Union Leader editorial headline: "If Obama runs: Will he get affirmative action"
A January 17 Manchester, New Hampshire, Union Leader editorial commenting on Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) decision to form a presidential exploratory committee carried the headline: "If Obama runs: Will he get affirmative action." The editorial stated that it is "remarkable" that Americans "are telling pollsters that they ... are eager to elect a black man over a host of more experienced white candidates" and that "Obama's undeniable popularity is a sign that the justifications for affirmative action are crumbling all around us." The editorial's headline was first noted by the National Journal's Hotline, under Wake-Up Call! (subscription required).
From the January 17 Union Leader editorial:
The junior senator from Illinois has filed the legal paperwork necessary to begin campaigning for President of the United States. You probably wouldn't care, except this senator's name is Barack Obama, and despite having been in the Senate for only two years, he is one of the most admired men in America.
No, really. In a Gallup poll conducted last month, Obama finished fourth on the list of men Americans admired most. He beat out Bill Gates and the Rev. Billy Graham.
In a Concord Monitor poll last month, Obama finished in a statistical dead heat with Hillary Clinton as the favorite potential Presidential candidate of likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire. And in Iowa last month, Obama tied John Edwards as the favorite among likely Iowa Caucus voters.
Forget for a moment whether the people answering these questions have a clue what Obama's positions and beliefs are. What is remarkable is that Americans are telling pollsters that they not only are willing to see a black man become President, but that they are eager to elect a black man over a host of more experienced white candidates.
(Note also that Obama tops the polls in New Hampshire and Iowa, two of the whitest states in the union.)
In 2004, Al Sharpton had to accept public funds just to have any viable Presidential campaign. Some people suggested that racism was the reason. But Al Sharpton being Al Sharpton was the reason. Barack Obama is no Al Sharpton, and voters can see that.
Obama's undeniable popularity is a sign that the justifications for affirmative action are crumbling all around us. Yes, racism still exists, and always will. But with Obama generating this much enthusiasm among white voters nationwide, it can hardly be said that American society as a whole is infused with a subtle, pervasive racism that keeps minorities down.
Like I have said before, this is only the beginning.
God forbid Obama wins on his own merits:
For all of those who consistantly state they don't have a clue of what his stances are, there is this thing call the internet. An withing ten mins of actually using in you can get a pretty good idea about the man's voting history and where he stands on issue you might care about.
[link to obama.senate.gov]
Didn't Kennedy have less "experience" than the people he was running against? Maybe we need someone in office with less "experience".
forget about Abraham Lincoln another lawyer from Illinois. I think Lincoln only served 1 term in the house (2 years). He turned out to be a fresh of breath air for ancestors,(smile) not to mention he’s always at the top of the list as one of the best presidents in history.
The President that locked up media personel durring the civil war?
I know I know Evil he wasn't perfect, but he was my favorite prez. I've read a lot of Lincoln biographies and a many of his personal wtitings and it's lovely to see the personal evolution of this man during his lifetime and particularly his time in the presidency. No he was not perfect and he even held some racial supremist views, but he was head and shoulders above most of the people of his time. Who's your favorite prez GW? I'm just teasing.
Lincoln as well!~
But off topic here. Around 2008-09 the US MInt is going to release 9 or so different illustrations on the penny in regard to Lincolns time as president. I can not wait. Kinda like the quarter thang. You should like that Lynn!
NO PROBLEM...
...BUT, With no political experience, Bush became Governor of Texas in 1995. Just Five years later he ran for President. Bush labeled himself a "compassionate conservative," and promised to "restore honor and dignity to the White House.
Compassion? - Dignity? - Honor?
After The Supreme Court appointed Bush as our President where have Compassion, Dignity & Honor gone?
Obama, Please Run For President!
" The editorial stated that it is "remarkable" that Americans "are telling pollsters that they ... are eager to elect a black man over a host of more experienced white candidates"
I'll bet they weren't too upset that George Bush got elected after being the Governor of Texas for one term and then running for office in his second and that was the sum total of his experience in office. We won't mention that the Governor in Texas is not a very strong position due to the state constitution.
Why bring up such things.
Bush is probably the least qualified guy (on every level) we ever had as President... This is an inherently racist piece (on many levels).
You may be right, and look how it turned out. Y'all argue about Bush's lack of credentials so don't say it doesn't matter now that it's "your guy".
Power Line checks in:
[link to powerlineblog.com]
For one, he's literate.
Oh...and no thanks for the link. That was some disgusting posts.
it's always better to skip the comment sections on most of the conservative blogs, it's an ugly place to visit.
