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Bidenblogging II: White Hunter, Black Heart
Joe Biden
(seen right collapsing after being shot in the chest by liberals),
only hours after making the front page of Hit and Run, is getting hammered for
this interview with the New York Observer's Jason
Horowitz.
Mr. Biden is equally skeptical—albeit in a slightly more backhanded way—about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”But—and the “but” was clearly inevitable—he doubts whether American voters are going to elect “a one-term, a guy who has served for four years in the Senate,” and added: “I don’t recall hearing a word from Barack about a plan or a tactic.”
- Jesse Jackson, a controversial civil rights activist with no
elective experience.
- Al Sharpton, a super-controversial civil rights activist with
even less elective experience.
- Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, who had some elective experience but an
extremely shady past that killed her Senate career.
- Rep. Shirley Chisholm, who had very little elective experience,
but who ran a good fringe campaign. (See
here.)
- Alan Keyes.
As lots of people have pointed out, Obama distinguishes himself
from this field by 1)being more than the "black candidate" and
2)having the kind of political operation that could actually win
the prize. (Although Jackson came closer than people remember,
winning even the...
Delaware caucus.) And the rest of Biden's remark makes sense in
the context
he just
explained to Obama. (He meant "clean" in the sense of
"spotless, not corrupt," as opposed to whatever Althouse
thought he meant.)
Very strange. Liberals are giddy about the prospect of Obama kicking the last generation of black leadership to the curb. But they get very angry at people who say this.
|1.31.07 @ 3:22PM|#
Biden is saying that Sen. Obama is the first black candidate
with no baggage and a legit shot at the presidency.
Your color lipstick looks real good on that pig.
|1.31.07 @ 3:27PM|#
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is
articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy"
This is a rather patronizing statement. Zebra-boy may deny his
whiteness, but he's just as white as he is
"African-American."
Secondly, calling a Negro (or half-breed) "articulate" is extremely
condescending. Imagine if Biden'd said "Obama hates fried chicken"
or "He smokes regular cigarettes not Newports."
|1.31.07 @ 3:33PM|#
Hey, maybe we should back Biden. After all, America is truly in need of a president who has a deep and abiding respect for the sound of his own voice.
|1.31.07 @ 3:43PM|#
Sorry but that was somewhat condescending. No sense its meant to be a slight but nevertheless, its not a great way to make the point intended
jhupp|1.31.07 @ 3:43PM|#
Alas, the man also has track record against him. I don't think he's a racist in the least, honestly, but he has this rather unfortunate way of phrasing his remarks about race that come across that way. His well-established lack of verbal filter, which usually manifests itself as a length rather than content problem, is trouble.
|1.31.07 @ 3:52PM|#
It is considered offensive to call an African-American man "articulate." If you do not understand why, please study this website, paying particular attention to the testimonials left there.
|1.31.07 @ 3:53PM|#
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who
is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he
said
(As the audio makes pretty damn clear, the "articulate and
bright and clean" stuff is a compliment about Obama.) Even under
the least charitable interpretation of what Biden said, this is
true. There have been five other black candidates for the
presidency
I think you are being rather generous to Biden. Even under a
charitable circumstance, what he said is untrue.
His statement seems to be implying that other African American
candidates weren't articulate or bright or clean or mainstream or
"nice-looking" (whatever that means). Last I checked, in '88
Jackson got about 33% of the delegates (that seems to be pretty
mainstream -- the guy got 55% of the vote in Michigan, if I
remember correctly) and he was intelligent and quite articulate as
well. My ex-senator Carol MB was quite articulate and not ugly by
any means. As for what people are speculating as "clean", I may be
wrong, but I don't remember a lot of dirty history surrounding
Jackson in '88 either (regardless of the type of attention whore he
has turned into of late)
Biden's statement also does remind me of the Chris Rock "He's so
well spoken" routine.
