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Nader: Obama trying to "Talk White," Appeal to "White Guilt"
June 25, 2008 7:09 AM
In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is trying to "talk white" by downplaying poverty issues.
Nader -- who launched his 5th presidential campaign in February -- says the only thing different about Obama from previous Democratic presidential candidates is his race. "I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos," Nader says. "Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."
Asked if he thinks Obama is trying to "talk white," Nader said, "of course….The number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."
Nader also says Obama wants to show he's not "another politically threatening African-American politician. He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."
An Obama spokeswoman, Shannon Gilson, said "we are obviously disappointed with these very backward-looking remarks."
Obama's skin color aside, on Tuesday, the Nader campaign assailed Obama's decision to support the revised domestic surveillance bill, pointing out that Obama had previously said he would support a filibuster of any bill that included retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.
But now though Obama says he will try to get retroactive immunity removed from the bill, he will ultimately vote for it either way.
Said the Nader campaign: "Liberal Democrats are surprised and outraged that Obama would flip-flop this way. But we're not surprised. From the beginning, we saw through Obama's 'Change You Can Believe' mantra. Obama is just another corporate candidate. At times, he might sound like a progressive. But he's not. That's why we're here. We're here to give the American people a choice in November."
- jpt
Note - The headline of this post originally misquoted Nader; it has been corrected.
June 25, 2008 in 2008: Democrats, Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (360)
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Democrats and Republicans have let us down. Wake up America! Ralph speaks for all people of ALL RACES. Look at the issues with an open mind. Stop bashing the man who has done so much for US! Politics is dirty and politicians have shown time and time again their policies leave the average American in the dust.
What is our breaking point?
GO RALPH NADER!
Posted by: Jenn | Jul 18, 2008 8:37:53 AM
Barack Obama flip-flops on everything I liked about him. The democratic party is hoping that people like me have no other option except for Obama and McCain, but we do have another option, Ralph Nader. Say anything you want about him being a spoiler but the position he had 20 years ago is his position today. Truth is the easiest position to make and hold and Barack has flip-flopped on truth and decided to go to route of popularity and that we have no other choice. I'm proving him wrong and voting for Nader.
Posted by: michael | Jul 8, 2008 6:27:43 AM
The implication of "talking white" is that all black people are the same and share the same politics. Nader is trying to appeal to blacks-- by trying to "talk black." You have to give him credit though for having found a way into the media, because they are intent on ignoring third party candidates. I don't think it really matters, most people this year know the stakes are too high NOT to vote for Obama.
Posted by: mona | Jun 27, 2008 10:01:38 AM
Awww...sad little liberals mad at each other. I love it! Oh, Ralphi boy didn't lose you the election in 2000...all "Fat-Boy" Al Gore had to do was win his home State. You know why "Fat-Boy" didn't win his home state? Because people in Tn know a fat whinny weenie boy when they see one :)
Keep it up liberals...the last thing you are going to hear is John McCain saying "...so help me God" and becomming the next president of the US. Love it :)
Posted by: Tony | Jun 26, 2008 4:53:09 PM
I was never of fan of Ralph Nader. In this case, he's 100% correct about Obama. He's a stooge of corporate interests. All this pretty talk of "new politics" is just cover for corrupt, Chicago-style politics as usual.
Posted by: Juju | Jun 26, 2008 3:37:14 PM
@Nader: Should Obama wear oversized pants and his baseball cap on crooked? How can a self-described progressive hold the view that a man can't be educated, classy and black all at the same time.
Posted by: X marks the spot | Jun 26, 2008 11:23:32 AM
Nader needs to get a life.... he is old news and really can not be taken seriously. Some other poster suggested he go to a rest home. I wholeheartedly agree! He will do anything to get some time in the news. Bitterness is such an ugly trait in a man.
