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Will TPM be calling Obama the Black President of the United States?
Earlier today, Eric Kleefeld, posted <i>In a further sign of political decline for Hillary Clinton, African-American Congressman Donald Payne New Jersey has now switched his allegiance from Clinton over to Barack Obama. "It's time now for us to pull our party together," Payne told the Newark Star-Ledger. ... Obama has also picked up Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), while Hillary has gotten freshman Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA).</i> Please note that Rep. Peter DeFazio is not preceded with "White" or "Italian-American."
I strongly denounced his use of African-American Congressman to identify Donald Payne, and a very very large number of readers strongly agreed. This is a throwback to less progressive times. Eric later added <i>"Later Update: Just to clarify a certain point, Payne's switch does beg the question of whether Hillary's statement about winning more white voters has alienated her in any way from black supporters"</i> If this is an attempt to justify the AA identification it doesn't.
A 5:10 pm google search of the term <i>African-American Congressman Donald Payne </i> yields one result -- TPM. I got 31 hits with <i>Congressman Donald Payne</i> Eric has so far refused to edit the post. I thought this was a progressive blog.
Comments (27)
I felt the same way when TPM reported on Clinton losing her 'biggest Hispanic fundraiser' a couple weeks ago. It's irrelevant, inelegant, and brings the narrative to a screeching halt.
May 9, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hispanic fund raiser makes sense if it applied to a fundraiser whose job is to raise funds from hispanics, but not the way it was used here.
May 9, 2008 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Witches of Salem have
RETURNED !!!! This time, they have
reformed themselves as RACISTS !!!!!
Everything is RACIST!
Everybody is RACIST !!!!
RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST !!!
GET THE WHITE RACISTS !!!!
BURN THEM AT THE STAKE!!!
May 10, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is for "Present" since NO ONE can reply to him.
Anyways.........
You do know that you look like the "ignorant" one here right?
Because they never TYPED nor implied that it was RACIST.
They are saying that the media is playing into her "White vote" headlines. And yes, allot of people have associated that with being "racist" but they never said that they agree with that assessment.
Its just not necessary to continually catergorize people by race first and in places where it is inappropriate.
May 10, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I protest his misuse of the phrase "beg the question."
May 9, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you're ok with the "Black President" thing?
May 9, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Ladies and Gentleman," ... "the black president of the United States"
May 9, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, I'm not sure he's going to get that far.
The general American population isn't going to
allow itself to be intimidated like the
democratic party delegates.
May 10, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't Think of a Black Man- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SDHxaYhqAo
May 9, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROFLAO! Thanks a whole bunch! I almost busted a gut!
May 9, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Serves you right that your tags didn't work. Lighten up.
May 9, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
No ones tags work. The reference is stupid an offensive. I expect TPM to behave progressively and not be a throwback to the error when Jim Crow was on it's way out.
May 9, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, don't lighten up!
Your tags still won't work!!
May 9, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
The tags in a new post don't work.
May 9, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll refrain from further attempts at humour and let you carry on your rant unimpeded.
May 10, 2008 7:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Earlier today, Eric Kleefeld, posted In a further sign of political decline for Hillary Clinton, African-American Congressman Donald Payne New Jersey has now switched his allegiance from Clinton over to Barack Obama. "It's time now for us to pull our party together," Payne told the Newark Star-Ledger. ... Obama has also picked up Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), while Hillary has gotten freshman Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA). Please note that Rep. Peter DeFazio is not preceded with "White" or "Italian-American."
May 9, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
era
May 9, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree and recommend this post. I reject and denounce the superfluous use of unnecessary labelling by racial and/or ethnic tags.
May 9, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Following Eric lead:
May 9
New Clinton endorsements:
White Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Carney
Switch from Clinton to Obama:
African American New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne
New Obama endorsements:
Unknown Maryland DNC John Gage
Hispanic California DNC Ed Espinoza
Hawaiin Female Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono
Unknown New Mexico Add-on Laurie Weahkee
African American South Carolina DNC Wilber Lee Jeffcoat
Unknown California DNC Vernon Watkins
Unknown Virginia DNC Joe Johnson
New superdelegate:
Pacific Islander Guam DNC Ben Pangelinan
May 8
New Obama endorsements:
White Washington Rep. Rick Larsen
White North Carolina Rep. Brad Miller
May 7
New Clinton endorsement:
White North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler
Switch from Clinton to Obama:
White Virginia DNC Jennifer McLellan
New Obama endorsements:
White North Carolina DNC Jerry Meek
African American California DNC Inola Henry
May 9, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm disappointed with many so called "liberals" and their refusal to address their subtle and overt racism.
These fake progressives are why I have nothing to do with California or NY. Supposed Blue States and the most racially hostile places I've ever lived.
Let's coin a new phrase - Ferraro Democrats. A Ferraro Democrat is a covertly racist liberal who doesn't show his or her true essence publicly unless under fire. Ferraro Democrats are known to have "black friends" donate to urban or minority interests and put on a good act as being fond of diversity. In reality Ferraro Democrats have never spent time with their "black friends" outside of work, never had an African American in their home as a guest, have gone out of their way to undermine some person of color behind closed doors, are fond of racially hostile jokes etc behind closed doors. When confronted, Ferraro Democrats will vehemently deny being anything but totally unbiased.
May 9, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ferraro Democrats! That's hilarious, and they are out there, you're right.
To your blue states as hostile places, have you ever heard Randy Newman's song, "Rednecks"? Give it a listen sometime if you haven't. It's a genius critique of blue state racism.
May 10, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree this should be edited. Also, I believe Eric isnt racist. Two things happen IMO, (1) we unconsciously buy into the racial devisions narrative defined by the MSM and HRC, ignore the prejudice of definitions by skin color (et all), and apply (sometimes unwittingly) the overgeneralization in further inappropriate ways, now that the demeaning discussion is desensitized, and (2) reporters overuse labels to be succinct and to make points they think are understood, or to make points indirectly to avoid confrontation. I think Election Central often finds itself defining the news in terms of HRC paradigms, which isnt surprising since everyone in media basically has since March. She has dictated the rules of debate, and subtle racism is A-OK.
May 10, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama supporters don't stop saying or implying that the Clintons are racists, Obama may never get a chance to be the first black president of the United States.
May 10, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with pistolpete's appraisal of the situation. I think that Clinton's campaign has put race distinctions en vogue. But it is part of our responsibility as active participants in TPM to occasionally bring the journlists back into progressive and civilized society. Selectively making race the master status of African American officials is not cool. Seriously Eric, you should be mindful of that in the future and acknowledging this post would probably go a long way for a lot of your readers. You are way too good for that.
May 10, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto F, let's just say that whether I feel like Clinton is a racist or running a racist campaign is irrelevant. I do not think that calling people racists is the best way to solve race relations. Obama never wanted his presidential race to be about race (intened double entendre), and many of his supporters like myself are in accord with that sentiment. She has publicly told the world that only she can get working class whites. Obama tries to get away from race, but Clinton keeps draggin him back into the race fight. Call it what you like. In fact, what would you call it?
May 10, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Willyam,
I really like both of your comments.
May 10, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now you guys, calm down. As an African American, I can say that it doesn't matter me. He's black isn't he? He's going to be the first BLACK president. Therefore people are going to mention race in a way to analyze every single thing. Stop worrying about silly stuff.
May 10, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
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