And based on the quote and context, we are assuming he was talking
about African-American presidential candidates....but that
assumption is not necessarily proven to be true by the quote. It
could easily be taken to mean that he considers Obama the only
mainstream African-American who is all those things(not just
presidential candidates) -- although I don't think he meant it that
way.
In any case, it's a sloppy/poor choice of words for a guy who is
going to need to appeal to African Americans if he wants to win the
Dem nomination....most of whom don't consider Jackson and Sharpton
and CMB stupid or inarticulate etc. Add to that, the fact that he
has chosen poor words before (i.e. "You can't go into a 7-11 or
Dunkin' Donuts without and Indian accent" and "I think I can win
votes in the south since Delaware was a slave state") he is
starting to remind me of the old guy who can't understand why "them
people" don't like to be called "Negroes" or "Coloreds"
Go Bears!
|1.31.07 @ 3:54PM|#
Not to mention Biden's argument that he can win the South
because Delaware was a slave state. That's what we call a "twofer"
- he can tick off black people and southerners at the same
time.
And Jesse Jackson was "controversial" enough to win 1/4 of the
delegates at the convention and the primaries about, IIRC, 11
states.
|1.31.07 @ 3:57PM|#
It is considered offensive to call an African-American man
"articulate." If you do not understand why, please study this
website, paying particular attention to the testimonials left
there.
That's fucking hilarious..
Sally always says things that make me feel special, like:
"You're so cool, you're different, you're not like other Black
people!"
That one was my favorite.
|1.31.07 @ 3:58PM|#
I wonder what Weigel would have done if I would have said that
sentence? My guess is Weigel would have spruced it up, stuck up for
me, told everyone what I meant to say immediately after quoting
what I actually said, beat up on poor little Althouse for no
apparent reason, mention he knew something about Colbert to show he
was hip, then throw in eight links to show everybody he did his
research.
Uh, maybe not.
Bear Down Viking Moose|1.31.07 @ 4:01PM|#
Chicago -
did you hear some social conservatives try to explain Alan Keyes
away, too?
He certainly didn't wow us with his T-formation.
Unlike these guys
(youtube)
Of course the live, in
person version is even better
GO BEARS!
frog|1.31.07 @ 4:04PM|#
"It is considered offensive to call an African-American man
"articulate.""
Except, of course, when it's not, which is most of the time. For
chrissakes, blurbs on his own book call him articulate.
Please, stop the stupid, before it's too late
|1.31.07 @ 4:18PM|#
I don't know about y'all but is it impossible for anyone to
discuss other people without even considering their race? If Biden
meant that Obama is articulate compared to other black people then
that surely is condescending.
On the other hand I think the point our man Weigel, in his
colorblindness, is making is that Obama is articulate compared to
anyone. Especially our current president. I'm tempted to vote for
him just so I don't have to wince every time our president opens
his mouth.
|1.31.07 @ 4:19PM|#
did you hear some social conservatives try to explain Alan
Keyes away, too?
I never understood the Alan Keyes nomination.
I thought Jack Ryan might have given Obama a run for his money if
-- until the sex clubs scandal came to light. Then I thought it
would be Oberweiss who got the nod. I never expected Keyes to win
it.
I remember I used to catch Keyes' cable show now and then (on MSNBC
I think) and I used to wonder if he was had a screw loose or
something -- but he was well spoken!!
Of course the live, in person version is even better
I prefered the live version! You know -- I her this song twice a
day around chicago (usually on the morning radio shows) and I've
been hearing the superbowl shuffle a lot too...and yet I never get
sick of hearing it!!
Go Bears!!!
|1.31.07 @ 4:23PM|#
Ryan blew it when he lost the Seven of Nine vote :)
I'm going for the Colts, out of Buccaneer loyalty to Dungy.
|1.31.07 @ 4:23PM|#
TomTom,
I will be wincing every time our president opens his mouth to
advocate socialized medicine.
