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Pat Buchanan Award

Started by baratunde aka jack turner · 11 months ago

“There’s only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He’s half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don’t know. I haven’t heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, ... Continue reading »

38 comments

  • Leila

    1 year ago

    Yeah, I could say to Ralph that he's not really an Arab because he doesn't talk like one. A radio producer said that to me at a left-liberal station in San Francisco last year. For real. I was born and raised here, my mother is a WASP from Virginia, and I talk like I went to a very good Eastern liberal arts college, which I did. Guess that means I'm not really an Arab.


    Somebody diaried this at Daily Kos and I expressed my disgust in comments. Yuk, Ralph, ick, ick ick. But I've been disgusted with Nader since 2000.



    This Arab-American says Ralph Nader does not speak for me.
    reply
  • Anonymous

    1 year ago

    I will like to add to that list by saying that I have not seen Obama do the electric slide, put out a video dissing 50 cents and/or soulja boy; wear bling, give a shout out to Jacob the jeweler ....


    To quote one of my favorite movies (office space), Nader is a no-talent ass clown with an oversized ego.



    Junglecat
    reply
  • Robert Paulson

    1 year ago

    Two basic points about this:


    1. Ralph was being deliberately incendiary in using the phrase "talking white." That's not only "loaded" -- it's laced with asbestos and caked in c4. Further, it's wrong and disrespectful of black Americans in general to casually toss a phrase like that out there, especially in description of a candidate with Obama's historical significance.



    2. Despite the stupidity of the 'talking white' verbiage, Nader actually makes a reasonable point that I've heard from other real live people about the vanilla nature of Obama's message and his failure to address in any serious way issues of social and economic justice (or of 'exploitation' as Nader appropriately labels it). Certainly, there are a whole set of political calculations which informs Senator Obama's choices on that front, but on a moral level its still fairly disappointing, especially because he's heavily depending on those communities most subject to economic exploitation and injustice to turnout for him in large numbers in November.
    reply
  • Anonymous

    1 year ago

    Here is another candidate:


    http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/24/limbaugh-democrats-will-bend-over-grab-the-ankles-say-have-your-way-with-me-to-blacks-and-gays/
    reply
  • Admiral Komack

    1 year ago

    Ralph Nader: clueless fuck.
    reply
  • Town

    1 year ago

    The problem I have with Nader pressing Obama on talking about social issues is he is not similarly pressing McCain on talking about social issues. Where does McCain stand on the ghetto, predatory lending, asbestos etc.? Why is McCain getting a pass from discussing these type of issues?


    As far as the "talking white" issue goes, sometimes I really do think some white people have a vision in their heads of January 20, 2009 where Barack Obama turns into either Yung Barack, complete with gold chains and teefes, grabbing his nutz as he raps the Oath of Office into the mic while Michelle drops it like it's hot



    or



    They think Barack will morph into Barack X, and upon taking the Oath of Office gives a State of the Union in the Oval Office (which is now decorated in red, black and green) and he says "We (blacks) didn't land in the United States of Amerikkka, the United States of Amerikkka landed on us--Kill the White People!" while Michelle, hair blown out in an Angela Davis-style afro, pumps her fist in the air and screams "Git Whitey!" And the Secret Service has been replaced by the Fruit of Islam.



    It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad, but people actually think like this.
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    Now this deserves the Pat Buchanan Award.
    reply
  • D.

    1 year ago

    Town,
    Both of those are absolutely hilarious.



    Damn, Nader's still running?
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    Town, I spit out my drink.


    Thanks for the laugh.
    reply
  • AAW

    1 year ago

    The infamous party pooper is at it again! Why should I care what Nader says? This was just a ploy to get a little attention since he declared yet another Presidential candidacy.
    reply
  • TruthSeeker

    1 year ago

    town,


    hilarious!



    That kind of vivid imagery is the luxury of the unafraid. I think the truly frightened experience Barack X only as vague unease.
    reply
  • heartsandflowers

    1 year ago

    Ralph Nader is one to talk. Shouldn't he be grateful the corporate media doesn't tie his Lebanese heritage with Hamas?
    reply
  • PTCruiser

    1 year ago

    Nader should not have made this remark in this way. What he should have said was that in his opinion Obama is trying to avoid appearing confrontational and threatening, which is absolutely true. In any case, I think we need to cut Nader a little slack here. He was wrong but he is not our enemy. And, folks, he did not cost Al Gore the election in 2000. Al Gore, the Clintons and the DLC cost Al Gore the election.
    reply
  • jed

    1 year ago

    Note that Nader asked, "Is it because he wants to talk white?", he did not say that Obama IS talking white.


    Why is Nader not pressing McCain on those issues? Because the Republicans make it no secret that such issues are low priority for them.
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    Nader made himself part of the enemy on this.


