Race takes center stage in presidential campaign

   Race, the "four-letter word" that previously had only peripheral impact on Sen. Barack Obama's quest to become the nation's first black president, is suddenly at the epicenter of the 2008 campaign.

   After the senator on Tuesday felt compelled to discuss the racially centered and controversial remarks of his longtime pastor, the role of the black church in politics also re-enters the spotlight.

   But politics from the pulpit has long been an accepted practice of the black church. Political figures from Mario M. Cuomo to Hillary Rodham Clinton to H. Carl McCall have long courted black voters in Buffalo's African-American congregations. Even George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, campaigned in Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1999, urging his audience to "rally the armies of compassion."

   Obama is now asking voters to understand the role of politics in the black church, and he enters damage-control mode in an attempt to quell the firestorm of controversy following Wright's remarks.

   -- Robert J. McCarthy

Comments

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

I am in the process of obtaining materials to begin a chapter in Buffalo of a wonderful organization, ERACISM. You can read about it at this website:
http://www.eracismneworleans.org

At some point in the future--maybe by June, I will start announcing places for meetings.

Race--what is it, in this age of millions of "mixed race" people? Can we have a choice, one of which is, "I'm a person"? Sometimes, it's impossible to discern one's race, so why should it even cross our minds?

I am a person; I am an American.

[Barton Keyes]

After viewing the videos showing Obama's former pastor rant against perceived white oppression; after reading Obama's speech, and his stumbling explanation of the passage concerning his white grandmother's fear of black males;and after reading the comments on a number of blogs, I can come to at least one conclusion: race and its various permutations is radioactive. It is explosive. It is dangerous to both ignore and to address.
And this is why politicians avoid discussing it like the plague. They avoid it because there is no way to avoid generating controversy when you talk about it. Obama may have tried to address the issue in as neutral a way as possible, but it has still generated heated responses.
And that is due in no small part to the history of race relations in this country and because each of us has had different, conflicting experiences with the race issue. It is difficult to talk about because it is so visceral and because we often have to admit that each and every one of us harbors some racially inappropriate feelings or beliefs.
And that includes black pastors as well as liberal whites. It includes people of all colors, all incomes and all political beliefs. And that truism tends to make us uncomfortbale, and angry.
This is not to say the issue should not be addressed. It needs to be. We ignore it at our peril. But we also need to recognize that all of us, each and every one of us, comes to the issue as imperfect human beings. And as imperfect human beings we can fall into the trap of stereotyping others. And we all have fears, rational and irrational, that can distort our perceptions.
And when discussing race we need to understand that none of us are so perfect that we can cast that Biblical first stone at the alleged sinner with impunity.

[library type]

-Ask Obama if he has read "Soul on Ice" by Eldridge Cleaver, and what are his opinions about it.

[Carl]

AMC
You ask what have white people done for people of color all around the world ? How about countless billions in aid to Africa. Please name one country that gave more than the USA. Trillions have been and continue to be spent on social programs in our country that directly go to our people of color. When does the statute of limitations expire on white guilt.

[AMC]

Ok America, so now we have a man who is not of the complextion connection the presidential office is accustomed to. Who else is better to lead this country, the same old same old? Why not let Americans lead America? Not white americans, not black americans, but simply Americans. After all the majority of Americans are of mixed blood, believe it or not, and YOU know someone in your family who has mixed blood, if not, just wait a little while. Well if the youngsters keep having mixed babies, there will be no need to stop the labeling, we will all be AMERICANS sooner than you think. It's the youth that see the change is reachable, it's the older generation that is scared they will lose there false sense of superiority, no more just because, no more cheating, if you have money, or simply because you are white. Those days are over even the young whites and blacks see there is no gain in the seperation of Americas people. Stick together, live together, live in peace, just live. Ask a solider does it matter who is watching his back, black or white, they will say "An American Solider", all they want is an American, let's just be Americans. I wonder if the elder White americans think the so called minorities will do to them what they have done to the people of color all around the world. It didn't work when white america did it, I think the youth know that and would be foolish to do the same. IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE. O

[Art Klein]

I guess Bob McCarthy never noticed the racist rants of Oral Roberts or Gerald Fallwell and their ilk, including Rex Reed. Plenty of white ministers are also not afraid to use the power from the pulpit to use the race card to make a point.

I don’t think the media yet understands the new paradigm that Obama may be creating.

We have spoken of ending racism since 1865 and it has not happened. Now perhaps with Obama, this multi racial, intelligent person there is a possible healing of our national wound.

I sense a possible greatness in this man and just hope it is true and he is capable of fulfilling his promise.

