I'm not buying your argument, Mark.

And I've been backing Obama for months now. But he was a complete fool to utter the words, "typical white woman."

People are going to blame Rev. Wright for killing Obama's campaign, but I think those three words are going to do it because those are OBAMA'S WORDS, not the words of a supporter.

You can get away from the words of a supporter, but you can't distance yourself so easily from your own words.

Obama needs to take immediate action by publicly apologizing for saying those words. He should have said, "a typical person." But his train of thought placed him at his grandmothers side and how he may have felt about her.

Let's face it, everyone looks at a white woman with a black child differently. She must have sensed it and resented it; and Obama must have resented her for it.

So therein you have a racial divide that led Obama to Wright's church of resentment.

The student (Obama) seemed to have surpassed the teacher (Wright), but then he utters the words, "typical white woman."

When I read it yesterday hidden in another SWAMP posting I said, he comes the tsunami. Now he's really cooked.

And apparently I was right.

Isn't the typical person white in this country still? Esp in Kansas? If this is what we can expect, Obama might as well start throwing th ekitchen sink back, because we have sunk to far down to get back up.

Obama said he was a transcendant person who was hope for the future but, he is just the same oh, same oh.
We learned painfully in the Jeremiah Wright tapes that Wright is the guy that put hope in Obamas head as a theme to con us.
We also learned Wright is a white hater period.
And as Ann Coulter said he threw his grandma off the bus for Rev. Wright and his hatred.
Obama is the puppet of Dickie Durbin and his invention so we really can't expect much of him
Durbin was in Springfield yesterday saying all these foreign nations have a bad image of America and pushing global warming and wanting to get rid of Abu Graib just as he condemned American soldiers as Nazis, Pol Pot or Soviets in their Gulag last year on the Senate floor.
Obama is a Chicago machine politician not an agent of change. His resume of 10 year Senator and three years in U.S. Senate is paper thin and hardly qualifies him to be President of the greatest nation on earth his running with Rezko, Wright, Weatherman Underground William Ayres speaks to his judgment he doesn't have any.
Durbin is wrong about our image in the world with Sarkozy in France and Merkle in Germany things are better every day.Many climatolgists have repudiated global warming because the statistics were poorly arrived at in fact this year the world is one degreee cooler negating warming from last year.
But, reason doesn't appeal to leftist socialists like Durbin and Obama.
If Obama is elected the tax increases plus $18 billion taxes on oil companies to be paid by us at the pump will make a recession a depression.
Durbin is concerned we have tax cuts during war time but then after the Cold War this Jackass asked for a peace dividend for welfare programs.
Enough already. Jerry White, Springfield, IL

So I guess the "one drop" rule in America still exists...Everyone keeps referring to him as an "Africa-American" when his mother is white...I am still stuck on that issue...

The deciding question is: Who would Elvis vote for?

Jerry:

Your manlove for Dick Durbin is getting out of hand. What does he have to do with this?

Can we start concentrating on the words of John McCain? Like not knowing the difference between the Shi'ia and Sunnni? And comparing the holiday of Purim with Halloween?

What is going to happen in the debates when McCain does not have Joe Lieberman whispering corrections in his ear??

If three words of "typical black person" were uttered by a white candidate, people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Barack Obama would jump up and down the street demanding apology and resignation. Obama was one of first fews who demanded firing of Don Imus even after Imus repetitively apologized.

Two things strike me about this whole Wright situation.

The first is that the speech appeals to people's intelligence, where this tape loop mess appeals to people's short-sightedness. Think about what we've had to put up with for these last eight years. Which of these kinds of appeals do you want the President making?

The second is that Wright was there to speak out on Bill Clinton's behalf when Clinton was under fire and about to be impeached; but now that Wright is under fire for unfair attacks that take his words out of context, Bill and Hillary are completely silent.

Ponder these, ladies and gents.

Oh my, oh my, oh my. What will you people glom onto next? "Typical white person" is all you've got? I mean, how can we talk about race unless we talk about white people and black people. How can we talk about race unless we talk about the real experiences, fears, anxieties, and unspoken anger that everyone carries around with them unless we acknowledge them?

I think it is a perfectly acceptable to say a "typical white person" in America might feel one way or another. Just as he might have said that the anger, fear, and frustration expressed by Rev. Wright are those of a typical, older black man in America.

Also, here's a warning sign. When you start agreeing with Ann Coulter about anything, you know you've gone over the edge.

Here this Mr. Obama says:
"... if we take the time to listen to each other, if we're honest with each other, if we're not trying to demonize each other, then we can solve problems..."
If you really believe in what you say then maybe you shoud stop demonizing white people. What a fake lier.

It makes me sad to read the comments here declaring that his campaign is now dead and that, obviously, he isn't the person they thought he was based on one soundbite statement. Apparently, the media soundbite looping is working. Didn't Obama say in his speech that we shouldn't judge his former pastor based on one opinion or sermon alone? One comment, one misworded statement, does not make a man. I'm disapointed that we can't rise above that.

It's been a really amazing last couple of weeks, and vividly illustrates just how off-track the Conservative media pundits & Republican party hacks can take an issue, any issue and twist it to their ends. And their "partner" Hillary.

Reminds me very much of kids in a schoolyard repeating and embellishing stories they've heard and adding their take onto to it just so they can start a fight between 2 other kids for their enjoyment.

If there is anyone on the planet who can withstand this, Barack Obama is it.

I mean that if anyone took the same energy and scrutiny to Hillary Clinton they would have rafts of substantial and factual associations with many high profile scandals involving money, sex, ambitions and scandal associated deaths.

As for John McCain,he's a relative moderate as far as Republicans but his political career pretty much lived and died on lobbyists money, and is an example of how Washington has been run in the past.

These personal attacks on Obama are actually getting so ludicrous that most people who have ACTUALLY LISTENED TO HIS SPEECHES, and LOOKED UP HIS POSITIONS on his website, where they are plainly printed for ALL to see, recognize them for what they are, a divisive tactic.

Now comes word that someone, somewhere put up some State Dept employees to look up his passport travel records, no doubt to look for some trip to an unfriendly country made 20 years ago when said unfriendly country may have been an ally...(sorry, going off on a tangent here...Republicans have made me paranoid :)

Anyway, those of us who have viewed Obama's speeches and actually looked up his statements in their entirety, in context of the entire conversation, are comfortable with who he is, what he's accomplished to date and inspired by his vision of how politics could be, can be and will be once he's President of the United States.

And I predict that once his initial 4 years is behind him, he'll have earned the respect & admiration of most Americans and many of our now distressed allies.

Having someone of his demonstrated intelligence might be a big difference from some of our now infamously dull presidents who played their way through college on daddy's money, didn't pay attention to anything other than their party affiliations and only serviced their financial backers point of view and ignored the very real concerns of Americans both white, black, asian AND brown.

Anyway, today Bill Richardson has endorsed Obama, and many Democratic Party big-shots have come out to admonish Hillary for her mud-slinging and going so far as to have given her implicit endorsement to McCain over Obama as far as foreign policy experience etc, and there isn't even a slight chance Hillary will make this campaign work now. And there's no-way she'll get 70-80 percent of each and every state left in the primary, so unless she's planning to bribe ALL her remaining superdelegates to steal the election, she should quit after she draws and/or loses the next state primary.

Although I've always voted as best I can, I never really thought my vote counted.

I've NEVER in 52 years I've been on this planet, donated a penny to anyone's campaign, displayed a sign or even discussed issues with anyone, but this candidate and campaign has finally pulled me back into the fold...and I feel good being here.

No apologies to anyone...OBama 2008!

This typical white woman and her typical white female friends will NOT be voting for obama/wright in Pa.

This typical white woman and her typical white female friends will NOT be voting for obama/wright in Pa.

The big questions remain unanswered that cut to the core of Obama's credibility, character and judgment:

Mr. Obama, if you truly believe in a united America and are "post racial," why for the last 25 years have you aligned yourself and your family with the hateful, anti-America, anti-white, anti-semitic rhetoric of Jeremiah Wright and the Black Nationalist movement?

Mr. Obama, if you are truly the great uniter, why have you donated tens of thousands of dollars, including $22,500 last year alone, to Jeremiah Wright to further his message of hate and diviseness?

Mr. Obama, why did it take the media and plummeting poll numbers to jolt you out of what can only be described as a racist stupor to begin addressing your association with racism and hate?

This whole thing is getting ridiculous ... picking apart every single word that Obama says and calling him a racist because he used the word "typical"; how early in the morning was the radio show? This guy is campaigning non-stop ... cut him some slack.
I'm sick of the media only focusing on the so-called racial issue in this campaign ... I'm white and I don't care what color--be it black, white or purple--the candidate is as long as they're going to fix the issues we have in America.
The only reason you guys are so crazed over this word is because you are trying to divert attention from the real issues.
Please take a look at McCain if you want to see some scary gaffees ... this guy is who you should be calling out for saying outrageous things!

The phrase "typical white person" was used to illustrate a point about the "fear" his grandmother and many white people have.

When alone, on an el train, late at night. Say coming back from a Bulls or Whtie Sox game. I can be completely "outnumbered", if you will, by African Americans. Now, I wouldn't say "fear" is the right word, but there is some trepidation when you are out of your "comfort zone". This does not make anyone "racist". It can simply be a natural reaction of wanting to get back to your home. Where you feel comfortable. It doesn't make it right or wrong, and I wish the feelings didn't exist. But I have lived in Chicago all my life and certainly know you could be "in the wrong place, at the wrong time, at any moment".

If there was better equity, in education, housing, income, health care, etc., I believe those fears would eventually dissolve. And we can all live side by side in peace and freedom.

With each passing day, the magic of Obama is washing away and be replaced by the reality of a smug, smirking, racist con man.

Nobama. No way.

Posted by: Jerry White | March 21, 2008 9:42 AM

Anne Coulter is the "queen of hate". You can discount anything she says.

Bob, great post. Criticize Jerry for being off-topic by bringing up Durbin, then you start babbling about McCain.

Another fluff piece on Obama by Mark Silva. Obama will never have to answer for anything if Silva has any say in it. Silva, it is nice to see you feeling better. People were concerned after you fainted at the last Obama rally. That was you, wasn't it? I know, I know. He is very inspiring.

That's it. You can already see it in these comments. He's done. What he meant, the truth or falsity of it, doesn't matter. It was bad enough that he didn't wear a flag lapel pin. But this sunk him.

We are a nation of idiots, and we will insist on getting a government that reflects our stupidity. So when President McCain starts another backbreaking Middle East war, or when President Hillary gets cornered into doing the same, at least we will have the consolation that we don't have a president who made the fatal mistake of telling us anything remotely like the truth.

I hate my country for what it's about to do to Barack Obama.

Having written what I wrote above, I still find it interesting that on Good Friday Americans are so unwilling to forgive a black man for uttering the words, "Typical White Woman."

And yet, what is the entire Rev. Wright controversy all about?

Americans aren't mad that Wright noted the white racism that gave us hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow, and the subtle racism in our justice system that has dramactically increased the black prison population since the passage of the 1965 Civil Rights Act. No, what Americans are angry about is that Rev. Wright didn't forgive this country, his country, for that injustice.

So let us be clear: Americans WANT forgiveness; but Americans are UNWILLING to forgive.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

I don't understand all the fuss over Jeremiah Wright.

I suspect if the press were to show a selection of videos from many American preachers, you would raise eyebrows.

The late Jerry "Jabba the Hutt" Falwell used to sell videos at his services that suggested the Clintons had Vince Foster murdered.

Pat Robertson has numerous times blamed specific groups of Americans for bringing on God's vengeance in the form of natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Oral Roberts went up to the "Prayer Tower" at the "university" he named after himself to go on a hunger strike until his faithful fleeced flock coughed up another several million bucks in donations, and they did.

Scientology in the 1960s was everywhere talked of as a cult at best. It actually was widely regarded as an organized fraud and was investigated a number of times in various jurisdictions. Then the miracle of political influence somewhere gave them tax-exempt status with America's Internal Revenue Service, and they became, overnight, a (sort of mainline) religion keeping more out of each fee they charge followers.

Oh, by the way, a former church minister to the Clintons is being tried for child molestation.

Gonna give Obama a pass for his blatant racism?

Do a little digging...It was only a few years ago that surveys discovered that it wasn't only "typical white people" who suffered from LBM (Large black men) syndrome, but many black women also feel its effects.

People don't recoil from the well-dressed black men I see every day on Chicago's LaSalle Street. They recoil from the black scumbags they see in far too many areas.

Of course, just about anyone, regardless of their race, would recoil from a similar scumbag of any race.

If Obama, Clinton, and McCain are the best we've got, America is in serious trouble...

Gosh Trib, I haven't seen any other news outlets focusing on these words this morning, but I guess I haven't bothered to check Rush Limbaugh or Fox News yet. I listened to him speaking, and I didn't pay any attention to them, until you went out of your way to make sure people would fixate on them. It's really confusing, because on one page your editorial board is praising and endorsing him, while on the other you're acting like old Gen. McCormick is still alive. I guess when Sam Zell gets done firing half of the Trib's workforce this sort of inconsistency will get ironed out.

Thank you Jeremiah Wright.

Now we know where Obama honed his now barely conceived racist attitudes evident in statements such as "typical white person."

Now we know where Michelle Obama honed her hatred of whites and America in general despite being the poster child for opportunity and privilege in America.

Now we know why the Black Panther Party endorsed Obama this week.

Now we know why Louis Farrakhan loves Obama.

Yes, it's all starting to make sense now. Obama is the Trojan horse for hate in America.

i am white. in all honesty even white people that consider themselves progressive have the reaction to seeing black people (usually male)of suspicion or fear in certain situations that they don't have toward whites in those same situations. it is something you might fight against but you have an uncomfortable feeling when it crops up. because you know it's not equitable. this is what obama is refering to. coming from a bi-racial family who is better to explain this. is this generational? do black people of this generation have a different reaction to whites? a distrust of white people, maybe? the discussion could be a good thing. sociologists have studies that have found that people make these assumptions on race. thats all obama is talking about. this is not a message of hate it's reality. politics is a dirty business. every word uttered is put under a microscope.is it ok for obama to say "typical white person" if he were white? He is white! why do we focus on his blackness and define him as black?

Not this time.

Out of everything Obama has said, the only phase that is causing controversy is "typical white woman". Wow...that says it all. If we look in the mirror and be truly honest, we would know what he is saying is true. Whether we be black or white, we all have stereotypical thoughts sometimes. That is not racist. That is America today.

Kathy, you as a typical white woman and her typical white female friends WILL be voting for Barack Obama in PA.

He's the best choice and you would simply be displaying ignorance not to vote for him, rather than a FLIP-FLOPPER like Clinton.

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com

Obama explained exactly what he meant on Larry King. If we want to parse every single dangling adjective, let's start with George Bush.

Regarding, Jeremiah Wright, he was wrong, but Obama should not be left to explain. Wright owes an explanation and an apology to the American people for his harsh rhetoric. This is not excused by his long record or the fact that most of his sermons may have been more main stream, as evidenced by the Clinton’s inviting him to the White House, and make no mistake about it, he did not walk into an official reception unannounced. Times have changed. Things are better, not perfect, so he went too far.

At the same time, the story of black anger about discrimination is not simply about slavery that ended 150 years ago. A rational person could see there might be anger about the role of the government in creating and protecting a system designed to make one group a permanent underclass, that ended in its legally enforced manifestations only recently. Government has, for most of the 4oo years of U. S history since Jamestown, not been a friend of its black population.

Beyond slavery, it was just 30 years when many blacks were unable to buy a house or rent an apartment in many neighborhoods, when communities were subject to rampant redlining that made it impossible to get a mortgage and distorted rates for homeowners and car insurance, when it was available at all. It was just 40 years ago that many blacks got the right to vote and the first black athletes were enrolled in many public universities of the south, while student bodies remained nearly exclusively white. It was just 40 years ago when many unions had no black members and blacks were limited in their employment by police and fire departments and subject to blatant discrimination in hiring. Meanwhile, black men were a disproportionate part of the combat forces in Viet Nam sent to kill yellow men who, as Ali said, never did any of these things to me.

It was just 50 years ago when black children walked past modern, neighborhood schools to more distant, often dilapidated facilities, could not use public bath rooms, have a meal in a restaurant, or use a public park, beach or swimming pool, even in some northern cities, like Chicago and New York.

