Rhode Islands Future: Politics & Culture - Recent Comments

Let's talk about Obama quote

PinkHatLib — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:41:01 GMT

First off, let's add a bit more of the quote instead of taking it out of context:

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

As I've already said, many have commented on the significance Obama's race, both in positive and negative light. If anything, she's simply commenting that the collectively American people are racist in the way we view candidates (you disagree?).

But if that makes her a racist, I think you'd have to say that Gloria Steinem is also a racist for makinig these comments? (3 months prior to Ferraro I might add)

THE woman in question became a lawyer after some years as a community organizer, married a corporate lawyer and is the mother of two little girls, ages 9 and 6. Herself the daughter of a white American mother and a black African father - in this race-conscious country, she is considered black - she served as a state legislator for eight years, and became an inspirational voice for national unity.
Be honest: Do you think this is the biography of someone who could be elected to the United States Senate? After less than one term there, do you believe she could be a viable candidate to head the most powerful nation on earth?

She continues that "he is seen as unifying by his race while she is seen as divisive by her sex." Granted, Steinem says it much better than Ferraro's foot-in-mouth gaff, but that's racism?

Not ready??

BobbyO — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:38:17 GMT

How about "don't want"?

How about "aren't interested in"?

How about "find to be too Liberal?"

How about "find some of his friends to be insulting?"

How about "think he's a fraud?"

How about "think he won't defend us appropriately from foriegn threats?"

How about "think he wants to meet too easily with Iran?"

How about "are we sure he's proud of the nation"?

You're right. Hillary believes what we believe. We know Obama does not.

He can fix it if he wants to. He started too by adopting Israel. However, he has a lot more work to do. The vital Center is over here.

Acknowledging the significance race still plays in this country...

Real Deal Hope — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:29:06 GMT

is not so much the issue PinkHat. When you have a moment of free time, read Justice Thomas's dissent in Grutter v. Bollinger and think very critically about what it is that he is trying to say. Then, go back and read the comments, which Matt and I both quoted, of Ms. Ferarro at Bryant. Then, think very critically about why, in light of her comments at Bryant, what Justice Thomas said in his dissent makes so much friggin' sense. Her statement regarding his ability to attend law school at Yale is precisely what he feared would result from even the most well-intentioned program like affirmative action. This is the same reason Thomas keeps his Yale law diploma in a box in his basement. The program succeeded both in creating a divisiveness not seen since the days of Jim Crow laws, and in attaching a "stigma" to all those minority students who were the program's supposed "beneficiaries." Racism persists for so many reasons. But the fact that it persists among supposedly educated public servants like Ferarro is because it has been "institutionalized" by the government's reactions to the civil rights movement. I have to believe this is an unintended by-product of affirmative action, but I also have to wonder whether it grants even greater credence to Justice Thomas's dissenting view. Education matters. Race matters. The pundits have paid much attention to how the Democratic vote is divying up between Clinton and Obama. CNN has an article on its website discussing the divide along financial/educational lines (comparing voting in KY to OR to OH to PA, etc). I tend to believe the two (financial success and education levels) go hand in hand. But what none of these pundits or strategists have been willing to come out and say (though they do make reference to voting by African-Americans in KY and OR), is that the poorer, less-educated whites are NOT voting for the African-American candidate. Let's call it what it is, West Virginians may not be ready for an Obama. I'm sorry, I simply do not, and cannot, believe that true middle-to-lower-middle class voters sincerely think that Hillary is "one of them." Instead, I think they know "Obama is not."

Langevin's Statement

Matt Jerzyk — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:12:53 GMT

"My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Edward Kennedy and his family, especially my friend and colleague, Congressman Patrick Kennedy. I know from personal experience that it is never easy to have a parent facing such a serious illness. I wish the Senator a speedy recovery."

how soon

Pat Crowley — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:11:53 GMT

until a Terry McCauliffe type blames the Obama endorsement on Ted's health? I wouldn't put anything past this guy.

What have they done with Dr. Dean?

Observer — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:50:56 GMT

I'm not a Dean hater, but there is something about that clip that strikes me as Orwellian. Maybe he's coming off the flue or something, but his delivery is scary, kinda Scientology trainer-ish. Oh well, it was nice of him to send the greeting. Happy Anniversary anyway.

