Yes We Can!!! Obama Wins SC Primary & Lands Kennedy Endorsements
Unless you are under a rock then you know that Barack Obama scored a decisive victory in South Carolina beating Hillary Clinton 2 to 1. As much as people try to paint it as nothing more than Black folks voting for Obama, I can’t help but be tremendously proud of this accomplishment. First, it goes to show that once again you can’t trust the election polling which had his lead going into the vote at a much lower 9% margin not the 27% victory margin he ended up with. He received greater support from every demographic than what pundits were projecting and proved that his candidacy is not a fairy tale. His candidacy is about bringing change and unity to this country and taking a stand against the status-quo.
I was very disgusted with the lengths the Clinton campaign took, especially the former president, to smear, attack, and race bait. Bill Clinton went to an even lower low by comparing Barack Obama’s run to that of Jesse Jackson. Now I’m no Jackson hater (I actually respect his work), but I know what Clinton was trying to do when he drew the comparison. For all the people out there still retarded enough to think that Bill Clinton was the first Black president…wake up and smell the coffee. With the divisive campaign the Clintons are running, Black folks are first in line to be thrown under the bus. Watch his arrogant/smug comments below.
But enough on that, Obama gave one of the most inspiring speeches (watch below) I have seen of his entire campaign that left me feeling optimistic and immensely proud of what he is accomplishing in this race and what he is setting out to do. I’m so proud of the fact that he has been able to build such a “diverse coalition” of supporters, because despite what a lot of racist people might think…there are only very superficial differences that separate us all. Essentially we all want same things for ourselves, our families and our friends…good jobs, health care, good schools, safe communities, etc. For someone for a CHANGE to appeal to the things we have in common instead of pandering to pockets of people is such a refreshing change and what is needed to unify this country.
Right on the heels of his victory in SC, Caroline Kennedy (daughter of former president John F. Kennedy) wrote an endorsement of Obama in the NY Times entitled “A President Like My Father” (Click here to read). I found her Op/Ed piece extremely moving and Obama spoke about how honored he was to receive such high praise. Also, Senator Ted Kennedy has reportedly decided to break his neutrality and endorse Obama despite his long friendship with Clinton. That is another coup for Obama and it just goes to show the kind of impact he is having.
There is no doubt that majority of us in this country are looking for a change in our leadership, and I hope that the country will choose someone who will stand up for it instead of being content with the gridlock that the Congress has been crippled by over the past 8 years.
What do you guys think of his SC win? What does Obama’s candidacy mean to you? What does his support say about the direction this country is moving in?
Posted by Reecie
I’m from Curacao, but life in the Netherlands. I have see and listin to this man speach. I only can say, this man can change the world. I hope when he be the president of US, he will do her job for help the people CHANGE. This is what the whole world needs.
I absolutely agree with you on your commentary. I was halfway offended with the Jesse Jackson comment. If you even listen to the question, it had nothing to do with how he answered and it was overt and not as subtle as his other comments in the past week. It was basically trying to marginalize him as a black candidate that will win only in a black state.
Don’t get it twisted, I’m am an avid Barack Obama supporter, and I know we want to turn on Bill Clinton for the things he is saying now, but what do you expect his wife is running for President of the United States. He going to say and do whatever it takes to get her to win. Ladies, I know yall know that if you had the chance to be the first female President of the USA your man better give you his support and do all he can to get you elected. So give him a break. He is still the same person he was when he was President, right now he just try to help out his lady who is a little behind right now. Viva Obama “08″
Obamamama :-]
If things keep up like this we only have California to be concerned about
Obama for president
Let’s go get it!!
I wish him all the best. I get the impression he is a realist and not actually of religious persuasion which coming from Europe is very encouraging news. I’m sure he has to be a bit political with this stance as I don’t think Atheism is a great career move there, It seems America has an epidemic of Christianity, (I’m sure its not everywhere, but it does come across that way at times). Its not been helped by fools like Bush talking as if he gets voices in his head from an imaginary guy in the sky, so this guy I’m hoping goes all the way.
Change! yayyy!!! I stand for change!! all right!!!!! Very motivational and ispiring, but it must not be dismissed that Barack Obama doesn’t have prior actions for us to look at that can make us say: I know change will happen because he has done it before on a grand scale. He keeps talking about health care, if he doesnt get this done when hes in office right away, shit is gonna hit the fan. At this point all this change talk really is inspiring, but its just blowin smoke until things get done. The job of pres of the US isnt all la de freakin da im gonna change the world! Its cutthroat, its business. The President, I dont care who it is, is not all powerful. There are influences from the other branches of government and outside forces that will most certainly give even seasoned politicians a cold hard slap in the face when they reach office. Even after all this though I say put him in the oval, whynot? lets see what happens and hope for the best.