Posted by: Mrs. Tiggywinkle | Jun 26, 2008 10:42:10 AM
So what, Nadar has "black" ancestry and genes to be an expert on "speaking black" ? This is the most idiotic verbal vomit I have ever heard...
By the way, Obama was raised by a white mother and 2 white grandparents which undoubtedly would have affected the way he speaks and perceives life...
duh !
Posted by: nerakami | Jun 26, 2008 9:52:25 AM
Nader is calling it correctly. Obama is a genious. He knows that by him playing the race card will allow him to guilt the American public to vote for him. More peolpe will vote for Obama just because he is black than those who will not. I hope more will vote based on his positions than his race.
Posted by: Jack | Jun 26, 2008 9:50:24 AM
Nader is a perennial nuisance
candidate for POTUS.
He may hurt Dems by siphoning
some votes away.
Posted by: anon | Jun 26, 2008 9:22:08 AM
Nader's work in automobile
safety has not convinced
people he can do good work
in politics.
He's unsafe in any elective
office.
Posted by: anon | Jun 26, 2008 9:14:23 AM
Nader just tells it like it is. A lot of people don't like to hear the truth. I am very disappointed in the way too many Demos caved in to the piper in order to show how "accepting" they are of another race. Obama is nothing more than a pied piper. I knew I wouldn't vote for Obama when he first showed up in my state luring the college kids.
Posted by: Olive Lohrengel | Jun 26, 2008 8:30:53 AM
And Ralph Nader is relevant how? Go away, Ralphie, your bitchin and moaning is getting really, really old.
Posted by: DaveM | Jun 26, 2008 8:25:09 AM
Got to give it up for ralph. He is accurate about Obama. He's earned my vote. Enough of the Socialist Lawyer and Liberal Cactus. Two party rule is killing this country.
Posted by: troy | Jun 26, 2008 7:55:54 AM
Nader isn't helpful. He already got Bush put into the White House. I don't respect him that much anymore. Some of the things he says are true, but why does he go after Democrats, seeing that Republicans are the ones who commit more of the atrocities that he and his party decry. There are times when what he says is just plain unhelpful.
Posted by: allen_osuno | Jun 26, 2008 7:20:00 AM
Nader is divisive and knows it..!!! Any presidiential candidate must speak to the masses. Just so happens that the masses in the USA are WHITE! Obama's raises issues that benefit us all. Now when it comes to who will benefit the poor and the oppressed, can we honestly say that both Nader and McCane will?
Nader is once again running to make $ off of donors. If he really wants to do America some good, get behind a winning candidate no matter what race he may be. Is not America the land of the free and the BRAVE? Obama has earned our respect just by how far he has gotten AND his message....
Posted by: savoymt | Jun 26, 2008 6:40:04 AM
im a 100% black man but Nader is right why doesnt Obama talk about the plight of the black community in specfics I'll tell you why because he has to bankroll this campaign strictly off the backs of us hard working people I can't afford to keep sending money to a campaign that has the potential of buying an election I would rather give in good faith and really try and get the money out the system because corporate people have found a new outlet to funnel their in with regular donations and can keep giving. We would not be talking about this if it was Hillary. Democrats we put the weaker candidate up because he can raise more money!!!!! Neo-liberals have hijacked the party
Posted by: Quintell | Jun 26, 2008 6:19:07 AM
Shelgirl, you wrote: "Someone explain to me why there are whites like Nader who always want to tell blacks how we must be to be black." That's interesting! Would you mind explaining why there are African-Americans who always want to tell conservative Republican African-Americans how they must be to be black. Both of these situations are wrong.
Posted by: James Danley | Jun 26, 2008 2:11:59 AM
people are upset with obama because of what he as accomplished through hard study and hard work..that bothers them, because it proves their fathers a liar.
Posted by: jtrace81 | Jun 26, 2008 1:13:05 AM
Well said Nader! Obama is a Damn liar!
Posted by: Johanna | Jun 26, 2008 12:34:46 AM
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