Bill Clinton was right. SuperTuesday is a day when millions of Americans will have a chance to weigh in. I look forward to Clinton supporters of all races putting this Obama thing to rest  What annoys me most is that the media is focused only on black supporters of Obama. They pit us against each other and, sadly, it always works. I advocate debate but currently the dedate is terribly one-sided. The Clintons, particularly Hillary, have always support edblack interests and I'm glad that they are willing to do so in the open--instead of hiding and whining like Obama.  Sniff, sniff, sniff, look what they said about me.  Man-up!

It is still a sad day in this country when we as black people are still falling for the old divid and conquer. Read your history black people, the Dems were the white mans party and so was the repbulicans I know that during the 1800's blacks were the majority of the republican party however, theyalways spoke for us. Those were disaffected Dems that wanted controll so they bought our votes and they surpress our ideals and unfortunately they are still able to do it in 2008 let's wake up. Your Brother!!!

"The Clintons, particularly Hillary, have always supported black interests..."  Really? Just what is it that the Clintons done that is so great on behalf of blacks?  Cut welfare?  Refuse to intervene in Rwanda? Play golf with Vernon Jordan?

What infuriates me about the flimsy rhetoric inherent in black positions like those of Laureate and Marc Lamont Hill is that they ignore the importance of what Ralph Ellison once called those events "vibrant with that power to stir the depths of emotion and memory that is released by deeply meaningful symbolic actions."  

I reject the idea on its face that a "centrist" black candidacy like Barrack Obama's would prove less beneficial to blacks than a "progressive" white candidacy.  (By the way, Billary is and has always been "centrist".)  That kid in Newark, New Jersey who today sees himself only in the face of Young Jeezy or Gucci Mayne could see himself tomorrow instead in the face of the president of the United States of America.  And what, I wonder, do you and all the Bob Johnson's of black community think that might be worth?

--Thomas

If Obama survives the primaries and win the nomination, the attack dogs from the right, with a few moderate to conservative democrats thrown in for good measure, will have a field day, discrediting, denegrating, and outright alienating Obama.  He will be portrayed as a terrorist sympathizer, if not an outright terrorist to a vulnerable and compliant American public, particularly those in the midwest and south.  It will the 21st century version of the rescontruction scares, of fried chicken, drinking and wild dope parties, going on the the oval office, the rap music blaring from woofers.  If you think the swiftboaters of the 2004 were savage on Kerry, you "ain't seen nothing yet".  And believe me, Karl Rove and this band of henchmen arwe waiting in the wings (pun intended) for an Obama primary victory.  Have you noticed how "lovingly" the conservative pundits are soft-peddling Obama in the press.  OBAMA BEWARE STRANGERS BEARING GIFTS!!!

blackspeak, that is not the consensus opinion.  it is widely discussed that a Billary campaign would be the easiest for Republicans to defeat, as in, e.g., Frank Rich's withering op-ed in Sunday's NYT:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27rich.html?em&ex=1201669200&en=548b245a1aa01a0d&ei=5087%0A

And even if they do try to Swiftboat Obama--is the potential of victory not worth the fight?

blackspeak,

I think the Clintons' actions are preparing the country for any smear campaigns.  Using race is going to be a tricky "weapon" for the republicans.  Just like during the Civil Rights movement, white society could not continue to say America is the land for "everyone" while at the same time keeping black folk down.  Now, in 2008, it will be hard to say "everyone" has an opportunity but at the same time use race as a wedge.  At least that is my hope.

This is such a sad day for many African Americans. I am voting for Barack Obama. Any other time in the voting history you go into that booth and HOPE that the candidate you have chosen is who they say they are. Yet when it come to an African Amerian candidate every wants to be down in the mouth. As African Americans what canidate should we start with. ? sadly I believe it doesnt matter what African American candidate comes along and in what year they come along in African Americans will continue to be divided so therefore we will always place ourselves in the position to be defeated. Barback Obama is fit to stand in the white house just as much as Hillary Clinton or John Edwards. We as a people will bet on anyone else but our own. DARE TO BELIEVE.

