[PART II of my post refers to Obama's absence on February 23, 2008 from the national black conference in New Orleans, and who DID show up.]
Paul Burka, "senior executive editor of Texas Monthly, argues that the damage to Obama from Wright's words is irreparable" (via Howie Kurtz's column, Washington Post, March 18, 2008):
"A candidate for president of the United States cannot cozy up to someone with this kind of anti-American rhetoric. He has lost Main Street white America. Is anyone going to believe that he didn't know about Wright's views? Is anyone going to accept as an explanation that he wasn't in attendance when these things were said? He'll get clobbered in Pennsylvania, clobbered in Indiana, clobbered in Kentucky."This isn't about white racism. It's about Wright racism.
"I thought that Obama was exempt from racial reactions because he was the Tiger Woods of politics. People looked at him and saw him not as someone who is black, but as someone who transcended race because of his unique skills and accomplishments. Not any more. He just triple bogeyed the presidency. He's done."
In We Are the Ones, I talked about the people of "Main Street." Because I know those people. They live all around me.
Let me also mention one other group of people. Those are the "forgotten people":
They are the forgotten people who lived in the disgusting conditions that Barack Obama knew about, but did nothing about, because the buildings were financed and allowed to go to ruin by his "political fixer" and campaign financier Tony Rezko:
From my story, "The Forgotten People":
... Tenants were left without heat for five weeks... A family "boiled water on the stove and draped plastic sheeting across the windows in an effort to keep warm during the city's bitter winters, as the heating was not working."
... There was drug selling and prostitution.
... The buildings were filthy and rat- and roach-infested.
... There was urine and feces all around.
... Rubbish piled up uncollected.
... Repeated requests for basic repairs were ignored.
... There were drug dealers all around.
.... People were fighting and getting shot.
... Tenants had to call the city just to get the garbage collected because Rezko and his company ignored their requests for help.
... Rezko moved on -- turning away from the TAXPAYER-FUNDED "rehab" projects (he got over $100 million) and all of its tenants -- with many buildings boarded up as bills and mortgage payments went unpaid, and Rezko going into the fast-food business.
... And Sen. Barack Obama turned a blind eye.
Instead of calling Tony Rezko and telling him to get his ass moving to clean up his properties and make them safe and inhabitable, Barack Obama called Tony Rezko to get him to help finance the purchase of a $1.65 million mansion. ...
Be sure to let me know if and when Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews or Tim Russert ever talk about the "forgotten people."
I'm not holding my breath.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::
PART II: One Must Show Up to Heal Racial Divides:
While Barack Obama has dodged and weaved his way through the the politics of race -- pretending he never heard the hate-filled, anti-Christian, racist remarks of his pastor for 20 years -- Hillary Clinton has actively sought out African Americans:
LOOK at who shows up. From my February 23, 2008 story, "This is Ignore-The-Blacks "Shrub" Behavior, Barack":
You'll recall how, for years, President Bush has "shined on" invitations to speak at the annual NAACP convention, only this last year finally addressing the hugely influential, historic national organization. Now Barack Obama is "shining on" the national "State of the Black Union" founded by Tavis Smiley, and being carried LIVE on C-Span today. It is not insignificant that Smiley chose New Orleans for his annual gathering.Who is the ONLY candidate -- Republican or Democrat -- who accepted Smiley's invitation? Hillary Rodham Clinton, who speaks live to the group in a few hours, reports CNN. ...
... I'm listening now, and it's truly fascinating -- they just introduced major Hollywood director Jonathan Demme.) Barack Obama? CNN reports that Obama declined and offered to send Michelle, but Smiley told him that sending a surrogate is not enough and turned him down. Obama said he's too busy campaigning in Texas and Ohio to bother with the national convention on black issues. That "bamboozler."CNN International sums up the controversy in "Obama takes heat for skipping State of the Black Union":
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Sen. Hillary Clinton is the only major presidential candidate to accept invitation
- Sen. Barack Obama told organizers he needed to focus on his campaign
- Talk show host Tavis Smiley: It's a missed opportunity on Obama's part
- Smiley tells Washington Post he's gotten angry e-mails, threats for criticizing Obama
By the way, Tavis Smiley has been subjected to extraordinary attacks and pressure for daring to support Sen. Hillary Clinton. I read about it at MyDD, and am glad that CNN repeated the story today. ...
Read all of "This is Ignore-The-Blacks "Shrub" Behavior, Barack."
|
|
|
Permalink :: 53 Comments :: Post a Comment
|
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.
