Friday, March 21, 2008

color blind?

bill rappleye and the rappers

can a black man win the presidency?

The week when race took center stage in the presidential campaign is the same week we talked about the possibility of a black president in our rapp session…here it is:

What the ---- is an African America?  Why is it necessary to use the label?  Is it to state that the candidate has dual citizenship?  Or maybe its to let blind people know what color the candidate’s skin is. Let’s get real. We are all AMERICANS!! No need to add a qualifier. It suggests that the candidate is somehow different from all other Americans. Once you start thinking along those lines its an easy jump to stereotyping all races/nationalities. This applies to so called Irish Americans (drunks), Italian Americans (Mafia), Hispanic Americans (Illegals), Muslim Americans (Terrorists), African Americans (Criminals) etc. Lets drop the qualifiers!!  We are Americans-period!  America is becoming too polarized and this is a great time for candidate Barack Obama to lead the way on this issue.
Reggie N, PortsmouthI

To start off, this question never would have come up had it not been for you media people to go bananas over an inexperienced, undecided-vote swinger Senator from Illinois named Barack Obama in the first place, putting him up on a pedestal so high that those who’ve decided to support him can’t see past his “sheep disguise”.  Not a day goes by without the main-stream-media hypos screaming the name of Barack Obama this, Barack Obama that, and not one word about his foreseeable opponent for the Presidency. Why is that?  Because all main-stream-medias are on the left - liberal left, that is. Hence, we see everything on “Obamamaniacs” on every news source that the networks can get their liberal mitts on.
You can have your best analyst on this subject matter and tell you that the country isn’t ready for an “African-American” and the reasons why in his/her best analytical conjecture, but it all boils down to is an African-American, woman, or Caucasian American, qualified enough to hold such a prestigious office and the highest military title of Commander-In-Chief in order to lead this country in the way our forefathers before lead this country to what it’s supposed to be?  If General (Ret.?) Colin Powell were in this race for President, I am most certain, and possibly guarantee, that he would have won the seat to the White House hands down, including my vote and passionate support for him.  Why?  Because he has experienced military leadership, held a high ranking military officer, and his military bearing and mannerisms stand ahead of any other candidate, and I think that should be the pre-requisite for wanting to become the President of the United States.  I would have no problem electing Powell even though he’s an African-American, too, but he would’ve had the most, and best, experience (especially way over the top of Obama) and have the respectable honors to hold the title of Commander-In-Chief, and that in my opinion is what this country is ready for.  Obama is not, nor never will be, ready to hold that title, ever!  Ask a soldier, then thank one.
C-Ann-C, Coventry

This is what I am afraid of, that an African American cannot win an election for presidency.  I mean, I would vote for Mickey Mouse to get the republicans out of there, but that doesn’t mean everyone would. The republicans have gotten this country in such a mess, it is time for a democrat to get in and straighten out this country.  I think a woman would have a better chance to win the election over a black man.  The state of the country was the best it had ever been when Bill Clinton was in, so I think Hillary would do a good job leading and I also think that she would have a better chance of taking it. 
Ruth S, West Greenwich

I think it is a shame that a question of that nature has to be asked. A country that pushes democracy and civil rights should be ashamed to have to ask such a question. Are some people afraid he will make being white illegal? How much worse than Bush could he be? The eyes of the world are upon us. We must get it right this time.
Lee L. Woonsocket

So, how about asking this question, then:  Can an Irish-Scotchman be elected president in 2008?  Oh, that doesn’t get national attention as much as yours though, does it?  Well, we even had one way back in 1829-1837 - Andrew Jackson, of which his family were immigrants back then, where his mother gave birth to him in South Carolina.

Or how ‘bout this question?  Can an Italian-American be elected president in 2008?  Why not, as long as he/she is a US born citizens, of course.  Maybe if an Italian-American could get ties to the “MAFIA”, he’d put them all around our borders and they’ll put an end to the illegal-immigration problem once and for all!  How ‘bout that for a President? 