No, PinkHat

Matt Jerzyk — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:45:01 GMT

I don't want to pre-judge your reading comprehension skills, but simply "acknowledging" that Barack Obama is an African-American is not the point I was making. Did you read each of the 3 quotes that I provided? And if so, do you agree with each of the 3 quotes? And if not, which do you disagree with and why?

So who else?

PinkHatLib — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:30:37 GMT

As Brassband pointed out, Kerry said much the same thing...

Speaking of the race speech from Tuesday, Obama supporter John Kerry gave an interview with a local N.H. paper, reports NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli. In it, Kerry said the color of Obama's skin makes him uniquely qualified for president and even reach out to the moderate Islam world. During an interview with the New Bedford Standard Times, portions of which were posted on YouTube, John Kerry says bluntly that Barack Obama has the potential to "bridge the divide in religious extremism" because he is black.

I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find any number of articles and op-eds that discuss Obama's race as part of his appeal. Is acknowledging the significance race still plays in this country really what we progressives now define as racism?

My mistake...

tekpfd — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:06:29 GMT

I should have lashed out at you. By all your previous posts, it's clear that you think you know everything about Providence FF's. lol

Mr. Ouellette:

tekpfd — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:39:16 GMT

You are right about the foreclosure crisis having a negative impact on structure fires. In all my 28 years on the Providence Fire Department I have never seen as many occupied and recently vacated residential dwelling fires as I've seen in the last year or so. Also, many commercial building (such as restaurants, etc.) are falling vivtim to suspicious fires.

With the growth in population and the rise in fires in other than vacant buildings, this is no time to be reducing the staffing requirements on the PFD. Indeed, as you point out, we should be increasing the number of FF's in the City by requiring all trucks to be menned by 4 men.

Lt. Tom Kenney
Providence Fire Department

We all know

BobbyO — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:11:02 GMT

That some neighborhoods turn out more than others.

Under a transferable system, you catch the right neighborhodd where you slide into the 2nd or third choice, and you ride the wave.

You're the one proposing a system the mainstream doesn't like and only extremists from both sides of the aisle are interested in.

Where do you get off talking about the "will of the voters?" Tricking up the system does not better represent "will". It represents "tricking up the system".

One person, one vote, one choice. Winners win, losers lose. Let us not forget that proportional means some winners, i.e. the will of the people, become losers because the proportion "game" does not work for them.

Why transfer votes at all if the folks receiving them don't need them in order to change their status?

We all know that as you drift down the ballot, turnout lessens. Now, you combine that with a ranking system. Only the extremes will benefit. Sorry, many of us see the extremes, whether they be Progressives or social conservatives, for what they are.

What assist?

Ari — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:52:12 GMT

You mean the voters voicing their preferences?

This is a fiction:

"well, you did lose but some votes got transferred and you live in the right neighborhood because you were a 3rd choice"

PR does not help candidates who cannot get support, and what do you mean "the right neighborhood?." Aren't we talking about at-large seats?

You seem to be literally making stuff up to mask the fact that you cannot argue with a system that would better represent the will of the voters.

Well, I'll be

brassband — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:43:05 GMT

If Sen. Obama can get you to defend Justice Thomas . . . maybe he really can transform our country!

Anyway, the story of how Justice Thomas found his way to undergraduate studies at Holy Cross in Worcester is an interesting one. It was not affirmative action as we think of it now; but it was the result of an effort by Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., then the College's dean, to bring diversity to the school by recruiting two dozen promising African American students to attend the College.

Included in the group of recruits were Justice Thomas, prominent D.C. defense lawyer Theodore Wells, and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Jones.

The story of Fr. Brooks' effort was recounted in an article in Business Week last year.

Justice Thomas was a high achiever at Holy Cross, and he undoubtedly got into Yale Law School based upon his strong academic record.

@floyd

Ari — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:35:29 GMT

The suggestion of adding a citywide perspective to the council makes sense. the question is how. 10/5 is not a strong solution without a guarantee of proportional representation for at-large members.

A strong plan would guarantee proportional representation for at-large members, and probably would involve a little less redistricting, and maybe a few more council seats. Let's put that on the ballot.

Which means

BobbyO — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:34:00 GMT

no looney tunes getting an "assist" from a tricked up system.

You win mano a mano or you lose mano a mano.

None of this "well, you did lose but some votes got transferred and you live in the right neighborhood because you were a 3rd choice"