"This Is Your Nation on White Privilege"

Strong, to quite strong. (Shots of Absinthe to Ocho and Nice)

Comments

[Ocho Ocho]

I love Klompus and his bruising intellect. I am not so articulate as this letter. But I think it really refines the differences in treatment.

What sat you Klompus? Some substance here no?

[Newman]

I fear white gun enthusiasts more than black people with guns. No question.

[Assman]

Most of those are just examples of partisan politics. The only valid examples of white privilege are the first, second, third, sixth and the eleventh ones he offers. They are very good examples though.

And one more was incomplete...

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

No, white privilege is being able to corner the votes of a demographic of people who look like you (and not your competition) without being told that you're only winning because of your race. Nobody ever tells white guys that they're only winning because they're white.

[Newman]

And to be fair, that pastor talked about the historic effects of racism on black people by calling white people "white devils" or something like that and accusing them of creating HIV.

Other than that, the guy has some points I can't argue with. If Obama had a 17 year old pregnant daughter, I bet it would be used against him vociferously.

[Newman]

Assman, plenty of people are suggesting that McCain is winning because he is white.

[Ocho Ocho]

"White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action. "

I think this one is very valid.

[Dingo]

More race baiting by Obama and his supporters. I'm shocked.

[Assman]

Assman, plenty of people are suggesting that McCain is winning because he is white.

I hear he's winning because his opponent is black.

[Newman]

Well, Josh Howard is voting for him because he is black.

[Ocho Ocho]

Dingo,

Race exists. And it matters.

[Ocho Ocho]

Can anyone not agree with Newman's post. If either Obama girl were of age to have kids and was pregnant. It would be all "see!"

Can you really say its irrelevant. I am baiting a bit. It would be different if the issues were invalid.

Could a black man or woman who attended six colleges get a job, let alone on the Presidential ballot?

[Newman]

I'm pretty sure a black man who attended six colleges could get a job.

[Dingo]

Ocho,

Do you have a problem with this?

[Ocho Ocho]

Digging ditches? Probably. Or some other menial job or entreprenuerial gig. However, I doubt he would be taken seriously as a political candidate, especially a national one.

[Ocho Ocho]

I do have a problem with that. I have a problem with that and any other untrue add posted by either party.

So back to the issue at hand. Do you deny the claims that if BO's daughter were pregnant he'd be lambasted and if he went to so many schools we would never had heard of him?

[phil]

More race baiting by Obama and his supporters. I'm shocked.

Deny it all you like, but this is a factor in this election. Hillary is the one who came out with it most directly, by saying she was more electable than Obama. The reason she gave was round-about, and she took a lot of flack for it. But it boiled down to the fact that southern white rednecks were more likely to vote for her than him. Why do you think that might be??

[jackie]

More race baiting by Obama and his supporters. I'm shocked.

Did you or did you not steal the baby?

[Dingo]

Do you deny the claims that if BO's daughter were pregnant he'd be lambasted and if he went to so many schools we would never had heard of him?

If those were his defining characteristics then probably not. However, if he were a governor, then we probably would have heard of him.

I do have a problem with that.

I'm glad to hear you say that. Obama could have used his race as a strength (get beyond race, post-racial, etc.) as he did in the beginning of the primary season, but if that's not who he is then I understand why he couldn't keep it up. I know plenty of white people that want to vote for a black candidate for exactly those reasons. But it's pretty annoying for him to engage in race-baiting and then say race is the reason he's losing.

[Dingo]

Did you or did you not steal the baby?

I ate the baby.

[Jack Klompus]

"White privilege is, in short, the problem."

Personally, I think white privilege is equally present at the root of the "progressive movement." They have no power without black disillusion. They reinforce white advantage to diminish hope in a way that paints them as the only solution. Then they attempt to bully free-thinking blacks that dare venture from the herd by labelling them as Uncle Toms or traitors. Their white privilege is the oversight of black empowerment.

So fuck Tim Wise and his white guilt. Explaining white privilege through the appointment of Palin as a VP candidate is utterly retarded. Exploiting race discrimination for the purpose of personal partisan politics is particularly demeaning.