How ‘bout, Can a German-American born citizen be elected President, too?  That would be even better, if whomever that would be could attain diplomatic relations with Germany and have their military forces wipe out the Al-Qaeda all over Europe and Southeast Asia, we’d have no worries about any terrorist attacks! 

What about a Chinese-American born citizen; could we elect such a President?  China would be happy about that election, now wouldn’t they?  Maybe relations with that country could chill things down with worries about their nuclear arsenals in Korea then, too? 

I could go on and on with this, including a Russian-American born citizen as well who could be a President, too - but where does all this lead?  It all boils down to the main question; are these nationalities-born Americans qualified enough to hold the most prestigious office of our United States of America and also hold the honorable and highest ranking military title of “Commander-In-Chief” who would be qualified enough to order our troops to a war?  Americans need to wake-up and think about this very deeply and honestly.  Ask a soldier, then thank one.
C-Ann-C, Coventry

It’s 3 a.m. and your child is sleeping. Bushes foreign policy has insured the needed blowback. Black or white, the marginalized, victims of debt Peonage wake up your kid. There’s $600 coming in may to revive the housing slump, There’s, a call in the White House the oil barons need your child to secure hegemony of the world market for Wall Street. Its not about Race or gender its about change !
Zuke

1) At this stage in the game we have more pressing matters than race,
gender or religion.  I want to hear more about the economy from our
candidate’s. Obama was giving a speech today on race.  To be honest, I
don’t care.  Why doesn’t he give a speech on what he’s going to do to
improve our quickly failing economy?

2) Has Pres, Bush not realized yet what a economic mess our country is in? We haven’t heard much from me.  Can someone please tell him?

3) Where’s the congress and senate with the high oil prices?  How could our government let the large oil companies continue to have records high
profits?  Are they profiting from this also?  They haven’t said a word..

Our elected officials should be speaking out on what matters to us, the
American People.  After all, we elected them and they work for us.  I say, if our elected official continue to remain quite on issues that concern us working people, then it’s time for a change.  Vote them out.
Patti O, W. Greenwich

The right black american could be elected in 2008 . i think the present candidate does not have the experience that is required to become president. If Colin Powell were the candidate, i would vote for him in a heart beat.
Betty D . Johnston

Yes I think he can but my greatest fear is that in a country where there are still small, narrow minds he won’t live to serve out his term. There are still people in this country that won’t stand for the thought of an African- American president. I believe we would have the next presidential assassination since Kennedy.
Nancy, Warwick

I believe that an African American can be elected president and also believe a qualified candidate of most ethnicities could do so as well.
However, in order for this to be possible, the media must take a close look at how it covers campaigns. To date, this campaign has been marked by sensationalism as it always has been, causing the average voter great difficulty in properly assessing each candidate. The Ferraro and Rev. Wright matters serve to highlighting this type f reporting. In the case of the latter, how many times have CNN and MSNBC replayed snippets over and over and over.  For what purpose? For the purpose of providing sensational footage at the expense of examining the issues in more substantive and thoughtful way. The media need to serve the public interest first, and their shareholders second. Until this is done, many Americans will not have the opportunity to think about and discuss these issues in a more productive way.
Eric w.

I don’t think it has anything to do with African-American. We should try the opposite sex because so far the males haven’t done a good job! Give the women a chance! If we could run a household we can run a country!
Tired of the same old!!!

I firmly believe a black man, Colin Powell, could have run and been elected President had he not been dragged into the muck of politics by the present administration. He carried no political baggage and had the admiration of the entire country regardless of race.  No candidate in the last election or this one could claim more experience or leadership ability that he has shown in and out of government.
Capt Al, Exeter

Please! can we stop talking about race. Why aren’t we talking about the solution.  Are we afraid that there isn’t one. Who cares what color someone is, if he or she can solve the problems.  Wake up ,we are going down the tubes.  If an outerspace person had an answer we would all be voting for them. 
Kathy, Barrington