As a woman of a certain age I have been waiting for a viable candidate for decades. A candidate that I feel can represent me as honestly and fairly as possible. I lived the Civil Rights movement and came out with one certain piece of knowledge, if you define yourself as only a person of color you are limiting yourself and setting the stage for how others define you.  I don't have the luxury to vote on color, I need a leader in office that in my opinion can create a unified America, get us out of the war, heal the economy and make my life better. Knowledge, experience, contacts, past results are all factors. When I vote to choose the person that will affect my life deeply and for several years I have to look past color and so should you. If you believe that Obama is the PERSON that fits the role,  vote that way, as will I for Hillary. In this way I refuse to be limited by my color,  by white society or black society.

However, this turns is anyone's guess.  We simply do not know with any great certainty that Hillary will win the nomination, but believe that the fight will go all the way to the convention.  I do see that the Clinton machine is beginning to show signs of wear and tear and Obama is driving the point home that they are past and we need to look toward the future.  What is interesting about the win in South Carolina is that not only did African American come out to vote, but Obama managed to get people come out.  More than half-a-million came out to the polls on Satuarday, but he received 295,091 which more than the 295,000 people in total that voted in 2004 SC primary.  Obama manageds to receive 25% of the white vote and more than 60% of young vote.  This is not a conventional campaign, and Obama is vying for votes where most candidates do not even make an attempt to go after.  I think it's an interesting race, and we will have to wait to see what happens.  As for the Clintons, yes super Tuesday will be more of a gauge, but it will interesting to see if their strategy of making Obama the black candidate will work as even white people have noticed how they injected race into the campaign.  Time will tell

You know the one thing that riles me more than the old school politicians who have greased palms and whose hands are elbow deep in the pockets of the Clintons are the young, educated African Americans who have the same characteristics. I am talking about the ones that have a vocal platform. The one who support African American causes daily but when it comes to Barack Obama and his dominance in this Democatic race, they punk out and cry foul. Here is how young, maladjusted African Americans sound to me: "Dem white folks ain't gon vote fer no Negra. them white folk ain't gone allow th'is to happen. I like that Barack fella but I sho nuff is worried bout what the white folk think". SHAMEFUL.

Wake up! This is the year 2008, not 1920. Many of use may live in the present physically and carry themselves in that manner but it's your mental process  that ancient and out of touch. They sound like that drug dealer who believes that his life is only viable until his death at teh age of 30 years old. This political race is going to be hard and no one expects it to be easy. The situation with the Clintons in South Carloina is no suprise: This is america and althought many African Americans believe in the Clintons and  what they have "done" (it just an illusion) for us. remember, they are white first and foremost. The Clintons have worked black folk to get where they are, giving away crumbs to blacks who gladly take them (now the Clintons are calling in their markers, ie Charlie Rangle, Robert Johnson, Magic Johnson) and now both Hillary and Bill's political careers are at stake.

Are we suprised that the Clintons would resort to racial tactics? I'm not and millions are suprised. It's the few who have little or no common sense and try to remain bias in their decision making that believe in that rhetoric. Blacks have the right to be bias and choose anyone. but remember, whites have been doing this for centuries. Coddling blacks for thier gains. There is nothing new here.

In addition, endorsing the Clintons are a bad move right now for many "closet" African Americans. The Clintons are becoming laughing stocks in the Democratic Party, espically after the Kennedys endorsed Obama and the reputation that the Clintons will have after this primary. These blacks still have to live in the black community, have to get re-elected and have to save face. What a fish bowl we live in.

So for the ill informed andcomon sensed challenged. wake up and see what's happening here and quit depending on the validity of white folks. Beleive in your own people and stop worring about your image and your pocketbook. Think! The change that Barack Obama stresses need to be done for everyone.

Mr. Hill,

Obama has the most liberal voting record of the candidates who are currently running. How does that make him an "old school centrist"?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/03/mirror_mirror_on_the_wall_whos.html

You have to do more than just not drink the Kool-Aid.