VM|1.31.07 @ 4:23PM|#
Chicago -
highnumber and I have the same experience, I'd bet - we're both in
Chicago, as well! It's great hearing Mike North (morning sports
radio personality) gleefully talking! (Mr. Steven Crane, too, but
he's not around, apparently)
Haven't heard the super bowl shuffle but for a few times.
And do you like how the top of the hancock is in blue and orange?
(Mrs. Moose and I toast it and its glory!)
Go Bears!
|1.31.07 @ 4:25PM|#
There's an extensive discussion of this over at
TalkingPointsMemo. Josh Marshall, who doesn't appear to be any
particular friend of Biden, admits that the transcript is
misleading. It implies that (if you leave out the adjective "black"
for a moment) that Obama is the first mainstream candidate who is
articulate, etc. In the audio, however, there is a distinct pause
between "candidate" and "who."
Biden said, essentially, that Obama is the first black mainstream
candidate and then went on to describe his qualities as a
candidate. Without the comma it reads as though Biden is praising
Obama for being the first black man he ever met that doesn't speak
Ebonics and stare longingly at your daughter.
So he got screwed by the transcriptionist, which pretty much sums
up his presidential fortunes. Biden is a wretched, opportunistic
senator who runs and hides from taking a strong stand on any issue
that matters. God only knows what he actually intends to do as
president but we can assume it will be some sort of mush intended
to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
|1.31.07 @ 4:27PM|#
Tomtom:
Read the quote again. Especially the part that goes "the first
mainstream African-American who . . ."
|1.31.07 @ 4:28PM|#
frog,
When a white guy is explaining why a black guy is just great, but
unfortunately not really up to the job, that's one of those times
when it's wise to avoid complimenting him on the fact that he
speaks English well.
|1.31.07 @ 4:33PM|#
Haven't heard the super bowl shuffle but for a few
times.
VM,
My wife listens to the "Eric And Kathy" radio show on 101.9 in the
mornings and has forbidden me from changing the station on our
alarm clock...they play it at least once a day. This morning they
played a "Superfans shuffle" which was a 4 minute parody of the the
shuffle with "Da Superfans" singing it with their own lyrics. It
was priceless. Also the other day we went to a Buffalo Wildwings in
Woodridge with some friends and they must have had an iPod on
repeat because they played the shuffle 4 times during a 1.5 hour
dinner. (ok, Ill admit, I thought that was a bit excessive)
And do you like how the top of the hancock is in blue and
orange? (Mrs. Moose and I toast it and its glory!)
I LOVE IT!!
Thankfully Mrs. ChicagoTom is almost as big a fan , and is just as
excited about the Bears as I am -- despite the fact that she grew
up on the East coast. She called me the first day she saw the
Orange and Blue at the top of the 'cock from work all giddy!!
Bears fever -- It's EVERYWHERE!!!
GO BEARS!
|1.31.07 @ 4:34PM|#
Given that Obama is half white, and was in fact raised by his white mother, I believe he should be referred to as the "white candidate" or the "European-American" candidate. And his articulacy should be a matter of pride for white people everywhere.
VM|1.31.07 @ 4:36PM|#
"My wife listens to the "Eric And Kathy" radio show on 101.9 in
the mornings and has forbidden me from changing the station on our
alarm clock"
ouch. :)
Chicago reference to a morning show:
http://www.wtmx.com/ek.php
GO BEARS!
|1.31.07 @ 4:37PM|#
Speaking (tangentially) about Obama and how black or white is I
thought I would share this with you guys and gals...
I thought it was rather funny..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6uwOoDrkQs
|1.31.07 @ 4:39PM|#
I don't get it either. What the fuck does articulate have
anything to do with race? There is a spectrum of articulateness.
Any particular person will rest somewhere on that spectrum. The
degree to which someone is articulate is likely more a function of
education and upbringing rather than the quantum of melanin that
they possess.