It is still not recognized by many that it was just 60 years ago when black servicemen in segregated units were involved and shed blood in nearly every major battle in Western Europe, including the D-Day landing and the Battle of the Bulge. The fact that they were often in support, rather than “combat” roles, did not immunize them from enemy fire or prevent an incidental direct role or disqualify a Tuskegee Airman as a target for German fighters or AAA. Still, they were rewarded by their country upon returning home by often being forced from pubic accommodations to make room for German prisoners who had, only recently, been defending the Nazi system and trying to kill Americans.

A rational person could see there might be some anxiety among black citizens about a system, supported directly and indirectly by the majority population, that has until recently denied their rights as citizens. A rational person could see that, in the wake of the Tuskegee medical studies where blacks were used as guinea pigs in a study that denied them treatment for syphilis (or the 1950’s studies where the CIA dosed unknowing subjects with LSD, mainly whites in this case) that there could be fears advances could be reversed, like the period after the end of Civil War Reconstruction, in favor of those good old days when blacks were kept in place by men in sheets and politicians in business suits.

Seriously, are we going to continue to nit pick everything candidates say? I don't think he is wrong. "Typical" means majority. I believe, whether you realize it consciously or not, typical white people do have some sort of reaction to black man approaching them. It's not right but it happens. Accept it. Lets start getting over stuff like this and move on!

Well this typical whitey has been supporting, and donating to, Clinton, than you very much!

If they nominate this guy, it will be a train wreck for the Dems. He's tainted like poison from this Wright debacle.

Richardson is a fool for hitching his wagon like this. Hispanics, hearing someone like Wright curse America in a church, a country they love, are correctly outraged.

Apparently Richardson has no television, or computer.

I'm pretty sick of typical white people myself, and I happen to be one. Wahh! What can we cry about next? Everyone wants to be offended or victimized in some way.

Jesus God. Get a hobby.

The media continues to follow Obama around and clean up his messes like he was a poor, helpless puppy.

Funny, even with the tremendous pro-Obama media, this guy is dropping like a rock.

"You can put a lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

Similarly, the media can make excuses for Obama's obvious racist attitudes, but he's still a racist unfit for the presidency and U.S. Senate.

The sooner we rid our lives of Obama and the hate he and Jeremiah Wright represent, the better.

I'm sure his grandmother is a typical white person. My grandmothers were typical white people, too.

As a matter of fact, I'm a typical white person myself. So what?

Pretending to be outraged over something you yourself would say is an especially infantile form of political argument.

Poor choice words, but let us be honest here it is the truth. I have done it myself.

Obama continues to foot and mouth disease. we all know he is now the black candidate running for President, and if you thing Richardson endorsement will help with the Latino community, you must live on another planet.

For a while I was excited about the idea of an Obama presidency.

I still support him now, but only as the lesser of two or three evils.

Clinton and McCain are unacceptable, so I have no choice.

If he keeps saying stupid things, I may just stay home in November. If I vote for him, it will be a vote against the GOP, not a vote for Obama.

After displaying so much promise, how ordinary he has turned out to be.

Is it possible that a dialog becomes extremely difficult when one drifts off into generalizations, or interpreted differently -- stereotypes. So the use of a term like 'typical white person' or 'typical white woman' -- does have to be defined. After Obama used the phrase in reference to his grandmother, he surely did not clearly articulate what he meant by the phrase. In fact he went to some effort to remain vague and gloss over the usage of the phrase. I am a firm believer that one should be able to examine whether a term is prejudicial merely by using substitution: If one could substitute for ex., another racial, ethnic, or religious group, as in: 'typical _____person', and no one chooses to take offense, then I guess we have a fairly benign phrase.
But the truth is, someone will always take offense, because when one states a person as being typical of one group -- be it race, religion, etc. -- They have already set up their assumption of what every member of that group holds as a commonality. And I believe that practice, while possibly perfectly innocent in this case -- Is called stereoptypeing.

He may have a white mother and grandmother, but he sees himself, talks, and presents himself as black with the same black ideals as Wright. So the discussion ends with obama himself and how he uses his white family when it benefits him to do so. And then uses his black when he wants to use racism as the reason for any and all political attacks on him. He is trying to have it both ways whichever benefits him at the time. Very sad and the media and his voters are eating it up like it is a free all you can eat buffet.

You people are uneducated, self-righteous hacks. You should thank your self- aggrandizing selves every day that you never speak the truth. Everyone in this country...let me repaet, EVERYONE in this country knows that what Obama has been saying is what is said in every nook and cranny on the USA.

Stop the over-analyzing of every.single.word that comes out of this man's mouth and start confronting the race issue head on. You have nothing to fear but a greater society because of it.

Critics need to grow the f*** up and start a meaningful, ADULT discussion. Stop acting like the spoiled, entitled brats you come off to be in your comments.

Kathy wrote, "This typical white woman and her typical white female friends will NOT be voting for obama/wright in Pa."

Proving Obama's point.

Wright is a typical elderly black man raised in the US during the 40's and 50's.

I'm mixed so I guess that makes me a racist too.

The Archie Bunkers might stop Obama, the leader in a lifetime, from healing our country.

I am proud to know so much more about Obama. Perhaps Jay Leno will stop saying he was born in a manger.

I am proud of America for making Obama possible.

People get the government they deserve, right? America deserves George Bush.

News Flash... OBAMA IS BLACK! Anything he ever says will be coming from a black man and will be taken as such. The same thing would be said of a white pres. cand. if he generalized about "black people" No way around it... Obabma has been under the microscope so close these past few weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if they made a stink about HIM saying "all black men!"

I don't think he should have to elaborate on it further... Don't play stupid... we all know it was hell back then for bi-racial children and their parents. They were raised in a different time.
Now (thankfully) the stigma associated with it not as prevalent.

Obama has NEVER said he was above all this... His whole campaign is based on change... Hope for the future... Ending the sterotypes. I truly feel it WOULD take someone who lived it to make that change. Nobody will understand it better.

OBAMA '08

News Flash... OBAMA IS BLACK! Anything he ever says will be coming from a black man and will be taken as such. The same thing would be said of a white pres. cand. if he generalized about "black people" No way around it... Obabma has been under the microscope so close these past few weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if they made a stink about HIM saying "all black men!"

I don't think he should have to elaborate on it further... Don't play stupid... we all know it was hell back then for bi-racial children and their parents. They were raised in a different time.
Now (thankfully) the stigma associated with it not as prevalent.

Obama has NEVER said he was above all this... His whole campaign is based on change... Hope for the future... Ending the stereotypes. I truly feel it WOULD take someone who lived it to make that change. Nobody will understand it better.

OBAMA '08

Here we go again. Obama your campaign is officially over. You need to step aside for the good of the Democratic party. He has no chance now int he GE and I am one person who voted for Obama in IL and now want my vote back.

Mark Silva: you are part of the problem, not the solution. You bury the BIGGER story of Bill Richardson endorsing Obama in the middle of your blog, yet you try to create polarity with the headline you chose for your little story, about "Obama's poorly-chosen words." I'd like to vote for a president that gets rid of biased, polarizing reporting.

I see what Obama was trying to say when he referred to his Grandmother as a 'typical white person'... but he also said she makes racial comments that make him cringe. I can then assume that in Obama's mind, 'typical white people' also make similar racial comments.

I just think it’s very hypocritical that, if this had been a white preacher making racial comments, then the overall story would have been about white racism in America. Since it was Rev Wright making the comments, the story is now racial discussion and healing on both sides, with many people finding ways to defend and excuse Wright’s ridiculous comments.

It takes courage to be President - no doubt.

It takes courage to unpack the issues surrounding race.

Obama will lose votes for his honesty - that can't be helped.

My hope is that the majority of people will vote for someone who can be honest, even when it isn't politically expedient.

There are typical whites, typical blacks, typical men, and typical women...there is no harm in speaking in generalizations. How defensive we get may tell us more about ourselves than the person speaking the initial words.

The second is that Wright was there to speak out on Bill Clinton's behalf when Clinton was under fire and about to be impeached; but now that Wright is under fire for unfair attacks that take his words out of context, Bill and Hillary are completely silent.

Ponder these, ladies and gents.

Posted by: maxomai | March 21, 2008 9:59 AM

Words out of context, not after 20 twenty years. And lets not forget his wife and he said this. I was starting to go his way but, now who knows.

Re: Kathy

a "Typical" american taking snippets of a interview or article, and not listening or reading something in its full context... Thats the american we live in today, the ADD america.

Try listening or reading something in its entirety, then making your opinions, instead of just the snippets that the media give you...

In today's political climate, supporters of one candidate will use just about anything to bring down the candidate in opposition. As far as the recent occurences in Obama's campaign, most of the people who are having a negative reaction (like in these reader comments) weren't going to ever vote for him to begin with. But please, don't pretend you don't know what he meant by his comments. It's not racist. You can use it however you like to spew your bull**** but everyone knows what he means. And what he means was the whole point of his speech the other day. We have serious issues on race in this country and everyone wants to pretend like we don't.

Thank heaven the campaign trail is long. It has allowed us to see what Obama really is, or rather, what he is NOT: a man for all of us. There are Obama's people, then the rest of us. I'll take my vote elsewhere.

I've been very interested in HOW Senator Obama was going to go about healing the divide with blacks and whites. The utterance "typical white person" was not a good start. Here's a couple questions I have. Wasn't Obama raised by white family? Where was black father? Did he send money to US to hold up his end of the siring bargain? Who paid for all that elite education? If the answers are what I think, Geraldine was right on target. He wouldn't be where he is if he were a white male or female for that matter. I do not care for people who are ingrates. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. And that is what bothers me about Barack Obama.

Kathy: THIS typical white woman and all her typical white woman friends WILL be voting for obama and i'll tell you why- we all REALIZE that obama was speaking the truth. kathy, if you and your typical white woman friends were approached by a black man in a dark alley or in a quiet parking lot- you tell me what your "typical" reaction would be. we ALL have racism and bigoted feelings caught up in us and that is precisely why we need to talk about them, bring them into the open, and discuss them. hate cannot survive familiarity.

The point of the Rev. Wright and Bill Clinton photo is to point out that in his atonement after the the Lewinski incident he sought out forgiveness from religious leaders and now he would leave Rev. Wright hanging out to dry. Is that hypocracy?

His wife is proud to be an American for the first time, now that he is running for President...

He throws his grandmother under the boss to justify his association with Rev. Wright...

He refers to his grandmother as a typical white person...

He calls himself an African-American eventhough he has as much white (mother) as black (father) in him...

Could Obama be a racist?

Until I see that the typical white person not clutch his/her purse/wallet tightly when in the presence of 5 black men, until I see the typical white jury not give convict a black man for murder and let a white person get manslaughter he is correct. We still have not overcome overt and institutional racism, America.

Mark Silva is now penning love letters to Barack Obama. The headline speaks of "poorly chosen words," then doesn't get to those "poorly chosen words" until seventh paragraph, and then not until the ninth paragraph focusing on the poorly chosen words of "typical white woman."
Now, if this was a Republican, the headline would have blarred negativity, the poorly chosen words would have been highlighted over and over again, and there would not no love letter before getting to the point.
Does the LIBune's Washington Bureau have ONE objective and honest journalist? The evidence strongly suggests it does not.
What a freakin' joke!!

As you can see White People are sensitive about race, but they are also in denial of their complicity in perpetuating common stereotypes, so whenever someone speaks openly and honestly about race Whites want to push race under the carpet. Whites are extremely dishonest about the their racial attitudes towards Blacks in particular. If Oprah Winfrey were to do a show on race, Whites would talk, only the Blacks.

There truely is a "typical White person" and if Whites would stop being defensive and open themselves up to honest discussion, they would themselves reveal how their communities, family and friends pass on stereotypes about Blacks.

You folks ought to stop pretending that even those of us who don't practice racial hates in our lives are exposed to racial stereotypes of other cultures and though some of us may reject these beliefs access is pervasive in all races in our diverse society.

Whites want us all to pretend like they do. Not talking about race will not reduce hate and division.

I hope the typical white woman (like the typical American) is smart enough to vote regarding where their interest is regarding the issues.
War, healthcare, the economy, immigration, greater wealth disparity, civil liberties & national security...
these issues last I heard were the issues facing our nation.

But instead of dealing with these issues Obama has falling into the trap of "race" eagerly set by his ultra-conservative opponents who have nothing more substantial to challenge his campaign.(even though it seems that they went as far as go through his passport records).

Obama did not initiate this divisive issue I remember "Barack the magic Negro", Barack the Madrasa student, Barack the Muslim, appearing long before this week. All of this a construct of the conservative opposition to the real changes that would take place with an Obama presidency and a substantially greater democratic majority in congress.

I would ask the astonishing number of voters who voted the current fear mongering president into office based on rhetoric and not on the issues that impact their lives.

I would also like to appeal to those so called religious voters why make a storm out of a teacup. Obama is not perfect but everyone casting stones at him behave like they are.

As someone who believes we CAN do much better as a society we should take on the monumental challenge of moving past typical dismissal of differences to a substantial national discourse that helps make our problems visible and therefore resolvable.

Obama more than any other candidate left has done the best job of issuing this cultural challenge (I have not even heard any such vetting of McCain's controversial relationships to bigoted religious leaders, or his relationship to the racial issues thrown at Obama, Clinton recently has been notably brief on the same issues).

Let us hope that these elections will not be business as usual (meaning for big business, by big business) and that we the fragmented majority of Americans being squeezed every which way can look at the greater challenge we all face. One way or another we are all in the same boat.

Hey Kathy, your vitriolic message simply reinforces that you have not grown in understanding, politics, or social conscience since the days of your grandmother. Too bad you fail to see your own narrow-mindedness by focusing on such a small tree branch and missing the forest. Neither did you understand the context (and truth) in which those few words were spoken....

First we have ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and MSNBC taking Wright out of context to create a certain 'image' of Obama - here's the full context:
http://baldeagle08.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/cnn-msnbc-cbs-abc-fox-news-lied-about-pastor-jeremiah-wright-see-911-sermon-in-context/#comment-53

Not at all what you expected, is it? Oops. Guess some guys at the MSM have a private agenda, don't they? No one's apologized, no one's been fired - connect the dots.

Now the latest talking point is, out of an entire interview, Obama's use of the word 'typical'.

If someone's looking for some justification to vote for someone else, I guess that works as well as anything.

Let me translate this justification for you:
"Being a typical white person, I won't vote for Obama because he's black but since that doesn't sound good I'm going to claim he's the one stereotyping me instead."

I'm voting FOR Obama not because of his color and not in spite of his color. I'd vote for him if he were purple with pink polka dots.

I'm appalled. Not only that he said it, but that he tried to explain it away instead of simply saying he misspoke. And frankly, that he said it referring to the woman who raised him shows a lack of respect and makes me question his character. But I guess that's because I'm just a "typical white woman"

Yes, a typical white woman says vile bad things about blacks, especially to her 1/2 black grandchild because she is dumb and insensitive. A typical black preacher says vile bad things about whites, Jews and America because he is dumb and insensitive and trained to be a leader.

One wonders if Obama considers Condi Rice a "typical black women" after the new video out with Jeremiah Wright calling her "CondoSkeezza." From the Urban Dictionary, "Skeeze" is about as low in the gutter as you can get in the Black community.

If Rice was a Democrat, one wonders if Wright would have referred to her as such?

Obama's arrogance is beyond words. I can't help but believe Gus Savage is his mentor.

Wow. Really amazed how stupid people are. I really shouldn't be by now. After Bush being elected twice and all, but seriously people.

If this Reverend Wright affair seriously affected your opinion of Obama, then you were just looking for an excuse not to vote for him in the first place. Calling Obama a racist? Seriously? On what possible grounds? I wouldn't even call Rev Wright a racist. Its like white people have just discovered that they can apply that word to a black person and are now trying to apply all that that has meant to black people for generations to Rev Wright. God! All of you using upper case "Oh my God, how could you vote for that RACIST Obama!! RACIST!!" Is the RNC paying you people to post here? Have some perspective. That was a man who had really and truly suffered the effects of racism in this country.

The fact that you are all trying to nail Obama to the wall based on the sentiments of his preacher is patently ridiculous.