But, Bush is borderline autistic, okay... ? The guy can't even put two words together without stumbling or making some ridiculously comical gaff. He is the supreme example of 'failing upwards'... Across the board, he has no qualifications to be President. Why he's our President... I really don't get it.
Not sure Obama is "my guy"... but, he's charismatic, intelligent and appears compassionate. I could care less about someone's race or gender... it all depends on what's going on upstairs. This blogger you linked us to doesn't have the guts to admit that Bush is/has been a total failure his entire Presidency (that is, unless you (one) subscribes to the neocon philosophy/fantasy.... In those closed circles, I'm sure he's revered as a hero).
The double standard is alarming I think...
The post was about Obama, not Bush.
Yeah, we can guess what Hinderaker's opinion is about Obama, but thanks for sharing the Powerline link.
They're not even correct about Barack having "never run anything of substance". Obama has led everything from a non-profit project to give poor people job training through their local churches to the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
When people only point to his experience as a US Senator, they also ignore his 8 years at the State Senate level in Illinois.
He's got plenty of experience in my opinion. The real proof will be in how well he runs his campaign.
Nice Rebuttal.
Ooowweee! I have a stitch in my side!
Barack Hussein Obama, he ain't fit to spit shine my shoes, he's no Christian! Oh maw Gawd he's a Muslim. Muster the minutemenn! The Muslims are coming! The Muslims are coming!
Thanks for the gutbuster B1A, I sure needed a dang good chuckle.
Qualifications
You may be right, and look how it turned out. Y'all argue about Bush's lack of credentials so don't say it doesn't matter now that it's "your guy".
- bruce1ace
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Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review, moron. Comparing his mind to Bush is like comparing the intelligence of Einstein to Barney Rubble.
The comparison is about qualification, not intelligence. That's not difficult to understand. Being the President of the Harvard Law Review is great but it doesn't put you on the short list to be President of the United States.
It's not an intelligence comparison
The comparison is about qualification, not intelligence. That's not difficult to understand. Being the President of the Harvard Law Review is great but it doesn't put you on the short list to be President of the United States.
- bruce1ace
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Oh no? It puts you on the short list for future Supreme Court Justice. It means that you are the best legal talent in the country. It puts you way ahead, in terms of qualifications, of acting (Reagan) and drinking (Bush).
It is ridiculous that someone who voted for Dumbya twice has the nerve to be worried about "qualifications" suddenly. Oh yeah, I forgot, since Bush had pale skin, he is automatically qualified. What an accomplishment.
Maybe I learn from my mistakes.
Who can argue with logic like that? So the editorial says 'do not believe people are going to vote with their ideas and opinins about Obama, but, please do believe they will vote for him because he is black'...riiiiiiiiight....and, by the way, who are the host of more experienced white canidates that have even sugested a run for the presidency?
Barack Obama is a viable candidate for a host of reasons. He is a newcomer, essentially. His short tenure in the Senate allows him to enter the race without a laundry list of votes he cast to hang around his neck. He is young, enthusiastic, smart, affable, well spoken, likeable, and is energizing his party and very appealing to voters.
His race is and should be irrelevant.
Tommy I'm keping a running tab on posts you make where I actually agree with. ;)
Just make it a point to agree with me every time, then your running tab won't be necessary.
:)
Obama's one of the most likable guys I've ever seen running for President. Yet somehow, some way, those who don't find him likable will still relentlessly dig for ways to divert attention from his likability. Even going as far as to attack him simply because of his name.
The more he gains ground on the Dem ticket, the more wacked-out the swiftboating will get.
Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh have already been dispatched to destroy him. You can pretty much tell who the Republicans fear by who is the most frequent target of their professional liars. Right now it is Hillary and Obama.
...but I still like the odds for a Clinton-Obama ticket winning the Whitehouse.
I am hoping for an Edwards-Obama ticket. Can we get a Gore-Edwards-Obama-Feingold ticket?
Isn't it nice to have a wealth of strong Democratic candidates for 2008?
I've noticed the same thing, the fear of this man.
The most common criticism of Obama( from Hannity and others) is that he's a "blank slate", and that we know nothing about him.
And you know damn well they've been digging for dirt on him for quite a while now.I agree that somebody without a load of political experience (read: years in the system) isn't necessarily the worst thing in the world.
What did you do with the old Tommy?
Or is this that evil alien invasion the movies kept warning us about?
INVASION OF THE TOMMY SNATCHERS!!!!