Co-sign with construda. I’m an avid stan for Obama, but I’m not dumb enough that life altering change will come with him in the white house. Change happens at the local level. People need to be more proactive in order for change to happen. There are a number of things we as citizens could do to change our quality of lives, but we don’t because most people expect things to be given to them.
I’m not too surprised with the mud slinging going on from the Clinton camp. This is an race for the white house, things are bound to get ugly.
Another interesting thing that I’ve noticed with obama is exactly what Paul had touched on. The fact that Obama isn’t using his religious background as a crutch is certainly refreshing. Speaking as a Christian, the extent to which religion is embedded in our country is a bit much. He focuses on real issues (the economy, healthcare, education) instead of “hot topic” ones (religion, abortion, gay rights), which are important, but are always blown out of proportion.
I’m pretty ambivalent about Obama’s win in SC. The state will still more likely go Republican when all is said and done. I’m not on the Obama band wagon, I’m sorry, just not my cup of tea. I hate all the entitlement that’s going on with him and he being half black. I”m black and I proablely won’t vote for Obama in any primary.
And in regards to the Jesse Jackson comment. Its WAR.. Clinton is simply playing hardball. It would be different if he called him a name, said something really nasty about Obama, or something in that nature.
I’ve been on the fence between John Edwards and Barack Obama, but after South Carolina, I am on the Obama train. South Carolina has inspired me and re-ignited my political interest. All I can say is wow…
I thought this was funny from Okayplayer.com:
We need a Barack O’Clock - a Barack Obama alarm clock:
I don’t know what it is, but once that nigga gets to talkin’, I just want to get up and go do something.
YES WE CAN GO TO COSTCO AND PICK UP SOME PAPER TOWELS!
YES WE CAN DO THE DISHES!
YES WE CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME TODAY!
Better yet, Collection companies need to hire Obama…
“I wanna talk about audacity of electricity and your collective inability to pay for this electricity over the past four months. Now, may people believe that you can’t pay this bill, that you’re hiding from this responsibility, and that the best thing to do would be to turn your lights off. Leave you in the dark. Have you, relying on candles for light. But see, I… I BELIEVE in you. I believe that if you dig deep in your pockets and stop spending so much time and money at the club that you can come up with your Com Ed bill, that you can avoid a service interruption, that you can rise above your credit and transcend your delinquency and pay this bill… YES WE CAN!”
Shiiiiiiit… that nigga would have e’rybody credit right.
Props to CRichMonkey from OKP - http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=5832950&mesg_id=5832950&listing_type=search#5833100
I wish Obama would come to my school…Hillary did, and she put all her die-hards in the room with her, while the rest of us were forced to watch it on a projector screen. Hell, I had to wait 2 hours just to get back into my own school, AND she showed up an hour late. -_-
Obama ‘08
To say that there is ANY amount of entitlement going on with Obama is just flat out backwards. Obama has to work ten times harder than any other candidate in this race. If anyone has a sense of entitlement in this race it is Hillary who feels like her husband’s reign in the white house gives her an automatic pass as well.Her and her husband feel like they have a free pass since he was once dubbed the “first Black President” to race bait and then play dumb by pointing out how much they like Black folks as proof of their innocence. People seem to forget that Hillary was the front runner for the past 3 years since Bush was re-elected, and now Obama is giving her a run for her money because his message is resonating with people. Change will not come over night, but it has to start somewhere…namely with a person who is willing to take a stand and have conviction.
Obama has to overcome so many odds to win this nomination and he is not playing the victim role or acting like people should vote for him simply because he is Black. He has had to earn the Black vote just like he has had to earn every other kind of vote. Yeah 80% of Black folks voted for Barack in SC, but 85% of Black folks have been voting for the White Democratic candidates for decades…and who was complaining then? Obama is running on a mantle that the people in this country who truly want change can believe in and look past their reservations/fears/whatever about voting for a Black man.
I just think it is a shame when Black folks act like we can’t support Obama. I voted for Kerry, I voted for Gore, and I voted for countless other politicians irrespective of their race and based on their positions. But yet now Black folks are supposed to shun a candidate who represents everything this country needs who happens to be Black as proof that aren’t racist? We are supposed to feel ashamed about supporting a worthy candidate? We are buying into the belief that this will be an affirmative action presidency despite the fact that he has fought his heart out for this nomination and was/is largely considered the underdog? Affirmative Action can’t even get you a job or into a school in many states (CA being one of them) yet somehow its power extends to the reach of a presidency? lol…That just doesn’t make sense. Like I’ve said before…everyone is entitled to their opinion to support who they want, but make an informed decision.
Obama actually does have plenty of evidence to show what kind of person he is…he has been a public servant for over 20 years. He was a State Senator for 8 years and has been in the US Senate for 3 years. If you look at his record it is very clear what kind of leader he is.
