199 thoughts on “Obama: Looks Like It’s On

  1. The most annoying phrases I hear pundits throw around are “this country is not ready for a woman in the white house,” and “this country is not ready for a person of color in the White House.” I say both those statements are bunk. This country is perfectly ready. Whether Obama or Hilary will get elected, well that’s an entirely separate issue. Hillary is still a devisive figure and no one really knows anything substantive about Obama.

  2. and he’s from Illinois!

    And the land of Lincoln a true Republican. I hope that “card” is all played out now.

  3. I just want to say thank you for giving a shout out to the “mixed-race” folks. I’m hoping for a desi, mixed race, and other brown folks coalition to increase cultural representation of those of us who are racially ambigious according to the white/black binary race standards.

  4. ahhh YEAH! and to think….i got to go to the oprah show january 12, 2005 to see him in person after writing a letter… i knew it the moment i saw him speak at the democratic national convention… he has the ‘it’ factor, and after seeing him in person, his charisma, character, and grit have won me over COMPLETELY!

    obama 2008.

  5. What is the over-under on the time someone comes up with a clever caption matching his last name with Osama? Most likely the primaries. If he makes it past Hillary, then some GOP mastermind like Rove will have a field day with that last name of his. Hopefully, the average American is smarter than that.

  6. “If youÂ’re a brown, black, diasporic, immigrant, mixed-race, or otherwise socially and culturally hybrid, globalization-era American, it looks like someone is seriously getting into the 2008 presidential race who has more in common with you, identity-wise, than any previous presidential candidate.”

    There have been black candidates for president before, Sid! Jesse Jackson won some primaries in 1984 and 1988 (in ’88 he won Michigan). And Shirley Chisholm ran before that.

    Jackson was a semi-serious candidate, but I don’t think Obama is. He will have been a senator for not even a full term, and before that he was just a state senator. Besides, he admitted in his book to using cocaine, which will be a dealbreaker (Bush 43 probably used coke too, but he denied it, which was the only politically feasible thing to do).

    The press will build Obama up over the next year or so like they did with Dean, who in the end won 1 primary (Vermont!) and didn’t even (IIRC) come in second place in a single primary! After vats of ink were spilled over him the previous 18 months.

    Why does this happen? Because political writers need something to write about, and Obama, because he’s half-black and half-white (and a good speaker), seems like a more interesting topic than all the usual whiteys who run and win (Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton, Gore, Kerry — and now, Edwards, Hillary, Biden, etc.)

  7. If Democrats field Obama as the presidential or VP candidate, i think Republicans will most probably try to counter with Condi to split the minority vote.

  8. “Hopefully, the average American is smarter than that.”

    Santosh…they’re not…really, really not. And this is the problem. Democratics have to go with a centrist white male if they want to win…forget PR points…although if Romney gets the nod (very unlikely) then even Hillary could win.

  9. whiteguy, you are right. but unlike jesse jackson, this guy has great potential to make it out longer. this news gives great hope and inspiration to many of us who’ve found our skin tone, ethnicity or creed to be an impediment in our advancement.

    i’m very excited.

  10. I like Obama but I don’t think he’ll be able to carry the party to the WH. He’s vulnerable to all sorts of right wing assholery in terms of name and race. Plus, he’s been involved in some annoying fights with activist groups on the left that the right could easily use to hurt him (“Obama claims to be a good Christian, but he’s been endorsed by [radical liberal group] — how can we trust him?!”).

    Also, he’s a Senator (strike one) from Illinois, which has one of the most corrupt Democratic parties in the country. While I do believe he himself is clean, I am CERTAIN he has had to make deals with some sleazy charcters to get where he is. That’s just how politics works in this state. That may prove disastrous if we run against corruption again.

    I personally like Edwards’ message and values better. But that’s just me.

  11. Such great news!

    “The most annoying phrases I hear pundits throw around are “this country is not ready for a woman in the white house,” and “this country is not ready for a person of color in the White House.”

    That totally bugs me too, Sriram. Being “ready?” And why wouldn’t we be ready? Why should it matter if the Prez is a woman, black etc.? The fact that it does (matter, I mean), that ppl focus on it so much just shows we’re a nation of sexists/racists.

  12. Sid, a question: I can understand why someone of mixed race would identify with Obama, or someone who is black (although Obama has no ancestors who were US slaves), but why would someone who is desi identify with him? His mom is white and his dad is black — what’s the connection to South Asia?

  13. Who cares if someone has more in common with me identity-wise than anyone else? If a political candidate shares my genetics, culture, geography, etc., it doesn’t necessarily follow that the candidate will be better able to represent my interests within the government.

    After all, who could possibly have more in common with me identity-wise than my own sister? Despite that, I wouldn’t vote for her–not only do we hold divergent political opinions, but I’m not sure she’d make a good public servant.

