Political Punch

"The Democrats are obsessed with playing the race, gender, ethnic cards against each other as well as their opponents."

Not all Democrats, only Mr. O

Doesn't Obama support Tinker. She is just following Obama's lead in using the race card to win!!!

So many comments that are laced with so much ignorance of history...

In my own area of Kansas, various names of various entities from mere creeks to entire counties were changed after the Civil War to reflect the names of American military officers who chose military service in the Union rather than in the Confederacy.

As with many periods of recorded history, accounts and associated activity are not necessarily accurate, but the victors hold the sword and the pen and are able to impose their views rather than accuracy.

Whether or not Nathan Bedford Forrest owned slaves and traded in the slave market is not in question, nor was it in question when the park was named.

What should be remembered is that a great number of capital and agrarian interests in the North owned and traded significant numbers of slaves at one point in American history (prior to the Civil War).

These Northerners, for the most part, did not free their slaves when they decided the "peculiar institution" was no longer acceptable in their moral framework or that of their peers.

Rather, they chose not to lose their capital investments and simply sold their "property" to southern buyers for a profit after which these "honorable" men of the North declared that slavery was abominable and should be outlawed.

Even those who never owned slaves and opposed slavery were sometimes less than genuine in their convictions. It was Abraham Lincoln who first came up with the idea of shipping all blacks out of the United States before he decided on emancipation.

As such, focusing on the honor extended to the "greatest cavalry officer ever produced in the United States," Nathan Bedford Forrest, for the fact that he owned slaves at a time when that ownership was legal represents nothing more than an attempt to rewrite history into a comfortable framework.

Naming a park after Bedford Forrest no more honors the fact that he owned slaves or was a Klan member than it does any other transgression that the man may have committed in his life.

Whether Union or Confederate, black or white, Christian or Jew, man or woman...an accurate of history is appropriate and in order for the proper consideration by posterity and should serve to remind all that slavery imposed on anyone by anyone is not acceptable.

If honoring the military accomplishments of Nathan Bedford Forrest with his name on a park in his home state is viewed by some as an implied approval of slavery, then why do we allow Volkswagens, BMWs, Suzukis, and Yamahas to adorn corporate buildings and the highways of America?

Do these German and Japanese names on vehicles from the countries that committed atrocities against humanity, murdered millions of innocents, and sparked wars that resulted in the deaths of American military personnel somehow produce implied approval of their heinous actions or dishonor the sacrifices that were made to stop their aggression?

No, they do not.

And, in that light, to imply that a Tennessee park being named after CSA Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest is somehow an insult or inappropriate reeks of partisan politics at its worst...

Good on Obama for calling this Tinker woman out. It's bottomfeeder politics. Unbelievable.

tj,
I agree with you when you said:

"Anyone who wants to honor a klansmen at anytime in any place should not be representing a black district. Point blank period. I love the ad. And it's the truth."

But I disagree with you when you said:

"Obama's trying to throw her under the bus... but that's politics. "

Obama's not throwing her under the bus. She thinks one way, he thinks another. Blacks don't group-think just as other races don't group-think. She merely pointed out that her opponent is a racist. Obama merely pointed out that he prefers to beat opponents on 'common issues' as in issues common to all of us.

IOW, Obama is not about "politics".

Obama '08!

Posted by: tj

The politics of Chicago and Illinois are the dirtiest in the nation and that includes Washington DC. This is Obama's home turf and where he learned to lie, distort and cheat. No other politician has so many close associates with so much dirt on them. It certainly make him not presidential material--no integrity, and judgment.
Race, religion, gender and age should not be used to demean.

THIS IS QUITE THE QUANDRY...IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN ON THE ONE HAND IS IT RACE BAITING AND OR FEAR MONGERING TO POINT OUT THAT YOUR OPPONENT IN A HEAVILY POPULATED AFRO-AMERICAN DISTRICT UPCOMING ELECTION VOTED AGAINST RENAMING A PARK THAT BEARS THE NAME OF A HIGHILY DECORATED{CONFEDERATE}WAR HERO WHO ALSO IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN AN OBVIOUS BIGOT,RACIST&SLAVE TRADER... ON FIRST GLANCE THE ANSWER IS A NO BRAINER TO ANYONE WITH A HALF A BRAIN||| THE QUANDRY ARISES WHEN MORE THAN HALF A BRAIN IS REQUIRED TO ENABLE A PERSON TO COME TO GRIPS THAT BACK THEN SLAVERY WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND {&UNTIL RECENTILY SO WAS SEGREGATION} AND THAT A SOME OF OUR FOUNDING FATHER'S WERE RACIST,BIGOTS AND OR OWNED AND SOLD SLAVES{ WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE PARKS MOUNUMENTS CITIES ETC.ETC.ETC NAMED IN THEIR HONOR} IN HINDSIGHT WE NOW SEE THAT IT WAS AN INHUMANE{&UNJUSTICE LAW THAT CAUSED PAIN SUFFERING AND DEATH TO A SEGMENT OF IT'S PEOPLE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR SKIN COLOR...I KNOW SOME HALF BRAIN THINKER'S MIGHT SAY THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD BRK DCK BUT WHERE IS THE QUANDRY TO WHICH I COULD SAY "IF YOU HAVE TO ASK YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT ANYWAY" BUT INSTEAD I'LL SAY "THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO REMEMBER THE PAST IS DESTINED TO REPEAT IT WHILE THOSE WHO SEEK TO LIVE IN THE PAST IGNORES THE PRESENT AND SHORT CHANGES THE FUTURE {THIS ALSO APPLYS TO THE WHITE VOTERS IN TENN WHO CANN'T SEE BEYOND THE PAST TO VOTE FOR AN AFRO-AMERICAN EVEN IF THEY'RE MORE QUALIFIED THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPART

