"Ghetto" speech relates partly to class, but is largely a personal choice not about race. The concept of the "articulate black man" is problematic. And the presidential candidacy of logorrheic U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) is bruised after he said last week of rival contender Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois), "you got the first mainstream African-American" presidential candidate and he is "articulate," "bright," "clean," and "nice-looking....that's...storybook, man." Eugene Robinson jumps all over that "articulate" thing. Booker Rising too. Stressing alleged rarity of black verbal skills, the now regretful Biden edged toward a class of pitying "progressives" - who through support of quotas and concerns about racial "disparities" and "social justice" - express doubt African-Americans today can surmount "conditions" and control their destinies. That's actually a far worse insult than, "Wow, he doesn't talk like a thug."
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 03, 2007 09:45 AM | Email ThisAnd while on the subject of worthless Senators (except as fodder for cartoonists) I submit:
John Kerry Has Five Pairs of Hearts
Huh? What? Are you sure? Really?
Well the problem is the naysayers really don't understand what he was really thinking. His comments were taken out of context.
Most importantly the Honorable Senator Biden has a plan.
I can't wait until he goes on Larry King and Oprah so he can get the truth out.
I also heard he's writing a book: "Some of My Best Friends Are Negroes." I can't wait until he comes to Seattle for a book signing.
Judge people by their actions, ideas, work ethic, values, etc. and not by their color, other physical attributes or random assignation to a "class" by either themselves or a Marxist Progressive demagogue.
Posted by: Jeff B. on February 3, 2007 11:38 AMThe article highlights the degree to which identity politics - judging and categorizing people by their physical characteristics and ethnic background - is interfering with the use of objective political criteria as a means of judging candidates.
The article, by Rachel L. Swarns (entitled "So Far, Obama Can't Take Black Vote for Granted") makes the point that some American blacks hesitate to support Obama because he is of mixed white (Kansas-born mother) and African (father born in Kenya) ancestry as opposed to being a Black American descendant of slaves.
I don't support Barack Obama, of course, but that's because I don't agree with his views, and because I don't agree with the philosophy of his party. In all fairness, Obama's candidacy should be judged on his political views and governmental philosophy, not on the color of his skin, or the color of his parents' skin, or on the geographical birthplace of his parents.
The article quotes columnist Stanley Crouch as saying "When black Americans refer to Obama as 'one of us,' I do not know what they are talking about."
And it quotes author and essayist Deborah J. Dickerson as declaring "Obama isn't black" and adding, "I've got nothing but love for the brother, but we don't have anything in common. His father was African. His mother was a white woman. He grew up with white grandparents. Now, I'm willing to adopt him. He married black. He acts black. But there's a lot of distance between black Africans and African-Americans."
There are about 20 or more announced or prospective candidates for the presidency, and I suppose there will be a few more before it is all over.
They should be judged by the content of their character, their political views, their governmental philosophy, and their qualifications as a leader.
There are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for liberals to support Obama and/or Biden, and there are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for conservatives to oppose Obama and/or Biden.
Posted by: Steve Beren on February 3, 2007 12:59 PMBased upon what I've heard, I'd call him "loquacious."
Posted by: Obi-Wan on February 3, 2007 01:26 PMJust like PC anti-profiling. We will be bitten by that when the next terrorist attack occurs.
Biden is done, the left will not support him, and he sure isn't a republican!
Posted by: Old Sgt on February 3, 2007 01:51 PMBut I think that Eugene Robinson reads way to much into "articulate", as he expressed in the last four paragraphs. Not to say that he shouldn't be bothered, like I said, it sounded so condescending. But doesn't it seem like Biden thinks that there's nobody quite as good as he is anyway? I think that condemning "articulate" into some sort of white culture "code word" for a "good" black is way off base. I certainly don't take the word articulate in that manner and don't know anybody who does. If that was the case, after 56 years on the planet you'd think that somebody would have clued me in by now. The way I see it, if somebody is articulate, they are articulate and there's not many of them around. Bush sure isn't one of them, and I know Joe Blow would disagree, but he's not one of them either. Or, worse yet, maybe he is.
sadly, most of those elected gassbags just talk & dont think. occasional dumb comments aside (and we're all allowed some) the REAL issue (and threat to us) is Obama's (or any candidate's) VOTING RECORD. that's my interest--their intrusions into my life, business and pocketbook. most importantly, their social engineering experiments on our societies and military.
who cares about an asinine politician's foot in mouth--i care about the many (liberal) government mandates (feet) on my head. Don't tread on me!
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on February 4, 2007 06:00 AM
The thing that bothered me much more was the "clean" part. Does Biden believe that Blacks have poor hygeine? Even a Democrat ought to have to resing over that.
Posted by: km on February 4, 2007 12:04 PM(Pause)
Hey Joe, clear stuff with me first, willya?
Nyuk nyuk nyuk
Posted by: Rey Smith on February 5, 2007 08:42 AM