WSJ on Democratic fundraiser defections, TNR “likes” McCain, Jesse’s Whisper
By LisaB on July 17, 2008 at 9:25 AM in Barack Obama, Race Card, Racism
1) An article from WSJ about Carly Fiorina meeting in NY with former Clinton supporters. Suggests several may be former Hillraisers and influential donors.
Amy Siskind, a former Wall Street executive who helped organize the meeting, declined to identify most the attendees, citing their desire for privacy. She said that some of the recently formed pro-Hillary organizations that have been critical of Sen. Obama–such as Together4Us.com, which officially hosted the event, and JustSayNoDeal.com had representatives there. Together4Us.com lists its founders as Jill Iscol, Lady Lynn de Rothschild, Gretchen Glasscock, “and 50 more to be added very soon.”
PUMA anyone?
2) According to the NYT, Iraqis in general really really like Obama, but they’re worried he may cut and run. This piece also covers Iraqi attitudes to the possible pullout of American forces. As you might expect, it’s a mixed bag.
3) The New Republic has an opinion piece about how McCain. It does a good job expressing why some Democrats feel he is a good second choice after HRC.
4) The St Petersburg Times has a piece about the thin skin of Obama and his campaign. It offers the point that even Jesse Jackson has to be very circumspect about how he deals with Obama and then, after his famous whisper, has to apologize over and over and over again. Maybe he should have a meeting with Al Sharpton.
Although the good reverend has apologized over and over, many important people, along with some foul-mouth, N-word-spewing rappers and black comedians, have called for Jackson to exit public life forevermore. Even Jackson’s son, Little Jesse, got into the attack.
Following is my take on Jackson and that whisper. Under the circumstances, which I will explain, he had no choice but to whisper. His dilemma is the same as that of thousands of other blacks: You have problems with Obama the man and perhaps problems with his campaign. If, however, and for whatever reason, you need to be in the good graces of your fellow blacks, you had better not dis Obama in public or in private around the wrong people, especially if a mike is on.
Jackson truly has problems with Obama. But because of his public way of earning a living, his sense of self-worth and his need to preserve his civil rights legacy, Jackson sorely needs to be in the good graces of black people. To publicly criticize Obama, the Haloed One, would annul Jackson’s membership in The Tribe and bring ostracism. Jackson knew that; therefore the whisper.
Self-censorship with regard to Obama is all over the place. Many AAs feel this as well as comedians who usually skewer politicians and any white person not wanting to be accused of racism. Interesting and maddening.
5) According to USAToday, the Obama 7-nation world tour (sic) is now the 5-nation world tour (sic).
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee will try to boost his résumé next week with a five-country European and Middle East tour that threatens to turn into Obamapalooza.
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Obama is “going to be a rock star,” said James Thurber, an American University political scientist who recently taught a course in Brussels. “Expectations are high,” agreed Christian Hacke, a retired professor of foreign policy at the University of Bonn. “I think too high.
6) On the Larry King show, Obama changed his attitude about the New Yorker cover that caused so much comment. Larry asked Obama about his reaction to the cover and this was his response:
OBAMA: Well, I know it was the “New Yorker’s” attempt at satire. I don’t think they were entirely successful with it. But you know what, it’s a cartoon, Larry, and that’s why we’ve got the First Amendment. And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what’s happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon. So I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about it. KING: But didn’t it personally sting you? OBAMA: No. You know, we’ve — one of the things, when you’re running for president for almost two years, is you get a pretty thick skin. And, you know, I’ve seen and heard worse.
Thick skin? Since when?
In response to King’s question about Iraq, Obama had this to say:
And we’ve got to recognize that perpetuating the strategy that we have in Iraq is costing us elsewhere, not only in Afghanistan, but also investments that we could be making here at home. Imagine what we could have done with $200 billion invested in clean energy technology and figuring out how we’re going to raise — how we’re going to raise fuel efficiency standards on cars. John McCain wants to spend $300 million in a prize to try to figure out the next round of car technologies. And meanwhile, we’re spending $200 billion on a surge in Iraq.
Apparently Obama things “stopping the war” means money in the pockets. I don’t think actual money is involved since the US is borrowing so much. It is likely stopping the war will reduce the borrowing, but I don’t see any “real money” coming “back home. ” He may try to claim later that even though the war is over, there just isn’t enough to do all the promised.
Also about the war, Obama had something aggravating to say about McCain’s response to Obama’s other comments about Iraq:
OBAMA: Well, I mean, Senator McCain obviously is involved in a political campaign. I understand that. You know, when I said that I was going to be talking with commanders and we would be refining our plan, he suggested that somehow we had changed our mind. Where Senator McCain I think is confused is the difference between tactics and strategy. I am absolutely convinced that, strategically, it is time for us to bring this war to an end. And we can bring our combat troops out over the course of 16 months, which would mean that we would have gotten our combat troops out two years from now — seven years from the time that the war began.
This is aggravating for two reasons. First, Obama is condescending in his “inolved in a political campaign” bit. Second, he says McCain is confusing strategy and tactics. Saying that is like saying Obama is confusing arugula with iceberg lettuce.
Finally, Obama gave an indication of what type of people would stay in Iraq after a large troop withdrawal.
I’ve also said that we’ll leave a residual force there to engage in counterterrorism activities inside of Iraq, as well, to protect our bases and our diplomats and civilian workers there.
Hmmmmm. A residual force to do counterterrorism and protection. CIA? Special forces? Civilian mercenaries? A combination? I would not want to be one of these folks if the withdrawal is not handled just right. Talk about working in chaos. . .
8 )Lastly, at Talk of the Nation on NPR this week comedian Paul Mooney discussed the New Yorker cover with Ken Rudin. Mooney thinks the cover is racist and that the cover is wrong because “America’s at war. We’re being fishbowled.”
WTH??? I don’t think Ken quite knew what to do with that statement. It’s not a long bit, if you want to listen.
Ken asked Mooney if he, as a comedian, makes jokes about Obama. Mooney claimed the atmosphere was too bad, referred to the tired Clinton/RFK “controversy.” It sounds like Mooney doesn’t think Obama jokes are possible. Mooney’s humor tends toward biting commentary, so his unwillingness to find humor in Obama but willingness to believe the canard about Clinton is very disappointing.
The discussion included other than Paul Mooney, so there was also discussion on what irony is, isn’t and whether the masses would actually “get it.” Sigh. And yet again, it’s all about racism and we all just need more education. Funny, I didn’t see so much discussion when the target was HRC. Aaauuuugggghhhhh!
by Ronald Scott
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