First and foremost let me say this; a politician is a politician is a politician.  They are all pretty much the same, "A politician".  I am a professed non-conformist.  I don't consider my self democrat, republican, independent or libertarian.  Because, I must confess a part of each platform appeals to me.  The politician I look for is the one who's the bravest.  Give me a politician that is not afraid to go against the grain of their prospective parties in favor of what they truly believe (and I believe) and they get my vote no question.  

I've read a lot regarding Kool-aid in this blog.  Lets be honest readers if you back a candidate, any candidate, from any party, your drinking someone’s kool-aid.  It's just a matter of whether they prepared it to your liking.  Too much sugar, maybe?  Not enough lemon, no too little?  Not exactly your flavor, yeah I prefer purple.

Some people will try and bring this extraordinary chance at history as a black vs. white issue.  In some ways they're almost right.  Its not "vs." it's "and", a "black and White" issue. In the long run it's about change.  With that said remember there is "strength in numbers".  We must not be divided less we get conquered.

Oh yeah by the way I'm boogying too.  Actually at my age it's more of a two step.

Thanks for the posting -- interesting exchange. I don't take issue not with the substance of your argument, but with the frame of it. As you probably know, the phrase "drink the Kool-Aid" refers to the way that over 900 people died by murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana in 1978, by ingesting cyanide-laced fruit punch, at the instigation of the camp's leader, Rev. Jim Jones. Jones was white, and about 75% of the people of Jonestown were Black. Some of the people may have been injected with cyanide, and many of the elders and certainly all of the children were given the poison against their will -- if the kids even understood what was going on. The racial dynamics here were complex, but in any case it seems an odd choice of metaphor to talk about drinking Obama's Kool-Aid.

"Understand the sense of pride".  Young man you don't "understand" it, you "feel" it.  Since when has a sense of pride become a bad thing?  

"But these feelings do not automatically form the substance of progressive politics.”  Wow, "form the substance of progressive politics".  Progressive politics can be simply defined as saying what ever it takes to get elected.  So to me placing the term substance with progressive politics really is a dichotomy of terms.  Progressive politics has not substance.

"While it’s true that hope has always been the predicate for Black resistance, I’m deeply skeptical of the idea that an Obama victory represents resistance to anything except a legitimate Left-wing movement."  

First of all HOPE, has been and will always be the predicate for all struggles through out the world and for all time.  "Resistance" If you’re saying that the black man in America should resist the status quo then ok.  Our struggle has never been a resistance to anything; it's what it has always been.  A STRUGGLE!  "LEFT-WING MOVEMENT” sounds like politi-speak and it is coned and used by politicians to divide the American people along distinguishable lines.

“I agree with you that Obama’s landslide victory in South Carolina will only serve to reinforce the idea that Black folk are a political monolith.”  Ok explain how this is a bad thing.

I think that all of us Black, White, Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans should understand one thing.  Politics in America is not about race it's about economics.  it has been that way forever, it's just been more visible since the Reagan era.  The war that's raging in America today is about class and economics plain and simple.  At no time in our nations history (except maybe in the 30's and 40's) has class and economic warfare been waged against the american people with such success.  It has succedded in turning American against American.

I agree with Marc's assessment of the 'black' phenomena!  To begin with, this campagin should not be about race, but about the issuea that are seemingly driving this great nation to ruin.  We should not vote for a person, simply because he/she's black.  or simply because of his/her gender.  It's almost unbelievale that so many black people are banking on Obama's being elected president, that they seem to forget precisely what the issues are!  And honestly speaking, I've yet to hear what it is that he's bringing to the table orther than 'blackness'.  

Mr. Hill,

The Democrats nabbed between 88 and 90 percent of the black vote in 2004, which was a slight dip from the 2000 election. Even factoring in votes  third-party candidates, it's safe to say that black voters *are* a monolithic group.