The same analysis would apply to intelligence and looks (well,
going to harvard might not make you pretty but it is melanin
independent).
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are ugly, useless piece-of-shit,
inarticulate race whores who make their respective livings on
stoking the racial divide. Compared to those two useless fucks, Mr.
Obama is a nice shot of fresh air. (Disclaimer, I honestly don't
know if there is a racial connotation regarding "shot of fresh
air.")
I don't have white guilt and don't engage in racism and I don't see
anything wrong. For those who read race into everything from a
person's preference for eating a particular kind of dead bird to
musical preferences, to how they wipe thier ass after they take a
shit, please shut the fuck up.
|1.31.07 @ 4:47PM|#
I don't get it either. What the fuck does articulate have
anything to do with race? There is a spectrum of articulateness.
Any particular person will rest somewhere on that spectrum. The
degree to which someone is articulate is likely more a function of
education and upbringing rather than the quantum of melanin that
they possess.
Why is it that he didn't feel the need to point out how articulate
John Edwards or Hillary Clinton is?
Is it possibly because, to some people, they are expected to be
articulate whereas an African American who is articulate seems more
like the exception rather than the rule?
Most people probably wouldn't consider Obama head and shoulders
above the rest of the field as far as ability to speak clearly --
so it is understandable that it might be considered offensive when
it's pointed out how well he speaks -- as if that in and of itself
is some kind of stunning accomplishment.
|1.31.07 @ 4:53PM|#
Chicago Brethren,
Riding down lower Wacker over the weekend, I noticed that the
bridges are lit up blue & orange, too.
Go Bears!
[We were on our way to see "Don't Shed A Tear - The Billie Holiday
Story" at the Black Ensemble Theater in Uptown over the weekend.
It's been extended to Feb 11. Go see it. Great show, great band,
great cast - all very well-spoken. ;-)]
GO BEARS!
|1.31.07 @ 4:53PM|#
Troy,
It's an old connection. "Articulate" was a compliment often applied
to black political activists by their white opponents when seeking
to appear fair and non-racist. Instead of admitting that, for
example, Martin Luther King's speeches were powerful because of the
strength of his arguments, they'd talk about how well-spoken he
was.
It's also a condescending, backhanded compliment. Picture a guy
coming in for an interview with an investment bank. He's got an
MBA, experience, yadda yadda. For some reason, you always see white
people jumping right to talking about how "articulate" he is.
This history is there, whether it hurts your feelings to admit it
or not.
So now you know.
|1.31.07 @ 4:59PM|#
While I understand how "bright and articulate" can sound condescending, using that phrase can not always be insulting. Obama is both bright and articulate, and saying as much doesn't have to imply that it's somehow extraordinary for a black man to be intelligent and well-spoken.
|1.31.07 @ 5:01PM|#
Why is it that he didn't feel the need to point out how
articulate John Edwards or Hillary Clinton is?
Perhaps because they're not? In the absence of their handlers,
anyway.
|1.31.07 @ 5:06PM|#
Biden is saying that Sen. Obama is the first black candidate
with no baggage and a legit shot at the presidency.
Not only does Wiegel hate the shit out of Bush like a good little
partisan Democrat, but he also knows how to spin when damage
control is warranted. Wiegel is multi-talented indeed!
I don't get it either. What the fuck does articulate have
anything to do with race?
"Articulate" is the patronizing compliment that white
"progressives" pay to blacks who don't sound "ghetto" when they
speak. The reason it is "racist" (culturalist, actually, as if
"progressives" could understand the difference) is because of what
is left unsaid:
"Oh wow, he's so articulate, which, for a black man, is
amazing."
VM|1.31.07 @ 5:06PM|#
WKQX just had a description of Obama: he's the black Richie
Cunningham...
(that's the "alternative" Chicago station, btw)
|1.31.07 @ 5:07PM|#
Joe:
Thanks for the kind response, but I respectfully disagree.
