion was inherently racist up until fairly recently (in the 1970s they finally starting allowing Black folks to join).
The homespun, midwestern, weight-loss poster boy (he should've stayed fat so he wouldn't have thought of entering the race because this society is so fatphobic), over-the-top evangelical (Sarah's twin brother you could say) with the even funnier, improbable name of Huckabee.
Now, we hold our universal breaths and wait to hear who will be the winner in just 2 days. Let's all hope for the best!
