This writer is a black female. She's in one hell of a spot on this. Just like a LOT of Democrats.
Obama the target of dangerous code words
January 14, 2008
LAURA WASHINGTON LauraSWashington@aol.com
American politics has never been more uplifting than in 2008. The Democrats are running a rainbow race of their best and brightest.
Sen. Barack Obama is battling to become America's first black president. Sen. Hillary Clinton yearns to be the first woman in the White House. Both are viable and electable -- the first of their kind.
Campaigns are about words. I am hearing some words that are tapping into the most dangerous part of the American psyche.
This nation was built on racism. Its economy blossomed from human cargo shuttled across the sea and sold into slavery. Our black ancestors were shackled, raped, brutalized. They were lynched, burned, bombed, hosed, executed.
We can't ignore our history. It is still with us. Kelly Tilghman, an anchor for the Golf Channel cable outlet, recently remarked on the air that younger golfers looking to beat golf star Tiger Woods could "lynch him in a back alley." Our women are called nappy-headed whores. Six black teens were terrorized by noose-bearing white youths deep in Jena, La.
The residue of our racial heritage is seeping into the presidential debate. Listen to these dangerous words:
Sen. Joe Biden noted that Obama was the first "mainstream" African-American candidate "who is articulate and bright and clean."
Clinton supporter and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey noted Obama's personal history in the Washington Post, singling out his full name: Barack "Hussein" Obama.
Bill Shaheen, a national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, warned that Republicans would go after Obama for his admission of youthful drug use. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?' "
Former President Bill Clinton suggested to PBS's Charlie Rose that Obama supporters were willing to "roll the dice" on an inexperienced candidate.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says of the presidential campaign: "It's not a TV-crazed race, you know, you can't just buy your way through that race. ... You can't shuck and jive at a press conference."
Their words raised hackles. Apologies followed. We like this Obama guy, they said. We meant no harm, they said. We were misunderstood, they said.
They may have meant one thing. But many will hear something else.
Obama is "the other." He is dangerous. He is hustling, criminal, back-alley black man.
Racial code words are not new to American politics. The Rev. Jesse Jackson joked about "Hymietown." George H.W. Bush trotted out Willie Horton. A campaign ad starred a Playboy-esque blond bombshell beckoning to Senate candidate Harold Ford. George Allen had his "macaca" moment.
This campaign must be different. Hillary Clinton's stunning New Hampshire upset last week came courtesy of her overactive tear ducts, the pundits say.
Obama had just beat Clinton --badly -- in Iowa. She is tired, defeated, maybe afraid.
At a New Hampshire coffee shop, a woman asked if she was OK. Clinton teared up, her voice quavered: "I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want to see us fall backward," she replied. "This is very personal for me -- it's not just political, it's not just public."
Listen to the words. "I just don't want to see us fall backward." Backward to what?
To that black man. That black man who beat Hillary. That black man who made the white woman cry.
White New Hampshire voters came to her rescue. Poor Hillary. Don't worry -- we will protect you. We will save you.
Our racial wounds are deep, their impact subliminal. Words have consequences. In these sensitive times, they can activate our most unconscious fears and tap the deepest recesses of our ugly history. Every black man in America knows it. Especially Barack Obama.
Listen to the words.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/739385,CST-EDT-laura14.article
Obama the target of dangerous code words
January 14, 2008
LAURA WASHINGTON LauraSWashington@aol.com
American politics has never been more uplifting than in 2008. The Democrats are running a rainbow race of their best and brightest.
Sen. Barack Obama is battling to become America's first black president. Sen. Hillary Clinton yearns to be the first woman in the White House. Both are viable and electable -- the first of their kind.
Campaigns are about words. I am hearing some words that are tapping into the most dangerous part of the American psyche.
This nation was built on racism. Its economy blossomed from human cargo shuttled across the sea and sold into slavery. Our black ancestors were shackled, raped, brutalized. They were lynched, burned, bombed, hosed, executed.
We can't ignore our history. It is still with us. Kelly Tilghman, an anchor for the Golf Channel cable outlet, recently remarked on the air that younger golfers looking to beat golf star Tiger Woods could "lynch him in a back alley." Our women are called nappy-headed whores. Six black teens were terrorized by noose-bearing white youths deep in Jena, La.
The residue of our racial heritage is seeping into the presidential debate. Listen to these dangerous words:
Sen. Joe Biden noted that Obama was the first "mainstream" African-American candidate "who is articulate and bright and clean."
Clinton supporter and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey noted Obama's personal history in the Washington Post, singling out his full name: Barack "Hussein" Obama.
Bill Shaheen, a national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, warned that Republicans would go after Obama for his admission of youthful drug use. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?' "
Former President Bill Clinton suggested to PBS's Charlie Rose that Obama supporters were willing to "roll the dice" on an inexperienced candidate.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says of the presidential campaign: "It's not a TV-crazed race, you know, you can't just buy your way through that race. ... You can't shuck and jive at a press conference."
Their words raised hackles. Apologies followed. We like this Obama guy, they said. We meant no harm, they said. We were misunderstood, they said.
They may have meant one thing. But many will hear something else.
Obama is "the other." He is dangerous. He is hustling, criminal, back-alley black man.
Racial code words are not new to American politics. The Rev. Jesse Jackson joked about "Hymietown." George H.W. Bush trotted out Willie Horton. A campaign ad starred a Playboy-esque blond bombshell beckoning to Senate candidate Harold Ford. George Allen had his "macaca" moment.
This campaign must be different. Hillary Clinton's stunning New Hampshire upset last week came courtesy of her overactive tear ducts, the pundits say.
Obama had just beat Clinton --badly -- in Iowa. She is tired, defeated, maybe afraid.
At a New Hampshire coffee shop, a woman asked if she was OK. Clinton teared up, her voice quavered: "I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want to see us fall backward," she replied. "This is very personal for me -- it's not just political, it's not just public."
Listen to the words. "I just don't want to see us fall backward." Backward to what?
To that black man. That black man who beat Hillary. That black man who made the white woman cry.
White New Hampshire voters came to her rescue. Poor Hillary. Don't worry -- we will protect you. We will save you.
Our racial wounds are deep, their impact subliminal. Words have consequences. In these sensitive times, they can activate our most unconscious fears and tap the deepest recesses of our ugly history. Every black man in America knows it. Especially Barack Obama.
Listen to the words.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/739385,CST-EDT-laura14.article