I could see how if Biden had said, "for a black guy, he is
articulate, etc.", but he didn't. What I got out of it was that
Biden was comparing Obama to Obama's predecessors. If my
interpretation is correct, I think he is right. I think that
Jackson, Keyes, and Sharpton are living caricatures of what some
people think black people are supposed to be and these caricatures
are, sometimes, just as demeaning, racist, obfuscating as anything
that anything non-black racist have done in the past.
I am unwilling to judge Biden regarding his actions today based of
what racist did in the past.
|1.31.07 @ 5:13PM|#
Racism is like ethics. You should avoid the appearance of
impropriety.
Go Bears!
|1.31.07 @ 5:25PM|#
I could see how if Biden had said, "for a black guy, he is
articulate, etc."
Not everything has to be explicitly stated. The "for a black man"
part is what seems to be implied in his sentence. Maybe he was or
maybe he wasn't implying it....but to think he was would not be an
unfair reading of his statement.
Also, Alan Keyes and Jesse Jackson are many things...but
inarticulate is not one of them.
Go Bears!
|1.31.07 @ 5:26PM|#
Troy,
There's some history there. The pseudo-compliment "articulate" has
been used so often, and for so long, in this context that the
"...for a black man" part is always kinda sorta implied.
Even people like Loundry recognize this, although most aren't so
delusionaly partisan as to pretend that it's a phenomenon of a
particular poltical orientation.
The other part of the problem is that Jesse Jackson was not, in
1984 or 1988, anything other than articulare, mainstream (just look
at his vote totals - higher than Lieberman's or Gephardt's in
2004), clean and bright. The fact that he'd lump what were two very
plausible, if ultimately unsuccessful, campaigns in with Sharpton,
Keyes, and Moseley-
Braun looks a lot like stereotyping.
I don't think this demonstrates that Biden is a racist, but he sure
does seem to have a tin ear about race.
|1.31.07 @ 5:33PM|#
Is Obama "black"? If he is genetically mixed, and culturally "white", what sense does it make to tag him as black (or as Biden put it, African-American)?
|1.31.07 @ 5:40PM|#
He self-identifies as black. People he meets identify him as
black.
Given that there aren't really objective criteria for whether
someone belongs to a socially-constructed group, their social
identity would seem to be the relevant arbiter.
|1.31.07 @ 5:44PM|#
It's hard to tell if Jesse Jackson is articulate because his diction is about on par with Bill Dauterive.
|1.31.07 @ 5:59PM|#
So, basically, it is a no-win situation for any white person to
give any person with melanin a compliment. After all, the implicit
can be applied (or implied?) to any thing and doesn't require even
a fucking iota of epistemic ratification.
He is smart. He is educated. He has nice shoes. All will be
tortured into he is smart, for a black guy; he is educated, for a
hispanic guy;, he has nice shoes, for a white guy.
So how does one compliment a melanin possessing person with out
having to worry about some guilty white intellectual midget
impugning the unspoken implication? Do you have to have like a big
banner or something? A disclaimer? Have friends who happen to be
black?
And if you think keyes and jackson are articulate, and speak of
anything substantive other than white people suck, I suggest you
turn off the television and read more books.
|1.31.07 @ 6:03PM|#
"Given that there aren't really objective criteria for whether
someone belongs to a socially-constructed group, their social
identity would seem to be the relevant arbiter."
But given that we're talking about a "socially-constructed"
concept, whatever the fuck you want to call him would seem to be
the relevant arbiter.
Suppose he self-identified as libertarian. In spite of a handful of
positions that could be reasonably viewed as libertarian, he is
your run-of-the-mill liberal. Although there's obviously no cut and
dried rule, I think most people would agree that to be libertarian
you have to be less than 50% statist. His votes have yet to show
this.
On the same note, because of his mother, I don't want to call him
solely "black," even if he identifies as such. To be black you have
to be less than 50% non-black.
