Obama in Florida

[Jeeti]

I was just watching CNN where I saw Obama take a town hall meeting where he was heckled for at least 10 minutes straight. The hecklers were African American and were holding up a sign that read "What about Black America, Obama"? This frustrates me on a few different levels NOT AS AN OBAMA supporter, but as an impartial onlooker. Obama promised the main heckler in exchange for his respect, he would allow the man to ask a question. The man asked numerous questions regarding the plight of African Americans in this country...and rightfully so...The thing that frustrates me is that for the first time an African American WHO ACTUALLY has support from some of key African American figures in this country (see Oprah among others) is being harassed...now just because the candidate is African American does not mean he can solely cater to the African American population, and the questions brought forth seem to imply just that. Obama responded that if the heckler does not like his stance on issues, he has, in this country, every option to either vote for someone else, or run for public office himself. The only chance Obama has to win this election is obviously to stand fast as an AMERICAN FIRST, and an African American second..and so I guess all I'm saying is that to question his issues based solely on the African American population is not necessarily fair...Obama handled it well, just as he handled tough questions recently at a Unity Conference..it seems that his background as an African American is now hurting him...(i.e. if he takes a stance too much to one side...he is considered too black, and if he takes a stance to the other side...hes not black enough)...

I'm just curious as to what you guys think..does Obama's background hinder his ability to take stands on issues because of the country's insistence, particularly fellow African Americans..to label him an African American first, and an American second (which is ridiculous)...

In the case of McCain, he is not faced with the same problems..as traditionally all of our presidents and presidential candidates for the most part are Caucasian and of Christian background...the voters are very used to this kind of a candidate making stances on all sorts of issues that range across all background. African Americans do not seem to take as strong of a stance when it is two white people debating over the issues that pertain to African Americans, but now that one of the candidates is African American...its a whole different story.

thoughts....

 

[HarmanSingh]

Obama really is stuck right now, and there is no easy way out.

The blue collar white America does not want to hear Obama, a guy they are already apprehensive about due to his name and skin color, talking about African American issues when they feel other important things such as the war in Iraq, the economy and gas prices are being ignored. White America has a thing where they want all African Americans to drop the "African" and just say they are Americans. And this is the case here. It is almost like, "OK, your black we get it, but just don't talk about it." I am sure Obama would love to address some serious issues affecting the black community while campaigning, but if he does, he runs the risk of being characterized as a black nationalist, which would be death to his campaign.

So he has to kind of be a bit of a moderate to win, and not talk too much about race, while also appeasing black America. Obviously, black America wants to hear Obama highlight the injustice and inequality in the inner cities and suburbia on the national stage. But Obama really has a tough decision to make as to if he wants to risk losing the white vote over bringing up race, or if he wants to leave race on the back burner and focus on the issues white America really cares about. Quite frankly, your average family in Kansas could care less about the problems of education in public schooling in the inner city, or about the problems in the legal system which are decimating black America...they want to know what Obama will do about gas prices and if he will help them get another job.

I think a lot of African Americans are simply afraid Obama is going to ignore their issues if he is elected, and just be another politician who talked a big game for their votes. I think a lot of times people come to assume all black people are supposed to think the same. Fact is, the opinion of Obama in the black community is about as diverse as the opinion of McCain in the white community. "Black people" are people. They are not a monolith.

I find it funny McCain and company jump at any chance they have to say "See, Obama is bringing race up!" , acting as if its not an issue. Guess what, white people made race an issue when they bought Africans and sold them around like cattle. From America's "creation" (more like theft from Native Americans), race has been an issue. SO to act as if Obama should NEVER mention race is unbelievably absurd. At the same time, African Americans might want to think about the fact that Obama will never be elected president if he talks about race at every turn. It has to be a delicate balance.

Just something else to think about: Obama being elected president may actually hurt race relations in many ways. White America is going to say, "see, we elected a black president, we aren't racist!" So you might see a lot of white people acting as if all is well between races in America.

 

[pluthra]

i dont think Obama's background at all hinders him to take a stance on issues....sure obama does realize that there are people who have certain expectations out of him...like African Americans as well as the Democractic party....instead its just the views of these groups that hinder him....Obama's claims, wat he wants to present himself as has remained the same...but since his victory in the primary-people are now expecting more out of him

both groups do see Obama as maybe not fulfillin their expecations and now people are making claims such as, "We urge you to listen to the voices of the people who can lift you to the presidency and beyond" ("Change we can believe in"- The Nation).....and that he needs to stick to wat he has committed to

ok i compared obama to an election at high school....ur in a student organization (lets say IASA)....well w/in IASA itself there are cliques....and usually the people runnin for president are of the different cliques....their friends expect them to represent their views...and as their friend that person is expected to fulfill their expectations-now say one person bein respectful to their friends does represent their friends views and now to attain more support that person begins talkin to people in the club he/she may have nvr talked to before.....now their friends feel like now that this person is talkin to others tryin to get support...they're not stickin to their commitment
->the situation seems the same here......at the beginning it seemed like the only way for obama to win the primaries was through the support of his people.....well now he has to out and get support from others to he can't just rely on his people....also he has to let the voters kno wat his stance are on all issues-not just those that concern the african american and democratic party....plus he's runnin for president and as u said jeeti, they shud realize that he to is an "AMERICAN FIRST, and an African American second"...and it may take time for the african american community to understand that (so until they step in his shoes and see wat he has to deal w/ only then will they actually see that Obama is representing who they are)

