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Race, Sex, Religion

There’s something to piss off nearly everyone. 

Nicholas Kristof dives into the race-sex-religion thing, denouncing bigotry all over the place. He left out ageism, though. Also, anti-militarism. But because the “Hussein” Muslim fear-mongering is unfair to Obama, it’s up to Clinton and McCain to denounce it.  Not clear why they should be campaigning for Obama, or that Obama would necessarily want them to. It would be kind of embarrassing, to have to have your opponent carry your water for you. Unless Obama and Clinton plan on telling Americans it’s time to elect a cranky old white geezer and a cancer survivor for president. And Obama and McCain plan on talking up a woman for president. And Clinton and McCain plan on urging people to vote for a black man.

Personally, I’m less concerned with Obama’s middle name than the fact that he’s so soft on Islamic extremists, between the Iraq pullout plank and the pretty-please approach to Iran.       

Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell examines the race thing, says the bar is higher for Obama because he’s black, because it’s always higher for blacks. I dunno. Given his dearth of political or professional experience, his vapidity of platform, and how far he’s managd to fly on “hope/change” vapor, I’d say the bar is lower. In fact, as Kristof notes, the bar may be higher for a woman.  Definitely higher for Muslims. But he’s not one of those. Just has that awkward name thing, which really doesn’t seem to be holding him back much.

This gutless AP article dances around the nut of the race issue, finds creative ways not to say it, slams Republicans first, praises happy Democratic tolerance, slams Republicans again, but finally plugs in someone who suggests, indirectly … blue-collar Dems might be bigots. I like the way the expert calls that being “a racially sensitive group.” “Quintessential Reagan Democrats,” to be precise, whose “resentment can have social and racial overtones.” Also fun is how the article keeps insisting that what the quintessential Reagan Democrats are so racially sensitive and resentful about is Obama’s “strong support from blacks,” as opposed to … you know.  If he didn’t feel like it already, after he reads that, Obama’s gonna feel like Cleavon Little. But I see someone’s already made that joke. Those guys over there play rough.

This one’s a laugh. SF Chron: Europe’s minorities see hope in Obama.

 ”Europe has a number of female leaders in powerful posts,” said Tomas Valasek, a foreign policy expert at the Center for European Reform in London. “But what Europe hasn’t done is elect a person of color, a minority. If America does that, it would set a precedent.”

That’s pretty much what we do for Europe. Set precedents. America hasn’t elected a black president yet … and hopefully won’t elect this one, given his woefully inadequate platform and qualifications … but there have been at least three other presidential candidates, numerous congressmen, a Supreme Court justice, two Secretaries of State and a Joint Chiefs chairman … the latter three individuals all appointed by Republicans due to their indisputable qualifications, AP take note … several other Cabinet members, governors, mayors, police chiefs, etc. High-powered academics, lawyers, businessmen. War heroes. I’ve got bad news for you, Europe’s minorities. The Euros are bigger bigots than Americans. The Euros just didn’t have any minorities around … except the Jews and Gypsies, but we don’t need to get into that whole thing now … so it was easy for the Euros to pretend they were somehow superior. The difference is, while Europe has been sneering at America about racism over the last 40-odd years, America actually has been attempting to seriously deal with the issue. It isn’t an easy matter, but by and large it’s easier for America, because this is a society actually based on individual merit. OK, enough soapboxism.    

Related, Malkin on someone trying to eliminate racism, sexism in America.

As long as we’re Eurobashing, Tigerhawk channeling Moynihan on the culturalist presumption that someone with an exotic accent is necessarily more sophisticated.

Topics: media, pols, racism, sexism

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:09 pm on Sunday, March 9, 2008

3 Responses to “Race, Sex, Religion”

1. Dave Surls Says:
   March 9th, 2008 at 11:16 pm

   “Barack Obama’s skin color may cost him some working-class white voters…”

   Leftys are well qualified to comment on bigotry and bias, seeing as how 99% of it comes from their side of the political spectrum, with the above statement being a rather obvious example.

2. saltydog Says:
   March 10th, 2008 at 12:39 am

   Yep, Dave, and they’ve managed to institutionalize bigotry and racism in a manner that would stun the Old South, making poor blacks as dependent on political largess, by “right,” as any plantation slave. Just because they can complain about it doesn’t mean the oppression of dependence isn’t there.

   The other side of the story is a mutual dependence of progressive politicians, who beg to serve those they’ve oppressed. This is always the story when slavery of any sort is institutionalized. How do we tolerate and respect others when our relationships are based on the enslavement of all to all?

3. The Thunder Run Says:
   March 10th, 2008 at 11:25 am

   Web Reconnaissance for 03/10/2008

   A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.

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