What a half-hearted attempt from Obama. We all know that if race benefits him, he's all for it.

He's not colorblind that's for sure!

Obama wants the race card for himself to use!!

What is not made clear is that the Mayor of Memphis, Willie Herrington (who is black) also voted not to remove the Forrest statue.

What disturbs me about this race is the the fact that Obama already thinks he's President and he can tell people how to behave in Tennessee. who does he think he is with the Presidential seal and all. I think he's denouncing the black woman because he's trying to win white voters back after he lost so many of them because of Reverend White and Ludicrous saying he's going to paint the White House black. I was going to vote for Obama but now I am voting for McCain, at least he has some humility.

Frank -

1) We must have seen different speeches by Senator Obama in Berlin. He devoted a good deal of time to talking about the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airlift...two of America's finest moments. I also heard him say that America's "not perfect." Who could suggest otherwise?

2) The Democrats have had a one vote majority in the Senate for a year and a half (that includes Sanctimonious Joe). It takes sixty votes to get anything done. We've had Bush in The White House for the past seven and a half years. I don't think anyone can make a serious case that "we have our party largely to blame."

I knew there was something to this Congressional race, but I didn't understand what the controversy was about. What does the man's religious affliation have to do with him winning or losing the seat?

Is this one of those/one of us or one of them tests? It seems to me that the media kept asking this question in regards to whether poor white voters would vote for Obama in the primary. Is it more ugly in this context because this candidate is trying to engage racial/religious animosity so explicitly?

What are the standards that make it ok for the media to point out racial compositions of the electorate and the candidate?

Amen to that TruthTeller. The primaries revealed Barack's true colors when Hillary starting whoopin' on him, but it was too late.

The arrogance of Barack Hussein Obama is sickening. He might want to look at his own negative ads before condemming a fellow sister.

I'm from N.Y and we had a incident here a little like the one in Tennessee. The community wanted to rename a street after Sonny Carson and the city refused saying he was racist. Is this a case of double standard? If Obama can not be trusted due to affiliation would the same apply for Cohen? I don't agree with the flier that's wrong. I wouldn't give her my vote, if you are running for Office I believe you are to be the better person "Spiritually Righteous Intelligent and have a Righteous Servitude. I'll vote for Obama come November with my right to vote, I can careless who you all vote for it's your right. In the end what happens is meant. I wish you all the best and may the unrighteous find their way to life after this experience on earth. "

History? What's history? Do they still teach that in public schools?

Robert Byrd

Don't fret Nikki, he's "just messin' with ya" to try to wipe the racist residue off his own remarks. Obama really doesn't care what you say or do; he only cares about playing politics with whatever he thinks may help him.

In addition to being a Confederate General Forrest was also a slave trader before the civil war as well as a founder of the Klan afterwards. There is also a belief that he allowed the massacre of Black union troops after the battle of Fort Pillow. He is however a historical figure in Tennessee and I think the same argument can be made against naming things after Robert E Lee or Jeffeson Davis or after Andrew Jackson anywhere near an Indian reservation in view of the Trail of Tears. His most famous quote about winning battles has to be the one about getting their fastest with the mostest which is some what ironic in that it seems to be the theme behind Federal Express which started in and is a big corporate player in Memphis.

Anyone who wants to honor a klansmen at anytime in any place should not be representing a black district. Point blank period. I love the ad. And it's the truth. Obama's trying to throw her under the bus... but that's politics.

What about the ad is a lie? Also I don't think pointing out that someone is Jewish is off limits. Frankly, pointing out that someone is black isn't off limits either. Would it be different if she pointed out that he is catholic? It makes no sense for this jewish white man to be representing a poor black district that is evangelical christian. To me the ad is completely fair. A lot more than an ad randomly depicting Paris Hilton, and Britney spears.

This would be more admirable and believable if Obama had bothered to speak up or walk out on the hatred and racism being taught in his own church.

He had 20 years to take a stand--but he waited until it began to hurt his chances at becoming president.