YES WE CAN GO TO COSTCO AND PICK UP SOME PAPER TOWELS!
YES WE CAN DO THE DISHES!
YES WE CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME TODAY!
…ahhhh so funny
I agree it is hardball, but even if hillary wins, it may be a overall negative to the demo party (but i’m indie so not as a concern to me). In addition, i think it would have been closer b/c he is turning off his base support (blacks).
I was on the fence about who I would support. For me it was between Clinton and Obama. Originally I was leaning towards Clinton because of experience and I felt as though Obama was “selling dreams”. I also did not want to jump on the bandwagon simply because he is black. But now that I’ve heard that speech, I honestly don’t see anything wrong with believing in dreams. If you work hard towards them they may eventually become reality. Although I haven’t fully made my decision yet b/c I do feel as though everyone is looking for a reason not to support Clinton; I must say I personally haven’t heard a speech like that or been more inspired since listening to speeches from Dr. King. GET IT BARACK!!!
I was originally more of a Clinton supporter (and even Edwards) than an Obama supporter, simply because I wasn’t informed on what he was about. I hadn’t taken the time to really listen to his viewpoints and research his policies. After taking a lot of time to go through his website and get educated I really like and respect the changes he is looking to make.
My problem with Clinton is that her and her husband are doing everything I despised from the Republicans in the 04…I hated the “swift boat” attacks on John Kerry and how they smeared his service in the military with no factual basis. The campaign they have run over the past few weeks epitomizes everything that is wrong with the “business as usual” politics in Washington. I know politics is a rough game, but that doesn’t mean I am going to condone a “by any means necessary” type of attitude. I didn’t like how they flat out lied and distorted Obama’s record and his words and I especially didn’t like all of the attack dogs they unleashed on him that used despicable race/religious baiting tactics. I wouldn’t condone it if a Republican did it, and I won’t condone it with the Clintons doing it.
Obama said it best…people have gotten too comfortable with the slash and burn politics and through their complacency are letting it continue. I’m no longer voting for the lesser of two evils and choosing to vote for the candidate that I find inspiring and right for the job. If Hillary can infuriate Democrats the way she has with this campaign, it is not hard to imagine what kind of furor she will stir up on the Republican side.
It doesn’t mean anything, that Obama won SC. As the tally stand Clinton still have three wins to his two. He has to catch up back up. I’m with Justin, there does seem to be some deal of entitlement floating with Obama. Reecie you’re right, Black people shouldn’t be shun for supporting a good candidate, who happens to be Black, but in the same token, Black people who choose not to vote for him, shouldn’t be shun either. That’s where the entitlement is coming from.
I also argee with Vision. Expereince does come to mind in this race, but it’s not so very important. Looking at the choices, one would lean towards, the pros, but sometimes you have to shake things up. Vision does brin up a good point, everyone seems to be fighting to find a reason, not to support Clinton. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the crowd favorite going in?
Change is Obama main issue, and I’m sure of all the candidates he’s the one that have the greatest chance of doing so, and if you listening to him he’s got some real decent ideas. Will I vote for him?, I don’t know yet.
Actually the real tally is Clinton two close wins and Obama two wins. Hillary “won” in Michigan by being the only candidate on the ballot…and even then she couldn’t manage a landslide victory over “uncommitted” lol.
Anyway…I just think it’s funny how quickly people forget the events that have transpired over the past several months. Obama started out with large factions of Black folks not supporting him for a long list of reasons including questions about him being “Black enough” and not believing in his electability…yet that has somehow been re-written to be that he has always been/acted like he is entitled to the Black vote? Meanwhile the Clintons are giving us permission to vote for Obama like we need their approval…it just doesn’t jive.
I have to ask…why are folks (i.e. Bob Johnson) are so willing to support every negative Black stereotype that 80% of these rappers and other entertainers perpetuate about Black men (especially); yet when people have the opportunity to stand up for someone who represents something so positive for the country and for Black folks it is such a personal struggle? I can name so many times when Black folks have rallied behind an embattled celebrity accused of doing something illegal- T.I., Michael Vick, OJ, hell even Kobe. People (i.e. Russell Simmons) fiercely defended the right of rappers to say n!gga, b!tch, hoe every other word and have people slide credit cards down people’s asses, yet now there is a moral dilemma about supporting Obama?
I’m not even saying don’t support Clinton or whoever else…because regardless of who gets the nomination Black folks need to deal with why famous criminals get more universal support than a Black Presidential candidate. We need to deal with why the image of the Black male thug, womanizer, etc. is more easily embraced than that of a college educated senator, why that image conjures up so much cynicism rather than inspiration, and why too many people don’t care enough to change it.
