he doesn't have to pick clinton if he picks one of her prominent supporters who also helps him round out the ticket. as the party pulls itself together again it should be possible the find a clintonite who works well with obama.

Posted at May 7, 2008 9:58 PM in response to So how does Obama graciously NOT name HRC VP?

In addition to the items folks mentioned about Obama's proposed plan, I felt Obama clearly stated that we need to address economic disparities to help heal racial divisions. People of all colors need to work together on creating educational opportunies as well as ensure that there is economic security for struggling communites, again across all racial categories. Once you understand the issue and can discuss it then you build a coalition based on common interests, which different races really do share, despite the polarization that asserts itself when polarizatoin proves an advantage to powerful people and/or interests.

Posted at March 19, 2008 11:27 PM in response to Obama was not a Unifier yesterday. He was a Pied Piper doing damage control.

i don't know how i feel about this superior/subordinate relationship you want politicians to set up with their religious leaders. maybe i'm reacting more to the words themselves, but it's seems unfair to ask a member of a congregation to set themselves up as above their religious leaders. i think you're right that we should ask our leadership to preserve the separation of church and state and be willing to make decisions that go against certain religious dogma, but surely they can do that by addressing specific issues? I don't expect politicians to leave their faith outside the door of government offices, simply because i think it's not realistic. i do ask them not to allow their faith to be the sole authority when they make decisions.

also--when has a catholic politician rebuked the pope? and in this post JFK world has something the pope said been cited as a cause for catholic politicians to rebuke him? i'm not saying your stance is wrong (i think catholics in high profile positions should take issue with the pope when they disagree with him) but i don't think most people actually feel the same. different religions/denominations get different treatment

Posted at March 13, 2008 2:15 PM in response to Crazy Like an Uncle

i agree that these remarks from wright are politically troublesome for obama, and don't reflect what I believe is his broader message. I think he should officially remove wright from any leadership positions to avoid the appearance that he is a 'scary black nationalist'.

but I don't feel comfortable asking him to denounce his minister. i feel it's enough to indicate that one disagrees with the view of one's religious leaders. i'd add that i don't think we would be having this conversation if obama was catholic and the pope said something we didn't like or was politically sensitive. the fact that he is african american and goes to a church which focuses on the african american experience is what makes this such a volatile issue. i think we should allow our political leaders to participate in their religion/church of choice. we shoudl only be concerned when that religious belief takes a prominent and destructive role in a candidates policies and political stances. I think obama has made it clear that he is not a monolithic thinker and has made policy and political decisions based on a broad range of opinions and ideas.

Posted at March 13, 2008 1:10 PM in response to Crazy Like an Uncle

ah, if only. she passed away in 1995.

Posted at March 12, 2008 11:53 PM in response to Poll: Hillary Up By 18 Points In Pennsylvania Primary

thanks for reminding us that all southern white men are not racist. i know a few very fine white southern men who support obama, and aren't going to be swayed by race baiting.

the behavior of the hillary campaign on this issue is appalling and one of the concerns i had about her candidacy; it seems she will do anything if it's politically expedient at the time.

Posted at March 12, 2008 11:23 PM in response to Tattooed White Trash For Obama - Rejecting Ferraro

this criticism is NOT coming from the obama campaign. i haven't seen a single statement from them on the issue.

Posted at March 12, 2008 10:47 AM in response to NY Times: 3AM Ad Contains Racist Undertones

just so everything is out there, the clinton campaign says there was an african american child in the ad (and showed a picture of said child). i think TPM posted the response from clinton's folks yesterday.

i guess it was a biracial family. after all, wasn't the mother white?

Posted at March 12, 2008 10:43 AM in response to NY Times: 3AM Ad Contains Racist Undertones

my assertion that obama faced racism does not equal an assertion that women don't face sexism or that your father beating you doesn't impact your life. i think you made a huge and really unproductive leap.

i'm not going to ask you to prove that sexism exists, because i think anyone who halfway pays attention and isn't biased can acknowledge it does. the same goes for racism. it's in everyday interactions, comments, looks, etc...

i'm not trying to create a hierarchy of -isms, but you seem to say that racism doesn't count as part of obama's experience because he didn't have it as bad as other people did. that's nonsense. does sexism not affect hillary because she didn't have it as bad as women who are beaten by their husbands and end up homeless on the street?

i'm not asking anyone to give him a 'pity' vote. my questions was whether or not you really though racism didn't impact obama's life.

Posted at March 11, 2008 1:45 PM in response to Geraldine Farraro Says Obama Is Lucky He Is Black

i think it's fair to call both candidates middle class. but the idea that a middle class black child in the united states has the same experience as a middle class white child is nonsense. regardless of your income, if you are a black american, you face racism. are you really making the argument that obama's race didn't impact his upbringing?

Posted at March 11, 2008 11:32 AM in response to Geraldine Farraro Says Obama Is Lucky He Is Black