Way to completely forget about the issues and things that matter and prepare to accept another Republican president at this pace. Stop the hysteria. These kind of stories appeal to the lowest common denominator of voters, these are the same people who wanted to kill Bill for getting a blowjob.

Here are the reasons you shouldn't vote for Hillary:

1. Voted for the war.
2. Voted for the sabre rattling Iran resolution
3. Won't meet with our enemies as well as our friends.
4. Wouldn't apologize for her war vote.
5. Sponsored stupid ban flag burning bill (Useless political garbage bill)

and in my opinion
6. Is a useless political windsock will will poll for what color dress she should wear out.

And her political experience has been so over hyped it is ridiculous. I hope that she does understand that if she gets the nomination she'll be running against someone with more experience than she does. We have had some excellent presidents with very limited experience.

For the people who don't understand that I'm sure someone will overanalyze something he's said in another newscycle and you'll have another chance to attempt to justify your not supporting a truly exciting and historical candidate!

Well, I'm a typical white woman who knows exactly what Obama meant. Hell, yeah. Ever heard of "profiling"? We ALL do it, it's not just something police and airport security people do. And you know what? Black people do it too. Black cab drivers don't pick up young black men after dark. We judge people and react to them based on their appearance and how it matches some anonymous crime statistic. Think about it, folks, look inside yourself and tell me it ain't true.

Oh, and I hope to God Obama wins this thing. Politics in America makes me sick. I am hurting for a change. I so want my American people to get out of their media-loop addiction and THINK beyond the surface of things, and move this country forward!

Almost forgot:
7. Voted for Patriot Act.

I lovey how the Obama Pom Squad, which has enjoyed unwavering media fawning for its man over the last year, is now claiming a media conspiracy to bring Obama down by simply reporting factual information about his 25-year relationship with the hateful Jeremiah Wright.

Oh please. Stop the whining.

We need much more scruntity of Obama, not less. Thus far, Obama has been able to flirt and smirk his way through the campaign on lofty, but empty, words and promises. It's time Americans get a better look at what's behind the words. I, for one, don't like what I see.

I believe the Barak Obama presented us with an opportunity for open and honest discussions on race in the US. The radio and TV talking heads have jumped on Obama for what I consider his honesty. One sure way to stifle further discussion is to berate the speaker. A bunch of white men on the airwaves and the net(I am) are in essence saying "we want to talk about race but NOT YOUR WAY (Obaama)". Anger in the inner city black community is palpable as is the reverse anger in white areas. How many books by African American's has Sean Hannity read or black churches has he attended?

We say we are ready for honest politician. Are we?

"It's really confusing, because on one page your editorial board is praising and endorsing him, while on the other you're acting like old Gen. McCormick is still alive."

Posted by: Anon | March 21, 2008 10:35 AM

Anon:

It was Col. McCormick, not Gen. McCormick.

What is unfortunately "typical" about this whole Rev. Wright episode is the media treatment of it. Thanks to who-knows-who, excerpts of several Wright sermons appeared and were played over and over and over without legitimate context. We heard only his worst words and they dominated the headlines for a week. Obama made a brilliant response and the next day the national media leads with the weather. Now Obama uses the phrase "typical white woman" and the condemnation begins again. I'd be willing to bet many of the people who are posting these comments have not even listened to the entire Obama speech on race. Much as I hate to say it - that is typical. If people are offended by the notion of the U.S. as racist - we should begin to listen to and observe our own behavior. A recent Tribune article noted that the rest of the world sees the Obama candidacy as a contradictions to the widely held, worldwide perception of the United States as a racist culture. We can say the whole world is wrong - but that's the kind of ethnocentrism that probably earned us that label in the first place.

The U.S. economy is strugling even as many nations' economies boom. The dollar is weak and some economist say the only reason its not worse is because foreign nations are buying up the corporate and real estate bargains created by our current weakness. If the whole world is wrong - why is the U.S. suffering? Are typical white people racist? You bet. Are typical black people racist? Of course. We are viewed as a racist country because the world sees our racial tension. To them we are "typical" racist Americans - regardless of color. Mr. Obama's speech is about leaving that racist American legacy behind. All Americans should take time to hear the whole speech - white, black, brown, Democrat, Republican, Hillary supporter, Obama supporter. Regardless of who you support for president and regardless of your "typical" race - the words are empowering for all of us as Americans. It's too bad much of that message will be lost in the "typical" American treatment of Obama's speech. His words are instructive. Our current economic and world political status is evidence of the folly of refusing to learn from our past mistakes. If we, as Americans, could actually embrace what Obama said, we'd be stronger as a nation regardless of who leads us because we would be stronger as a people.

"This typical white woman and her typical white female friends will NOT be voting for obama/wright in Pa."

Like you were thinking about voting for him in the first place. B,P...

Barak "Double Standard" Obama

This guy is bad news.

I have nothing to really say here but LOVE the name of the band and think Obama's campaign should adopt them. Plus, unlike Hillary's adopted singer, they are American.

I'm a "typical white person (woman)" in my 60s, and I can admit to being nervous when I walk by a black man on the street. I try to quell that instinctive reaction and look him in the eye, smile and say hello, but it's a conscious effort no matter how progressive I believe myself to be. Can we just stop all this parsing of words and phrases and go back to the hope and promise of Obama: that we can work together, all of us, to get beyond those fears and history to make a better country for our grandchildren? I don't want Hillary to "keep fighting" for me, or McCain to keep fighting the world through Iraq. I want Obama and others like him to work with each other to fix our many problems.

Im a "typical white person" and I have no fear of black persons while walking the street...I think he's not that far removed from Rev Wright than he claims to be...I'm offended by his "typical" assumption...I'm just sayin'

Those of you who are offended clearly are looking for something Obama said to latch onto and criticize. Blasting him for saying "typical white person" regardless of the context and purpose of his hundreds of other words just shows how small minded you are.

We are being asked to accept Obama's use of "typical white person" as devoid of racist implication; but should Hillary say "typical black person" she would be crucified for her comments.

Come on! Can't you all see the double standard being applied here?

It is the off the cuff remarks that are the most telling. There is no typical black person and there is no typical white person. I think Obama is a fraud.

And does any one know who Rev. Wright supported in the 2007 Chicago mayoral campaign?

Jerry White, I like your use of Ann Coulter's comments on hatred. Ann is a person who knows what hatred is. Hopefully she can use this topic to sell more books to idiots.

Obama used a present tense verb 5 times! He spoke in present tense. Not once in his quote did he even come close to implying that he was speaking of his grandmother's generation. Why are some of you trying to convince yourself that he was talking about his grandmother's generation?! You're swallowing his campaign's bogus "clarification" to shield you from the fact that you've been duped by Obama's god like media created persona. Give it up.

This typical white woman and her typical white female friends did vote for Obama. Will continue to vote for Obama. Because she knows that Obama is the one can unite this typical country.

Let's focus on the issues, not the distractions.

if you magnified what obama said 1000 fold , it would still not be 1/2 as bad as what geraldine ferrarro said

several years ago, the Rev. Wright spoke many deplorable anti-american remarks but none were so racist as geraldine ferrarro's RECENT remarks

geraldine played the race card on purpose , by design for her friend, Hillary just like bill played the race card on purpose, by design for his wife, Hillary

anyone who thinks differently is in for a rude awakening one day

the race card remains in play thanks to the unapologetic bill clinton and the equally unapologetic geraldine ferrarro - it was played VERY recently - it was played on purpose - it was played by design - and it was dealt "from the bottom of the deck"

so far, hillary's race card is working

there is only one question left, will white people continue to let hillary get away with it or not

some of you people amaze me.

you know darn well what he meant. the man is interviewed every day and speaks sometimes 3-4 times per day, uttering thousands and thousands of words every single day, and you want to glom on to 3 words he uttered as a reason to throw his entire message in the toilet?

unbelievable. yet not unbelievable considering the abyss of intelligence that has become american pop culture. so maybe just depressing.

More simplistic gotcha "journalism" masquerading as just the opposite. Shameful, really.

Just another typical balck man doing what typical black men do.

LOL -what do you call it when the blind lead the blind ?

It is amazing reading these post, these articles. White people still do not get the racial divide in this country. They do not acknowledge their current participation in it. He said typical white person. He was referring to white people. It was a generalization. Discuss the typical white person. The ones who cross the streets when they see young black men. The ones who think blacks have somehow unfairly received an advantage, but yet do not acknowledge that if that were true, more blacks would be in their socio-economic class. Those typical white people who regard the black race as inferior, lazy, and criminal. The typical white person who disregards black people. Typical white people trash a minority candidate, typical white people believe and act entitled. Yet believe the typical black person has a chip on the shoulder attitude. The typical black person has children out of wedlock, the typical black person can't pronounce certain words, like ask or specific. Let's discuss the generalizations of race instead of focusing on the issues facing the typical citizen in this country. THe economy, the war in Iraq, the oil industries phenominal financial growth. The enormous debt facing the typical college graduate. Let's discuss three words, instead of a better future for all. A better, a smarter President. One whether Obama or Clinton, can actually do something more for the typical working family.

It's becoming clearer and clearer that a big part of America's race problem is hypocrisy. Nobody skewers this tendency quite as precisely as Stephen Colbert, when he speaks of being "color-blind". The fact is: People who aren't reminded of their own race on a daily basis flatter themselves that they have transcended race. They're willfully blind to their own biases, however inconsequential in many cases. But they are all too ready point the finger should someone who engages the issue touch a nerve. While not truly color-blind, they are tone-deaf, and become alarmed whenever they hear someone leave the domain of safe but empty platitudes that make up the "color-blind" cocoon.

Anybody talking honestly about race gets their hands dirty. Anybody talking honestly about race is vulnerable. A conversation about race that is dominated by "gotchas" is at best a narcissistic exercise by those who keep "above it" by never getting into it in the first place.

Obama said the right thing in the wrong way, stop listening to the "Nazi's" on Fox and the crazy liberals who will defend anything he does. He is a good person who made a mistake in speach. If we can't afford to screw up and forgive occasionally, especially when talking about race, we have no hope for the future.

This is much ado about nothing. The problem is the American people aren't used to a politician who is honest, straightforward and doesn't beat around the bush. To insinuate that Barack is a racist because he attended Wright's church or the poor choice of words he used to describe his grandmother is ludicrious. I've had the pleasure of meeting Barack Obama and I don't believe for one second that he has a racist bone in his body. I have wholehearted supported Barack before this controversy and I continue to support him. Without question, he is the best choice for President. To all of you who think he's a racist SHUT UP!

Fellow white Americans: be honest--a visceral fear of black men (that you do not know personally) IS REAL. You can deny it, but you know it is true.

Yes, "typical white person" is an "inartful" way of saying it (as David Gergen said on CNN), but to get stuck on that and lose the broader message is petty.

Do you want the country to get over these racial divisions or not? If so, we ALL have to examine our thoughts--both black and white--THAT is what Obama is encouraging us to do!

Are we going to forfeit that chance for petty reasons?

I can't say I've ever read anything accurate in The Swamp, and so I'm not surprised that this poorly written column continues its tradition of crass journalism. They don't call it the swamp for nothing. That said, I'm white, and I often use the term "typical white person" or "typical black person". It's a way to speak in generalities without resorting to stereotypes to make a point. I think what this column misses is that Obama isn't speaking out of hate - something that doesn't come across in print, but of a real desire for change.

Typical White Person?

Typical White Person?

I am brown and live in "typical" white suburb. I have experience this first hand what Obama refers as "typical white person". There are some white people who gets scared whenever they see me walking or driving alone in the neighborhood. It is because they are not racist. it is because they are not used to having a brown man in their neighborhood. however, when i go to my daughter's high school (which is 99% white) the kids are not that way. because they are used to having a colored person in their high school. i actually feel i get more attention from my daughter's friends because of my unconventional upbringing. This is what Obama was talking about. You can spin any way you want however, he is the one who really gets both sides of this debate because his upbringing and openness. I strongly believe his mother had instilled in his DNA.

Here's a story for you all. FOX News made a point of trimming off Rev. Wright's infamous "chickens coming home to roost" sermon so you wouldn't know his source -- Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan’s terrorism task force who used the same language on FOX News!

So FOX didn't want the voters to know that Rev. Wright got his line from a white Republican speaking on FOX?? Well, whyever could THAT be??

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/
http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/

typical white women whos votes youll need but wont get obama i think you are a wolf hiding in a sheep skin wake up america

Obama's words are more than fine. They reflect his desire to have an open discussion.
However, he is feeling the backlash against the political correct movement that the left created.
A thing that some of us have been warning about. You can no longer have freedom of discussion out of fear that "someone will be offended".
The chickens have again come home to roost. The left has only itself to blame. Didn't it ever consider that the wrong done to Trent Lott would come back to bite them on the backside?

If I recall correctly Jesse Jackson once made the remark about his being relieved to see it was a white man and not a black man when he was alone on a dark street and he heard footsteps in the night.

Sara said: "I'm appalled. Not only that he said it, but that he tried to explain it away instead of simply saying he misspoke. And frankly, that he said it referring to the woman who raised him shows a lack of respect and makes me question his character. But I guess that's because I'm just a "typical white woman"

...and obviously, an idiot.

In my humble opinion, this type of analysis is exactly what Obama was addressing in his speech and it is ironic that this over analysis happens in the context of the speech.

This is exactly the type of politics that Obama talks about avoiding. This is very nasty.

Let us face it: Hillary will pretend she will do anything to help Latino, Blacks, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabs, Pakistani, Jews, you name them, just to be elected. She will pretend she has done so much in the past to help us hapless people. BUT we are not hapless people, Hillary, you owe us more respect than that, AND, by the way, what is it exactly you have done for us? A clear and precise answer would help.

let's be honest -

the "typical obama hater" will stoop to whatever low they must to spin anything and everything they can against him.

i can just see tomorrow's headlines - "obama's religion called into question after not saying 'god bless you' to local sneezer"

some of you seriously need to get a grip.

Drop out now, Obama. We don't need a racist in the White House. God BLESS America!!

In his book Dreams of My Father pp. 269-71, Obama supposedly confronts four black youths one night and afterwards admits to his own fears of these youth. So, is he being racist or realistic?

If a McCain or Clinton had said the words "typical black person" everyone would be up in arms. Why is it OK for Obama to say those words if he wants healing?

I resent the assumptions made by some posters here that suggest they "know" that people who "look" a certain way, share certain prejudices and biases.

THAT may not be racism, but it sure is stereotyping.

"If there was better equity, in education, housing, income, health care, etc., I believe those fears would eventually dissolve. And we can all live side by side in peace and freedom."

You mean the way they aren't in much of monoracial Africa, including Kenya? If it's not strictly race that divides us, then we invent something else, such as "tribe" or "community".

Well, that's it - HIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER. WHAT A STUPID THING TO SAY - IF THE SHOE WERE ON THE OTHER FOOT - IT WOULD BE LIFE-IN-PRISON!

THIS KIND OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION MUST CEASE AND DESIST!

WHERE ARE THE MAJOR NETWORKS ON THIS? IF IT WERE MCCAIN SAYING THIS....

IM FURIOUS AND I KNOW HIS CAMPAIGN IS NOW OVER - HE'LL BE VP CANDIDATE IF HE'S LUCKY...

IQ0

Serlady said," you and your typical white woman friends were approached by a black man in a dark alley or in a quiet parking lot- you tell me what your "typical" reaction would be."

If I were approached by ANYONE except MAYBE a police officer (can't even bet on that these days--too easy to fake) in a dark alley or a quiet parking lot, I'd worry and run.

If Hillary had said that a "typical white person" is afraid of certain groups of people she would be branded as racist against those groups of people.

Obama attended and participated in Rev. Wright's church for 20 years. Ones opinions, thoughts and fabric of beliefs tend to be influenced by the company one keeps for a twenty year period. Obama's statements about his grandmother and "typical white people" illustrate this perfectly.

I am a typical white person. Do I sometimes fear young black men dressed a certain way? Yes. Do most white people have similar fears? Yes. All Barack was saying was that many people feel this way and that does NOT make them racist! Stop feigning offense when what he said is true. What's with all this drama and sensitity? Give me a break. "I'm so offended and hurt that Barack would say a white person could be 'typical!'" Like somehow calling someone TYPCIAL is an insult now? Let's get real. These people are trying to find reasons to whine because of THEIR issues!