[Bob]

And one of Senator McCain's biggest backer's (whom McCain continues to defend), Pastor John Hagee, referred to the Catholic Church as 'The Great Whore,' an 'apostate church,' the 'anti-Christ,' and a 'false cult system.' ..." I wonder if the good Catholics of Western New York will start responding with the same vitriol toward Senator McCain that has been spewed at Senator Obama.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Interesting thought, Chancellor, about being more white than black. When will this country ever get away from this stupid hang-up over "what" a person is. I don't hear too many people call themslves "mixed-race," yet I'm willing to bet that 80% of all people of color are, in fact, MIXED-RACE. Why call yourself black if you're part something else? Not only that, but many "MIXED-RACE" people do not even have any black ancestry--they may be Native American and Asian, European and Native South American, Asian and European, etc. Reminds me of the many black/white mixed race people I've known--we used to call each other white or yellow, and joke about how our employer couldn't tell who had a drop of "black" and who didn't.

[Rich]

Barack should have completely denounced and disassociated himself from this so called Man of God to have any chance to save his candidacy.

Prior to these inflammatory comments, white America was color blind to Barack and what he stood for. We had hope in a man whom we saw as a force to change the way in which we are governed.

To be associated with this highly prejudiced minister for over 20 years is incomprehensible.

Barack has lost my vote and unfortunately I may have to vote for McCain now.

GOS BLESS AMERICA!!!

[Chancellor Carlyle Roberts, II]

I am so sick of you damned media idiots calling this guy "black"! He is not ONLY black; he's also white. You are perpetuating the racist policy where even one drop of African blood was enough for a person to be considered black and, thus, deserving of less-than-human treatment. When the hell are you people going to knock of this racist crap, this America-hating divide-and-conquer diversity nonsense where everyone has to be divided up into separate little groups and where only the politically correct groups are entitled to favorable treatment within society? When the hell are you going to knock this garbage off and just let us all be AMERICANS?

Oh, and why is it okay for politicians to prostitute themselves in black churches but a violation of federal tax exemption status for politicians to do it in white churches?

[ricky t]

Bobbycat,Man youre not only drinking the kool-aid you are swimming in it. Anyone who would think that by throwing their own grandmother under the bus is an admirabile thing' needs a check-up from the neck up. I can only assume you share Obamas racist views for this country. It was interesting to see he gave his speech not in a fireside chat but standing in front of a teleprompter. Obamas sharp decline in poll numbers tells the story of his impending collapse and relegation to the dung heap of his messages. There is no room for this mans hateful racist remarks in this country.The angry white voter will decide this election.

[Kerri buffalo]

Hi Bobbycat, I am BACK!!!! Well if it were Mrs. Clintons pastor saying racist like remarks, you would have Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Louis Farrakahn up in arms!!! We would be having another March on Washington. But blacks dont know how to be racist so I am told (by the way Bobbycat I am white). No Obama will not be the next president because he is "black" and educated, and hillary wont be president because she is a "woman". McCain is going to be president because the majority of America is tired of the bickering and comments between obama and clinton. Hopefully Bobbycat....you are a registered voter because if you dont vote your opinion means squat.

[Whoa]

Nirvana, If, if Mr Obama does not become president of the united states it's not because of words spoken by his Former pastor or because you thnk there is some form of double speak going it will be because people are still affraid and intimidated by an educated, brilliant, fearless, and hopeful black man.

[Sam Nirvana]

Black people can't have it both ways. Either words mean something or they don't. This destructive hate rhetoric doesn't mean anything? Hitler meant what he said and his words turned into action. As Obama always says " Words mean something. " I'll go no further. Obama is finished. He'll never be President of the United States.

[bobbycat]

Barack Obama's speech was so much more than some attempt to spin the story. Describing his speech as 'damage control' is like saying the Gettysburg Address was a post mortem obit. This was finest oration about race in a generation. No better speech has been heard since King. The speech was overarching and textured - an attempt to explain in a calm and rational way, the subtext of race in America today. No venting, no hatred, no finger-pointing. Obama understands the anger and resentments of ALL Americans, black, white and brown. He makes no excuses for racism -he understands it's roots- but he certainly doesn't embrace it, he strongly condemns it.

[Thanks to the NEWS for printing the full text of the speech]

Of course you can still find pockets of dead-enders who cling to the racism inherited from past generations. Some of them write in these blogs.

Some of these factions are trying to inject race into the election, hoping that if enough bigots cast their votes, it could turn the tide for the Republicans. It would be a shame if this election turned on the rants of Limbaugh-style demogoguery and the racism of the hate monger among us.

Let's hope Americans can rise above it.