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Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1705
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 03:23 pm: | 
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Heard this this morning. Listen here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7630250
This weekend, civil rights leaders will commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday — the day in 1965 when civil rights marchers were beaten in Selma, Ala.
The speakers at the solemn occasion in Selma will include two Democratic presidential hopefuls — Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).
Obama was just 4 years old when the marchers were attacked. This weekend, he'll be speaking at the invitation of one of the men who was beaten — Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).
"John Lewis is a dear friend and a hero of mine," Obama says. "It is something that I'd always wanted to do."
At his Capitol Hill office this week, Obama spoke with Steve Inskeep about his upcoming trip to Selma and his experiences as an African American presidential candidate:
Do you try to talk in the same way to a black audience as a white audience?
I think that the themes are consistent. It think that there's a certain black idiom that it's hard not to slip into when you're talking to a black audience because of the audience response. It's the classic call and response. Anybody who's spent time in a black church knows what I mean. And so you get a little looser; it becomes a little more like jazz and a little less like a set score.
What about in questions of substance or what you emphasize [in a speech]?
Typically that doesn't change. Whatever the audience, I am typically talking about America's capacity to transform itself — our ability to change and make this a more just and equal nation — despite what look like daunting odds.
Do you feel that you have to prove yourself to black leaders or civil rights leaders?
You know, I really don't. I think it's instructive to look at how I ran my U.S. Senate campaign... I think that the African American community is more sophisticated than I think the pundits sometimes give them credit for. The notion that right now I'm not dominating the black vote in the polls makes perfect sense because I've only been on the national scene for a certain number of years. And people don't yet know what my track record is.
Will you need to dominate [the black] vote in order to win?
I will be speaking to themes that are important to that community, but I don't expect to get monolithic African American vote... I think we have some strong candidates in the field and it would be presumptuous of me to assume that people would vote for me simply because of my race.
Our correspondent, Juan Williams, recently interviewed a number of black leaders about you. One of them was Bobby Rush, the congressman who defeated you one time.
He did more than just defeat me. He spanked me.
Well, this may count as another spanking — I don't know — I'll just read you this quote. [Rush] said, referring to you:
"I'm a race politician and he's not. I don't compromise. I don't step back. I don't try to deny. I'm proud to be an African American."
What does that make you think of when you hear a quote like that?
Well, it's always hard for me to know the context of these quotes. I mean, Bobby has endorsed my race and encouraged me to get in. There's no doubt that in the history of African American politics in this country there has always been some tension between speaking in universal terms and speaking in very race-specific terms about the plight of the African American community. By virtue of my background, I am more likely to speak in universal terms.
May I read you another quote? This is from Peggy Noonan, the Republican speech writer, talking about another path-breaking politician, John F. Kennedy.
She said of Kennedy when he became president, "The good news was that the Irish Catholics had arrived. The bad news was that he was a Protestant from Harvard."
Look, identity politics in this country are always going to be complicated and African American politics in particular is weighted with extraordinary history — often painful and tragic history. And so I think my candidacy for the presidency is going to bring to the surface a whole bunch of stuff. A lot of it won't necessarily have to do with me, but will have to do with the country being in a dialogue about where we are now, how far we've come, and how far we have to go.
Do you think that your life and your experience as an African American would cause you as president to pursue any particular policy differently than if you'd been white? Would you be a different president in some way?
...There are certain instincts that I have that may be stronger because of my experiences as an African American. I don't think they're exclusive to African Americans but I think I maybe feel them more acutely. I think I would be very interested in having a civil rights division that is serious about enforcing civil rights laws. I think that when it comes to an issue like education for example, I feel great pain knowing that there are children in a lot of schools in America who are not getting anything close to the kind of education that will allow them to compete. And I think a lot of candidates, Republican and Democrat, feel concern about that. But when I know that a lot of those kids look just like my daughters, maybe it's harder for me to separate myself from their reality. Every time I see those kids, they feel like a part of me.
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3786
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 03:33 pm: |
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I'm going to miss Obama. He was, in some ways a breath of fresh air. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7525
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 03:46 pm: |
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Oh shut up, chrishayden. What do you know? |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3790
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 04:47 pm: |
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I know that Obama will not be around for the primaries--which is not to say he might not one day be President.
They want him to get some seasoning, first. I think Reagan tried three or four times before he even got the nomination. Nixon made it on his second time.
He is young. He has plenty of time.
And you Negroes can't stand the strain yet. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8603
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 07:14 pm: |
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Obama: "I feel great pain knowing that there are children in a lot of schools in America who are not getting anything close to the kind of education that will allow them to compete. And I think a lot of candidates, Republican and Democrat, feel concern about that. But when I know that a lot of those kids look just like my daughters, maybe it's harder for me to separate myself from their reality. Every time I see those kids, they feel like a part of me."
Yvettep,
Thanks.
