Obama in BERLIN TODAY!

[RoryN]

I disagree that not voting for Obama because he is half black Kenyan is "racism." Here's why. America is a majority non-black country. It makes sense that people would want a leader to reflect the ethnic majority in the country.

Idiot.

Personally, I would vote for certain blacks...maybe even Farrakhan (I know he doesn't like whites, but I agree with him on lots of other key issues).

Idiot surpreme.

 

[breakwall]

Idiot.



Idiot surpreme.

Actually, I can see where Renard is coming from on this.
But I don't think his viewpoint is generally accepted as the reason MOST people are voting against Obama's race.

Renard is stating that white people may feel that Obama is not prepared to represent the sentiments of White America.

And in a more segregated nation, such as South Africa this may be a more viable argument. But in Washington, where the Administration is still going to be largely white, regardless of the colour of the sitting President, I'm not sure it carries the same merit.

 

[Memphis_Man]

Obama has made it clear he hates to speak without a teleprompter/"cue cards" everything he says is a written speech thought out way before hand so he will not stumble to "please" the public. If you notice he stumbles each time when he is asked random questions. The best part is when reporters ask him questions.

 

[Angeline]

That's what we need is a candidate Europe approves of.

FTW!

Obama is engaging in dispicable behavior by using a foreign trip to promote himself for a domestic election. Any decent person would know that this is wrong. Of course, Obama is not a decent person so what can we expect.

Doesn't really matter what either of you (or I) think about this. The bottom line is that Obama is looking like a world leader and McCain is looking like, well an old guy in the supermarket. I just find it fascinating that the McCain campaign, for all its "experience," is so missing the point. They're trying to win an election--or should be.

 

[KRCummings]

Lately the political threads have been dumber than usual.
"You don't like McCain so you're an idiot!"
"You don't like Obama so you're an idiot!"
"McCain said/did (fill in the blank)"
"Obama said/did (fill in the blank)"

All the same shit, none of it means a damn thing and everyone is so incredibly closed-minded that I find it hard to understand how they function in the real world.

 

[Lost Cause]

The bottom line is that Obama is looking like a world leader and McCain is looking like, well an old guy in the supermarket.

And the degree of media exposure and commentary has nothing to do with BHO or McCain's different photo ops?

This is by design~

 

[RoryN]

Actually, I can see where Renard is coming from on this.
But I don't think his viewpoint is generally accepted as the reason MOST people are voting against Obama's race.

Renard is stating that white people may feel that Obama is not prepared to represent the sentiments of White America.

His argument, though, is that voting with this sentiment in mind is not an example of racism. No matter what the reasoning, it most certainly is. It's placing race as the foremost criterion.

 

[Lost Cause]

All the same shit, none of it means a damn thing and everyone is so incredibly closed-minded that I find it hard to understand how they function in the real world.

How "open minded" should they be?

BTW- Most of the threads you speak of are called "Baiting" threads.

 

[phrodeau]

It doesn't seem to matter. Nothing the guy does seems to hurt him. Today's teflon seems to be African genes.

Genes have nothing to do with it. Everybody on the planet has got African genes.

You divide mankind into groups based on your perception of their skin color. Your perceptions aren't based in reality, and the problems based on those perceptions are entirely your own.

 

[Memphis_Man]

Lately the political threads have been dumber than usual.
"You don't like McCain so you're an idiot!"
"You don't like Obama so you're an idiot!"
"McCain said/did (fill in the blank)"
"Obama said/did (fill in the blank)"

All the same shit, none of it means a damn thing and everyone is so incredibly closed-minded that I find it hard to understand how they function in the real world.

Yes lets just not talk about things and maybe it will all just go away! lol
Lock the door, close the blinds, get in that dark corner.....it will be fine.

 

[Angeline]

And the degree of media exposure and commentary has nothing to do with BHO or McCain's different photo ops?

This is by design~

I agree. Perhaps that surprises you. I was just saying to eagleyez this morning that the media really seem to dislike McCain. He's a hot-headed guy, always has been quick to let his temper go and write letters, make angry (or snarky) statements to whoever disagrees with him. I think he has pissed people off and it's coming back to bite him now.

 

[RoryN]

You divide mankind into groups based on your perception of their skin color. Your perceptions aren't based in reality, and the problems based on those perceptions are entirely your own.

*applause*

Yes lets just not talk about things and maybe it will all just go away! lol
Lock the door, close the blinds, put people with opinions different than mine on Ignore...

FYP

 

[KRCummings]

Yes lets just not talk about things and maybe it will all just go away! lol
Lock the door, close the blinds, get in that dark corner.....it will be fine.

But you're not talking about anything. You're just attacking a candidate. That's just dumb and pointless.
You aren't going to change anyones mind and no one is going to change yours and it's not like most are talking about actual issues. Attacks (mostly baseless) and nothing more.

 

[Lost Cause]

I agree. Perhaps that surprises you. I was just saying to eagleyez this morning that the media really seem to dislike McCain. He's a hot-headed guy, always has been quick to let his temper go and write letters, make angry (or snarky) statements to whoever disagrees with him. I think he has pissed people off and it's coming back to bite him now.

Yep, he's the real deal, not fake or polished to deceive or conceal...

