This is supposed to be a flattering story, I guess:
“Beyond sharing light skin, Barack Obama and Cory Booker look nothing alike. Obama, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Illinois, is rail-thin, with short, Brillo-like hair; his precise features and scrawny neck make him look like a bobblehead doll. Booker, who was an all-Pac Ten tight-end, is thick and broad-shouldered, with a clean-shaven head. Obama is reserved, rhetorically smooth and on message; Booker comes across as more eager, less experienced, and a little rougher around the edges. But the women’s confusion wasn’t just another embarrassing example of whites being unable to tell one black guy from another, or the more forgivable mistake arising from the fact that on that night, everyone at the convention was dying to meet Obama, the keynote speaker. For despite their physical differences, Booker and Obama share something fundamental: They are black people whom white Americans can actually picture being president.”
Update: Want to know Obama’s views on infanticide? See this post. Also, re-read Obama’s “He speaks so well!” speech.
A reader e-mailed a link to The Barack Obama Myth.
Update II (11/10): Michelle Malkin writes about Obama in her latest column.
How do I make this baby float/align center?
Comment by La Shawn — 11.09.04 @ 1:24 pm
Egads. Why don’t they have Condi there? Sorry I can’t answer your technical question. lol
Comment by RepJ — 11.09.04 @ 1:25 pm
But, you have to admit, he’s really cute
Comment by Pamela — 11.09.04 @ 1:26 pm
He’s OK.
Comment by La Shawn — 11.09.04 @ 1:30 pm
What baby? the picture?
Comment by Kyle — 11.09.04 @ 1:42 pm
Comment by La Shawn — 11.09.04 @ 1:43 pm
Obama for President. And NOT because of his skin colour.
Comment by Mariachi — 11.09.04 @ 1:56 pm
Obama is way too liberal! I can’t imagine what red states outside of New Mexico and Nevada he could possibly win were he to eventually run.
Comment by Tom B. — 11.09.04 @ 2:38 pm
This article is suppose to be a compliment? White liberals never fail to amaze me. They still can’t let go of that he/she is black,but speaks so well,almost like a white person bull. I think the reason why liberals and pervocrats spend so much time screaming about “racism” from the other side of the aisle, is to divert attention away from the fact that they are bigots who have too much “class” to wave a confederate flag.
Comment by Eric — 11.09.04 @ 2:48 pm
Obama has beliefs that seem socialist, but he’s well-spoken and seems decent, which is all that seems to matter. He often emphasizes his African background, but his father left him and his white mom when he was a baby. But it’s convenient to overlook his whiteness for political expediency.
Comment by mj — 11.09.04 @ 2:53 pm
The media rave about Obama’s eloquence and ability to communicate ad nauseum. Here is what those fawning media types are really saying with the unspoken and true meaning contained in brackets:
“He is so eloquent and well-spoken [for a black person.]
Some people actually don’t see through the media’s drivel. I can’t believe that so many black people stand still for this kind of shameful and insulting condescension.
Comment by Tom B. — 11.09.04 @ 2:53 pm
HUH? White Americans can picture Obama as president? Hmmmmm. Seems to me we’d have to ignoring what just happened in THIS election. Didn’t the poeple say they weren’t interested in the Dems ‘message’?
Comment by John C James III — 11.09.04 @ 3:07 pm
Obama’s biggest risk are the ones faced by any new superstar: those dangers caused by pride.
He is already hearing about ‘Obama 2008′ bumper stickers.
He has already, as a rookie senator-elect, been on Meet the Press.
He is speaking to large fawning audiences and being given endless softball fluff interviews.
Beyond his charisma, what does he offer?
He seems, insofar policy is concerned, pretty unimagniative.
He will be tested hard over the next years. How will he score in that test?
Someone said that the real test of character is when huge sudden success falls on someone. We will see Obama’s character very strongly tested.
Comment by ebnelson — 11.09.04 @ 3:10 pm
lib’s will turn and isolate Obama they same way they have kicked ford pretty much to the curb. All the yaking about Obama was an attempt to garner more black votes.