Hello,

I have questions for people who have been writting so many nasty things about Obama. Do you really think he is a racist in your heart of heart because he said the word typical. Really ask yourself would you call a white man a racist or any other group if he said the same thing. Ask yourself that not the media ask yourself and if the answer is no then how can you call Obama a racist.
Now I don't know about you guys but I don't know how many people can confront their pastor about anything let alone something they don't agree on. How many of you have ever uttered one single word to your pastor, priest, rabbi other then good morning or good sermon.

I was raised if you didn't like something the pastor said or did your prayed on it, asked God to forgive the pastor and leave it up to God for he is the true judge. I believe that's how alot of black people were raised. This is the "typical" black story.

Obama out of all the other candidates is trying to get America on track. Have us be the leader again. We lost that because we fail to stick to the issues.

Oh and by the way can we for once have a smart President, an eloquent President and President who actually cares. Obama does not only care for black people he cares for Americans.

I love America, God bless you have a Good Friday.

Attention Liberals:

You are all aghast at the reaction of some of us posting our outrage and utter disagreement with Barrack's latest gaffe. Well allow me to make this point - it was you all who came up with political correctness and what to say and what not to say. It's because of liberals we can't say "Merry Christmas" anymore for fear "offending someone."

Simply put - you've made this PC bed, now shut up and lie down in it. The double standards in place are not acceptable to "TYPICAL WHITE PEOPLE" and I guarantee this will be his undoing - and it absolutely should.

So liberals, take a moment, go into the bathroom, look in the mirror and say outloud "Yes, I created this Political Correctness garbage - and I LOVE IT!"

Meanwhile - the rest of the country will react exactly how you would if you heard the words "TYPICAL BLACK MAN"

iq0

"Let me translate this justification for you:
"Being a typical white person, I won't vote for Obama because he's black but since that doesn't sound good I'm going to claim he's the one stereotyping me instead."

Being a typical white baby boomer female, I'm voting for Hillary because SHE best represents MY interests.

Being an Arab-American, I'm voting for Ralph Nader (also Arab-American), because he best represents MY interests.

Interestingly enough, based on voting statistics, it's African-Americans are voting heavily for Obama (90 percent in some districts. Now, if that's not race-based voting...even though Obama's candidacy has been fueled by white voters who crossed racial lines.

Ellen said "If a McCain or Clinton had said the words 'typical black person' everyone would be up in arms. Why is it OK for Obama to say those words if he wants healing?"

Here's why, Ellen - I'll try to use small words so you can understand:

Obama had the guts to open a dialogue about race. If Hillary or McCain had the guts to open up the racial dialogue, they would be able to say something like "typical black person."

You see, there is something very important to understanding communication. It's called context. You've probably heard of this, although you obviously do not understand it very well. If Hillary or McCain had said "typical black person" in the same context that Obama said "typical white person" there would be no issue. If they had said those words in a different context, there could be an issue.

I know this is very hard for people like you to understand. But many people are able to grasp this relatively simple concept of context. I'm guessing your local middle school will have some English books that talk about it if you're still having trouble.

"if you magnified what obama said 1000 fold , it would still not be 1/2 as bad as what geraldine ferrarro said"

Actually, based on many of these posts, if Obama WERE white, we wouldn't be having this debate. He's saying what he's saying and being given a pass by many precisely because he is Black. For someone whose followers claim that race shouldn't matter, it appears to matter very much to them.

WAKE CALL Mr. Get Real!

This "outrage" you see isn't necessarily coming from Barrack's comments you idiot! It's coming from the fact for the last 20 years - we've slowly been losing our ability to speak our minds for fear of being attack by left-wing marxist-commie-socialists.

This is the world you've create - you guys better live in it too - what happened to being sensitive to other peoples feelings - isn't that what libs are all about - "feeling"???

I better stop reading this blog and get back to work - my taxes are being raised again and I can't afford to read anymore lib tripe.

iq0

I guess Obama is 'the typical black person' that just doesnt get it.

Hows that sound?

I read this and see two things that have always worried me about Senator Barak Obama. As seen in the issue of NAFTA it was very blatantly shown that the man will do or say anything to the american people and an entirely different line to his constituants. Now this "typical white woman" comment is just seen as "we all know what he meant." No, it is a slander simply for the fact that in the context of the statement the insinuation of his typical white grandmother is that she has some racist tendancies. Some say that it can be equated to the gargon of "old timers" but the constant back peddling of this man makes the mud slinging John Kerry recieved in 2004 as being non commital a farce. That white politician had no one justifying a single thing he said by the constant statement of "well, you know." or some other cop out to a real explaination. Yes, there are stark differances between kerry and Obama. that's not at all the point so no replies should not grasp it as that would only be diversionary to my entir point. Yet the bigger issue to me and it should be to most americans is where is this mans alliegiance truelly? As seen in George Bushes 2004 speech to his "true power base" the statement of elections mean little if nothing. So on one hand, a slip of the tongue, on the other his mentor is an obvious hatemonger and his agenda is in constant flux. That to me is the doubt of america towards Obama. I've spoken with black men, typical or not, regarding Obama and every mistaken quote that Obama himself makes or his support or his "power base" makes, it's been dubbed as the "white establishment" not allowing a black man to excell. I call B.S. on ignorant statements such as that and have said so directly. Here's the ideal, candidates running on merit, prior service, and individual strength of character. Obama has yet to prove his spine. As for Hillary, that's another issue altogether

Gosh, poor Granny! Maybe the fear she has of black men was actually a premonition of her own grandson.

Is it now ok if, when I see a black mother with a bunch of kids and no daddy, "typical black person." Can I refer to Barack's dad, a harvard-educated man who left him and his wife to fend for themselves, no child support, no nothing as a "typical black person.

I guess that Barack Obama has opened the gates and it is now permissible to say such stuff. Right?

And I read that he was one of the first to demand Imus be fired as he didn't want his daughters to hear such stuff. So it is ok to sit in church and the minister swears like a truckdriver, but one inoccuous comment merits his career? He did the same with Trent Lott.

What a hypocrite. And I want to know - why is his elderly frail sickly white grandmother all alone in Hawaii? Will Michelle not take her in as she is a "typical white person" and as anyone who has read her thesis knows, she has nothing but disdain for typical white people.

The fact that he so easily let this slip tells me he is not just a disciple of Wright, he is now the master of racist rhetoric.

Is it now ok if, when I see a black mother with a bunch of kids and no daddy, "typical black person." Can I refer to Barack's dad, a harvard-educated man who left him and his wife to fend for themselves, no child support, no nothing as a "typical black person.

I guess that Barack Obama has opened the gates and it is now permissible to say such stuff. Right?

And I read that he was one of the first to demand Imus be fired as he didn't want his daughters to hear such stuff. So it is ok to sit in church and the minister swears like a truckdriver, but one inoccuous comment merits his career? He did the same with Trent Lott.

What a hypocrite. And I want to know - why is his elderly frail sickly white grandmother all alone in Hawaii? Will Michelle not take her in as she is a "typical white person" and as anyone who has read her thesis knows, she has nothing but disdain for typical white people.

The fact that he so easily let this slip tells me he is not just a disciple of Wright, he is now the master of racist rhetoric.

Is it now ok if, when I see a black mother with a bunch of kids and no daddy, "typical black person." Can I refer to Barack's dad, a harvard-educated man who left him and his wife to fend for themselves, no child support, no nothing as a "typical black person.

I guess that Barack Obama has opened the gates and it is now permissible to say such stuff. Right?

And I read that he was one of the first to demand Imus be fired as he didn't want his daughters to hear such stuff. So it is ok to sit in church and the minister swears like a truckdriver, but one inoccuous comment merits his career? He did the same with Trent Lott.

What a hypocrite. And I want to know - why is his elderly frail sickly white grandmother all alone in Hawaii? Will Michelle not take her in as she is a "typical white person" and as anyone who has read her thesis knows, she has nothing but disdain for typical white people.

The fact that he so easily let this slip tells me he is not just a disciple of Wright, he is now the master of racist rhetoric.

Ok, I lied - I have one more comment -

Ever notice how only LIBERALS are allowed to be offended?

If it's Christians for being offended because the Nativity Scene is being taken down - they are told to "SHUT UP and GET OVER IT"

If it's Pro-Lifers who are offended by abortion - they are told to "SHUT UP and GET OVER IT"

If it's a statue of the Virgin Mary covered in cow dung - "SHUT UP and GET OVER IT"

Obviously you get my point here - as I could produce a list well beyond my work-day - but I ask you libs.

"WHEN IS IT OK FOR US TO GET OFFENDED?"

Just let me know so I can get offended on something.

and Happy Easter.?!? I mean happy spring day?

I think Obama's comment was honest and spot on. Just because we whites do not like the image that a mirror presents does not make the image wrong. Most of us (maybe women, who are more vulnerable physically) when we see a black man coming towards us - on a dark street, on a deserted street, on an unfamiliar street, are more nervous about him than we are about a white man - until we face such automatic reactions we have no hope of changing what is wrong with our society in terms of race relations.

I second what Ms. Hilsop said. This white person thinks Obama's "typical white person" comment was right on. Could he have used more politically correct phrasing..."many white people," perhaps? Maybe. But he also didn't say "all white people." He's speaking about most of us, and he's right. No matter how enlightened some whites think they are, most of us harbor some negative notions about people of color. And I'd venture to say, vice-versa. So let's not kid ourselves. Instead, let's use Obama's words as an entry-point for some healthy and honest conversations with each other and individuals of other races and ethnicities, and try to find some common ground.

This is not good.

Oh the speech! Masterful, HOODWINK, BAMBOOZLED THE OLD OKEY -DOKE TO USE HIS MALCOLM X TERMS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, ARE THE TERMS OF HIS SPEECH. NO ONE SAYS THE GUY IS DUMB OR A BAD POLITICIAN. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS HE IS DISINGENUOUS, A LIER AND PLAYED THE RACE CARD FIRST. THEREFORE HE IS UNELECTABLE.

Alt said: "Actually, based on many of these posts, if Obama WERE white, we wouldn't be having this debate. He's saying what he's saying and being given a pass by many precisely because he is Black. For someone whose followers claim that race shouldn't matter, it appears to matter very much to them."

If Obama was white, we wouldn't be having this conversation because people wouldn't be going ape over a white preacher saying inflammatory stuff?

Don't believe me? Why aren't McCain's pastor buddies getting the same treatment as Wright? Loud angry speech is scarier coming from a (Oooohhhh) Black Man!

If John McCain or Hillary made a comment about "typical black" people or "typical hispanic", it would be all over the news and they would be condemned as racist. Yet, Obama makes a racist remark and we should give him a pass? And as far as his church goes, I know I would not keep attending a church where the pastor said things that I strongly disagreed with. So if Obama kept going to that the church where Rev. Wright made inflamatory statements about our country, why would he keep going there? And then a few weeks ago, his wife said that she was proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. I think we are seeing the hypocrisy of him and his views. By the way, I have 2 biracial children so I don't know if I am the typical white person or not.

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

Libs are now saying that Obama saying typical white person is ok, because white people do act like that when they see a black man. Somehow white people are at fault for this. But maybe if the crime staistics werent the way they are with regards to blacks, white people wouldnt act like that. It is proven that Rotweilers do more damage than Terriers. Therefore people get nervous when they see a loose rotweiler and not so much with a loose Terrier. Human nature. But somehow whites are at fault for acting this way.
Like a previous poster said, Obama opened up the "truthful open discussion" about race. I hope libs are ready for it. I dont want to see any double standards anymore. Everything is open for debate. John mcCain should be able to tell stories about the typical black people he has observed.

All I'm going to say is,
he's mixed. He is black
and white. So, lets not
be too hasty to put him
on any side, since he
has always been at a loss
when it comes to racial identity in this black
or white country.

Can we get back to the campaign now?

People making a fuss about Obama's references to his grandmother are just looking for an excuse to bash him. It's obvious to everyone what he meant. There was always a danger that this campaign would turn racial the closer Obama got to the nomination (or to actual election). Criticize him for his views on issues, but not because he stated what's plainly obvious to everyone: Despite decades of progress, there is still racial tension.

why does everyone want to elect this slick con man, who, after every public appearance, goes on TV and says, "what I really meant was..." I've had it with this oily politician and his US-bashing wife. I'm a blue-blooded democrat, but Obama is NOT my candidate.

I guess I am an a-typical white woman, living in Obama's own neighborhood on the South Side. I can tell you from my own experience that the black men walking past me on the streets here are certainly a lot more friendly and respectful than the white guys in this neighborhood.

What really bothers me though is that Obama is repeatedly dragging his grandmother through the dirt in his quest to become president. This woman raised him and he uses her as an example of a bigoted American. I don't know what he is thinking. I know he has always liked to use supporters' stories to make his points but this time he has gone too far.

Please stick to the issues Obama, not the personal stories, whether they be your own or those of others. That's why I like Ron Paul so much, he always sticks to talking about all Americans, rather than compartmentalizing and indivdualizing everything.

What's wrong with Obama's saying "Oops, I sure misspoke, didn't I. I'm sorry"?

I thought the first rule when you say something stupid was to apologize humbly. Explaining what you really meant just digs you in deeper.

Obviously there are millions of people who are not educated enough to understand the whole "Speech of his Life" given by Mr. Obama. I am a "typical white" woman who was beat up, spit on and abused for having "typical black" women and men friends since little on. In school, in my neighborhood, in my workplace and in my life. NOT THIS TIME! If you can't get over your self absorbed victim roles, seek help now! This man obviously is dedicated to the change that is needed in this country. This man wants to bring back the realty that we are One Nation Under God and in God We Tryst. Get over the way he talks already! How much better can YOU the "typical person" voice your statements under the pressures of running for President? Until you have lived in harmony with people of all races and have spoken the same words as Barack, get over it already! Grow up! Everyone forgets how we were not a nation of color on September 12th, the day after. We were brothers and sisters who held vigils hand in hand with total strangers. We cried and we wept together, all of us. And then our hatred grew even worse for yet another race that is living in our Land of the Free. What kind of typical people are they? NOT THIS TIME!

Obviously there are millions of people who are not educated enough to understand the whole "Speech of his Life" given by Mr. Obama. I am a "typical white" woman who was beat up, spit on and abused for having "typical black" women and men friends since little on. In school, in my neighborhood, in my workplace and in my life. NOT THIS TIME! If you can't get over your self absorbed victim roles, seek help now! This man obviously is dedicated to the change that is needed in this country. This man wants to bring back the realty that we are One Nation Under God and in God We Tryst. Get over the way he talks already! How much better can YOU the "typical person" voice your statements under the pressures of running for President? Until you have lived in harmony with people of all races and have spoken the same words as Barack, get over it already! Grow up! Everyone forgets how we were not a nation of color on September 12th, the day after. We were brothers and sisters who held vigils hand in hand with total strangers. We cried and we wept together, all of us. And then our hatred grew even worse for yet another race that is living in our Land of the Free. What kind of typical people are they? NOT THIS TIME!

My question is, why does Obama even need a "mentor?" Why have a mentor who spews hatred? I don't understand the idea of a spiritual mentor. Is it so difficult for people to form their own ideas and opinions without the help of a mentor?

Of all the people in the world for Obama to choose as a mentor, why choose someone who is so filled with hate?

I would prefer a president who is not religious and doesn't require a mentor to help him/her form opinions about the world.

I was willing to listen to Obama. But felt he went too far when he suggested his grandmother who raised him was a racist because she worried about black men at her bus stop. Then to say that Geraldine Ferraro is racist because she dared to speak the truth that he would not be as far as he was today if he were not black. He would not have been given the chance to give the speech at the Democrat convention, which brought him to national attention, if he were not black. There were plenty of young articulate freshmen senators who could have spoke but he was given the opportunity because he is black. I have no problem with black people being given such opportunities but to say that a woman who has always fought for the rights of all minorities is racist because she dared to speak the "politically incorrect" truth is beyond the pale. Why should a known fighter for civil rights be called a racist because of telling the truth?

Idiots, everyone has stereotypes, that was what Obama was discussing, were the words typical white person, badly chosen, yes, were they true, yes, everyone white, black, brown, etc, all have stereotypes, its a basic aspect of human psychology

If Obama had been White and said, "typical Black person", it would have been a nuclear event.

