Talking about Obama. Frankly, I'm not in the mood to hear from people who didn't believe. Dude, can't even officially endorse Obama--even at this late date.When the books are written--haha, by me hopefully--the record will duly note who amongst us stood in "No, you can't" camp.
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It is interesting because I tend to resent African-American high-profile supporters of Hillary as various "sell-outs", "fools", "Prisoners of the past".
But then I realize that amounts to expecting them to support Obama because he is African-American and that stands against everything Obama is saying - and everything I am liking his candidacy for. That the color of his skin is irrelevant.
It is a hard dilemna for me. I can't fathom ever looking at Stephanie Tubbs Jones without scoffing (Rangel is from NY so it would have been harder for him to let Hill down) but then again I feel that would be, well, like expecting all woman to support Hillary, which I think is ridiculous and counterproductive.
My brain is conflicting with my gut. How do you reconcile the two ?
I hear you! Was just listening too. That pregnant pause when Rangle was asked if he would now endorse Obama was ridiculous. And scary.
Pathetic. Charlie Rangel can NOT endorse the (presumptive )nominee of his own party. Why doesn't he have a challenger in his own district? How tied to the Clintons is he? Her "feelings" trump the good of the country? Pathetic. Time to go Charlie.
I stay away from terms like "sell-out" and "Uncle Tom." Frankly I see Rangel just like I see fools like Lanny Davis, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Sell-out isn't the word. I resent that they bring the imprimatur of "black leadership" to what is a fundamentally spineless sort of politicking.
I'm not mad at Rangel and Tubb Jones. I mean, the Clintons helped them politically, so it would be kind of disloyal for them to jump ship.
So nah, Rangel gets props from me for his war service and general contributions to black life. yeah he's a politican who makes political moves etc. but that what they do
so you know, people need to chil with these "coon" and "cotton picker" accusations that i'm hearing and reading online.
Not here of course.
Ta-Nehisi, you live in Rangel's district don't you? Want to be a Congressman? Or at least a primary challenger? ;-)
Yeah, the "Uncle Tom" and "sellout" calls are a bit out of line, but really, at this late stage, shouldn't all of Hillary's supporters begin lining up behind Obama?
Folks like Reps. Rangel, Tubbs Jones and others, as folks like Lanny Davis and Bob Johnson, don't represent their racial or gender constructs to me, so much as they represent their age cohorts.
Like the fist bump, it's a generational thing (dog whistle?) and it just disappointing that older politicians, (and younger ones, like Wasserman-Schultz, who act old) couldn't see past the prison the of their prior conditioning with the Clintons, to get on board the Obama campaign train that just ran over the most powerful political dynasty in the Democratic Party.
On to November! Let's get to registering all those new voters!
I like Rangel, or I like the stances he's taken in the past. I was never mad at him for his choice to back Clinton. They're friends and political allies. Its backwards thinking to suggest he should drop the Clintons and back a young dude who he hasnt worked with, who hasnt done anything for Harlem, and who holds alot of the same views as Clinton.
Certainly he should be thinking about the feelings of his constituency, but really, at the end of the day politics is what it is. He's got his view and i respect him for it.
Everyone likes Charlie -- he's smart, he's funny, and he's a good guy. And, this time he was way off. Most others are trying to patch things up and get ready for the fall. To indulge the Clintons with the fantasy that it is productive to hold back is either cowardly or stupid. Charlie was disappointing here .. and no friend to the Clintons who need an intervention to stop them from imploding and bringing the country with them.
What f...ing favors did the Clintons do for Rangel? It's more likely the other way around. Rangel has his own power base, never needed the Clintons to defend his turf. That he (and far too many others of his generation) don't understand or respect what Obama has accomplished is truly astonishing. Anyway, it's not about the Clintons at all, it's about this old generation of Black politicians not wanting to be upstaged by this 'upstart'. Too bad that they thought that backing Hillary was the best strategic move. Too bad that history is about to be written without their support or input. But that's on them.
On Michelle and Barack's "private/public moment" last evening. It was first of all, utterly endearing. And secondly, I agree, that the exchange speaks to an inner strength that's not afraid to express itself openly and comfortably.