Comment by Eric — 11.09.04 @ 3:15 pm
Dear Tom B
You may be right about the implications of what the media is saying about Obama. But personally, I believe he is very dynamic, articulate and well spoken regardless of his race. He blows Kerry out of the water and as much as I love Bush, Obama may be more well spoken than he is. Obama’s convictions, beliefs, his foundation [platform], etc. I wouldn’t give two cents for. But anyone who believes that there is absolute truth accepts the fact that convictions, character, beliefs and truth is far more important than being well spoken.
With that said, being well spoken and eloquent is very impressive on camera…in person as well. That is why I believe the Dems had Obama running all over the place speaking. HE IS GOOD! Regardless of his colour.
Just my humble opinion.
BTW, I was NOT defending the racist liberal mainstream media. I do agree with your accessment for most of the obvious racist reporting by the media “Some people actually don’t see through the media’s drivel. I can’t believe that so many black people stand still for this kind of shameful and insulting condescension.” But in reference to Obama, they just may be accurate for once.
Comment by JMWRomania — 11.09.04 @ 3:29 pm
DIDO’s ebnelson!
Comment by JMWRomania — 11.09.04 @ 3:31 pm
I certainly don’t want Obama for President. Give me Condi instead. She has class, intelligence, and is truly well-spoken, no matter what!
Comment by Kiki B. — 11.09.04 @ 3:39 pm
Absolutely right!!! Kiki B
Comment by JMWRomania — 11.09.04 @ 3:52 pm
Walter Williams for President. He’d make foreign leaders call him “Dr.”
Comment by Ian S. — 11.09.04 @ 4:06 pm
Whoever wrote that story has deep seeded prejudices against African Americans and white Americans.
How about Condoleeza Rice? Incredible intellect, deep moral convictions, tremendously articulate, strong.
How about Colin Powell? If he were leading I’d follow him to the gates of hell.
How about J.C. Watts? He’s a man who is quiet, yet powerful.
Further, to say that African Americans need to be anointed by whites in order to succeed is the rankest kind of racism. African Americans don’t need my approval to take their rightful place in the American political landscape. They have earned it!
Comment by Phil Dillon — 11.09.04 @ 4:11 pm
I remember when watching the RNC, a young black man was on the podium and my husband and I thought he was great. I would think that he would be great competition for any republican committee. Darn I wish I could remember his name - he was REALLY great!
Comment by Anastasia — 11.09.04 @ 4:30 pm
The Left is hoping that Obama can fool America. His mild mannered, charismatic presentation will lure Whites to vote for him (especially in the South) since he does not have that alienating, bombastic personality like other black liberal “leaders” (aka Rev Al, Jesse, Maxine Waters, etc). If he can mask liberalism aka Bubba Clinton, and his good looks will get a majority of voters. I will be watching him closely. He reminds me of my soon to be ex-senator Johnny-Boy Edwards, all fluff, no substance.
Comment by conservblack — 11.09.04 @ 4:31 pm
Anastasia,
I would bet you are referring to Michael Steele, the Lt. Gov of MD. WOW his speech was excellent! I wrote to him and promised my vote if he ever ran for national office. Also, I love J.C. Watts, Walter Williams, and Condi Rice.
Comment by Kathy — 11.09.04 @ 4:40 pm
America’s first black president will be Ken Blackwell, Ohio’s current Secretary of State. Gov in 06 then Pres in 08, you heard it here first.
P.S. The wife thinks Obama is cute, but he doesn’t fool me!
Comment by Steven J. Kelso Sr. — 11.09.04 @ 4:49 pm
Wow, reading that paragraph was offensive, even to a conservative White guy like me.
Colin & Condi in 2008!
Comment by Pierce Wetter — 11.09.04 @ 5:03 pm
I might be wrong about him, but I think there is hope for Obama. He seems to have some moral grounding. Maybe some of the conservatives in Congress can impress him enough. Conversely maybe some of the liberal pettiness will shock him. Think Zell Miller. Think Ronald Reagan. Mr. Milleris still a Democrat, but conservative. Ronald Reagan was asked if he felt any regret for the state of the nation and he said “Yes, I do. I used to be a Democrat.”
Comment by Rick — 11.09.04 @ 5:21 pm
What the liberals don’t seem to understand is that conservative policies are better for all America. They claim to be for the “poor” but refuse to allow school vouchers so poor families can send their kids to better schools. They claim “tolerance” but try to shut down Christian thought. They claim to support the first amendment, but try to suppress dissent - all the while claiming that the conservatives are divisive. Go figure.