However, since he's Black, it's okay to say "typical White person"? White people should just stop nitpicking?

WTF?!

I know EXACTLY what Obama meant.

He's a racist who's been playing the race card from day one.

After further analysis of my "typical white-self" - I realize the comment "typical white person" is not at all offensive to me - what I think many other "typical white people" are objecting to is this - double standards of the comment made, meaning that if a white person said it - they'd be nailed to a cross (how appropro for Easter huh?) and I think if Obama has done one thing in the last week is wake white people up to the double standards we've been comfortably living under for the last 20 years.

iq0

Words don't matter?

Look at this video...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=72B3tUAqpo4

Wow, someone so gifted with words sure knows how to pick some bad ones, too. I guess I am an atypical white person since I am a college educated white male who simultaneously endorses affirmative action initiatives and Senator Clinton. Sorry Senator Obama. I can only imagine the media uproar if Senator Clinton or Bill Clinton made reference to the "typical black" anything. It is no surprise this story has been given so little coverage by the media.

Words don't matter?

Then watch this video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=72B3tUAqpo4

This typical white woman and her white friends are voting for Obama!

Would you really want me to vote for a woman who continues to let her husband humiliate her? A woman who exaggerates her experience (having tea vs. negotiating opening countries borders-yikes, big difference there!) and changes opinions based on what city she's in (NAFTA/Ohio)? or better yet have me vote for McCain so we can start a draft to have the armed forces available to attack Iran?

People, do not let the ignorant people and pessimists discourage you. Obama 08!

When will we all stop lying to ourselves and to each other. Forget that people are running for Presidency and remember first that they are humans living in a country that begin it's roots on the mistreatment of people who look different then themselves. We ought to celebrate people that are honest for a change. Why do we want celebrate the hidden agenda? You can wake up and sing about everyone being one loving group of people, but let's be real, when we see crimes being committed, an unGodly act, a child being abused etc. we are quick to say "typical black or typical white." When we see a group of people of different races then are own especially minorities we think in our heads I wonder what they are up to. Don't lie and say that things like that don't happen. I am black but as an American, I see we have issues in all of our races. If the comments were so wrong then why in a city as large as the Chicagoland area for example, do we group ourselves off.

How many can say that they truely have persons of different race that join them just to hang out? Not to many. We can see this just watching shows on television. There are shows that I watch and you have 10 of one race to 1 of another and in some cases there is no mixture. America doesn't seem to have a problem with seeing that everyday. However when someone says something that is on the mind of 90% of the country regardless of race, we act like it's news. When you spend 50% or more of our life living with other cultures and races, then complain. Until then we all, including myself, need to shut-up and except the truth. God is not going to say good job if we say one thing but in our hearts think another.

When will we all stop lying to ourselves and to each other. Forget that people are running for Presidency and remember first that they are humans living in a country that begin it's roots on the mistreatment of people who look different then themselves. We ought to celebrate people that are honest for a change. Why do we want celebrate the hidden agenda? You can wake up and sing about everyone being one loving group of people, but let's be real, when we see crimes being committed, an unGodly act, a child being abused etc. we are quick to say "typical black or typical white." When we see a group of people of different races then are own especially minorities we think in our heads I wonder what they are up to. Don't lie and say that things like that don't happen. I am black but as an American, I see we have issues in all of our races. If the comments were so wrong then why in a city as large as the Chicagoland area for example, do we group ourselves off.

How many can say that they truely have persons of different race that join them just to hang out? Not to many. We can see this just watching shows on television. There are shows that I watch and you have 10 of one race to 1 of another and in some cases there is no mixture. America doesn't seem to have a problem with seeing that everyday. However when someone says something that is on the mind of 90% of the country regardless of race, we act like it's news. When you spend 50% or more of our life living with other cultures and races, then complain. Until then we all, including myself, need to shut-up and except the truth. God is not going to say good job if we say one thing but in our hearts think another.

"And if they believe that I can help them in their lives and make their lives and their children's lives and grandkids' lives a little bit better, then I have confidence that they're going to support me and we have a chance to really change this country."
I appreciate the idea that it would be great if everyone had it better than they do, but isn't that "better life" acquired by working hard and getting ahead by personal achievements? With all the "freebies" out there, how much more can the typical working stiff be expected to give when they are doing their best to take care of their own? I see all this making it better for everyone idea coming out of my pocket.

When will we all stop lying to ourselves and to each other. Forget that people are running for Presidency and remember first that they are humans living in a country that begin it's roots on the mistreatment of people who look different then themselves. We ought to celebrate people that are honest for a change. Why do we want celebrate the hidden agenda? You can wake up and sing about everyone being one loving group of people, but let's be real, when we see crimes being committed, an unGodly act, a child being abused etc. we are quick to say "typical black or typical white." When we see a group of people of different races then are own especially minorities we think in our heads I wonder what they are up to. Don't lie and say that things like that don't happen. I am black but as an American, I see we have issues in all of our races. If the comments were so wrong then why in a city as large as the Chicagoland area for example, do we group ourselves off.

How many can say that they truely have persons of different race that join them just to hang out? Not to many. We can see this just watching shows on television. There are shows that I watch and you have 10 of one race to 1 of another and in some cases there is no mixture. America doesn't seem to have a problem with seeing that everyday. However when someone says something that is on the mind of 90% of the country regardless of race, we act like it's news. When you spend 50% or more of our life living with other cultures and races, then complain. Until then we all, including myself, need to shut-up and except the truth. God is not going to say good job if we say one thing but in our hearts think another.

Why is Obama being given a pass that no one else in recent political history has ever been given. If a white candidate had a 20 year history of a close association with a preacher who spoke anti-black sentiments they would have been forced to quit months ago. Also if a white candidate had said the words "a tylical black person" they would be forced to resign immediately with people like obama leading the call. Why is Obama being given a pass? Why are the standards different for Obama than any other politiican in recent history? Should we have to lower our standards for Obama? We are only electing somene to the most important office in the world. THis is the most hipocritical political event I have ever witnessed in my entire life. We treat Obama like a child and give him an insane amount of understanding that no other candidate has ever had before. There is a huge double standard here. The good thing is that Obama numbers are continuing to fall daily and even the speech has not helped in early polling.

For the record, I am TRULY PISSED off to see and even here some of you NARROW MINDED PEOPLE!!!! WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!! There is nothing but truth in the words that were spoken. You all are so quick to jump to conclusions and analyze EVERY SINGLE word this man has to say. I don't think ANY HARM was meant in the message that he was trying to portray. We all know that RACISM is STILL IN AMERICA, but All You Do Is Sweep It UNDER THE CARPET!!!! You all are TEARING Down the Democratic Party, INSTEAD of BUILDING it UP! It's sad to even think that we as people can't see the BIGGER PICTURE of HOPE that this man is FIGHTING FOR! I'm angered by this and deeply sadden by you all talking about taking your votes back and what not. You are all HYPOCRITES, let's just FACE THE FACTS. You all have said something in your lifetime that wasn't correct, and who are WE TO JUDGE ANYBODY, WITHOUT TAKING A LOOK AT OURSELVES. Just REMEMBER THIS, LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE! Quite frankly, None of US Are Worthy To Cast Anything! Live With IT! OBAMA 08'

Really? I mean, really?? All these posts and faux "rage" from some GOP faithful. This guy has the potential to be something special for our (note: our, as in yours & mine) country and you're whining about three words?

i love the media bias, it keeps on coming thicker and thicker! i like how the point of view of this article is defensive for obama. "And then, off message in a way that only endless hours of campaigning can do to any man’s discipline..." what they should have said was any man excluding republicans.
there is some controversy over what obama said and the media contexts it with obama has been through sooo much, he's soo tired he is bound to make a mistake, lots of excuses. i don't take issue with this either. it is the fact that whenever a republican misspeaks such as mccain last week they jump all over him un-relentlessly and unforgiving. omission of truth is deceiving. don't be deceived by the media – what are they not telling you?

The reaction to his campaign alone proves what his experience has shown him. There are indeed white people who are afraid of him simply because he's black. He treaded a line of appearing like a 'safe black man' rather than an angry one just for those people.

Fortunately, there are many many more atypical people of all colors who are not afraid. And actually find it bizarre that some of any kind are.

Meanwhile, this whole mess about Reverend Wright could have been avoided if Fox and Chris Wallace had simply told the truth. No wonder Wallace walked off the set of Fox&Friends this morning. He's the showpiece, the Face Of Fox. And the Face Of Fox Lied For Fox.
The 9/11 'chickens coming home to roost' comment? It turns out Reverend Wright was quoting Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq

Watch the entire sermon. Since this isn't being covered at all the way the comments were. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related This issue isn't over. Fox and the rest of the media need to apologize to Obama like Condi, make it big, and do it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and and and and.

From You Tube - i love how the media framed it as this dangerous angry black man saying these "horrible" things about america, when it was actually him quoting a white US ambassador. good times! this is why i don't watch the TV news, I don't like being lied too.

Typical white WOMAN! What is the deep linguistic meaning of woman in Obama's comment. How does Obama feel about white women, anyway. What else is typical in his way of thinking of a white woman?

Obama is a product of the Chicago-Illinois political combine. IF you know what that means you know he shouldn't be in the White House. He supports one of the most corrupt politicians in America-Mayor Richie Daley.
That's Daley, who as States Attorney looked the other way when African American and Hispanic men were tortured by the police department. And Obama supported Daley for reelection instead of the reform candidate. Obama supported the corrupt white guy over the reformer black guy. ANd that's Obama, its not his minister.

To date, Obama's campaign has been exceptionally well run, but this whole race thing has completely derailed it/him. Regardless of your opinion on the quality and courage needed to give his race speech, I think it and his and his campaign's subsequent actions have been borderline idiotic. Clinton picture and then the slipup about the "typical white person" were amateurish.

Hello All,

Hello All,

Please listen to the whole 9/11 sermon by Rev. Wright. He was repeating what Peck said at in interview on Fox news the day before.

After Rev. Wright said "chickens coming home to roost" he said that wasn't me yall that was a white man who said that.

Why won't hannity and morning joe play that, why, why won't they tell the truth and not part. Why not let the people decide by telling then the whole truth and playing the whole sermon. why because it will help Obama and that is the last thing they want to do.

I don't want to single out Hannity and Morning Joe for even Joe was asked his honest opinion "Does Judgement or experience matter?" Joe said Judgement. He went on to also say that Obama shows good judgement and he liked how after the Rev. Wright incident he (Obama)jumped to the plate and handled his business. this was two day ago folks.

If the whole sermon was played then people would understand how he can't reject Rev.Wright because he was quoting another man not himself.

America please, not this time, not this year. do the research do the research. Look for yourself, don't believe Hannity, Joe or even Obama. do the research yourself and you will come out with you should be your next President and it will ( and I bet my bottom dollar on it) be Obama.

For those who was not going to vote for him already stay out of it. I wasn't voting for HRC but you don't see me throwing hate mail out towards her. She is a human being who is running for office and deserves respect, and Obama's supporters have not trashed Hillary but yet Hill and Mccain supporters trash Obama. Not about the issues mind you but about his race and friends. Mccain sort out the endrosement of this Priest who trashed the Catholic church. He went out and wanted it felt he needed it but that's okay huh.

tb wrote:"Ellen said "If a McCain or Clinton had said the words 'typical black person' everyone would be up in arms. Why is it OK for Obama to say those words if he wants healing?"

Here's why, Ellen - I'll try to use small words so you can understand:

Obama had the guts to open a dialogue about race. If Hillary or McCain had the guts to open up the racial dialogue, they would be able to say something like "typical black person."

You see, there is something very important to understanding communication. It's called context. You've probably heard of this, although you obviously do not understand it very well. If Hillary or McCain had said "typical black person" in the same context that Obama said "typical white person" there would be no issue. If they had said those words in a different context, there could be an issue.

I know this is very hard for people like you to understand. But many people are able to grasp this relatively simple concept of context. I'm guessing your local middle school will have some English books that talk about it if you're still having trouble."

Since you're so concerned about context, I'm sure you're also aware that culture and subculture play significant roles in interpretation. Arabs (such as my ancestors) tend to come from high context cultures, while Americans are generally pretty straightforward, low context critters (don't know if that applies to African-Americans, though).
In short, there is nothing simple about context and it is all very dependent on the cultural match between who's speaking and who's interpreting. Hillary could have said the very same things as Obama, and she would have been screamed down as racist--by African Americans. Obama says "typical white person" and white people interpret his words according to THEIR low context culture a straightforward example of stereotyping. Isn't "typical" by definition a stereotype?

The IDEA that Obama is a RACIST because he used the phrase "typical white person" is itself RACIST. He has much claim to being called White as any other person who's mother is WHITE. To suggest he is racist for using the comment is so ignorant. So therefore he must hate himself for being white, hate his mother for being white, hate his father for marrying a white woman, hate his kids for being part white. GET Fing serious you clowns. If you dont like him because he is Black just say so and dont put up rediculous arguements.

From a "typical white man" :

Wright ought to go down on his knees
and thank God he is an American.

No people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream.

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks -- with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Barack talks about new "ladders of opportunity" for blacks.

Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for "deserving" white kids.

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America's fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time? It's probably not a good idea to let young black kids listen to Wright..you think ?

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago.

NOBAMA in 08

Oh boo-hoo! Obama is being picked on. Sorry folks, fair is fair and we live (like it or not) in an equal society. If Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton can nit-pick every little thing an "evil" white person says, then Obama should receive the same EQUAL treatment for what he says too. Are we equal or not? I am sick of the view that Whites are bad and intent on persecuting the Blacks. Hey! Want to keep somebody down and powerless? Convince them that they are a victim and they are entitled to compensation or special treatment. Or here's a crazy idea. Toughen up and be a little less sensitive. And then maybe we can have the self-confidence and the security to be happy with ourselves. That happiness just might give us the permission to be happy with the differences of race and culture around us. I'm not looking for a group hug here, just a little back-bone and common sense.

With his choice of words, now his rationalization for the use of a stereotype, either Obama was/is making his contribution to a culture embedded with stereotypes or his words were/are the product of a culture embedded with stereotypes. Either way he was not rising above it.

To commenters like Jerry White, you seem to be caught up in the sound-bite media frenzy like so many other "quick-to-judge." It's a shame you think Rev. Wright is a "white hater." If you knew anything about the man, you surely would not be able to hold that opinion.

Now, I don't agree with everything Rev. Wright has said, just like I also don't agree with everything ANYONE has said. It boils down to an agreement to disagree. It's not a novel idea by any means. That was the point of Obama's speech. He can disagree without having to toss the man overboard or run out of the church.

But Rev. Wright was spewing hate speech!! He hates white people and he hates America!!

If you find that in fact somewhere, please share. In the meantime, please do yourself the favor of knowing what you're talking about before you speak by placing the soundbite in context.

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/

It's not white hating or America hating. It's a very simple statement of the obvious. America engaged in the same kind of violence that was waged in NYC on 9/11. That's not to say that any of it is acceptable or excused, whether Iraqi or African or Palestinian or American blood is shed. Killing is killing and it's a tragedy to the victim, but justified by the shooter. It always has been.

We, as Americans typically have our viewpoints challenged on someone else's soil. And so long as it remains there, we get to sit at home and hold on the belief that we're right and as soon as we reinstate peace (with our military force) everyone will see we're right.

Are there real conflicts that need American action to be resolved. Yes, absolutely. But there are also other times where America is motivated by a corporate bottom line i.e. Halliburton & Exxon Mobil (if you don't agree this current and the previous Iraq war were waged for oil, then you're truly in the dark. Remember, we rushed into Iraq on a fantasy WMD charge and found nothing, but in N. Korea, where we have no foreseeable corporate gain, the nutty leader is essentially giving America the finger while he continues to build WMD).

We as Americans have to come to grips with the fact that we do not have the only viewpoint about how the world should be, so we are not exempt from action in support of those views.

Here's some interesting comments:
www.timwise.org (read his 03/18 article)

http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/huckabee-defends-rev-jer_n_92346.html

I have been wondering as well what John McCain will do without Senator Joe Lieberman at his side. Seems to me, McCain will need to choose Lieberman as his running mate. That will be quite interesting, first he is running mate for Al Gore, then, he becomes policy whisperer for McCain. Go figure!