Just because a spade says it's a club doesn't mean you should call
it one.
|1.31.07 @ 6:20PM|#
"So, basically, it is a no-win situation for any white person to
give any person with melanin a compliment."
No, Troy, there are just a certain number of pitfalls that people
with even the slightest experience in a multi-racial society know
to avoid.
"He is smart. He is educated. He has nice shoes. All will be
tortured into he is smart, for a black guy; he is educated, for a
hispanic guy;, he has nice shoes, for a white guy." None of those
have even the slightest history to back them up.
We're not making this up; there actually is a history of
"articulate" being used in a "soft bigotry of low expectations"
sort of way in regards to black people. Those other examples you
gave - you just made those up. Rest assured, no Hispanic men are
going to get riled up if you compliment their shoes.
...unless you add, "and they aren't pointy at all" afterwards.
|1.31.07 @ 6:29PM|#
andy,
"But given that we're talking about a "socially-constructed"
concept, whatever the fuck you want to call him would seem to be
the relevant arbiter."
No, "socially constructed" does not mean "determined through
individual behavior."
The idea that American currency has economic value is socially
constructed. That doesn't make it any less real.
BTW, once upon a time, the social construction of race actually was
determined by looking at their % of black ancestry. That isn't the
case anymore.
|1.31.07 @ 6:30PM|#
Joe:
I don't doubt the history. And I don't doubt your sagacity
either.
But you fail to answer the question. How can I ever compliment
someone without someone questioning my motive based soley on what
other white people have done in the past? Please tell me how you
are going to avoid the fallacy of unfalsifiability?
|1.31.07 @ 6:47PM|#
I'm not a fan of Biden, but this is a good illustration of the
triviality of a lot of politics or media-coverage of politics. So
Biden may or may not have been offensive in his comments. He may or
may not have made a racist remark depending on how you interpret
him. Jesus Fucking Christ. (I hope that last comment is offensive,
though I'm sure it has no chance of being interpreted as racist
unless you're extremely creative.)
Even Bush's obviously idiotic comments like "I am the Decider" I
wouldn't mind so much if he didn't behave so idiotically in things
like, ummmm, foreign policy.
But yea, the important thing is that we elect someone who never
says anything even remotely offensive. Because God forbid, the last
thing we want is a President who might hurt our feelings.
|1.31.07 @ 6:51PM|#
Troy,
There really are only a limited number of pitfalls to stay away
from. Just be aware of the history; that's all I can say.
|1.31.07 @ 7:09PM|#
I don't see what's so offencive about it, but I'm a white dude.
I understand the arguements why it might be considered racist, but
I didn't read that much into it.
I mainly think that people are overly sensitive and egotistical so
that they think everyone is always talking about them.
|1.31.07 @ 7:58PM|#
joe,
"BTW, once upon a time, the social construction of race actually
was determined by looking at their % of black ancestry"
No... in the past you were viewed as black if you had any traceable
quantity of black blood (or among the more liberal racists, more
than 1/8). Today you are viewed as black... if you have any
traceable quantity of black blood. The difference is that now it
can be an asset to be "black," or at least to say you are, whereas
in the past it was almost exclusively a liability.
That's what bugs me, even though the denial of one's whiteness went
from something forced on people (resulting in people trying to
"pass" for white) to something chosen by people, it's still denying
one's whiteness.
On a similar note, my mom has told me about her grandmother who hid
the fact that she was half-American-Indian. I don't know what tribe
because back then it was a liability to not be totally white and
she hid her heritage from even her own granddaughter. I think
that's a great shame because I feel that one should not be ashamed
of who one is; and that's just what people like Obama are doing-
not being real to [all of] their heritage.
|1.31.07 @ 8:02PM|#
EXCUSE ME?!?
Did you actually call TNR liberal? The New Republic liberal? Not
likely. Democrate Party Hacks maybe.