Comment by Rick — 11.09.04 @ 5:24 pm
Mr. Kelso, I like that prediction.
I think he handled himself well during all of the election BS regarding the “disenfranchised”, and voter fraud mumbo jumbo.
No raving articles on him though.
Comment by Jerry McClellan — 11.09.04 @ 5:26 pm
All show and no go, but what kind of idiot can’t tell people of the same race apart? And they think conservatives are dumb!
Comment by BobG — 11.09.04 @ 6:24 pm
Obama is a bit lib for me. Think that Colin is a great leader, but he(nor his wife) want him to be President. I think that many whites are impressed with him until they find out that he is a social moderate.
Eric, thought your comment was hilarious. After I graduated college, I noticed in several interviews at the end the would compliment me on my speech. “Oh Dominic, you speak so well”. Well guess what, I just finished paying $12,000 for five years of college, do you think I SHOULD SPEAK WELL!
Good grief?!
Comment by Dominic — 11.09.04 @ 6:26 pm
BobG,
You have no clue. I worked in a restaurant as a waiter, and customers who always stop me and say,”where was the ***** you were suppose to bring”? Then I’d say, this isn’t my section, I am on the other side of the store.” Than I’d get a “Oh” I thought you were…”
Been there, done that.
Comment by Dominic — 11.09.04 @ 6:29 pm
Personally he scares me, he is slick, he is “religious” (at least that is what people will think, except his religion is scary), and he is a great communicator. He really really scares me.
Comment by Lori Kasbeer — 11.09.04 @ 6:42 pm
give me JC Watts or Condi anyday. I was watching last night on a news network and they were saying that if Hillary runs in 08, the only person to be able to knock her down would be Condi.
Talk about someone who scares me (Hillary). They say Rudolph G. would beat Hillary, but I don’t think the conservatives would embrace him due to his very liberal beliefs. I would only vote for him, if it was between Hillary and Rudolph G.
Comment by Lori Kasbeer — 11.09.04 @ 6:45 pm
The story of Obama: too much too fast. People (Dems and Reps alike) will get tired of him. The Dems will discard their once useful tool, and the Reps will have the awe created by the mass media rubbed away.
And yes, that paragraph demonstrates the kind of under the radar liberal racism that I hate.
Comment by Andrew — 11.09.04 @ 6:59 pm
Obama certainly doesn’t scare me. He’s no different from the rest once you peel through the layering.
Comment by La Shawn — 11.09.04 @ 7:16 pm
Obama Who?
Drawn in by La Shawn’s post on Barack Obama, I poked around a bit…and straight from an article she links, comes this “shocker.” I’m sad to say that I’m not all that shocked. I’m overjoyed to see someone else pointing out the latent racism in …
Trackback by Philosophical Poetry — 11.09.04 @ 7:25 pm
Condi, Blackwell, Watts, Steele & Williams.
Now that’s a Five-Slamma-Jamma if you ask me about a POTUS & inner cirle of color (SecDef, SecState, AG, SecTreas) at the top — VPs don’t count. I’ll leave it up to ya’ll to sort out who gets what.
On the bench, we have Malkin @ Homeland Security, and a few other good players.
And oh yeah, La Shawn for the role of Conscience Guidance Counselor, since she don’t want no political role other than critic. hehehe
Comment by Andy — 11.09.04 @ 8:06 pm
I saw Cornell West on Fox tonight.
Can anyone tell me, is he sane?
Comment by Dejuan — 11.09.04 @ 9:28 pm
Certifiably a lad insane
Comment by Andy — 11.09.04 @ 10:15 pm
La Shawn Barber
Sat down and had a good look at La Shawn Barber’s Corner. I’ll be damned if she’s not only one of the sharpest, but also one of the hotest bloggers out there. Nice stuff. For example, she’s got a great
Trackback by The Sparse Matrix — 11.10.04 @ 12:21 am
Thank you LaShawn,
I have really wondered about him after watching him speak. I lived in Illionis just about a year ago and came home to Texas.
My eyes have sure been opened! I appreciate the careful investigating you have done. I am a white woman and I never ever thought black people could not speak quite beautifully, quiet intelligently.