It should be over. If someone in Obama's campaign had made the 'typical' remark they would have been made to leave immediately and the Obama campaign would issue a statement about that person doesn't speak for them (see Ferraro factor). The Democrats still have to play nice with each other but the Republicans must think it's now Christmas. In the past, Howard Dean got zapped just for making an odd yell. The 'typical' comment was more like something David Duke would have said but using a different race. Obama with his past and present with Rev Wright, his wife's comments and now the exposure of Obama's own inner racial bigotry, it is time for him to step aside. It was a good run, but now he is done. PS - If he stays in, you know the fix is in.

What is typical is if Bill Clinton would have said this the Tribune would have posted it as a story and helped make this a race campaign. But Obama has a simple slip on the tongue and it is relegated only to the Blog World. What did he say? Where did he say it? What was his response on Larry King afterward. That is news worthy.

Shame on the Tribune and all other mainstream media.

from a
HRC/Obama Supporter....love them both.

"Most of us (maybe women, who are more vulnerable physically) when we see a black man coming towards us - on a dark street, on a deserted street, on an unfamiliar street, are more nervous about him than we are about a white man - until we face such automatic reactions we have no hope of changing what is wrong with our society in terms of race relations."

And how many of us of either race are willing and eager to buy into (false) stereotypes of whites as rapists of Black women (e.g. Tawana Brawley, the Duke lacrosse team) or mass murderers (the sniper shootings in the Washington, DC area a few years ago, where the Black police chief refused to accept despite witness testimony that non whites could possibly be responsible)?

Having "listened"repeatedly to Obama's "typical white person" comments. I decided at one point not to read the written dialog as the news stations replayed the radio interview and just listen. Obama's tone to his voice dropped, becoming more purposeful.

I must say, it gave me pause. And a turning point of my reaction to his comments. That of him purposefully playing politics! He knew that tone with those specific words would play well with a segment of the African American community needing reasured given his quasi critcism of Rev. Wright. Obama is very SKILLED at his ability to frame his words. Maybe that should be expected considering he is a Harvard trained lawyer! And now he can add a typical politican!

Frankly, this whole debate confirms that Geraldine Ferraro was correct in what she said.

If Obama was white- attended and welcomed into his family a minister- who said the same things about black people

--then used the phrase "typical black people"

He would be absolutely done as far as being President and people would be comparing him to David Duke

-one more thing Obama- you don't get to choose your grandmother- you do get to choose your pastor- therefore since he was your pastor of choice for 20 years- you are implicated

The saddest thing about this whole race is that we have become hypersensitive to everything. The political correctness agenda has just blown up in this race.

I am not an Obama supporter based on his voting record in Illinois. I do not agree with his politics. But he is now running two campaigns while Billary only needs to run one, which is unfair. He is black (oh, wait...and he's white) and he has to defend it. Why can't he just defend what his policies are? I do believe that, should he attain the Oval Office, he would work to represent everyone, not only Black Americans. However, he is too liberal in his policies for me...and it's not fear of his race that makes me say this. Holy mackerel, when are we going to quit being a bunch of mamsy pamsies, getting offended at every turn and throwing out, "you offended me!" at every turn.

Shame on us. We don't have a chance at ever making sound political decisions because we get so mired in the muck. I'd rather hear answers to why he voted certain ways on abortion issues than why "typical white woman" came out of his mouth...quite frankly, I think his Larry King answer was fine and dandy.

No one is perfect. No one has the ability to be right, say the right thing, and have it coming out like the perfect sound-byte every time. Sheez!

I have a nervous reaction when I encounter someone "of color" in an isolated situation whom I don't know, but it's not because of something "bred into (my) experiences" or something that constitutes sterotyped "fears that are embedded in our culture and embedded in our society." Twice I have been assaulted and robbed, once with a shotgun in my stomach, the other with a stilleto. Does that make me a "typical white person?" Or is it a justified precaution based on being mugged twice by an unknown black person? Rev. Wright and Sen. Obama have ensured that he will not be getting this man's vote.

Obama is a "typical black person." He proves it himself, everyday, everytime he utters a phrase.

America is lost!!! The dogs have come to pick at the carcass.

Some one cue up John Kerry: "I was for Barack Obama, until I was against him."

And how about John Lewis. Man, he must be stewing in his pants. Now the Clintons are going to make him pay for his betrayal.

But seriously, folks, does this mean BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is a "typical white woman"? In his earlies concerts, he described having the same reaction when he first met Clarence Clemons.

He was walking down the street at night and it was raining. And then he sees a figure coming at him down the street. As the figure approaches, it gets bigger and bigger.

Bruce decides to calmly cross the street. And so the figure coming closer and closer.

Bruce crosses again and so does the figure coming closer and closer. Bruce prepares for an ask kicking and then the figure reaches out his big, massive hand.

"Hi, I'm Clarence Clemons."

And the rest is rock 'n' roll history.

By the way, for those of you who are pissing in your pants with anger over Barack's remarks, ask yourself this question:
"Are hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow and discrimination the moral equivalent of 'typical white woman'?"

Stop your sniveling, you whinning b*tches! It's not.

Typical white person here. What Obama said is true, whether or not he was politically correct in how he said it. Why don't we give him some credit for that? The truth hurts. And that's why so many typical white people are up in arms about this statement. My advice: examine your own thoughts and words, and come to grips with your own racism instead of pointing fingers at others.

From the comments on this board, this list should describe our current culture.

1) Black people know exactly why white people act the way they do--they are racist. Part of white racism may be excused because it is "bred" into the society we live in but other parts can't.
2) White people cannot understand why black people act the way they do because they have never experienced racism.
3) It is impossible for white people to put Rev. Wright's comments in context because they do not share a common frame of reference.
4) There are typical white people and stereotypical black people.
5) It is okay to acknowledge the existence of a typical white person but not use racially based stereotypes when referring to black people.
6) If you support Barack you are more enlightened than other people because you are focused on the issues not distractions like his relationships with other people, the words he's spoken or written, or his judgment.
7) If Barack is not selected as the nominee or Barack is not elected president it will be a result of racism rather than issues such as national security or the economy
8) The candidates, rather than the media, should determine what the issues are. That way the candidates can be judged on their professionally prepared and packaged platforms rather than the soundbites media sources use to attract viewers/listeners

Did I miss any of the other rules of engagement?

It IS amusing to hear the new rally cry, or cult chant if you will, of the Obamabots. We went from

As a "life long" Democrat...I will vote Republican if Hillary is elected.

As a woman, I "want" to see a woman elected...just not Hillary.

To,

As a white woman...I think it's "okay" to typify.

I love how many of you are willing to throw not only yourself but take the liberty of throwing all whites under the bus, and unbeknown to you so is the other race too. If you think you are justified in your stereotype that means others are justified in their stereotypes of blacks. And we all know no one is justified in any stereotype. His choice of words were poor. It was a STEREOTYPE. There is not excuse for stereotypes, and no justification. His own excuse is out right negligence, pandering, and round about raltional.

How much of your fear has to do with race in you dark alley analogy v with being in a dark alley? How much of your fear has to do with race in your dark alley analogy v your gender? How much of your fear has to do with race v the other persons looks (Wall ST type V Bumb)? How much of your dark alley analogy has to do with race relations v continued stereotyping?

Not only is it ironic to see so many people purport such shallow understanding of race relations. But, to see them fall on their face doing so. It is PERFECTLY UNACCEPTABLE to go from discussing black people and white people, to what is TYPICAL white or TYPICAL black in this debate. As a matter of fact it is erroneous to think all people, because of their color, *think* and *feel* and *act* in only a certain way. Especially since fear is color blind and has everything to do with what is new or unknown. The fear is not typical of one majority.

"in all honesty even white people that consider themselves progressive have the reaction to seeing black people (usually male)of suspicion or fear in certain situations that they don't have toward whites in those same situations.."

In all honesty black people that consider themselves progressive have a similar reaction to seeing white people (male or female). The behavior is not TYPICAL for one race.

You can not and will not go far in this debate if you use STEREOTYPES for blacks and whites; what is considered stereotypical for whites and stereotypical for blacks. Stereotypes denote a SHALLOW view of race relations. All of these types of comments can not rise above the stereotypes. All they do is justify the use of a stereotype. It is clear that probably most have a certain preconceived "typical" idea of the race debate. Maybe because half are so far removed from it. Maybe just new to it. Maybe because you want to justify anything Obama says. I can GUARANTEE that if ANY of these or such Swampie commentators sat in any of our UNIVERSITIES all of your comments would be SHOT DOWN in the FIRST FIVE MINUTES. TRY and talk about typical whites and typical blacks and you will have everyone call YOU IGNORANT.

You can't swift boat opinions that you don't agree with by attributing them to figures you don't like, or to fear. I listened to his speech. In the spirit of cynical malice, stereotyping, and swift boat tactics...I don't know, maybe I should have lived in affluent suburbs, in the luxury of ignorant white communities, (or some other pale town).. that's the only way to explain it. White people, media corps are owned by white men, are so removed from the issue of race and race politics that everything Obama said was divine news to them. They haven't sat long enough through the dialogue to place the speech in it, and see past it to what's being said in between the lines. A man courts the populous with words masking same old stances on a debate. A clever long armed stance holding the issue close and yet at a distance. Providing room for the publics projection of their own motivations and old convictions. The white respond to the novelty of the idea--that's what they project onto to the speech; moving on. The minorities, specifically blacks, project affirmation; they are justified in their stagnation. Wait until both figure out that you can't move forward when the other part can sit and stew. And they sit and stew together.

This is not new.

i am just trying to imagine the instant nationwide reaction to mccain uttering: 'But she is a typical black person'

but you see no one seems to care. the hopelessly braindead self-hating and guilted-white world drools over obama and they welcome every anti-white sentiment as one dutifully undergoing self flagellation in penetince.

black people only had one concern about obama: was he black enough. imagine if a similar concern were voiced for mccain from whites.

this presidential election is only about one thing: race. if obama wins this society will witness the strangest and most acute and chronic display of black racial tribal loyalty ever seen. to those whites who are asleep i can asure you wherever you are in this nation when you come across black people they will remind you in not so subtle ways that 'their boy' is in power now. to those self-hating and guilted-whites who long for the day of their racial extinction you will begin to see that happen the day obama takes office.

The more Obama opens his mouth the more we learn that he's a bigot and racist. Why else would he and his family go to a black version kkk style "church"?

Let's be real; if he were white and going to a type of "church" like that for 20 years he/she would be forced to quit immediately.

But because he's black he's given special treatment. Shame.

Sorry kids but you all knew this was going to happen. Did you really think anybody could get through the political process and acutually be able to change anything

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss

Don B.

No people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans.

I'm curious Don when did this phase of white-black relations start in America. Gosh, I hate to bring up the dang slavery-reconstruction thing, but...

Also wondering if you've ever heard of social science? I know it's mostly COmmie-Pinko crap, but it does contain a few million factoids that contravene your (let me charitably say) less-than-informed-opinion. If I were you, I might start with the field of inquiry known as sociology. Just a loony left thought for you.

All the Obama people come out and try to make everybody feel small for even talking about this. How dare you challenge Barack on a tiny little non-issue when he's trying to do great things like 'unify America'! Now get out of Barack's way, you small, little, inconsequential person! Do you Obama supporters ever stop to examine what the hell you're all even talking about with this 'unification' stuff? Who is going to be unified? When will this unification happen? Immediately upon his election? Do I get a tax break for performing or particiapting in a unification? Can I get some specifics please? (Oh, I just don't get it, huh?) You're right.

OBAMA SUPPORTORS,

It's not the Barrack's actual words that are offensive - it's the fact of the DOUBLE STANDARD. CAN'T YOU EVEN GET THAT? CAN'T YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT WE MIGHT BE OFFENDED TOO AT TIMES?

SORRY, OBAMA JUST LOST IT GUYS..IT'S OVER...

iq0

OBAMA SUPPORTORS,

It's not the Barrack's actual words that are offensive - it's the fact of the DOUBLE STANDARD. CAN'T YOU EVEN GET THAT? CAN'T YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT WE MIGHT BE OFFENDED TOO AT TIMES?

SORRY, OBAMA JUST LOST IT GUYS..IT'S OVER...

iq0

Does anyone else notice how almost every anti-Obama comment here is full of spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and run-on sentences, while the majority of pro-Obama comments appear to have been written by someone who has at least mastered 6th grade English?
I'm starting to see a trend. Joe Dropout bites the media bait and swallows hook, line and sinker. A reasonably educated person, on the other hand, understands the difference between a phrase like "typical white person" taken as an isolated utterance, and that same phrase in the context of an enlightened comment.
The point of Mr Obama's comment was precisely that having instinctive responses to race does NOT automatically make one racist. We all have gut reactions, whether to a person's skin color, sex, manner of dress, or manner of speech. Our response to those reactions is what does or does not make us racist, sexist, etc. He was not saying that the typical white person is racist. He was acknowledging that there is an American experience that is shared by whites in America, which is inherently different than the Black American experience, for instance. That experience transcends class, region, sex, etc, and is influenced by our historically racially segregated society. Those who share that experience can correctly be called "typical."

After seeing the entire sermon I have lost all faith in the "free" press. Not one news broadcast bothered to play the entire sermon. I am very disappointed but not the least bit surprised. This certifies that broadcast journalism is all about commercial time and revenue generation and the published journalism has lost it's credibility when seeking the truth. I think it will be left in the hands of Bloggers to do the real investigative reporting and journalists to continue to hijack their stories when it suits them.

After seeing the entire sermon I have lost all faith in the "free" press. Not one news broadcast bothered to play the entire sermon. I am very disappointed but not the least bit surprised. This certifies that broadcast journalism is all about commercial time and revenue generation and the published journalism has lost it's credibility when seeking the truth. I think it will be left in the hands of Bloggers to do the real investigative reporting and journalists to continue to hijack their stories when it suits them.

Russell Caca: I'm so sorry that my posting bothered you so much. None of us here posting were around during slavery, unless
your over 150 years old. I spoke primarily to the great society programs starting in the 60's ( perhaps you have reading and comprehension problem) in any case read it and weep chump.

You people are insane. Absolutely...insane. How can you possibly make a big deal out of this noise? Obama's half-white half-black. Can't we shoot this back at the GOP yet? God knows how many psychotic pastors have donated to their candidates. I swear to God, its like everyone is trying to equate Rev Wright with the Grand Wizard of the KKK.

Take a valium people and calm down. The media has taken the most incidiary and controversial statements that man has made and posted them. Keep in mind that this is the worst dirt the opposition has been able to gather on Barack. Words his preacher said on days he wasn't even in attendance. Bravo morons.

All you people calling Barack a racist should seriously be ashamed of yourselves. You have no good reason to make that accusation and you know it.
He was talking about his grandmother and making a legitimate point that she, like many white people, still have some fear issues with black people. If you posters seriously can't get that, then you have a long ways to go as a human being. In the meantime, enjoy American Gladiators. It's back.

Dan @ 4:35 PM:

Please, spare us the righteous, santimonious crap about Obama supporters being the ones who are reasonably educated with a mastery of 6th grade English and those who don't are simpletons. If you must denigrate persons with an opposite view to support yours, methinks your view may be a tad weak.

Such condescending attitudes from either side of the political spectrum are the cancers that have metastasized in our society to produce the political polarization and "politics of personal destruction". I nor most citizens of this great country need less government instrusion, at all levels, into our individual pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Government is the problem, not the solution. The opposite of "pro" is "con" and the opposite of progress is Congress.

russell z,

Should white America do more for blacks? Maybe we can be more like France. Oh wait, blacks riot there too when they dont get their way. How about England? How about Africa or Haiti? Where exactly do the blacks have a better quality of life? Nowhere where there is a substantial number of them.
So why is the blacks lack of progression White America's fault?
Quit making excuses and hold the black community accountable.

This is a shameless dismissal of words that are "stereotypical" of 'white folks'.

Barack Obama dissed his own grandmother. He was truly calling it how he saw it, and you say, 'poorly chosen words'. But wait, I thought Obama had all this insight, that he was the unity we've been looking for. Yet what he just did was insult my mother and grandmother in the same process. Typical...aka Stereotypical.