EXCELLENT POST LEN. INTELLIGENTLY SAID (WRITTEN)

First, remember that the Klan of today is not the same organization with Nathan Bedford Forest who was it's first Wizard but not the founder. It was disbanded 1873. There are two groups that form after that, one in 1915 which disbanded in WWII and the other forming in the fifties. This last group is the Klan most people living today know about.

I'm not defending them; just keeping the history separable in case anyone doubts the intentions in Tennessee about the park name. Forest is a hero to these people along with Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and so on, not a symbol of racial hatred.

That said, good on Obama. Those are the right words. Now if he can just discipline his own supporters not to do it, I'll take it as genuine but as long as he has people who endorse Black Liberation Theology among his associates, I'll continue to doubt his words.

Excellent points Frank from S. Hampton mostly about how he trashed our own country in Berlin. We are not a perfect country and we have made bad mistakes but you are right we have also done incredible amount of good things.

when people get hate in their hearts they will blatantly attack everything you do (right wrong or indifferent)
hate sees nothing good.
stay strong Obama

Beck - What good judgement does Barack have. The judgement to give a speech in Berlin and talk about nothing but the negatives or our country. He never ever said anything positive about our country. Yes, while history will prove our wrong doings - our country has done many many good things in it's past and quite frankly I am tired of him (Obama) going around the country and talking about how bad everything is. Well how long has Congress been a democratic majority. Therefore we have largely our party to blame.

I had interviewed several people to watch over my two children during the course of the summer and I had several qualified people and one person I especially liked but did not hire because this was her first job in taking care of children so I went with an experienced person. The same should hold true for our country.

Obama change - what change. NYT - over 1/3 of his contributions were big donors mostly from lawyers with ties to lobbyist. He said no private campaign funds but he would use public finance. He is now using private finance. He (Obama) started on John McCAin this summer with his age remarks. The list can go on. So I am not sure of what all this "Change" rhetoric is all about. I don't see any. Obama just wants to be the first Black president. It would be great to elect a Black President but surely not this one.

the other candidates are only following his lead, play the race card and you just might win the nomination.

Beck, are you for real? Obama is no maverick, please don't get your hopes up. He will not do 99.9 of anything he promised during the primary season. He lied to win the nomination. Clinton was and still is the best presidential candidate on either side of the aisle. I hope that there is a revolt at the democratic convention to reflect the buyer's remorse over giving Obama the nod.

The dim witted democrats will ultimately do themselves in. Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Kerry, Obama, etc., etc., etc. My goodness the list goes on and on how out of step these folks are with the average American.

Obama trys to always say the "right" thing to make him look good. Let's all watch now for a week and see what he comes up with now. During the campaign against Ms. Clinton he said NO to Michigan and Florida casting their votes. Then he assumes that he is the nominee and said last week to now let Michigan and Florida vote for fairness...hoping to capture their votes. Now Ms. Clinton might be on the ballot at the convention will Obama do another 180 degree flip flop and say NO again to Florida and Michigan?????

JB: the reason we did not support Hillary is because she is the old way in Washington... We want to take back our Nation we want home to be ours again and not the top 10% of the wealthy. Hillary is not for anyone but Hillary, she proved it time and time again to us. Now I respect the fact that you like her. But Bill played the race card, he is not mad at Obama he is mad at himself for being so stupid for doing it. They have him on tape doing it. Do you understand that, he said the words not Obama not the news people... Bill.
It is time for Change, it is time that Washington is for all people of the United States and not a handful of Rich Oil Men and CEOs. McCain has no idea what we are going through, nor does he really care. His bank account is full to the brim, and when he says he does care it is a bunch of crap because if you truly did care he would not have voted against us for 8 solid years or 23 years however you want to look at it.
Obama may not have the experience some of you seem not to be able to find, but he has proven time and time again he has good judgement and is brilliant and that he is for us, the people and that is the way it should be.

beck you said it--after a week or two of mccains dumb remarks ---this type of campaign must stop and these fools need to do what is best for all of us---the negative misleading crap must end-----i certainly would not vote for such a trpe person.

Why is it "interesting" that Obama would stick up for the white guy? He's just as much white as he is black, you know. And when has he ever shown any favortism for blacks? He supported Claypool over Stroger here in Chicago. Is that "interesting" too?

Obama is doing the right thing. This is one reason I like him. Good judgement. It is not black, white, gray, yellow, Dems, Repubs, Independent is about a nation as a whole, we have not had that for so long some of us can't even relate to it.

The Democrats are obsessed with playing the race, gender, ethnic cards against each other as well as their opponents.

For anyone familiar with American history, Nathan Bedford Forrest was one of the most talented, dedicated, able, loyal, and greatest officers of the Civil War from either Union or Confederate forces.

Residents of Tennessee have every right to name a park, building, or anything else they want to after Nathan Bedford Forrest as he remains a Tennessee hero.

While I disagree with a majority of Obama's policies and positions and will not vote for him, he is right in condemning Nikki Tinker regardless of whether she is being anti-Semitic or trying to rewrite history.

You got this one right, Obama...