Political Punch

Why can't Obama just come out and say I am proud to be half white,instead of just, I am proud to be black? His Mother and Grandmother who raised him, were white,while his Black father left him? Am I missing something?

I think it's good that the Wright thing happened, because it put Obama on the spot to finally something substantive, about race, and he did. He said that his grandmother is a "typical white person WHO..." not just a typical white person. Unfortunately Rev Wright is typical of a certain kind of black person. Obama called his statements "wrong and divisive"; I could hardly ask for a stronger condemnation. Barack Obama is a result of the "melting pot" they used to tell me about in social studies. America is ready for a multi-racial president.

My point was simply that someone running as a leader can not be referring to its citizens as "Typical" or defending anyone how would blast this great country. Those of us who put our lives on the line for this country and each and everyone of it's citizens expect so much more from a leader. I may never understand what he said or why he said it I just expect so much more from a president shouldn't you?

Disclaimer: This is REALLY LONG...

Upon READING the Barack Obama speech I was extremely moved and impressed. However, I understood (as I am sure he understood) the backlash that it would cause. He spoke candidly, sympathetically, and honestly to Blacks about the issues within the Black community. He challenged us to cast off mentalities of hopelessness AND anti-white sentiments that some may harbor. He attempted to explain to the Black community the feelings that the racial majority may feel when he says, "Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race." He demanded that Blacks look at life through the eyes of White America as well as the African Diaspora that we are used to. He asked us, the Black Community to reach out to our "young men and, increasingly, young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons, without hope or prospects for the future", but he also reminds that often times the anger or negativity we harbor (due to racism & discrimination) is "not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change". I am black, and I don't think that the moral, spiritual, or political demands he posed to our community were unwarranted. And I don't hear ANYONE saying that he was too hard on the Black Community. I don't think anyone said he stereotyped Black America. No, there were no issues with those statements, so I can only assume that the majority of America had not problem when he told Black America to acknowledge their shortcomings. What he said about Blacks was considered accurate and correct. But when he ALSO asked the same of White America the overwhelming reaction seemed much different to me. A couple of my white coworkers were offended and immediately became defensive that Obama highlighted injustices and problems that they may contribute to (knowingly AND unknowingly). As I attempted to explain that he pointed out the flaws of BOTH minorities AND majorities in America I was reprimanded harshly. I just wish people were focusing on the true reason for his speech. To sum it up he was saying, "Race is STILL an issue that America ignores and downplays. We, as a nation, have not decided whether we are color-conscious OR color-blind. It is time to address the issues of the past in order to move forward. Racism STILL exist, and it's not going away unless we all take a moment to introspect! It is time out for appearances of equality, and it it time that we get HONEST!" He said the things that Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asians, and everyone else says when they don't have to be politically correct. We, as Americans, claim we want an honest politician, but when we have a man stand up as address the very REAL discontentment felt by most of the minorities in this country HE is labeled a racist? If someone did not understand WHY he said the things he said they should have made it their duty to find someone who SHARED his views and try to UNDERSTAND the life experiences that birth these mentalities. At the same time you could express your point of view. This speech was given to encourage open and honest dialogue amongst and within racial and socio-econimic classes. Instead we have resorted to politics as usual. We continue to bash each other, degrade each other, and dismiss the emotions, opinions, and feelings that don't line up with our own. In a country that claims to be tolerant enough to cherish free speech, it amazes me that we are not intelligent enough to accept words spoken freely.

How is it that there is any other race than HUMAN? Maybe I missed something in science class. I personally feel Obama has deep seated hate for certain folks but I can't understand why. He was blessed with a good career and an education that my family could not possibly ever imagine in a million years (and we are what some people call WHITE if you want to put us in that bucket). To me there is division in America but its amongst the classes not the color of our skin that makes us different. I'm not sure how anyone can vote for a man or a women who would call their citizens "Typical white people" or not put his hand over his hart at the singing of the national anthem or to hear a spouse say I was never proud to be an American or sit through hours of listening to hate against our great country is beyond me. I love the fact that we live in a country where you wont be punished for such thing but to become the leader of a country that you show hate for or part of and putting its people in division. I hope folks think deeply about this issue and it is an issue and do not vote for ANYONE that would look down on such a great country as The United States of America.

Ah, the hypocrisy of people like "get real." It would be nice to have honest discussions on race, but thought police like "get real" have already decided who is allowed to speak openly on what topics.

I'm disgusted by the war in Iraq and our soon-to-be-ex-Prez. But now I guess it's time to bring the war home against the white people. Four years of White House led guilt! I can't wait.

Chris,

You wrote "i don't see a lot of different kinds of people around him." It all depends on where he is at the moment. If he's in, say, Maine and Iowa, you're going to see mostly White people around him, because that's the color of most of the people in those states.
If he's in, say, Mississippi, then you'll see a lot of Blacks, because there are significantly more there than in northern parts.