Well, it isn't 'typical' as you might try to cover for him. My mother raised me to challenge racism. My grandmother did the same thing for her. But I guess you'll cover yourself by saying, 'ok, but maybe they are atypical'.

Sorry, not buying your cover story, your cover for his words. It demonstrates clearly that he does not have it all down like he wants us to believe.

To Dan,

Original quote.

"The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity," Obama said. "But she is a typical white person. If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know. . .there's a reaction in her that doesn't go away and it comes out in the wrong way."

- Obama

Please enlighten, Dan.

I'm sensing a trend. One must degrade another to make a point. Dan and Obama are enlightened individuals.

Here is an enlightening fact. He is not calling anyone a racist. He is not a racist. But, he did make a contribution to the same culture he ridicules.... stereotypes that feed racism..just to "make a point." As an intelligent person, I would think, he'd be more nuanced when making his FIRST assessment BEFORE having to enlighten, err clarify, himself.

In his first assessment she can not be considered "typical" if like in his second assessment he rightly pointed out she's not "extraordinary" in that way. I'm hoping he meant not extraordinary for any person of any color.

He said none of what you said. He attributed a behavior to his G-mother based on her race. Forgetting that people who hold racial biases act alike in similar situations. It has nothing to do with what side of the fence you sit on of issues like slavery and crime; who plays what part. If you have a bias on either side that bias will express itself in the same way.

Dear Mark,

I am a typical white person. I think you are also a typical white person having a typical reaction to all of this. Don't worry. It will pass, and you will see how foolish it all was.

Your typical commenter,

Dean

Obama Is A Liar from an African American Female Registered Democrat

Amazing pack of lies from Obama's mouth on Tuesday (as usual).

I am not surprised since he could not plagarize this speech and I am not surprised by his grandma under the bus statements.

Did you hear him say Friday he was never in the pews for Wright's tirafes to now say in his speech Tuesday he was present?

Obama is a liar, opportunist and race-baiter. We do not need the internal core of our new president filled to the rim with hatemongering words like Wright's,

As an African American female, Christian, Black church member, attender and tither and pastor's granddaughter, daughter, niece and cousin, Wright does not reflect the Black church theology.

He is a demagogue like Hitler and Obama is his disciple. Remember, millions joined the SS movement in Germany following Hitler's fiery speeches and we now know the outcome.

WAKE UP AMERICA and African Americans stop lying for this guy!

"But she is a typical white person who, you know, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn’t know, there is a reaction that has been bred into our experiences that don’t go away and sometimes come out in the wrong way…"

typ·i·cal (tp-kl)
adj.
1. Exhibiting the qualities, traits, or characteristics that identify a kind, class, group, or category: a typical suburban community.
2. Of or relating to a representative specimen; characteristic or distinctive.
3. Conforming to a type: a composition typical of the baroque period.
4. also typ·ic (-k) Of the nature of, constituting, or serving as a type; emblematic.

No, it is not considered typical for a white individual to feel uneasy about black strangers more so than it is typical for black individuals to feel uneasy about white strangers under the same circumstances. Can't be considered typical for a race if it's typical for both races.

Smoke and mirrors. And, a lot of back tracking to redefine what you really meant without changing what you really meant. Reminds me of what happened right after "will meet with hostile leaders." He kept trying to make it sound right...until Cuba happened.

Oh brother, now we're down to three words to try to infer the heart of a candidate. How idiotic can you get?

It's like Name That Tune--How many words does it take a pundit or a Cable News Clown to twist out of context in order to wreck a potentially great thing for America?

"I can destroy that candidate in three words."

"No, two words!"

"Okay, destroy that candidate."

"Adolph Hitler!"

Congratulations! You've just won a dysfunctional country! Let the terrorist attacks begin!

Oh brother, now we're down to three words to try to infer the heart of a candidate. How idiotic can you get?

It's like Name That Tune--How many words does it take a pundit or a Cable News Clown to twist out of context in order to wreck a potentially great thing for America?

"I can destroy that candidate in three words."

"No, two words!"

"Okay, destroy that candidate."

"Adolph Hitler!"

Congratulations! You've just won a dysfunctional country!

Obama is our Savior! Obama and Reverd Wright are RIGHT! God D*** america. Obama will apologize to our Muslim brothers for an arrogant america. Let us choose now to rally around Barak and Michelle and make them proud. No more so called "elections" which your "typical white person" votes for clinton. They are racists!

To: Informed Life Long Democrat

I don't believe you, but, if you are what and who you say you are, how sad...

So ridiculous to imply that it's the online and cable news media that is making this comment an issue. It's an issue because if ANYONE ever said, "Typical black person," they'd be done for politically. Just because Obama's a great speaker doesn't mean you can erase spontaneous comments like this, not to mention the fact that he passionately attends a church that is publicly in contradiction with Obama's fundamental message of racial and American harmony.

I give Obama a break on the "typical white person" comment, but it really doesn't matter. It's over for Barack Obama. Indiana is going to be pivotal for Hillary, and she's going to win it by double digits. I know because I've been polling fellow Hoosiers. He has no chance of winning here. Midwesterners know that you don't attend a church for 20 years and disagree with what's being said.

I'm a white, 52-year old professional (attorney)male. Although I'm a registered Democrat and voted for Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004, I have not liked Obama from the start and will definitely be voting for McCain. I always thought he was phony, and now it's been proven by his "typical white person" comment. Obama is a self-identified black person. Just imagine if I, a self-identified white person, opined that Obama's view of white people is what the typical black person thinks. I'd be labeled a racist, and if I said this in a public setting I'm quite sure I'd be shouted down and my career ruined. Yet I'm not running for President and I don't claim to be a uniter with a special talent to bridge racial and political divides.

Typical white woman?!

Ouch...

What amazes me is the lack of condemnation by the press. Imagine the uproar if Senator McCain, in discussing the shortcomings of an elderly African American lady, referred to her as a "typical black woman."

Sorry, Obama but you brought upon yourself this conflict of feelings; and although you may say it needs to be recognized (racism), you are not only furthering it, you are using it as a vote getter for yourself into the Oval Office. Obama is just not qualified enough to be President and no magic wand can change realities of what it takes to be President. And this does not take into account nor should it, race, gender, and religion. Firstly, Socialist platforms are what he and Hillary both possess, and Socialist being is not what the County needs. Using race to get a vote or divide the nation is despicable. To be the leader in a FREE WORLD, it requires more than being of Socialist nature. Immaturity and inexperience cannot lead America. We can always improve America, but we cannot just say that health care will so ohh ever so affordable as this is also a lie and false promise. We cannot allow our economy to crash. I don't see Obama or Hillary giving away their farm; it will be middle class America that stands to fall. Without a middle class, their is dismal result. Just look at Mexico. I'd guess that's why they come here ~ to get away from oppression and poverty. We can also address this intelligently as we are a capable and compassionate nation. We also know one has to earn one's way and be responsible and accountable. If we are to be a nation of opportunity, then we must continue to have capitalism for this spells jobs. We cannot be reduced to living in a cave and shackled by commy like Socialist means or measures. Get off the race, gender, and religion pulpit and get onto platforms. There are laws in place for the former three and we can always improve them and we do enforce them. We are who and what we are by our actions. I smell tyranny and a smoke screen. And anyone who preaches hatred is certainly not upstanding in any way. Obama has made his stand and himself clear enough; and although he thinks he is duping Americans, he has only shown what he has some deep seated issues that do not make for Presidential qualities for an unified America. Enough of this smut bugering. I will vote for the old man and reasonableness. Hillary can become the Majority leader in the Senate and perhaps Obama a Governor of Illinois, but neither is the one for being President of the United States of America.

The comments "a typical white person" are one of the reasons that although Obama's words say he is a uniter, I believe in reality he is a divider and will increase racial tensions.

"OBAMA SPEAKS"

IT'S OKAY TO BE "WHITE" CAUCASION AND BE "TYPICAL."

IT'S OKAY TO BE BLACK AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BE "TYPICAL."

SO IT'S NOT TO BE "WHITE/BLACK" AMERICAN AND BE "TYPICAL." IT IS BECAUSE IN "CONVERSATION" AT TIMES WE ARE CAN BE JUST "TYPICAL"

IN THE NEXT ELECTION IT WILL BE A "CAUCASION AMERICAN MIXED WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN, MIXED WITH LATIN AMERICAN THAT IS "TYPICAL."

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, WE THINK THE WAY WE THINK. AT LEAST NOW MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND 230 YEARS LATER "CONSTITUTIONALY" WE ACTUALLY' DO "THINK THE WAY WE THINK"

THAT'S "OUR" TYPICAL.

Obama is a fraud!

Barack Obama FEAR SMEAR?

Barack Obama
STAND WITH
Ralph Nader
Ron Paul
Dennis Kucinich
Mike Gravel
NOT
DNC Hillary Clinton
RNC John McCain

Eyes wide open
Testify

The evident of White Pennsylvanian choosing a snippet of Obama's Sentence "Typical White person" when he was referring to his Grand Mother who he loved dearly, when they take it out of context and use it to give them a reason to vote Hillary Clinton, this makes them the most hypocritical people in America.It is better to say I will vote for Hillary Clinton because she is as white just like me than to make an excuse. It clearly shows what this state is far behind in development in America, their own so called white blood has used them as prostitute to get to power and when they get to power, they eventually forget about them. Most unscrupulous white politicians in America know the mindset of white Pennsylvanian when it comes to voting and when it comes to race. Naturally, the Clintons feel comfortable with this state. Most Pennsylvanian whites, whether educated or non educated are naturally racist, it is embedded in their upbringing,they show their racism in their intelligence, gesture and social events and decisions that's why Hillary Clinton will win in Pennsylvania. They gonna vote for their race instead of the issues that is plaguing them and the state of Pennsylvania such as Hillary's Clinton huge in investments in Asia,India.Her investments are tied in companies that has outsourced their Jobs to Asia as she has shown by her backing of NAFTA. White Pennsylvanians will vote for a White person who wants to pump poison in their mouths than for a sincerely Honest, Bi-racial person who wants to bring prosperity to their state and to this country.White Pennsylvanian see Obama as BLACK, despite his %50 percent white DNA.This is the most racist state in America.Obama move on.

Obama must be on drugs. In an effort to promote racial harmony...he makes reference to "typical white" people? He claims to be a faithful member of a church for 20 yrs, but doesn't know (or care) that his pastor is a lunatic? This guy has some serious issues...and we want him in the White House?"

Mark,

That was a stupid move of him to do. Who in their right mind would pick their friend over their grandma? Especially if this friend had "not helped you", big time.

Even if this was the greatest speech ever written by any person Obama messed up in the following days. He used that "typical white person" comment, he flip flops on whether he was in the Church to hear the racist/antiamerican comments, and his biggest mistake...HIS CAMP RELEASING A PICTURE OF WRIGHT SHAKING HANDS WITH CLINTON to the NEW YORK TIMES.

It is an absurd campaign move because we've all seen what Wright has to say about "Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, and African Americans."

The picture became a joke in the blog section of the times, but it does seems like a very freshman mistake on the Obama camps part or they asked Karl Rove for help and he decided to double cross them.

He's right! He's wrong! In the long run these are merely words people. But are we bothered by the fact that he has called us white or that he has called us out, called a big part of this country out... So, he mistakenly made too strong of a generalization to a single race (of which he belongs too), b/c perhaps some of us haven't made slurs like his grandmother did - but race, and stereotypes are something that are country has not escaped and that many of us white poeple are guilty of struggling with and/or possesing - race is an issue many of us want to resolve yet were so quick to sweep discussions of it under the rug... because of hurt feelings? denial? fear? Clearly, his statement was made to support that his grandmother wasn't the only white person who has ever had those sorts of feelings toward another race - but like he has iterated, it's not only white individuals that feel prejiduce, fear or anger toward other races, obama has addressed that this is a condition of the American people, which include all races; hispanic, black, white, asian, native american, etc. Ask yourself, does everything come out perfect when you say it? It's not so much the words as it is the meaning that matters... Obama is talking, but are you really listening to what he's saying? Give it a try... then make a worthy response.

If John McCain was referring to an elderly Af-Am woman who was his grandmother as a typical black woman, then it would be different. Very different. But even so, do we honestly think that he would lose the nomination of the GOP over that? The correct answer is "no".

If this is all it took for anyone to withdraw their support, then race was always an issue for them. He didn't make the best choice of words by far. However, it is a stretch to say that his entire campaign is built on lies b/c of that statement or b/c of Wright.

Just so I can understand, what would he be lying about? Because he used the term typical white woman he doesn't want to reform health care? Because Wright was his pastor he doesn't want to bring the soldiers home from Iraq? Really?

Hillary has had her problems dragged into the forefront since the start of her campaign, if not before. Now it appears that Obama's campaign has an Achilles' Heel. It will be pounced on by journalists and political analysts on TV and in print until the convention or until a bigger story breaks. So yes, the media does play a role. It would be great if it weren't true, but it is.

Other Points:
1. He does not need to use race to get votes. He was getting them before this controversy started.

2. Don Imus is back on the air. Period.

3. He is not perfect. He was never perfect. Newsflash: no one is.

A suggestion: Can we please get back to discussing the real issues of the campaign? Please?

I find it ironic that Obama would refer to his grandmother as a "typical white person" after he had confessed to the same concerns in his book:

Then I guess Barack must be a "typical white person" too because he confessed to the same concerns in his book:

-- Barack Obama from 'Dreams of My Father',
"When his grandmother wants a ride to work because the day before, while awaiting the bus, she was threatened by a black panhandler, he is outraged -- at his grandparents. . . Later, when he moves to the South Side of Chicago in 1984, he eventually discovers that, like his grandmother, he’s sometimes scared of black males on the street, too."

And the concerns are shared by others:

-- The Reverend Jesse Jackson, as quoted in US News, 3/10/96,
"There is nothing more painful to me ... than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved. "

The point being, if Jesse, Barack and his grandmother all admit to stereotyping in this case, why didn't Barack simply say "typical person".

Posted by: Don B | March 21, 2008 2:59 PM

Wow, that was quite a racist rant. So, what you're saying is, black pepole should bow down and kiss the feet of white people.

FYI, the "incarceration and crime" problems are ALL OUR FAULTS, AS A SOCIETY. African Americans have a responsibility to NOT commit crimes. Yes!! But until they can be provided the same tools as Whites (A GOOD EDUCATION), crime will be an inevitable solution to their plight. That's not an excuse for crime, mind you, but it is a reason.

We have to eliminate the "reason" to commit crimes. Poverty and desapir. Until there is equitable education, the opportunities for the poor will be negligible and crime will continue to be a major problem. I believe "providing" a good education falls under the constitutional mandate of "equal protection under the law". How better to protect everyone than with a good education. It can free people from the cycle of ignorance and poverty that leads to the crime rate you mention.

To Obama and his minions:

Stop lecturing me on race. I've lived through four decades and parts of two others. As a person of color, I've endured the racial hate and prejudice from white, black, all ethnicities of people and learned it's not about race or the color of your skin, it's about the person you are: good or bad, mean or nice, responsible or irresponsible, hard working or lazy, cruel or kind, arrogant or self-deprecating, self-centered or altruistic, supportive or overly critical, insensitive or empathetic, open-minded or close-minded, etc. So spare me the entry level race lectures, where you contrast an Afro-centric, white blaming, paranoid, loudmouth, racially prejudiced preacher to your own grandmother, who financially and morally supported you when your own father and mother did not, put a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food in your stomach, taught you good manners, and saw to it that you got one of the best educations money could buy you unappreciative morally-bankrupt cretin.

Rev, Jeremiah Wright's hate speech is nothing more than racially prejudiced, opportunistic, paranoid, delusional scapegoating to a group of people apparently looking for an easy explanation to confirm the twisted ideology they already held as evidenced by Obama's own racial "observations," otherwise they would have walked out of one of Wright's hate filled diatribes that pass for "sermons" and never looked back.

Obama is just another, albeit unseasoned, consumate politician. He is politically financially supported by special interests groups galore, just search out who donates big to his campaigns, Tony Rezko is the tip of the iceberg, try largest nuclear powerplant operator Excelon, U of Chicago Health care systems or swiss banks and Wall Street investment firms. The race talk is just another smoke screen to detract from Obama's shortcomings and true nature, which he and his campaign staff fear, if it became known he wouldn't even be in the running to be president.