I grew up in the 50’s as a young girl living in Texas and whenever I encountered a black person I thought quite highly of them. I came from living around mexican people since I lived on the border and there too I did not judge because of skin color. I had parents that taught me to respect all people. My grandmother especially. When she would cook her famous stew she would always tell me it took all colors of spices to make the stew delicious! Smart lady, very poor little baptist woman. She had so many friends that loved and adored her of all colors.
I was wondering about this man and I do appreciate knowing some facts that are extremely important to me. I can’t even describe how partial birth abortion turns me inside and upside down. Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois was allowing the partial birth
abortions. I flew into a somewhat state of rage!
What is wrong with a hospital and or a system that does this!?! Have people no mercy? Many women are barren so doesn’t adoption become an option?
I can’t even speak about this issue without feeling mad, no furious.
Comment by Janelle — 11.10.04 @ 1:44 am
I really appreciate this information. I was wondering about this man. I did see him at the DNC and I did think he just might be a good democrat.
After reading your insights and good investigating you opened my eyes!
Comment by Janelle — 11.10.04 @ 2:16 am
Hey Andy, my hubby and I think that LaShawn should be the next nomination to the Supreme Court. How does that sound?
She would knock them dead there.
Comment by Kiki B. — 11.10.04 @ 3:56 am
Hi,
I want another conservative on the Supreme Court and if and when the Chief Justice retires or dies, there will be a fight in US Senate. LB is right (sorry, correct) in her assesment! Saying that LB is “right” is not “PC”! We need to have someone who votes with Justice Thomas. Our President is correct in saying that Thomas and Scalia are models for Justics of the Supreme Court.
JMB
Comment by James M. Barber — 11.10.04 @ 4:28 am
OBAMA-RAMA
My column today compares the MSM’s love affair with Democrat Barack Obama with its apathy (at best) and bias against (at worst) minority Republican politicians. An excerpt: Here are a few mainstream media rules of thumb: Minority Democrats in public…
Trackback by Michelle Malkin — 11.10.04 @ 7:51 am
Dominic — I do that all the time to waiters, but it doesn’t matter the race. Most places I go to have a waitstaff that pretty much look the same to me, because they all wear the same color clothes (dark slacks, solid color top of some sort, button with the restaurant name… no “flair”) and I’m usually looking at their clothes as they zoom past. I just grab any waiter I can find.
Still, as far as I can tell, Obama is just a pretty face. Talk about up-and-comers, what about Bobby Jindal? That guy has really accomplished alot at such a young age. I bet he runs for gov of Louisiana again, and wins. =He= could run for the Repubs for national office, I think. Let’s see them try to slap “moron” on that guy. Ha.
Comment by meep — 11.10.04 @ 10:18 am
I’m not impressed, as this cat’s VOTING record is so left of regular, hillbilly, red state black-necks like me, it’s almost not worth debating.
And from where I’m sitting, Obama and his cousin Osama both stand about the same chance of getting elected President of this great nation. Nor are my white friends that dumb to vote for an Illinois liberal like that…..they know damn well they’f better head for the hills if this glorified Charlie Rangel/Al Sharpton gets elected.
It’ll open season on American values (read: white people’s values according to people like Cornel West), not to mention, roughly the equivalent of Palestinians V. Jews. And we all know how much they love the Jewish state.
Did the democrat party not learn anything from Massachussetts Dork, formerly of Dukakis Lt. Governor fame?? Forget about how he talks the talk, “do you walk the walk?” - Osama, err Obama, is great at that. Talks a great game, but the boy’s got payback on his mind.
I’m takin bets…………I say he’s in the top 5 of liberals (can you say Moseley-Braun?) when we’re done exposing his House AND Senate votes. Right before Hillary-Osama 2008; we can’t wait.
And the next bit of advice I take from Cornel West will the 1st. He is the pits of black intellectuology. (What??) Hey, it’s a word. Got it from the Don King Online Dictionary, kinda like Booked on Phonics.
Comment by Beau — 11.10.04 @ 11:54 am
Obama is over-hyped, What’s all the fuss about? I think he’s as partisan as the rest of them. His most famous quote is “let’s disagree without being disagreeable” and then he rants the typical democrat Bush-bashing talking points.
He’s never said, “Some see things as they are and say ‘ why ‘ but I see things as they never were and say ‘ why not ‘ ” (Robert Kennedy)
or
“What we need is a moral revolution” (Martin Luther King)
- now THOSE men were visionaries.