Black folks, who are going to follow this political season, have to get thicker political skin. These political love taps between Hillary and Barack are just that love taps. The Media and everyone made such a big deal of the 10 min (or less) word exchange between the two during the SC debate. The debate was almost two hours! and for the most part all three candidates were very respectful of each other,(it was not like they talked about each other mama!) but all the media wants to do is harp on the word exchange and take sound bites from this little exchange.

My point? This is nothing compared to what is coming to whomever the nominee may be. It?s going to get UGLY, PERSONAL, AND NASTY, TRUST ME!! And if Barack can?t handle this light weight attacks he would never make it (don?t think his drug use or his name will not come up and come up big!). If he tries to play it off when the attacks come they will say he is weak and unfit to lead(maybe not say it outright, but imply for sure) If Hillary tries to play the ?Don?t pick on me because I am a woman?(she got her one political cry for the year) she will lose bad. (to her credit she already been there and knows how bad the game can get) Some say well Barack is trying to change the game. There is too much money involved, too much power at stake to completely change the rules of the game. Like football if you don?t like to tackle or get tackle(or whine when you do, you hit to hard!) then you can?t play this game! Politics is a serious tough demanding arena and if you can?t handle the public scrutiny then go teach Phys ED somewhere because you will not last. Who remember that GoodTimes episode with the old political steward vs the New Upstart(yeah Old school) The seasoned veteran started to play the dozen and the new candidate wanted to talk about the issues. The new candidate was right to speak to issue, but he failed to show that he could get down and dirty and he never capture the ear of the people(as a matter of fact he lost the attention). Now I am not saying or suggesting to play dirty politics to win, but you have to be able to stand up and take those blows and give some back.

I do think that a competition is good. Some say just go with Barack, give the brother a chance, or go with Hillary it time a woman got a chance men have screwed up enough, I don?t agree with nether of these notion. I?m sure almost everyone here had to interview for their job (maybe up to three rounds) and these candidates are applying for one of the most important jobs in the world. They can?t just be allowed to get the job on some BS or with out some tough questions(that?s what happen with our current president and see what we got) the issues are to important for a free Pass

I plead with my Black community don?t get side track! And get more political savvy. Understand the issue of the Black community and push for those issues (not matter who you?re backing) don?t allow the media to get you all

.

Black Folks Have to get a Thicker Political Skin

Black folks, who are going to follow this political season, have to get thicker political skin. These political love taps between Hillary and Barack are just that love taps. The Media and everyone made such a big deal of the 10 min (or less) word exchange between the two during the SC debate. The debate was almost two hours! and for the most part all three candidates were very respectful of each other,(it was not like they talked about each other mama!) but all the media wants to do is harp on the word exchange and take sound bites from this little exchange.

My point? This is nothing compared to what is coming to whomever the nominee may be. It?s going to get UGLY, PERSONAL, AND NASTY, TRUST ME!! And if Barack can?t handle this light weight attacks he would never make it (don?t think his drug use or his name will not come up and come up big!). If he tries to play it off when the attacks come they will say he is weak and unfit to lead(maybe not say it outright, but imply for sure) If Hillary tries to play the ?Don?t pick on me because I am a woman?(she got her one political cry for the year) she will lose bad. (to her credit she already been there and knows how bad the game can get) Some say well Barack is trying to change the game. There is too much money involved, too much power at stake to completely change the rules of the game. Like football if you don?t like to tackle or get tackle(or whine when you do, you hit to hard!) then you can?t play this game! Politics is a serious tough demanding arena and if you can?t handle the public scrutiny then go teach Phys ED somewhere because you will not last. Who remember that GoodTimes episode with the old political steward vs the New Upstart(yeah Old school) The seasoned veteran started to play the dozen and the new candidate wanted to talk about the issues. The new candidate was right to speak to issue, but he failed to show that he could get down and dirty and he never capture the ear of the people(as a matter of fact he lost the attention). Now I am not saying or suggesting to play dirty politics to win, but you have to be able to stand up and take those blows and give some back.

