I'm an Obama supporter. I have friends who are both pro-Obama and pro-Clinton. Some of the Obama fans have the feeling Barack is not electable for two reasons (mainly) - the Rev Wright problem and the fear that we are still too racist of a nation to support a black man for president.
My questions - has Obama done enough after yesterday's news conference to put the Wright issue behind him? Will Indiana be a revealing factor on the race question?
I think there are still enough racist people in the US today that it will be difficult for Obama to be elected, though it would not be impossible. Seeing how Indianapolis was (is?) a city that has attracted a concentration of KKK members, my guess is Indiana will go to Clinton. That isn’t really a reflection on Obama, rather of the homogeneity of the state.
I think it would also be fair to ask if the US is ready for a woman president. There are plenty of people who will not vote for a woman, which is to Clinton’s detriment.
Since Obama and Clinton are both already at a disadvantage to McCain being the traditional white male, each has to run a flawless campaign and have nothing except good luck. Having detractions such as Rev. Wright only causes the obstacles to be even greater. No matter how intelligent, eloquent and charismatic Obama is, he needs to overcome his perception as being unpatriotic. Even though he was a member of Wright’s church for 20 years, it is not fair to attribute Wright’s comments to Obama. He needs to produce some evidence of his patriotism in addition to start wearing his flag lapel pin. Too many among us respond only to sound bites and superficiality, not substance.
I think Obama can beat McCain if he gets the nomination. Once he begins appearing in debates against McCain and the national audience gets the chance to compare the cool, calm and hope-filled Obama to the quick-tempered, vacuous and befuddled old man McCain, voters will flock to Obama’s side. Getting to that point will depend on Obama overcoming his patriotism gap.
I think there are still enough racist people in the US today that it will be difficult for Obama to be elected, though it would not be impossible.
Those racists also did not vote for Kerry or Gore or Bill Clinton, because those racists are the *Republican base*. Racists haven't voted for Democrats for decades. No one is out there saying, "Normally I vote Democratic, but I refuse to vote for a black man."
[Senator Obama] needs to produce some evidence of his patriotism
What form would this evidence take? Saying the Pledge of Allegiance before and after every speech? Wearing an Uncle Sam hat and beard during every public appearance? Now *that's* patriotism.
in addition to start wearing his flag lapel pin.
Really? So that FOX News and the Mainstream Media can call him a flip-flopper on the issue of "wearing a flag pin"? Maybe he should wear 3 pins to show how much MORE patriotic he is! (h/t Sam Seder)
Why do you think this Rev. Wright issue has gained such traction? People think Wright is not patriotic and perhaps even detests the US. Since Obama went to his church for 20 years, people assume Obama agrees with Wright. Distancing himself from Wright at this point looks like mere political expediency. Couple this with the lack of a lapel pin, and people genuinely question Obama’s patriotism. This is a serious problem for Obama, so he needs to do something to show middle America that he is not only 100% pro-US at this time, but that he was all during his time with Wright’s church.
I think Obama demonstrated true patriotism when he spoke out against invading Iraq.
Glenn Greenwald writes about the John Wayne myth in his new book. John Wayne went to extreme measures not to serve in the military during WWII. This was at a time that most able celebs did serve. Of course John Wayne thought he fought by making movies.
Then Wayne was a hawkish Republican who advocated invading China and keeping the Korean and Vietnam Wars going forever or else the whole world would become red.
We need to get away from the idea that these wave-the-flag chickenhawks are strong on national security. In fact, they are dangerous and reckless.
Couple this with the lack of a lapel pin, and people genuinely question Obama’s patriotism.
This is a right-wing talking point. What people question his patriotism? - perhaps citing a poll here would help. The only people who are concerned about a lapel pin are the ones who are looking for a "legitimate" excuse not to support Senator Obama.
This is a serious problem for Obama, so he needs to do something to show middle America that he is not only 100% pro-US at this time, but that he was all during his time with Wright’s church.
While he's at it he should also prove that he's stopped beating his wife. :-)
No, but seriously ... if the lack of a flag pin makes you anti-American, then EVERYONE I encounter on a daily basis is anti-American. Do all those America-hating Ohioans have a "serious problem"? Or is it just the politicians that are supposed to wear flag pins?
I recall that Sherrod Brown would frequently point out that he wears a pin of a "canary in a coal mine", and not a flag pin. He pointed this out in televised debates with Mike DeWine. Yet Ohioans voted Sherrod into office. How does this fit into your "serious problem" scenario?
I am not proud that the Republicans have dragged America's good name through the mud. I am not proud that the Republican administration started a war in Iraq so they could give military contracts to their already-rich buddies. I am not proud that 50% of my fellow Americans voted the idiot Bush into office ... twice. But I still love my country. Do I prove my love by wearing a lapel pin? No ... I'm actually DOING things: I'm out there every day fighting to take my country back from the greedy bastards that have taken over the Federal Government in order to fill their pockets with money they're borrowing from China, while handing the bill to my kids and grandkids.
This is a right-wing talking point. What people question his patriotism? - perhaps citing a poll here would help.
Pew Research has a poll that shows Obama is seen as far less patriotic than either McCain or Clinton. I agree that many of us do not see wearing a flag pin as a sign of being patriotic, but there are plenty who do. Check out this very good article from Prof. Ira Chernus at Common Dreams and then tell me people do not care about shallow symbols of patriotism.
We need to get away from the idea that these wave-the-flag chickenhawks are strong on national security. In fact, they are dangerous and reckless.
You know this and I know this, but don't give Joe Sixpack too much credit for being rational. Also don't underestimate the power of fear. All the tough talk about Iran plays well with those who could care less whether or not the US destroys the lives of innocent Iranians.
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