    Sure, if there were two candidates who were identical in all respects save race, I may consider that as a tie-breaker and vote for the more similar candidate. However, making a big deal of a candidate’s race or sex distracts people from more substantive issues.

  14. What is the over-under on the time someone comes up with a clever caption matching his last name with Osama? Most likely the primaries. If he makes it past Hillary, then some GOP mastermind like Rove will have a field day with that last name of his. Hopefully, the average American is smarter than that.

    And his middle name just gives the noisemakers something else to play with as well.

    Exciting news. Time to do some more reading.

  15. “vote for him cuz he’s also brown” ain’t too far from “vote for him cuz he’s also Sunni / Shia”

  16. whiteguy, i don’t see a sid up there. i think you were referring to me? i’ll answer the question anyways. similarly to blacks to this day, some of us desis do still suffer from prejudice due to dark skin tones. and desi’s have always identified themselves with and celebrate alongside the lives of fellow minorities. as you’ve seen in the previous posts. mixed race too is a hot topic in our everyday lives.

    you too project37.

  17. I would vote for him because he is brown and I am well……sepia..but I don’t think he can win in the present climate.. 🙁

  18. Man, this will singlehandedly restore global consciousness in America if he makes it as President. Overnight much of the damage to America’s image around the world will be restored. Good luck Obama!

  19. Obama may have a harder time winning the support of Black voters than non-Black:

    Civil rights leaders who have dominated black politics for much of the past two decades have pointedly failed to embrace the 45-year-old Illinois senator who is considering a bid to become AmericaÂ’s first black president. At a meeting of activists in New York last week, the Rev Jesse Jackson, the first black candidate to run for president, declined to endorse Obama. link
  20. Obama may have a harder time winning the support of Black voters than non-Black

    Vikram, if Oprah endorses him, America will respond with a “Jesse who?”

    Ready, not ready, I don’t know. I’m still not 100% clear on the man’s politics, but I will say this- he recently visited New Hampshire, and was greeted as a rock star might have. In New Hampshire, people. What seems problematic to me is that he has no connections to the South.

  21. Glass wrote: “I would vote for him because he is brown and I am well……sepia..”

    No one here finds this unacceptable, or even troubling? This thread rips on white people for being reluctant to vote for a non-white candidate, and here we have a precise mirror image of that sentiment, and it’s presented as noble. Isn’t that a double standard?

    Imagine the sentence, “I would vote for Edwards instead of Obama because he’s white.”

  22. I can’t find any data on what % of South Asian-American Democrats voted for Jesse Jackson in the ’84 and ’88 primaries. Anyone happen to know?

  23. Whiteguy:

    Minorities are often accused of practising double standards…and it’s true in some cases. But you can’t just ignore the past that they’ve gone through..and expect them to make a decision based solely on the present.

  24. I mean Siddhartha, who blogged the original post.

    Oh, well then call me by my name, won’t you?

    As for the desi connection: Ultimately, everything is maya.

  25. “WhiteGuy”

    This thread rips on white people for being reluctant to vote for a non-white candidate, and here we have a precise mirror image of that sentiment, and it’s presented as noble. Isn’t that a double standard?

    Nothing on this thread has done anything of that sort up until now. Quite the contrary, in fact (see Sriram #2, for example). Therefore, your statement is inflammatory and of a trollish nature.

    Everyone: Please do not feed the trolls.

  26. It is the independent vote that will key for Obama or Hillary in 2008 and a moderate GOP contender who could cause some of the far right not to vote.

    I don’t think terrorists are gonna say, there a brown person in office, so no more death to america

  27. Siddhartha wrote: “Nothing on this thread has done anything of that sort up until now.”

    Well, what about:

    **”He’s vulnerable to all sorts of right wing assholery in terms of name and race.”

    **”Hopefully, the average American is smarter than that.” Santosh…they’re not…really, really not. And this is the problem. Democrats have to go with a centrist white male if they want to win.” (emphasis mine)

    I don’t understand your “everything is maya” comment, Siddhartha. Clarify for me?

  28. Whiteguy:

    If you find that acceptable, how can you then in the next breath criticize a white American for expressing the same sentiment?

    First of all, I’d like to make it clear that I’m an Indian citizen and my vote counts in India, not here in the US. So you should read my comments as that of an ‘informed’ desi living in US (for the last 10 yrs)…who has interest in current affairs and politics.

    I personally know a lot of people who’ll vote for Obama because of his skin color…but I know a lot more who won’t vote for him for the same reason. Now to answer your question…Yes, I do find it ridiculous for someone to decide his/her candidate based on skin color.

  29. Not trying to feed the trolls, but the original comment below does warrant some closer reading, perhaps:

    it looks like someone is seriously getting into the 2008 presidential race who has more in common with you, identity-wise, than any previous presidential candidate

    Elaborate on this. Does it have to do with the black/sepia connection, or does Obama have “more in common with you, identity-wise” for other reasons? Would it be possible to say the same something similar about Condi or Clarence Thomas, both of who I wouldn’t want to have a damn thing — identity-wise or otherwise — in common with?

