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What must Obama say to the "Race Card!"-whiners? Is there a good defense against it, in preferably in ONE soundbite?
Republicans and racists have been master in crying foul, whenever a politician dared to bring up any sort of racial issue.
The way this works is this:
A politician says something race-related like, "African-Americans are racially profiled extremely in this place" or "African-Americans are under represented in the job-market" or "African-Americans are unfairly denied bank loans" and republicans or racists very effectively kill that issue by screaming: "he's played the Race Card!!"
Some how that is seen as sooooo unfair to whites, all conversation stops, most voters think: "those blacks are getting an unfair advantage, so f ... them all!" and the election is lost.
What can be done about this? Anyone has any ideas to an effective rebuttal?
Comments (11)
I know this is tasteless but I couldn't resist...
Once you vote black you'll never go back!!!
Peace.
May 14, 2008 1:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they are saying it just because it is Bizarro day.
May 14, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure there is a quick, easy way to switch off a racist. Because that's what this is really about - when you call someone on racism, or on racial pandering, or exploiting racial divisions, that's when they say you've played the race card.
Ultimately, these people are not going to vote for Obama anyway, whether he has a quick riposte or not. Better to have a good affirmative message going forward and appeal to the better natures of those on the fences.
May 14, 2008 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama always deflects it by saying that we can rise above our differences.
May 14, 2008 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
yes, opus, I'm aware of that, and perhaps thats' best, however, when I myself am debating i would like a good riposte of this ;)
May 14, 2008 2:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Grouch,
Robert Heinlein said about that:
"Don't appeal to someones better nature, they might not have any."
This is jest, surely, but with serious and sad undertone.
May 14, 2008 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
You sound angry. You look angry.
May 14, 2008 2:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
You got anything else or...is that it...!?!?
May 14, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can tell you on one point that bank loans are not denied to black people based upon race. Credit score, income, rental history, and debt may disqualify, but not race.
And as an aside, I work in the mortgage industry and some of the most exploitive expensive and borderline illegal loans I have seen being pushed on black people are almost always being pushed by black loan officers. Same thing happens with hispanic folks. No one screws you over like the guy you trust.
Next time you think you are being denied a loan, go to an online resource where they only see a name and number, and forget the local guy.
May 14, 2008 3:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know this is tasteless but I couldn't resist... Once you vote black you'll never go back!!!
Peace.
That made me laugh!
May 14, 2008 5:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
yes, that was pretty funny.
and No one screws you over like the guy you trust. ??
That made me think of the jewish jew hunters in WWII, same principle, but more lethal.
May 16, 2008 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
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