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Paulson: Injecting race in campaign
Obama must have constructive dialogue on racism
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Barack Obama has promised to be a uniter and to help Americans bridge racial barriers. But, by claiming Republicans will be trying to scare voters by suggesting he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills" or stressing his affirmative-action experience and the racial challenges ahead, Obama keeps inserting race into his campaign.
Obama's Web site highlights his experience as an activist: "As a community organizer, Obama helped 150,000 African-Americans register to vote. As a civil rights lawyer, Obama litigated employment discrimination, housing discrimination and voting rights cases."
Obama, in a speech at Howard University, highlighted the work yet to be done should he become president: "The teenagers and college students who left their homes to march in the streets of Birmingham and Montgomery; the mothers who walked instead of taking the bus after a long day of doing somebody else's laundry and cleaning somebody else's kitchen — they didn't brave fire hoses and billy clubs so that their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren would still wonder at the beginning of the 21st century whether their vote would be counted; whether their civil rights would be protected by their government; whether justice would be equal and opportunity would be theirs. ... We have more work to do."
To be certain, some discrimination and racism still exist. But, instead of pointing to thousands of black Americans who have succeeded, who have worked to achieve their own "American dreams" and using his campaign victory as the presumptive Democratic candidate for president as a sign of what Americans of any race can do, he continues to play to the victim-thinking mentality.
Contrast Obama's comments with those of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: "It was my mother and father, who, despite the fact that I was growing up in Jim Crow Alabama, always had me convinced that I could be president of the United States. They always taught me to just look past the obstacles. Either blast through them, or assume they're not in your way .... Growing up where I did in Alabama probably gave me a healthier respect for how far we've come. I don't carry anger about that period of time. I think it made me, and people like me, stronger. I just refuse not to be optimistic. You only have one life. And if you spend your entire life seeing obstacles and seeing clouds and assuming everybody's out to get you, then I think you're just likely to waste your life, and I'm just not going to do that."
Voting for or against someone because of the color of his skin is a form of racism that should be un-American. The first black president of the United States should earn it the old-fashioned way — by combining experience, leadership acumen with compelling policy priorities that excite the electorate. Obama's lack of proven leadership experience, his inconsistent policy stands and nonexistent legislative track record leave much to be desired as a president. One's race and oratory eloquence may win a candidate a few standing ovations and votes, but they're not the top qualifications needed for the most important job in our country.
Obama has called for constructive racial dialogue. Unfortunately, he often complains when anyone reacts to any of his racial references or statements. Candidly talking about racial issues doesn't make you a racist any more than being aware of gender differences makes you a sexist.
Dennis Miller said it well: "I could care less about the color of Barack Obama's skin, but the thinness of it is starting to wear on me."
If Obama continues to bring up race in this campaign, let's hope for a thicker skin for all of us and a little less name-calling on all sides.
— Terry Paulson, Ph.D., of Agoura Hills is a psychologist, speaker, author and host to the politicaltalk.org blog. Contact him at terry@terrypaulson.com.
Posted by mikeb6804 on August 18, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama has very little to show for qualifications of any sort. It's amazing how he has managed to get a big political party behind him. Doesn't say much for the party. And I think there are plenty of racial issues, not only in his past, but in his present outlook.
Posted by laurarmc on August 18, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When republicans stop running ads full of "hot" white women who "dig" Obama, then maybe I'll talk about who is injecting race into this campaign.
The republicans and the McCain campaign have been taking coded racial shots at Obama for months, and acknowledging and responding to that makes him the racist. Ridiculous and insidious playground games.
And don't tell me that the White house appointment of Condaleeza Rice wasn't trumpeted by the Bush administration as evidence of his lack of racism, his desire for "diversity".
Posted by tabularasa on August 18, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since every one of Paulson's commentaries the last couple of months has shown him to be a shill for the McCain campaign, shouldn't there be the tag line "I'm John McCain and I approved this message."
Posted by nannyfo1 on August 18, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama's staff has a serious challenge ahead of them. Generally, the VP choice is at least slightly less qualified than the presidential nominee. How on Earth are they going to find someone less qualified than Obama?
Posted by nelsonknows on August 18, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
C'mon folks, it really doesn't matter what Obama says or does or represents or promises. I firmly believe that the people supporting Obama would still support him if he mutilated children if front of his house on national T.V.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on August 18, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paulson is pretty much a shill for all things Republican.