But seriously I do agree with you. Obama has a lot going for him right now. Although the pessimist in me wants to say maybe Obama should run as a Vice Pres first. Something about the south and its historical love of the black folk and his lack of experience.
But that could just be the ultra competitive side too (we'll call it my inner carl rove)
Just to prove that I am still my same ole' self......I never said I would definitely vote for Obama, but that doesn't preclude me from pointing out his positives and his viability as a serious candidate. And his experience, or lack thereof, would not be a reason for me to vote against him.
I just believe that anyone who champions race in either a positive or negative way, or in Hillary's case, her gender, is not the barometer by which either should or should not be elected. It is their qualifications and positions on issues that should be the determining factor.
That is the way it should be.
Tommy-- "I just believe that anyone who champions race in either a positive or negative way, or in Hillary's case, her gender, is not the barometer by which either should or should not be elected. It is their qualifications and positions on issues that should be the determining factor."
Read it carefully, (your chance to redeem) then please clarify.
Even if his chances to win the nomination end up looking slim, I hope he participates in the primary race for two reasons. First, I believe he could be a positive contributor to the debate no matter how he fairs. Second, his best chance to end up on the ticket as VP would probably be as a result of his running for President.
For practical reasons, I'm tending to favor him on the 2008 ticket as VP. As I noted above, I consider Clinton and Obama a strong combination. However, I have a vague suspicion Clinton would bow out completely rather than end up as VP. I don't see Obama as having the same issues...and 8 years as VP now could mean we get him for 16 years in the WH total.
Of course, this is all pure conjecture, but fun.
You better watch out!
You're a Conservative acting like a Liberal. LimpBrain and Oh! Really! .. Would be coming after you if you were a prominent Republican. LimpBrain is all over Arnold's case. As we all know Arnie is Republican.
Sometimes you remind me of Arnold. He’s driving his party Nuts. He's against Bush on a long list of issues. On the Iraq War For Example:
GET OUT! : - Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on the United States to withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of this year.
He's supporting universal Health Care for all, including Immigrants. He serves the people, Bush serves the super-rich. He's protecting our Environment and Stem Cell Studies, Etc. Etc.
Thanks for the Excellent Post - Tom!
barely makes any sense. If this editorial is typical of their newspaper's quality, I feel sorry for the readers in Manchester.
as its on my doorstep at 6am every day. Considering I live way up north in the sticks it refreshing that this print media is surveying just fine.
Sure beats the same old hate filled, illogical op eds you see from the globe or the times.
I hate the Washington Times too.
Again no contact information was provided. To contact the Union Leader, email writeus@unionleader.com or use this form
I like Obama, and the rest of all Democratic candidates. But as Mike Lupica said in today's article in the NY Daily News, Obama looked like he wanted to hide under the desk when Bob Schieffer asked him if he backed Sen. Edward Kennedy's bill that would require congressional approval to fund the troop increases that this President has planned. Obama started talking about a "phased withdrawal" and sounded like somebody trying to explain cricket.
There are no good solutions to the mess Bush has created in Iraq, and anything Obama says will be put under a microscope in months to come. The Democrats have allowed themselves to be put on the defensive by the GOP lying machine with their childish "What's your plan?" cacophony. Republicans broke Iraq; they should take the blame for its demise. Blaming the Democrats for failure in Iraq is like blaming E.R. Doctors for not saving a someone who's had his head blown off.
and at an important time; it'll hurt him getting money. I can see a difference in the commentary this week vs last week with people like Jim Van de Hei and James Warren being more dismissive of Obama.
He wants to be on TV all the time talking about the "audacity of hope" and the "smallness of our politics," both of which are non-issues and irrelevant. Why would he go on Face the Nation last Sunday and not know every jot and tittle about every proposal dealing with Iraq? Kennedy got a lot of press coverage; no excuse for Obama not to be absolutely confident in speaking to it.
Obama's undeniable popularity is a sign that the justifications for affirmative action are crumbling all around us. Yes, racism still exists, and always will. But with Obama generating this much enthusiasm among white voters nationwide, it can hardly be said that American society as a whole is infused with a subtle, pervasive racism that keeps minorities down.
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These tricky devils love to create vicious circles, scenarios in which blacks must lose even if they win and whites must win even if they lose. The world is tired of your stupid games.
Most of white America has always been racist to the core and this pathological condition may be permanent.
The fact that white America loves Oprah, Obama, Michael Jordan means nothing: Who wouldn't? White people loved Sammy Davis too at a time when they hated the rest of us with a viciousness one only sees in rabid pit bulls.
..and see how Obama is looking after the racist and bigoted right-wing spin machine has had more time slander and insult him.