Calling TNR liberal, is like calling Stalin Conervative.
|1.31.07 @ 8:07PM|#
Oh and
"Liberals are giddy about the prospect of Obama kicking the
last generation of black leadership to the curb. But they get very
angry at people who say this."
Since you say liberals (plural) could you provide a list? I haven't
seen this. Or is this like "all conservatives hate black people"?
Just an assumed fact?
Don't worry, I won't sweat your lack or reality based reasoning
when you can't point out any of these "liberals".
(TNR=liberals...gawdamn I am still laughing at that one...and
Buckley is a libertarian, and Goldwater was a facist...this is
fun...and you, Mr. W, must be a wobbly, well using your kind of
logic)
|1.31.07 @ 8:21PM|#
Obama's clean? He's an Illinois Democrat. So's Ms. Rodham, when
you stop and think of it. Is it possible to be a
Chicagoland Donkey and not have dirty hooves? In Barack's case,
it's his connections to indicted fixer Antoin
"Tony" Rezko that cast doubts on his purity. That sweetheart
land deal seems so 1992, doesn't it?
Regarding The Rev. Mr. Jackson, his self-enrichment while leading
Rainbow/PUSH is legendary. And he is indeed "articulate", but he
has that irritating-to-us-honkies trick of speaking "blacker" in
front of exclusively African-American crowds. I believe the
socialistologists and linguists call this "code-shifting." White
guys try it too, when they try to play up an ethnic, rural or
regional connection with a crowd. It's not any more appealing when
we do it, and, Ghu-help-us, downright cringe-inducing when it
involves "hip" slang, or trying to establish some credibility with
African-Americans.
Kevin
|1.31.07 @ 8:22PM|#
andy,
I feel for your loss of heritage, because I am in the same (but
rather different, due to adoption) circumstance. I have figured
that I am somewhere between 1/8 and 1/4 Native American. I don't
plan on exploiting that fact, but until I'm able to put in the
effort to compile my own ridiculously convoluted family tree, I'm
left in the dark as to what exactly my true heritage is.
Best I can tell, I'm 1/4 Native American, 1/2 German, and 1/4 some
type of mutt.
edna|1.31.07 @ 8:33PM|#
"articulate" means that he's not complicit in killings (like
sharpton), embezzlement and extortion (sharpton and jackson), or
total lunacy (like keyes), his other so-called black predecessors
for presidential candidacy.
it might also be a sly crack at shirley chisolm's unfortunate
speech impediment.
non-Ann|1.31.07 @ 8:39PM|#
Ann Althouse: Smarter than Ann Coulter
Not even close You don't have to agree with anything she says to
realize Coulter is brilliant
She can adlib her shtick at top speed
"She is quite articulate for a White girl"
And at least Coulter makes her $$$ in the private sector-not
leaching off the public teat
to produce MORE lawyers
|1.31.07 @ 8:43PM|#
andy,
"Today you are viewed as black... if you have any traceable
quantity of black blood." I don't think that's true. A
white-looking guy who self-identifies as part of white family, but
how had a black grandfather, would universally be considered a
white guy with a black grandfather. At least where I'm from
(Massachusetts).
Georege A Custer|1.31.07 @ 8:48PM|#
jf,
Exploit what? Damn near everybody thinks they have a Redman in the
woodpile-unless you are an enrolled member of a Federally
recognised tribe you can't be anything but a minstrel-show wannabe.
Blood ain't got nothing to do with it.
Most of your Mexicans have more "Native-American" blood than your
average Casino stakeholder.
Oh Yeah they aren't looking to share-the sovereign tribes are
purging their rolls to increase the casino take for the real
indians.
|1.31.07 @ 8:52PM|#
If the Libertarian party could come up with a clean (in the sense of non-lunatic), articulate, black, white or purple candidate, no one outside lunatic circles would notice, and the lunatics would be furious.
|2.1.07 @ 1:10AM|#
If you don't know the problem with the word 'articulate', then
you're either sheltered or not American or maybe some sort of
statistical anomaly.