Yes, I am concerned about the sparse track record of Obama. On the other hand Bush's track record was spotty at best. Presidents past have had varied records....things good and bad, successes and failures...it's hard to know.
On the other hand, Wes Clark had it right, being a fighter jock (a relatively singular occupation unlike Eisenhower, Wes Clark, Al Haig, or even John Kennedy who at least commaded a boat full of men) that then gets shot down...well, a true story of heroism...but to lead? Hmm.
As for Barack injecting race, didn't Bush the 1st do that with Willie Horton? Just by being black, and the first black man to seriously have a bid at the Presidency, he has injected race into the mix. This is so non-news.
There will be a variety of statements during this campaign on the race issue, good bad and indifferent but they I think will be more about our growing pains towards diversity than what either candidate says on the issue.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 18, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom_Johnston, Obama is by far the worst racist to run for President since David Duke. Would you agree that if John McCain had attended a single KKK or Aryan Nation meeting, he would not only be disqualified for President, but would not have a seat in the Senate? Black Liberation Theology is every bit as disgusting and racist as the Klan and the Aryan Nation and to sit in a "church" for over 20 years, while Jeremiah Wright espoused and quoted James H Cone's; "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love." is pretty disgusting. Racist? You'd better bet Obama is a racist.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 18, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As for Wes Clark, noticed he's shut up since he's been reminded of his complicity in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act in 1993.
tabularasa, what does that make you, an Obama shill?
laurarmc, the past 2 Secretaries of State have been black and are the highest serving blacks ever in our Government (since the Constitution was ratified)
Obama won't even be the first black President, that would be John Hanson who served as President under the Articles of Confederation from November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on August 18, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry, but equating Obama with David Duke is just way over the top.
No, I would NOT agree with any of your statements. I think they are in themselves at a minimum illogical, if not delusional, or flat out racist.
Sorry Nel...despite the self-congratulatory screen name..I don't think you know squat!
I think you are just blowing a lot of hot air there Nel...marginal for folks that actually think, irrelevant in the long run.
Just plain dumb.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 19, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom_Johnston, it seems as though you are just a shill for Barack Obama. You are just another in a long line of smarmy leftists who are intimidated by fact, who post ridiculous blather online but are afraid to retch their putrid nonsense in public.
Have you READ James Cone? Do you even know who Cone is? Do you know Cone's relationship with Jeremiah Wright? Had you ever heard of James Hanson until I mentioned him? Did you know David Duke is and was a Democrat?
Don't blame me for your ignorance, I tried to explain nicely what the history of my screen name was but apparently you suffer from esteem issues so you become a waste of my time.
Have a nice day!
Posted by laurarmc on August 19, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love it when people who know nothing about theology in general go on about the dangers of liberation theology.
And no, don't bother responding, or going to conservapedia to look up some definitions. I don't think you have the ability to grasp complex philosophical and historical themes, so the study of theology probably isn't for you.
Posted by bugmenot on August 19, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nelsonknows, meet jw1000.
you two can sit together and call the other party hitler, or the nazis or the KKK or whatever it is you do in your free time.
Just so you know, both of you are so over the top you make your respective parties look bad.
Posted by bugmenot on August 19, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama's staff has a serious challenge ahead of them. Generally, the VP choice is at least slightly less qualified than the presidential nominee. How on Earth are they going to find someone less qualified than Obama?
too bad mcCain is taken.
actually, i wouldn't be surprised to see Obama choose an (R) for his veep.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 19, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
laurarmc, another pathological leftist lunatic who gags on fact, pretty laughable. Too bad you don't read anything outside of leftist drivel.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 19, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
high_society, what's the matter, does the truth scare you THAT much?
Posted by Scapegoat on August 20, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really don't think Obama can steer himself away from his associations: Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis. These guys are really out there in left, left field. He has glossed over his relationship with each.
Jeremiah Wright-he never heard those blasphemous sermons
Bill Ayers-just a neighbor
Frank Davis-he was just a mentor, a poet
Come on people, wake up.
Posted by Scapegoat on August 20, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Obama picks Bayh.
Can you imagine: bye bye Obama Bayh!
Posted by jjohnjj on August 21, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW - Obama's line about "Presidents pictured on the dollar bills" is a RESPONSE to an attack ad put out by the McCain Camp.
In that one they photoshopped his face onto the presidential seal, Mount Rushmore, and yes... a dollar bill.
Now WHO played the race card?
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