 

[Jeeti]

Just something else to think about: Obama being elected president may actually hurt race relations in many ways. White America is going to say, "see, we elected a black president, we aren't racist!" So you might see a lot of white people acting as if all is well between races in America.

whoa whoa...you got my head spinnin now bro

 

[dheerja]

i dont think Obama's background at all hinders him to take a stance on issues....sure obama does realize that there are people who have certain expectations out of him...like African Americans as well as the Democractic party....instead its just the views of these groups that hinder him....Obama's claims, wat he wants to present himself as has remained the same...but since his victory in the primary-people are now expecting more out of him

both groups do see Obama as maybe not fulfillin their expecations and now people are making claims such as, "We urge you to listen to the voices of the people who can lift you to the presidency and beyond" ("Change we can believe in"- The Nation).....and that he needs to stick to wat he has committed to

ok i compared obama to an election at high school....ur in a student organization (lets say IASA)....well w/in IASA itself there are cliques....and usually the people runnin for president are of the different cliques....their friends expect them to represent their views...and as their friend that person is expected to fulfill their expectations-now say one person bein respectful to their friends does represent their friends views and now to attain more support that person begins talkin to people in the club he/she may have nvr talked to before.....now their friends feel like now that this person is talkin to others tryin to get support...they're not stickin to their commitment
->the situation seems the same here......at the beginning it seemed like the only way for obama to win the primaries was through the support of his people.....well now he has to out and get support from others to he can't just rely on his people....also he has to let the voters kno wat his stance are on all issues-not just those that concern the african american and democratic party....plus he's runnin for president and as u said jeeti, they shud realize that he to is an "AMERICAN FIRST, and an African American second"...and it may take time for the african american community to understand that (so until they step in his shoes and see wat he has to deal w/ only then will they actually see that Obama is representing who they are)

I disagree. A large portion of African Americans were actually Hillary supporters because of the Clintons' work in the past. It's a little ignorant to say that all African Americans are Obama supporters because he shares the same skin color. I have a close friend who worked for the Clinton campaign in Harlem a few months ago and the people there were pretty split between Obama/Clinton. People understand that you vote for the issues as well as the person, and the Clintons' support for the African American community gave Hillary a good deal of voters. Obama doesn't need to make his race a priority in his campaign, but he does need to address the issues that pertain to African Americans, and gain support from the parts of the community that were behind Hillary. (This also applies to the rest of the Hillary supporters, black or white. Obama has not done enough to reach out to the Democrats who were behind Clinton)

 

[Summy]

I read everyone's opinion, and they are quite interesting. I think something that is EXTREMELY dangerous to generalize an extremely divided group right now. I think what is interesting about "white collar" america as Harman put it, is the fact that the prosperity they had for so long, especially during the clinton years, is at stake. The economy is in ruins, their paying insane amounts of money on food, gas etc... The norm for them is becoming something they are not used to... To pigeon hold them as concerned about Obama's race, kinda implies they are un-informed about his platform. You would think (or hope) that these people who are most defintely the elitists of our country, would realize that prosperity for them exists in a form that may be un-conventional as far as asthestically...

Regarding Obama and his race maybe restricting him... I think some people got it correctly saying that he does have a line to draw, a juggling act. But the question is does he deserve this treatment... Defintely. As somebody who is engaging the miniorities of his country, as someone who is benefiting from their suppor immensely, it is duty, and his OBLIGATION to address any and all their concerns. I think that is what Obama did correctly when he let them speak. If they had problems that need to addressed, Obama did the correct thing by addressing them, he understands where his base is...

I understand Jetti what your saying, that maybe his race may pigeon hold him to dealing with race issues. Well, I think if you are benefitting IMMSENSELY for the support of that community, you owe it to them to be on-top of the issues that they feel is important.


The double standard of this issue is halirious in my opinion. When Bush and McCain cater to their respective strong holds, like white collar america, and like their big company buddies, its an essentiality... But when Barack is in the same position, questions arise about the validity to his strong hold. Maybe its because they must be less powerful as far as immediate gains, or maybe because Obama's strong hold holds no weight in the executive branches (and the way the SC has been ruling none in the judical one either), but why bring questions of validity if Obama will cater to his people or not...


None of this matters though in the long run, it will be his record in the White House (if he gets there) that will end all of these questions...

 

[Waleed]

Video of Obama being heckled. I thought he responded well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7538548.stm