[Mr. Kruger]

Race exists. And it matters.

Wrong. Not until the myth of race is deconstructed is it ever going to be possible to see an end to racism. You can't change the actions without first changing the mindset.

[Dr. Tim Whatley]

If Obama had a 17 year old pregnant daughter, I bet it would be used against him vociferously.

I bet it would too. I don't think that it would be used against him by the candidates themselves, but you can be damn sure that it would be broadcast at every bar, water cooler and other place potential ignorance is broadcast...aka 'public opinion'.

[jackie]

Wrong. Not until the myth of race is deconstructed is it ever going to be possible to see an end to racism. You can't change the actions without first changing the mindset.

Wrong. Never happening. Never. Ever.

Let's try to keep it real.

[phil]

Not until the myth of race is deconstructed is it ever going to be possible to see an end to racism. You can't change the actions without first changing the mindset.

True, but pie in the sky at this point.

Wrong. Never happening. Never. Ever.

Hope you're wrong about that.

[Ocho Ocho]

"So fuck Tim Wise and his white guilt. Explaining white privilege through the appointment of Palin as a VP candidate is utterly retarded. Exploiting race discrimination for the purpose of personal partisan politics is particularly demeaning. "

Of all the women, strike that, all the people on earth, someone please explain why she was chosen? I posit she was chosen to help win an election, not for her immense qualifications.

[Ocho Ocho]

"Then they attempt to bully free-thinking blacks that dare venture from the herd by labelling them as Uncle Toms or traitors. Their white privilege is the oversight of black empowerment"

I personally am a free thinking black person. I think. I have voted republican before. I just cannot think of any other real reason that many people fear and loathe BO besides race.

[Mr. Kruger]

Let's try to keep it real.

So you think MLK was full of crap? interesting.

[Ocho Ocho]

If I may speak for Jackie:

He thinks he was a great man and changed things. He thinks that realistically we will not reach his promised land.

I used to think we could. But then after the recent genocides in Congo and Rwanda. And the age old hatred amongst Arabs and against Jews. I think people have to hate. Its what seperates us from the animals.

[Dingo]

I just cannot think of any other real reason that many people fear and loathe BO besides race.

I don't support him because he's the most liberal member of the Senate and probably the most far left-wing Dem nominee since McGovern.

[Dingo]

Of all the women, strike that, all the people on earth, someone please explain why she was chosen? I posit she was chosen to help win an election, not for her immense qualifications.

Can't it be some of both? Should he have chosen someone that would not help him win? As for qualifications, when Dem voters were choosing their nominee, were there any others that were more qualified than Obama?

[Mr. Kruger]

I used to think we could. But then after the recent genocides in Congo and Rwanda. And the age old hatred amongst Arabs and against Jews. I think people have to hate. Its what seperates us from the animals.

True, your always going to have the haves screwing the have nots- but you can, over time, dissolve the old notions of color. It wasn't always this way. It was manufactured by and for corporate interests. So I can't see why it won't eventually melt away.

[Vandelay]

Its what seperates us from the animals.

I got a cat you have to meet.

[Newman]

So do I. You would never think that a cat could have that much hate inside of him, until you meet Teak.

[Ocho Ocho]

I am not sure who is more qualified than BO to unite and make new policies.

Liberal. Whats more liberal than bailing out AIG and suspending short sales. Its just liberal policy to the haves instead.

[Mr. Kruger]

You would never think that a cat could have that much hate inside of him

Cats are wicked vengeful. They've broken up a few of my relationships. As a result, I won't date a girl who owns a cat. Not unless the cat signs an non-interference agreement and stays out of the bed room when I come over.

[Newman]

Of all of the girls that I've been involved with that have cats, their cats have been perfectly respectful cats. Gentle, even. They let you pet them!

[Mr. Kruger]

Of all of the girls that I've been involved with that have cats, their cats have been perfectly respectful cats. Gentle, even. They let you pet them!

No fucking way- you're lying. That's not possible.

[Dingo]

I am not sure who is more qualified than BO to unite and make new policies.