I strongly disagree, there is much entitlement with Obama and it’s not all about race. Chris pretty much knocked it out of the park. There is almost a reverse entitlement in regards to Black people and Obama. I’m personally tired of the responses I get when I inform people that currently I’m not supporting Obama. As if to mean, that simply because I’m Black I have to vote for him, or should vote for him. I don’t have a problem with Black people supporting a Black candidate. I do have a problem with, Black people supporting him, simply because he is BLACK.
I generally have a problem with people supporting or voting certain ways over meaningless/trivia reasons. I hate it that people vote a certain way, because that’s the way their parents vote, or their pastor, or because the sun is shining. I used to work with pre-service teachers and I had a girl who was confused by the fact that she was the only republican in her class of fellow teachers. I had to break it down for her, and how each side approached education. She had been voting, because the way her family votes.. Sad I know! People should be voting and supporting people who have the same ideas and views as they do, on ISSUES that’s important to them, and not just important to them, issues that affect them the most. (And please something else besides abortion and gay rights)
Back to Obama…. I’ve read and heard this on just about every Media outlet possible in some form or fashion. “Of all the candidates Obama is the youngest and freshness and has the best chance of bringing change”. Yet again another reason why I should vote for Obama. Please. Because some how change and youthfulness goes hand in hand, especially when running a country is involved. Sure he hasn’t been in the game long, which may be a good thing, maybe the system hasn’t corrupted him yet, but age is not reason to vote for him.
Yet don’t get me wrong, Clinton’s entitlement eats me up inside as well. Her campaign comes off at times, that just because her husband did it, she can do it, or should do it. Or better yet, that she already knows what it takes to run a country, giving the dry run she’s already had or eight years. As if America somehow owes her, and that’s far from the truth. She’s going to have to earn it like anyone else.
I’ve had enough politics for the week, as today people around me in FL will be voting in the primary. I’m out.
Why is it automatically assumed that Black people are supporting Barack because he is Black? That is what my gripe is…people automatically look at his support with suspicion and completely IGNORE the fact that there are a multitude of reasons to vote for him. There are few policy differences that separate him from the other candidates…but his vision and approach is remarkably different and enough to set him apart. Regardless of whether you feel like he isn’t a better candidate than Clinton, it’s not fair to marginalize the well-deserved support that he has received by Blacks and every other race as it being SIMPLY due to his race. That kind of statement is no different than saying that Black folks can’t get a job or get into a prestigious school without affirmative action. It is insulting to Obama and it is insulting his Black supporters to suggest that we are too stupid to make an informed decision on the basis of anything other than a person’s race. When Alan Keyes (a Black man) ran for president in the Republican party, did Black folks support him? Absolutely not…so please don’t tell me that being Black is the only criteria for getting a vote.
I wonder what all the “bill clinton is the first black president” Stans excuses for Bill falling asleep on Martin Luther King Jr. day ceremony? Please. Such a shame too, Because he smokes weed, may have f-cked a few black chicks, cheated on his wife and got some head in the white house, has a house in Harlem and was on the Arsenio Hall show playing the saxophone makes him black? I hope more black folks will wake up now.
Oh, and Obama 08.
I don’t feel it’s right to judge why or how someone votes. I support Obama, not just because he’s black, but because of his positions and attitude. However, if black people want to support him because he’s black, who am I to say that’s wrong. In fact, this happens all of the time. Some people vote based only on a candidate’s stance on abortion, gay rights, or stance on Israel. Each of those issues can be representative of a group of people: pro-lifers (very broad term), gay people, or Jews. How is this issue any different from someone believing the most important issue at or of our time is Israel and voting for a Jewish politician? Or someone believing gay marriage is the most important issue voting for a gay politician? If a black person believes that issues pertaining to the African American community are the most important, why can’t they vote someone because they’re African American?
To ask someone to forget their identity or gut feeling when voting is dangerous. The fact that a person can vote for any reason they seem fit, is what democracy stands for. Whether it’s a politician’s stance on Kanye vs. 50 Cent or Soda vs. Pop, every American (so cliche’) has the right and opportunity to vote as and for whatever reason they choose. This even applies to people who purposely vote AGAINST Barack because he’s black. They have the right.
Would I be voting for Barack if he wasn’t black? Who knows. However, his blackness represents to me a common identity. Just as a soldier might have with John McCain. Just as a woman might have with Hillary Clinton.
Just my two cents.
The point of not voting based on someone’s color is not the same as voting “issues pertaining to the African American community.” It is not about forgetting your identity it is voting on the issues that are most important to you. Everyone’s identity plays a role in there vote (as you said) however do not vote because he looks like you. Vote because his or her issues represent your views. Just because a person is black does not mean they represent your views nor are they automatically have a common identity because blackness is relative. Someone that grew up or currently in the projects have a different view on blackness than a black person growing up in the suburbs (which is around 40%) or an educated professional vs a bluecolor worker.