It’s too soon to call Obama the next great leader until he comes up with something original to say, other than what all the other democrats are saying.
Comment by Richard Davis — 11.10.04 @ 12:00 pm
There was a lot of commentary when there was a Black woman who was the only senator.
There’s a lot of talk now for similar reasons.
There was also a lot of talk about Jesse Jackson, Jr. when he gave a speech at one of the Dem conventions and brought down the house.
There was similar talk about Michael Steele, though much less than Obama, when he spoke at the GOP convention.
The fact that he’s being targeted already is something I find interesting.
Comment by DarkStar — 11.10.04 @ 12:31 pm
[…] star in the Democratic Party. Who is this guy anyway? You can read Michelle Malkin and La Shawn Barber to get their “very conservative” take. My take is let’s […]
Pingback by SmartChristian Blog » On Obama, Not Osama — 11.10.04 @ 1:41 pm
Obama is nothing but a sock puppet for Soros and the rest of the Dhimmicrat ruling politburo. Despite the well-modulated voice, and the photogenic looks, he is a hard-core leftist of the most abominable sort.
What kind of person is so completely bereft of morals that they would stand and vote in the state senate against a law that prevents abortionists from slaughtering infants who happen to come out alive after a failed abortion attempt? As someone on FreeRepublic stated in response to the attacks on Keyes, Barack Obama is a man will all the moral compass of Osama bin Laden. It’s a sobering though that such an evil individual would be elected to high office.
Comment by Carolus — 11.10.04 @ 2:42 pm
A guy gets elected to his first term in the Senate and already people want him to run for president. What’s up with that?
Comment by zzx375 — 11.10.04 @ 4:32 pm
Exactly, zzx375.
A well spoken guy from a state Senate (there must be hundreds of people in state Senates who can speak well) wins election to his first term in the US Senate after his opponent drops out amid a scandal.
Big deal. Sure, it’s a big deal for Obama, his mother, & maybe Illinois, but not the rest of us.
40 years ago this would have been notable because he succeeded despite his skin tone. Now he gets hyped good press because of his skin tone.
Judging people, making hiring decisions, & setting expectations about their capabilities based on their race. . . hm. . . I know there is a one-word description for that, but it escapes me at the moment.
It reminds me that one of the arguments against having women voters was that they would just vote for good-looking candidates. As TV-age Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, & Bush can thankfully attest, good looks aren’t a factor in getting the job. Neither is skin color.
As recently proven, neither is good hair.
As for “black people whom white Americans can actually picture being president- can anyone honestly say they could picture Farakahn (sp?), Sharpton, Jackson, Mosley-Braun or Maxine Waters as President?
Obama for President? Jumping the gun a bit here, aren’t we? Obama doesn’t yet have the experience to be President of General Motors, much less the USA.
GM Boardroom: “Hey, Bob - did you here they hired the manager of Kia/California to run the European Truck Division?” “Yeah, Mark - and because he’s Black, I think he’d make a good CEO in 4 years!” - Pause - “Bob, you’re fired.”
Quite frankly, I don’t care what the most powerful person in the world looks like. I care what they do.
Comment by David D — 11.10.04 @ 5:57 pm
I can’t get excited about Obama because I’ve seen this movie before. When I was a child Julian Bond made hearts flutter. My parents and millions of others thought that he was going to be a star. He was handsome, sophisticated, married into a well to do family. He had the MLK connection and when white people looked at him they saw a man whose hair was probably straighter than theirs and whose skin was probably only a shade darker. There was talk of Julian being a senator or even president one day and then it all went bust. He turned into the bitter,crazy old dude we see today. I’m not saying Obama will do the same but let’s not get too carried away.
Comment by kimberley — 11.10.04 @ 10:48 pm
When his wife made the “my babies’ daddy” comment to introduce him…I was too through. Just the kind of Black folk the liberals like…ghettofabulous…
purplemd
Comment by purplemd — 11.11.04 @ 1:38 am
‘As for “black people whom white Americans can actually picture being president- can anyone honestly say they could picture Farakahn (sp?), Sharpton, Jackson, Mosley-Braun or Maxine Waters as President?’
I think sharpton would be pretty fun as a president.
Comment by actus — 11.12.04 @ 3:09 pm