I do think that a competition is good. Some say just go with Barack, give the brother a chance, or go with Hillary it time a woman got a chance men have screwed up enough, I don?t agree with nether of these notion. I?m sure almost everyone here had to interview for their job (maybe up to three rounds) and these candidates are applying for one of the most important jobs in the world. They can?t just be allowed to get the job on some BS or with out some tough questions(that?s what happen with our current president and see what we got) the issues are to important for a free Pass

I plead with my Black community don?t get side track! And get more political savvy. Understand the issue of the Black community and push for those issues (not matter who you?re backing) don?t allow the media to get you all

What is most disheartening are the laundry lists of excuses that Negroids in America are using to convince themselves that Obama isn't the man for the job.  Its like the slave falling in love with his/her chains. I have a hypothesis.  If Black America does not galvanize behind this cause, we are done.  This is our last time for revolution, and if we dont' seize it....its over. We aren't ever coming together on ANY OTHER ISSUE.  It's a rap.  Kiss our progession goodbye!  Let us imitate the Black folks in SC and support this brotha!

What's even more funny that Black folks have labeled Bill Clinton as the 1st Black president, but when we finally get a viable candidate, we go for the White woman.  How flawed is our logic.  I digress.  So, go ahead. Let the excuses flow. I can't wait to read your reponses (exsuses) to my message.

Why can't Hillary fight her own fights ? She has Bill out there spreading lies and trying to divide the nation for their own political benefit. America is better and smarter than the Clintons think. The Kennedys got turned off by the Clintons because Bill was being an underhanded sleaze who was trying to pull whatever card he could to win.

Message to Billary: You can't be the president of the UNITED States if you're trying to DIVIDE us. This election has more to do with CHARACTER than it does with RACE or GENDER.  

I want to see the Obama Campaign rewarded for being such an inspiration, and for representing politics in a way that makes us all want to be involved. I feel America  would be a better country. He would restore our good name with the rest of the world.  

All the excitement hides a sad reality. Things will not change much if at all.  We have more elected officials then any ethnic group in America, yet we are dead last in earnings, jobs, business start0ups, education achievement, life expectancy, net worth and the list goes on.  We are first in murder, abortion, bankruptcy, poverty, crime, school drop outs, foreclosures, HIV/Aids, HUD voucher recipients, divorce, illiteracy, incarceration, and teen pregnancy.  At what point does this “power” produce “results” and not just change for the very few and nothing for the masses. I am so over this election is it ridiculous. Keep in mind a million brothers showed up to the million man March and nothing. I was there. Symbolism should never trump substantive results. If it Period.

I was also at the Million  Man March, and if nothing happened for you, then that's a personal problem. Seeing THAT many Black men in one area for the purpose of prayer and Atonement (whether you believe in those things or not) was amazing! Never before seen and possibly never to be seen again. There is a benefit where each individual sees a benefit.  In relation to Obama as President, to many, just his winning would serve as a success in the THOUGHT that things in America or changing.  That alone will inspire many to move further ahead in life than they would have.  As far as political issues being resolved by his becoming President, like I said in the other Blog post by your nemesis, Obama can only do what he has the financial backing and physical protection to do!

Anthony Stewart

Narrator

The Mis-Education of the Negro Audiobook

http://www.themiseducationofthenegro.com  

I, like Lacewell, held my nose in the voting booth while voting for Clinton the second time (after N.A.F.T.A., after welfare reform and after the bombing of the medicine factory in the Middle East) and Kerry.  I mailed in my and my White boyfriend's absentee ballot on 01/15 with Dennis Kucinich as our choice in the primary.  It is his platform that most correlates with my progressive leanings.  I don't regret my vote now that Kucinich is out of the race. I voted the party line in the past and I was disappointed with the outcome.  After 2004 I decided to vote dogmatically rather than pragmatically in the hopes that when my now 3-year-old nephew is old enough to vote, there will be some true progressive choices on the slate for him.

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