  30. I think the nation’s ready. Racism has been taboo for a long time now. I think we’re at the stage where many whites will vote for a black man but won’t let him marry their daughter. racism is complex, inconsistent, its not black or white.

    But Obama too much of a newbie and too liberal, though a possible VP candidate. Stature matters in presidential politics even if its just perceived (like GHW Bush’s stature rubbing off on W). The dems will demand a real anti-war candidate this time, edwards and clinton fail this test, so that leaves Gore…who has already won once. If he loses weigth that seels it. Americans repect nobody more than a weightloser. just look at oprah.

    i predict gore vs. romney.

  31. Huh? I know there will be members of other racial groups that won’t vote for Obama after the right runs through its playbook of manipulative tactics.

    And there will be white people who vote for him solely because he’s black too. The joys of democracy.

  32. Siddhartha, if you would not consider it “trolling,” I would be interested in your thoughts on the apparent double standard I pointed out above (that a desi can say “I would vote for X because he is brown,” but a white person who said the same thing would be considered racist).

  33. Gore in 2008? hell yeah that would be great. As long as that idiot Ralph Nader does’t run again.

  34. I think America is ready for a “non white-male” president. He already has a lot of exposure and if he can hold a positive image he might just have a good shot. Being a fellow minority is not a reason to vote, but the positive effect of a minority president for America is a good reason to vote for him. As long as he passes a few tests on his ideologies. He gives no reason for the white majority to be worried, does he?

  35. Manju

    Why do you think Obama is too liberal?

    Personally, I don’t think he’s articulated any sort of well-defined ideological vision at all. Is it just the (D) behind his name?

  36. but why would someone who is desi identify with him

    Being non white, living in the US, he is sensitive to those issues that only a non-white is capable of experiencing.

  37. Being President in the 21th century the job is more about foreign policy issues. Most domestic issues are now more the job of congress and the senate.

  38. Whiteguy,

    It is understandable that a space such as this will attract commenters whose worldview is mostly colored by their ethnicity (or, in fewer cases, by their identification as “people of color”), and many others to whom ethnic identity politics is legitimate (if not fruitful) but white identity politics is verboten. Isn’t it illuminating that you were promptly marked as a troll for writing a rational and politely worded comment?

    You may console yourself imagining a parallel universe called India, where at this very moment, folks frequenting a Muslim blog are piling on a poor Hindu commenter for daring to suggest that it is unfair that Muslims vote as a bloc.

  39. Being of sikh background I was talking to my uncle who came back from visting India. He said despite a sikh being the Prime Minster he didn’t see how things were any different in India.

  40. Why do you think Obama is too liberal?

    I based that on various rankings of his voting record, like this form the NY Times:

    According to a ranking by National Journal, Mr. ObamaÂ’s voting record is more liberal than 82.5 percent of the Senate, compared with 79.8 percent for Mrs. Clinton. The American Conservative Union gave him a ranking of 8. By comparison, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, received a ranking of 83.

    But I could be wrong. It could be pre-mature as its important to look at the details and the hot-button issues. He has plenty of time to reject the kennedy wing and position himself as mainstream.

  41. Sisyphus :

    You may console yourself imagining a parallel universe called India, where at this very moment, folks frequenting a Muslim blog are piling on a poor Hindu commenter for daring to suggest that it is unfair that Muslims vote as a bloc.

    A bit offtopic:

    In many repects, Muslims and women are fairly well represented in the Indian political system as compared to the US system (for blacks and women). You’ll not hear debates in India discussing “Is india ready for a women prime-minister” or a “sikh prime minister”.

  42. RFK all the way baby

    And he really looks like RFK. He needs to invade Cuba like JFK to show he’s moderate.

  43. Sisyphus,

    I’m not saying it’s unfair for South Asians (or any other group) to vote in a bloc if that’s what they want to do. All I’m saying is that it seems like an obvious double standard to then turn around and say that whites can’t do the same thing, which was the clear implication of several posts upthread.

    Siddhartha took exception to that interpretation, but I don’t think he’d say it’s OK for whites to vote in an ethnic blog. Again, though, I would be interested in his thoughts on that.

  44. WhiteGuy (regarding #31): I do think the average American is smarter than you give them credit for but they have these issues: 1. A dearth of decent moderate candidates for President (as evident in 00 and 04). 2. Inclination for emotional manipulation specially when it comes to god and country. 3. Propensity to go with the tried and tested guy (read: regular old white guy Bush, Clinton and other 40 something guys before them) over the unknown candidate with potential (woman: Hillary, colored guy: Obama, colored woman: Condi).

    It will improve. I just dont see it happening in 08.