Wait a minute. I thought we were just talking about how he can't unite people because of white privilege. What about all the racists? What about all the small town rubes that cling to guns and religion? Doesn't that make him less qualified to unite if he can't get all these people on board? As for new policies, Kucinich has a lot more ideas than Obama. Biden is infinitely more qualified than Obama.

Instead of using Palin to explain white privilege, I think there is a better case to be made that the nomination of Obama capitalizes on white guilt.

[Mr. Kruger]

Instead of using Palin to explain white privilege, I think there is a better case to be made that the nomination of Obama capitalizes on white guilt.

Tim Wise's remarks were valid to one degree or another but certainly not very insightful. He had nothing new to offer and what he did uncork was a fancy light-show of finger pointing. Palin is an easy target- she is what she is, an antagonistic white trash hero. Likewise, cynical college punks are a dime a dozen and nobody except another college punk wants to listen to that either.
But to assert that the Obama campaign feeds off of "white guilt", whatever that is, is just stupid. Nobody votes out of guilt- please. Rather, most people voting for Obama recognize that McCain is another train wreck waiting to happen. He has no useful ideas, can not articulate his thoughts, contradicts himself (even on the same day), and chooses a running mate that's as politically divisive as George Bush. McCain might have had a shot if he hired some reasonably well-informed and honest staff to guide him but instead he has a political hit squad running his show and it stinks like hell.

[Dingo]

But to assert that the Obama campaign feeds off of "white guilt", whatever that is, is just stupid.

There are many Americans who harbor guilt because of the past. You don't know any white people that support Obama because they want to vote for a black person - to show they are innocent of racism? I personally know at least five people like that and I don't know very many people.

However, I was simply making the case that the article was weak and something that belongs on Daily Kos.

[soupnazi]

look, dumbasses--this race is a virtual tie, one leading today, the other tomorrow, so stop using "race" as an excuse for the black guy being behind when he aint! the fact that it IS a virtual tie should tell you that neither of these yahoos has enough strength in ANY area to put him ahead.

[Mr. Kruger]

You don't know any white people that support Obama because they want to vote for a black person - to show they are innocent of racism?

Not one. I think you may be misinterpreting people, or maybe these people are not being fully forthright with you. I'm not sure what you mean by "innocent of racism". Maybe a reformed skinhead? Sure, I can see that. But your average Joe is not thinking election day is equivalent to the confessional.

[jackie]

It wasn't always this way. It was manufactured by and for corporate interests.

Laughable.

[Dingo]

Not one.

Find a republican that is voting for Obama. Assuming they're not lying about being a republican or voting for Obama, find out why they support him. I can almost guarantee it's not because they like his ideas on higher taxes or socialized medicine.

[Mr. Kruger]

Laughable.

Go on...

[Jack Klompus]

"True, but pie in the sky at this point."

and

"Wrong. Never happening. Never. Ever."

You two have barely touched your soup. What's the matter? Do you not like the soup? It's fresh hope-and-change. Just try it. It's delicious.

[phil]

Not until the myth of race is deconstructed is it ever going to be possible to see an end to racism.

How timely is this:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26803840

[phil]

Could someone who knows what they're doing make that a link for me? Thanks..

[Schmoopie]

Hey, Dingo: First, stop eating babies. Just eat cats.

Second, you say you don't support Obama because he's too liberal. Clinton's voting record is not much less liberal than Obama's. Did you support her candidacy, or do you have little use for any Democrat?

[hdo45331]

Obama does not have all the answers, by any means. However, I believe he is honest and sincere, and cares about the people of this country, no matter what race or creed. If he surrounds himself with people who are intelligent in the areas of their jobs, and who are also honest, sincere, and caring, Obama will do a good job. Lord knows he (and the USA) has a long way to go, as the next four years and beyond will be trying. We have to start somewhere.

If the GOP wins the election, neither McCain nor McPalin will be making the decisions. It will be the same set of holier-than-thou crooks that have been running the country for the last eight years. Hell, Bush has not run the country; he is not even smart enough to give a good speech while using a teleprompter.

That, to me, is why Obama must win. There has to be a general housecleaning of the executive branch.