Obama enjoys the support of all races, but some would have you believe otherwise, usually to try and fit some personal agenda of theirs, hoping to show a racial divide within his campaign.

i keep forgetting he's half-white. i don't think it's because he's half-black. i think it's because he keeps referring to himself and his background as african-american. i don't see a lot of different kinds of people around him - seems like it's always him and african-americans, some european-americans working for him, haven't seen an asian-american or a native-american and bill richards seems to be the first hispanic-american i've seen. why doesn't he have his european-american mother onstage with him at rallies or events? is he himself trying to be 'black enough' or something? i honestly wonder because it just seems to me that if you're trying to unite different races, you'd show members of your family and friends and supporters of different races along with you, not just the same-shaded ones. that's not racist, i'm just wondering.

If a candidate or even if I said "typical black person", then there would be every one in the nation claiming racism.

Sounds like Obama is just as racist as Ferero.

Its the case of the tea pot calling the kettle black. No pun intended.

I am very offended, and don't believe that I am a "typical white person" as in racist or intolerant.

As for my vote, Obama has lost it for good. And I hope that for the sake of the nation, he does not get elected president, not because he is black, but because he has created division.

A'm I confused, Or a'm I the only one watching the WRIGHT CRAP.. This has to prove how angry OBOMA really is, It's sad to say but its true, cause no matter how good he did , he was still black. why else would a father expose his young daughters to this extreme prodigies against a race which they are at least 25%.. Seems to me this would harder to deal with. Please let me now if I'm wrong or just confused.

I'm surprised the media are not making more of the "typical white person" remark. If it is not racist, then it is certainly insensitive. It is certainly sad that Obama actually thinks the "typical white person" goes around making comments that would make him cringe. His comment makes me cringe.

I know many, many, people, have lived all over the US, north, east, south, far west, now southwest. Also, spent 12 years in Europe.

I do not know a "typical" anyone, of any race or ethnicity. Unless you count temperament, a few of my friends are "typical old grouches", just as I am.

Mr. Obama has offended and disappointed many Americans with his comments. My college aged daughter was stunned to hear that he would say this about his own grandmother who raised and loved him. And it's very concerning and telling that he brings her up with Wright (his hate spewing minister and spritual advisor of 20 years). It helps cement his closeness to Wright. We need a President who can bring us together not create a bigger rift like Obama has.

I am so ashamed of the media …Race baiting? worse than FOX news?

ABC should know how to put quotes in appropriate context.

Obama referred to his grandmother as a typical (normal\regular} white person .. in comparison to a black preacher… it was a contrasting view.

“typical” having nothing to do with her being white and afraid of black men on the street… but being someone who wasn't black. wasn't a “radical” reverend/ but a regular person who also had influence in his life. that has said things based on something ingrained in her, demonstrating the complicated race relations in this country/..

i don’t understand why you would promote this type of race baiting..

It appears from the biased conversation, that America isn’t ready for that “adult conversation” about race.

I see the media is giving B.O. a pass. Nothing on MSNBC, just stuff about McCain being old and Hillary and Bill. This guy gets a break every time and as a white guy I'm not allowed to say it's because he's black. I'd be a racist then. How does one trancend race when it's always thrown in our face by a leading (not for long I suspect) presidential candidate.

I loved Barack Obama's speech, but how can we as a people move forward if our presidential candidates are allowed to describe people as "typical" of their "race?"

Barack Obama's idea of a "typical white person" is someone who is afraid of strangers and people of color.

Is a "typical black person" then someone who thinks there is such a thing as a typical white person?

There's no typical any kind of person. Every individual life is infinitely precious.

As for Geraldine Ferraro, her comments were a blunder, but were also an attempt to compare the excitement people felt about her as the first woman on the ticket to what people are to feeling now about Obama being the first African-American to possibly become president. Unfortunately, in presenting this comparison, she tried to do so at his expense.

Now Barack is doing the same to Hillary by trying to infer that she is an old white woman like his grandmother. She's not and she's not racist. Well, no more than he is.

give the guy a break, he's half white himself and was raised by the white side of his family. of course he looks favorably toward them--he'd be nothing without their support.

Looking from Australia I feel that your country is in great need of a change in ideology. You know it wasn't that long ago that the question was "is Obama black enough". The question of race was not raised by Obama, a situation I'm sure he would lament. The political strategies of candidates both past and present, has divided your country into a mish mash of demographics, that leaves one wondering. Is America a united country? When Obama talks about bring people together. I ask is that even possible in your country?

Barack Obama believes it is, and for that I applaud him.

This just underscores how challenging it is to talk about race. Give him a break.

I know there's a rule that anyone with a drop of African blood seems to be considered a 'black person.' But does anyone remember that Obama is half white? I don't think it's like he's got some kind of civil war going on inside himself -- but as our history shows, clearly it's tough to bridge the perspectives. I think the question for all of us is -- why does a candidate who is half white get put in the black / affirmative action bucket, and why are we parsing his every freaking sentence for its quotient on whether it offends black or white or women ...

To quote Shakespeare a bit out of context, "The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves ..."