First of all, when did it become so offensive and surprising that politics are discussed within the Black Church (remember, the good Dr. MLK was a PREACHER and an ACTIVIST!) Historically, the church was the centerpiece of the black community. It was where black citizens could meet, discuss and organize. Folks that are outraged that politics were discussed in Rev. Wright's pulpit and a multitude of other pulpits, black and white, are completely delusional.

LASTLY, you all have been DUPED BIG TIME BY FOX NEWS and the other "NEWS" organizations. Go to youtube OR CNN-Rev Wright's full sermon that produced the "chickens coming home to roost" soundbite has FINALLY been posted (along with many others). You will hear that Rev Wright was actually quoting a US ambassador when that statement was made. After listening, I challenge you to find one occassion where he makes any racist or hateful statements. Dissent is not hate-it is the most patriotic of acts as it displays a true desire for the best out of AND for all of us. The truth is the truth, and while it may be difficult to face, the truth does not change.

THE LESSON FOR TODAY BOYS AND GIRLS IS THAT ANYTHING CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT AND MANIPULATED! DON'T BE SHEEP-LEARN TO RESEARCH, READ AND THINK FOR YOURSELVES!

My father was a typical white male who made the most obscene bigoted remarks about blacks you could (or could not) imagine. There...I threw him under the bus. I just glad I had the sense to know that what he did was wrong.

Time to get back to reality.

Pay attention to the 2 sentences BEFORE the phrase "typical white person":

"She is extremely proud, and the point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn’t. "

SHE DOESN'T. Everyone notice that?

The phrase "Typical white person" modifies that SHE DOESN'T.

Obama was saying that typical white people don't harbor any racial animosity.

Wow. If you let this whole thing get you worked up, take a deep breath. There's no logical reason for Obama to want to fan waves of hate, because his campaign is based on bringing people together. At least though, this is an example of how people get worked up about hot-button issues. We have to grow from this, or NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

It shows that we need Obama more than ever.

Wrongly or rightly, people feel they can say things about their groups that no one else can. Obama is half-white.

Why do we simply forget that? Someone who is half of any other racial, ethnic or religious group doesn't simply become that group because of a drop of blood.

It shows that legacy of slavery and Jim Crow is not dead.

Since when has the word "typical" become a dirty word?
Obama used the word exactly what he meant.
He called a spade spade. Some people think using the word,
"typical" as an adjective is politically incorrect, even when it is
used exactly what it should mean.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with the phrase,
"typical white person" in the contxt Mr. Obama used.
What's the issue?

Firstly, we are ALL Americans, regardless of our race, gender, or religion. And again, it is our actions that bespeak our character and words that carry meaning when implemented. When words are used to cause conflict or harm, they are as dangerous as one's actions. Let me see here. Obama is black, white and other. Most of us are. Is one purely one race? Hmmm. Obama is a man. Wow; now there's discovery. And Obama chooses to attend church and listen to hatred and bigotry that espouses hating America and whitemen and holding them responsible for their fate and being. Now, this is really revelations! Conclusion: Obama is using race, gender, and religion as a tool to get votes. Young folk are caught up in idealism as they have still not yet detached themselves from mommy and daddy who foot the bills and they still are adolescent in their thinking with resentments toward parental controls until they are on their own and responsible and accountable unto themselves and society in holding a job and paying bills and becoming a fully contributing citizen.
So if we were to remove the racism used by Obama which has become his foothold into the arena and from the beginning although not as in the face with a glib statesmen like stature, why don't we just use gender then, or even religion?? Gimme a break. None of these are platforms. None of these serve to get one an excuse to be a jerk or worse, or even ahead. It's making race, gender, and religion a disability unto self gratifications with sorriness at being who we are. Do we have discrimination because of race, gender, or religion?! You bet we do. And there are laws in place. And has Obama never in his life called someone names. Then should we imprison him. There are hate laws. No one is pure. But some appear to be a bit more realistic and rise above bigotry and hatred. That's why we have laws in a civilized society brought about by those who would cause us harm. And, Rev Wright and Obama's slighting and attempting to divide unity is harmful. He cannot serve America well as he has some serious problems with being whoever he presents to be, or whoever truly is.
I don't care to find out after the fact; and he is surely putting those facts out there and if you all want to remain emotionally crippled rather than go forward, you can't seriously excuse certain values and things of one in choosing America's next President. Enough of the "typical" slant. It's an aside. There is heaviness brought forth by Obama and not that of hope.
He is not transcending anything; he is promoting class envy and all the rest and lots of Socialist being and false promises. No one can guarantee absolute wonderfulness. Whew! He's magic Obama to himself; and not America.
Voting for the old man, and a sensible America.
This purity cleansing is a bunch of crap. Sounds like there exists a tyrant with Obama and a fear based agenda that yields naught but getting votes. Obama has not matured to postion of being America's wise man in any way. Take tyranny and fear and get real. Forget Hillary who is billary and billowing. Give me the old man.

I have this to say
1, If you are all so knowledgeable about the perfections of a presidential candidate how did Bush get into the white house
2, The man is a muslim oh no he is a christian that had a rabid pastor that he has refused to denounce
3, Then he says of his grandmother that he has experienced some form of prejudicial thinking he then made a slip of tongue and said a typical white person

you know I have been following this primaries and I have found him to be yes A HUMAN BEING, as to Wright I think you should all subscribe to TBN because they all talk like that John Hagee, Rod Parsley even Pat Robertson and a host of others and I am saying what I know and have watched, also has it occurred to those that are mouthing off that anger is an expresson of bias and bias is an expression of ignorance of a state of things, also does it not show that the quick reactions to every percieved flaw are as much an indication of racial tension on the reactionaries part. Wright has been preaching for over 30 years and has been acknowledged by a lot of good people in the community even Clinton while in the white house from what Obama says he introduced him to the fate officiated at his wedding and baptised his children and we say he should denounce him because it is not possible that the man is more than those snippets we heard on the news, all the community service he has done in Chicago must be a lie it must have been his jerkyl character doing it. I would like to see the hands up of those who had real bigot and rascists for parents and friends that have denounced/disowned them.
It is a more honest response to say I prefer Hilary or McCain rather than attacking a man based on issues that anybody with the desire for the truth and to vote the right candidate would investigate and make an informed choice, is anybody saying that any other candidate has had a seemingly character problem broadcast minute after minute so that we can now all repeat those offending words taken out of context, is it a media desire for public knowledge or public brainwash and to those who know in their hearts that they are no better who know in their hearts the things they have heard in close corners from people they have not/will not reveal and will never denounce that is why its simpler to bash others than have the guts to run for the position yourself.
I watched him on Anderson he said he was not there on the preaching of those particular sermons but in his speech which I also watched and read he said he has heard the man say controversial things how does that make him a liar? especially when there is proof that he was in other places for those particular sermons, he is a senator and before that a rep how many sundays do you think he actually gets to go to church even those of you with less busy lifes don't make it to church every sunday, neither can the Rev's view be said to have influenced Obama otherwise he would not be running for the office afterall the Rev believes it is impossible. Why should he walk away from the church to please who? the last time I KNEW there is seperation of church and state and I am sure there is more to attending a church than mentor or no mentor same goes for all who attend churches that are controversial, also he is not going to be preaching in the white house he will be governing under the watchful eye of others who love America just as much. Then to the issue of Richardson is it not a shock that if he had endorsed Clinton it would have been a major and worthy endorsement, but since its Obama its fishy. 'Who is Richardson? maybe he is looking for V.P. America take a deep breath the folds are slipping they say stress does not change a man it reveals a man the same goes for Obama as well as the American public. On that basis I give Obama a thumbs up at trying even if not perfectly, I am still looking at how America scores

Putting everything aside with race, gender, and religion, my vote does not go for a Socialist agenda and I don't care who you are or profess to be. America does not need a Socialist President.
So, none of this has applications for those who are not libs or sworn Democrats. It does mean something to others and should have bearing on those who call themselves Americans unto getting off the Democrat ticket and seeing the lights go on.
See my other posts as it is senseless to repost; got to see, learn, and know the really big picture here and it ain't for Obama or Hillary and has nothing to do with race, gender, or religion. It's the religion of being a Socialist Democrat in the first place. Republicans and any person experiences race, gender, and religion discriminations that are not privy to any political party. My oh my; so much for pie in the sky and the sky is falling and that this is "typical". Stay relevant to what person (not party) is best for ALL Americans to include fairness to race, gender, and religion, and many many many other things, such as being safe, having economic stability, etc etc etc. As for spelling, an educated moron may spell words correctly, but that does not make the sentence true. So much for fancy words and eloquent nothings. I want a President for ALL of us. I am not miserable nor bigoted. I see and hear the voices of many asking for fairness and a value-faithed society. Don't beat me to pieces with bigotry. And, President BUSH is a good and remarkable citizen and President. He did not cause 9-11 nor the War. He is keeping us safe. Go away Socialist freak a deeks and let society thrive with good words, actions, deeds, and lawfulness. This class envy thing is old hat and using race, gender, and religion is off the wall. It's the person we judge by his/her actions. Look in the mirror carefully and look about too for all of us; not just you. Kennedy said to ask what you can do for country....
and he paid for this with his life. Now, as I am an Indepent I will look for the best presidential qualities in a person based upon what that person is capable of and does. And, by the way, Kennedy had flaws...ohhh yeah. It's how flawed the person and what flaws are more harmful than others that matter. Hatred ain't one of them although it is caused unto War to defend oneself from evil. Not every race, gender, nor religion is under immediate attack as Obama would have us believe. They are concerns we have watchdog over as we do over many other matters. It is not the whole of it unless one makes this so.
There is the big picture here that one must see and attend to the pieces that make the whole of it. There is no one piece that overrides the whole by calling itself the whole. Mend thy pieces unto the whole. Do not exploit the whole. Voting for the old man. Note, that "old" does not denigrate a person, nor does race, gender, or religion. It is the person and the person's actions and evil bigoted works by words.

Obama is black? Who knew?

I will like to know on what basis is the hate remotely linked to Obama did he put out the statements he is not black enough, he is not white enough, are the african americans voting for him because he is black, pray tell me why has it not being asked if the whites are voting for McCain or Hilary becuse they are white when the issues of hagee and parsley came up why didn't the media show their sermons I have watched these sermons inclusive of comments from Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberson regarding the cause of 911 attributing the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center by foreign terrorist and the subsequent loss of American lives to God's wrath on America for acceptance of it's sins but decent people attend their churches mostly decent white folk amongst who are government and community workers doing well in their respective firelds the thing that gets to me is the hypocrisy of it all a man is pushed to the wall on yes let's admit it racial issues and he is courageous enough to respond then we say HE IS THE ONE THAT IS DIVISIVE are we not all watching the same news how come some know which came first and some only woke up when they saw how to get the guy, oh I forgot why can't he take it who gave him the right to respond and why should his flaws be excused afterall he is a black man and for those its meant for there I said it

Posted by: Factoid | March 22, 2008 10:39 AM

Pay attention. Typical white woman is defined after the phrase typical white woman. What precede typical white woman only modified *animosity* TO act in a way that he thinks is typical for a white woman to act. It is no more typical for a white person to act in the manner described then it is typical for a black person to react in the manner described under the same circumstances.

According the FBI crime statistics, I'm sorry to tell y'all that Grandma was absolutely right. Until the horrendously high black crime rate lowers to achieve parity with the white crime rate, whites (and esp white women) SHOULD be looking over their shoulders and regarding black males with suspicion. Be afraid. Be very afraid. It might save your life in this country. And no, its not racism, its just the reality. Anybody who ignores the empirical evidence for the sake of PCness is just plain stupid.

the bulk of these comments are so entirely biased and unforgiveably human. Yes, human... We suffer from our biases. We see the world from our isolated and or cosmopolitan perspectives. We know exactly what Obama meant by typical white woman. And we know what he meant by the ingrained fear that our SICK culture places upon each of us when we confront the OTHER. There has been a post here that speaks to context... very good. However, it is not entirely context, but ability to be vulnerable in face of the TRUTH. Obama speaks truthfully about a topic that has been in the shadows for so long. So much real fear lies in the heart of us all that the unconscious desire of the collective to shut him up being perpetrated primarily by the comfortably blind is sickening. Wake up and feel your own biased. Be vulnerable and admit your fears. Only the language of the heart has the ears to hear the truth of which Obama speaks. Myself, a 55 year old white man of humble background will be proud to call him President Obama. If this does not happen, America will have missed a profound opportunity and will put its ground hog head back in for a long winter.

My response to the speech:

Thank you, Senator Obama!

I have always been firmly committed to voting for you, but now even more so. The only sliver of saving grace that I had for Hillary (if I HAD to vote for her) was my Congressman Maurice Hinchey had endorsed her, saying he thought she had the experience to really bring the war to an end. Perhaps that's true---however, you bring the ultimate war to an end. With your unequivocal stance, your truth, your courage, you teach peace from the ground up, from the heart. Addressing racism in this country head on is the real work of peace. This can only have a ripple effect. You were right when you said that if we keep doing the same old thing, nothing will change. You speak to deep, personal, interpersonal change.

To speak to my own racial confusion: My ancestors, here since the 1600s, were responsible for some of the massacres of Native Americans. In more recent times, my father worked in the civil rights movement in Mississippi in the 60s, doing voter registration with African Americans. I am a white liberal from NY, completely behind you in every way. Being raised with the 60s politics of my father, Wright's words were not offensive to me. I think AA's have every right to be angry. Yet, I still make sure my car is locked when a black man walks by me. Racism is a nuanced issue--deep within us. I've attended many, many classes on "cultural diversity" in school and yet I still know that people get very quiet when race comes up. We fear offending people or saying something wrong, and in our silence, we're not confronting or changing anything. Thank you so much for seizing this opportunity, for opening up this discussion. I feel you offered solutions of workability with your speech.

I think many of us deeply relaxed at that moment. As a psychotherapist, what I see you doing is unequivocally declaring who you are, regardless of the polls. This is fearless! Because you are fearless, we can be fearless with you, nothing can really hurt us. Stand for what's true, screw the polls! To move beyond our nation's PTSD, we have to have the courage to speak to where we are ignorant (me in my car) and where we are beautiful.

Thank you also to Governor Richardson! What you did took huevos! Fearless ones, you have my eternal respect and gratitude!

In 1992, Ross Perot for president and was giving a speech to the NAACP. He refered to the members as "you people". There was a huge uproar about this, the remark was considered racist and insensitive because it stereotyped African Americans. Senator Obama's "typical white person" remark sounds remarkably similar. Should Senator Obama be judged by the same standard?

Some people have blasted Obama by noting that he wanted Don Imus fired for calling the Rutger's Women's Basketball team a bunch of "nappy-headed hos" but recently referred to his grandmother as a "typical white person", implying that he is being hypocritical. Good Lord. It seems obvious that his "typical white person" was simply a poor choice of words and that there was no intent to paint white people in a derogatory manner.

Can anyone say that referring to a group of black women as "nappy-headed hos" is similarly just a poor choice of words and that there is nothing derogatory in calling a woman a whore?

Ok I see because in the past or recent times when the african americans have reacted to some form of stereotypes we too must now react to any from them even when it comes from someone we can respect and its something we can overlook, is that not a racist or stereotyped response don't we all think this has to stop somewhere it is just a continous circle the man says everyone stop and think, this is getting us nowhere and I agree

I am sick of all the people who are bashing obama by Micro anslyising every word that he states. The guy made a valid point. And I am neither white or black.

Obama is not qualified to be President as he does not have experience nor answers to issues, just a lot of grand speeches and grandstanding. Appears the bashing is being done by Obama who is playing superstar hero using race, hatred, and bigotry. And, he is a super Socialist whose oppressive agenda is ridiculously off the wall. Proud to be an American who wills to improves America by unification and fairness for all. Typically (love this word especially since it has become so distorted and useful...hah...whew!), this is what a people and its President do. And, typically, race, gender, and religion do not enter the arena unless the person is accountable to not being lawful or upstanding, or qualified for any job. Voting for the old man, John McCain!

Obama and/or his campaign & close friend Rev. God Damn America, have now made racist remarks against whites, Jews, and Italians.

Thanks so much for being a disuniter, Obama! If you want to see racism then please go look in a mirror, if you can get your ego overblown head through the bathroom door...