Funny how a post of the man's OWN words dose NOT draw the baseless Obama-bashing that has often manifested here. |
Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 4621
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 08:09 pm: |
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Darn! I wish he would have given this interview on MSNBC or CNN. I really want to be able to hear this cuz, gotta give it to him, he's an excellent orator, so I enjoy hearing from him every chance I get, but my speakers have been down for a couple of days…oh well. He did say some VERY interesting things though.
Do you try to talk in the same way to a black audience as a white audience?
I think that the themes are consistent. It think that there's a certain black idiom that it's hard not to slip into when you're talking to a black audience because of the audience response. It's the classic call and response. Anybody who's spent time in a black church knows what I mean. And so you get a little looser; it becomes a little more like jazz and a little less like a set score.
I will be speaking to themes that are important to that community, but I don't expect to get monolithic African American vote... I think we have some strong candidates in the field and it would be presumptuous of me to assume that people would vote for me simply because of my race.
There's no doubt that in the history of African American politics in this country there has always been some tension between speaking in universal terms and speaking in very race-specific terms about the plight of the African American community. By virtue of my background, I am more likely to speak in universal terms. |
Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 4625
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 08:42 pm: |
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Still, I'm feeling the very last paragraph of the article. He got A LOT of points, from me anyway, with that one.
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Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1707
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 08:57 pm: |
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Well that's a start!  |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7535
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 09:54 pm: |
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Yes it is a start. Certain folks need to accept the idea that every black person doesn't have an obligation to pledge their blind support for Obama. It's a nice change to have articles that can be read without parsing and editorializing from other board members who are stand-ins for his campaign managers. LOL. |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 832
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:41 pm: |
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hey cynique are you gonna play the mega millions? it is up to 267 million bones! if u do we shall make a pack if u win u give me a million and i win i would give u a million. what do you say? what does this have to do with obama? ummm, cynique is illinois and i wanted to talk to someone from the same state as obama. ... not buying it? so what beotches! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7539
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:04 pm: |
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Yes, indeed, I am going to play the mega-million lottery, Dobes! I gotta extra sawbuck to invest in a chance to get rich. And it's a deal. If I win, I'd be just like Oprah. Very generous. Would even consider reserving a private resort for the week-end and fly all the regular board members there so we could have face to face confrontations while sipping cristal and munchin ribs. But everybody has to check their uzis and glocks at the front desk. And no hookin up will be allowed. |
Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 4627
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:06 pm: |
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There are some people here whose support for Osama is very understandable because they've been supporting him for a long time and their enthusiasm for him seems authentic. But, other than that, I cannot understand how some people already made up their minds. I'm not even close to knowing who I'm voting for, which is where most should be, imo. And not that I have to explain myself, but I think it's healthy for Black people to debate this before going out to vote. It should be done by everybody--every election cycle--regardless of color. But I think it's even more important for Blacks since our community needs all the help it can get and we're (finally) in a position where our DEM votes are immensely important to all the front runners. I think we should make the most of this opportunity and then vote for the best candidate when the time comes. |
Nels
Veteran Poster
Username: Nels
Post Number: 820
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 12:25 am: |
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Anyone takin' bets? |
Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 333
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 08:55 am: |
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Nels said:
Anyone takin' bets?
I'll beat BO won't get the Democratic nomination.
By the time Hillary gets through with him, he won't know what hit him. She says she is in it to win it, and I think she is deadly serious. Yikes!
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7541
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 11:30 am: |
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What goes on at the Democratic convention may end up costing them the election because the in-fighting might split the party and Republican John McCain and his vice presidential running mate Rudy Guiliano will be who we have to endure for the next 4 years. |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 833
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 01:06 pm: |
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ok, cynique it's on then ... you just make sure that your email is working because if i win i will just get your info and show up and give u a briefcase in cash, that way the govt. can't tax you ... you'll just be stuck w/ the burden of handling that much money. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7553
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 07:11 pm: |
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Bless you, my child. BTW, there's a new book taking the reading world by storm. It's Oprah-recommended and entitled "The Secret". Now according to this book, what we should do after taking the action of buying lottery tickets is to visualize a picture of a suitcase full of packets of one-hundred dollar bills, and then we should electrify this image by infusing it with a lot of positive energy which should include the idea of putting the money to good use by sharing it, and - voila! prosperity will materialize in our lives. I'll be in touch after the numbers are drawn. See ya! |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3803
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 03:43 pm: |
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Cynique:
I had a dream about you last night..... |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8615
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 03:52 pm: |
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Chris,
Did you clean yourself up after it was over? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7559
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 03:57 pm: |
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Does anybody really care about your having a dream about me, chrishayden??? I don't. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3809
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 05:14 pm: |
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My dream....my dream....
(note the cool way I leave those elipses, leaving everything ominously in the air!) |
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1716
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 07:39 pm: |
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Hey, boy, take your elliptical dreams to another thread, please! |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 691
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 10:38 pm: |
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I wanna hear about the dream demmit..
LiLi who THOUGHT she posted this hours ago..must have forgot to hit save..again..
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