I mean, 'articulate' is right up there with 'uppity'. It's a
racially-charged word. Maybe 50 years from now, it won't be.
|2.1.07 @ 2:55AM|#
No Dave, I just haven't known a lot of black people.
But I'm not racist because I've got a couple black friends. ;)
|2.1.07 @ 5:05AM|#
The thing that is racist-sounding about this is not that he
called Obama "articulate and bright and clean" it's that he called
Obama the "first mainstream African-American who
is articulate ... [etc.]." It's not insulting to Obama,
it's insulting to all other African-American leaders up to this
point in history, implying that they were lacking in one or more of
these attributes. He's saying that it is extraordinary that Obama
has these qualities because, you know, usually those
African-American chaps are all so inarticulate or dim or
unclean.
It's insulting the same way saying "Joe Biden is the first
mainstream European-American who is articulate and bright and
clean" would be insulting to all other European-American leaders in
the past (even moreso in Biden's case, since he is apparently
lacking in at least the first of these attributes).
Michael Hampton|2.1.07 @ 6:42AM|#
"Articulate," "bright" and "clean" were words used to describe more valuable specimens of slaves in the South. The statement is perhaps the most offensive thing anybody could possibly say, solely on that point. But it might get him some votes in the South, for exactly that reason.
|2.1.07 @ 7:36AM|#
"Most of your Mexicans have more "Native-American" blood than
your average Casino stakeholder.
Oh Yeah they aren't looking to share-the sovereign tribes are
purging their rolls to increase the casino take for the real
indians."
No, dipshit, most of your Mexicans have "Native-Mexican" blood and
their ancestors had nothing to do with the US tribes that now have
the casinos. Nice try though.
edna|2.1.07 @ 7:52AM|#
it's that he called Obama the "first mainstream
African-American who is articulate ... [etc.]." It's not insulting
to Obama, it's insulting to all other African-American
leaders
did you actually watch the interview or read the transcript? he was
talking about presidential candidates, not
so-called "leaders." and this is a perfectly accurate statement.
compared with the assorted fruits and nuts with recent african
ancestry of the right pigmentation (gotta exclude those boers and
copts from calling themselves african-american, eh?) who have
actually declared candidacy, obama is the first one who could
express coherent thoughts and can't credibly be charged with
criminal activity.
god, that whole notion of racial "leaders" is nauseating.
George Custer|2.1.07 @ 8:44AM|#
andy,
Mexico isn't part of North America?
Nice geography education you've got there.
|2.1.07 @ 10:02AM|#
On the other hand I think the point our man Weigel, in his
colorblindness, is making is that Obama is articulate compared to
anyone. Especially our current president. I'm tempted to vote for
him just so I don't have to wince every time our president opens
his mouth.
If all a black guy has to do to be called "articulate" is speak
English better than Dubya, I'd say we're practicing the soft
bigotry of lowered expectations.
|2.1.07 @ 10:04AM|#
BTW, I think we should cut Biden some slack. I think he was just repeating something he heard Neil Kinnock say in one of his campaign speeches.
|2.1.07 @ 11:13AM|#
In judging any spoken statement for veiled racism, insert the
word white for black or Caucasian-American for African-American and
reread.
e.g., Smith and Dungy are the first AA NFL head coaches to coach a
Super Bowl. Statement of fact and part of the intent of the
statment, no hidden meaning implied or reasonably inferred.
In Biden's comment the superlative was unnecessary and therefore,
suspect. And for a politician, exceedingly stupid to say in
general.
|2.2.07 @ 8:42AM|#
"It is considered offensive to call an African-American man
"articulate."
Well, at least I don't do it very often.
|2.2.07 @ 6:16PM|#
some racist,
If I were one of those people who like to proclaim a "winner" of
the thread, you'd get the medal. Great line.
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