I guess I value different character traits in people than the rest of society-

 

[breakwall]

His argument, though, is that voting with this sentiment in mind is not an example of racism. No matter what the reasoning, it most certainly is. It's placing race as the foremost criterion.

I guess I'm sort of translating it as "Representing a demographic".

It's sort of like saying "McCain is too old and doesn't understand the needs of young Americans" is also discriminatory.

What ISN'T discrimination these days?

 

[Angeline]

Yep, he's the real deal, not fake or polished to deceive or conceal...

I guess I value different character traits in people than the rest of society-

Personally I think he's rather vindictive. I'd like him a whole lot better if he had stayed true to his maverick ways instead of clamming up so as not to piss the core Repubs off. On the other hand, there were worse choices for the nomination he got.

 

[breakwall]

Lately the political threads have been dumber than usual.
"You don't like McCain so you're an idiot!"
"You don't like Obama so you're an idiot!"
"McCain said/did (fill in the blank)"
"Obama said/did (fill in the blank)"

All the same shit, none of it means a damn thing and everyone is so incredibly closed-minded that I find it hard to understand how they function in the real world.

I like McCain, but I defend Obama.
I hate when people make unfounded, ludicrous claims against either candidate.

 

[RoryN]

I guess I'm sort of translating it as "Representing a demographic".

It's sort of like saying "McCain is too old and doesn't understand the needs of young Americans" is also discriminatory.

It is. It assumes all old people have no understanding of young people.

If we greenlight such blanket sentiments as truth, we're opening a gigantic can of worms. And going down a road we really don't want to go down.

 

[KRCummings]

I like McCain, but I defend Obama.
I hate when people make unfounded, ludicrous claims against either candidate.

This thread for example. "Obama has been digging his own grave."
Really? Wow.
That's the stupid shit. What do these idiot expect to accomplish with this?
And the ones who say that one or other does nothing wrong or nothing good or whatever. That's just dumb. Of course they both have good and bad points but you won't see anyone pointing that out. It's one extreme or the other and to me that just shows ignorance.

 

[breakwall]

It is. It assumes all old people have no understanding of young people.

If we greenlight such blanket sentiments as truth, we're opening a gigantic can of worms. And going down a road we really don't want to go down.

We compartmentalize and generalize as a way of understanding people's general traits.
It may be unfair, but it's human nature. And it's not going to change.

Demographics is big business. If it was wrong, it wouldn't be.

 

[Lost Cause]

Personally I think he's rather vindictive. I'd like him a whole lot better if he had stayed true to his maverick ways instead of clamming up so as not to piss the core Repubs off. On the other hand, there were worse choices for the nomination he got.

I wonder what type of personality I would have if I was tortured constantly for 5+ years- and lost part of the use of one of my arms because of it.

I'm not excusing his outbursts- but I understand them better that BHO's still undisclosed/unproven character/personality

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0g7QdJE22y3o6/340x.jpg

 

[RoryN]

We compartmentalize and generalize as a way of understanding people's general traits.

True.

It may be unfair, but it's human nature.

True.

And it's not going to change.

Enslaving black people was a method of "compartmentalizing and generalizing as a way of understanding people's general traits".

Rounding up the Jews was a method of "compartmentalizing and generalizing as a way of understanding people's general traits".

And there were - and will be in the future - people who believe that sort of thinking can change, or should at least be challenged. And, sometimes, thinking does change.

So no, I don't accept your sentiment as a means by which to tacitly allow this reasoning behind stereotyping.

 

[breakwall]

I wonder what type of personality I would have if I was tortured constantly for 5+ years- and lost part of the use of one of my arms because of it.

I'm not excusing his outbursts- but I understand them better that BHO's still undisclosed/unproven character/personality

Let's put that aside, okay?

McCain's leadership skills and strength of character are not soley based on his POW experience. And telling people that actually does more harm than good.

He's built a solid reputation on the Hill as a straightforward, principled politician who won't compromise his core beliefs. And he honed those skills in Washington, not Vietnam.

But to say that Obama's character is "undisclosed" is another ludicrous statement. All you're saying is that you've never seen Obama lose his temper. So what? That speaks more TO the quality of his character than against it.

 

[breakwall]

True.



True.



Enslaving black people was a method of "compartmentalizing and generalizing as a way of understanding people's general traits".

Rounding up the Jews was a method of "compartmentalizing and generalizing as a way of understanding people's general traits".

And there were - and will be in the future - people who believe that sort of thinking can change, or should at least be challenged. So no, I don't accept your sentiment as a means by which to tacitly allow reasoning behind stereotyping.

I think you're taking demographics to an unnecessary extreme.
What I'm defending isn't outright racism. I'm defending people's natural propensity to divide the world around them into categories that they understand.
Sometimes those categories are by age. Sometimes they're by income. And sometimes they're by race. It's all about context.

When exit polls break down voter trends by race, does that make Zogby racist? No, of course not. It's merely generalizing a demographic to test trends.

 

[RoryN]

I think you're taking demographics to an unnecessary extreme.
What I'm defending isn't outright racism. I'm defending people's natural propensity to divide the world around them into categories that they understand.

What they "understand" isn't necessarily the truth. Perception is not always reality. Therefore, ignorance in practice re: categorizing in this manner by perception is not defendable (or, at least, it shouldn't be) because it inevitably leads to prejudice.