    He'll be on the ballot in crucial states.



    As for 2000, if Al Gore had won New Hampshire, a state he really ought to have won....
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    Barack just said that Ralph is just trying to get attention because his campaign hasn't gotten any traction.


    "It is what it is."
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  • TruthSeeker

    1 year ago

    Obama on Nader: "He's become a perennial political candidate."..




    Ha ha ha ha ha!!
    reply
  • PTCruiser

    1 year ago

    Ralph Nader is not part of our enemies and he is most emphatically not our enemy. I don't care for what he said but I understood the point that he was trying to make whether I agree with him or not. Nader is not enemy and we need to keep this in mind as we move forward.
    reply
  • PTCruiser

    1 year ago

    "Obama on Nader: 'He's become a perennial political candidate'..."


    Yes, but there is a big difference between Nader and what he represents and, say, the late Harold Stassen, the Republican once known as the "Boy Wonder."



    Norman Thomas was a perennial presidential candidate too and I did never saw any harm in him running. In a democracy it is always good to have more than two candidates running for public office. Thomas and Nader always spoke truth to power.



    I understand why Obama cannot do the same but I wish that folks took a longer view about this process.
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    ptcruiser, once again, we don't agree .


    And that's that.



    ::



    truthseeker, that was funny wasn't it?
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    So, who is this Joan Walsh?


    She is certainly not the same Joan Walsh shilling for Hillary a month ago.



    Is she?
    reply
  • Anonymous

    1 year ago

    Town,


    TOO.FUNNY.



    So sad that it's true!



    Against Race Politics
    reply
  • PTCruiser

    1 year ago

    "And that's that."


    I don't exactly understand what you mean, Craig. Am I supposed to keep my opinions to myself on this issue or refrain from making any effort to change yours.



    If it is the latter, then that is okay. If you mean the former, well, no, that is not that.
    reply
  • TruthSeeker

    1 year ago

    Craig,


    Obama has a deadpan way of stating things that is just hilarious. I'm kinda surprised he was that candid about Nader.
    reply
  • Chaz

    1 year ago

    Nader is hot air. This isn't about any past elections, just the opportunism. He said this to get some attention.


    I think Obama sized him up well earlier this year, “[M]y sense is is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don’t listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you’re not substantive. He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work.” This in the NYT Feb 24, 2008.



    That is how I've always seen him. Why target Obama who has policies specifically for fighting poverty and dealing with issues that are important to blacks when McCain is no where near that? Why attack the candidate who is so close to your own stance? Because he wants the attention. This has little to do with the issues and everything to do with Nader's self important gamesmanship.
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  • B-Serious

    1 year ago

    Nader strikes me as a narcissist. IF he truly cares about his issues, then why does he wait untill the 11th hour to run for President? He is a third party candidate. He needs all the time and attention he can get.


    Given the lack of resources and attention, Nader should have begun his 2008 campaign in November of 2004. He doesn't have the luxury to run an 8 month campaign like the two major parties. A serious Nader would plan ahead for success, not wait to play the spoiler. But he doesn't do that. If he's serious about the issues then he should take his candidacy just as seriously. This is his third time around and I've yet to see anything from him that makes me beleive he honestly thinks he can or even wants to win. If he wants to make an impact, why not have a backup plan? Why not run for Senate or the House? Why not run for mayor? Don't speak about it, be about it.



    He's not stupid. He's been through the process before. He's doing the same thing he did in 2000 and 2004 and expecting a different result. Why would he expect a different outcome? What's his deal?



    He doesn't like the Democrats? Fine by me. Why not organize a true threat to defeat the Dems at the local, state and national levels. That's what a third party SHOULD do, not rest on moral victories that do little more than help sustain the greater of two evils.



    If he cares about an issue then he should have a bottom line . . . he should be results-oriented. Where are his results? What's more important . . . Nader's issues or Nader's vanity campaigns?



    And people are right to note that his statement is nearly identical to that of Geraldine Ferraro's. He said that the only thing that separates him is his skin color and implied that he's gotten thus far through white guilt. Ain't that something? Arguably the two most bigoted comments and they both came from "progressive" leaders (Nader and Ferraro).



    He wanted attention. He's foul.



    I remember having conversations with a college buddy back in 2000. He was sure that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush. HE WAS DEAD WRONG!
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    ptcruiser, you know exactly what I meant. I meant exactly what I said.


    I don't agree with you.



    And that's that.
    reply
  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    truthseeker,


    It's the second time I've seen Barack be so blunt about Nader. He respects the guy. He thinks he ought to take his narcissism elsewhere.



    From where I sit, Nader is trying to capitalize on the criticism by Black people about Barack's Father's Day speech.



    If Nader type can insinuate that Barack is "selling out" to help fan the flames of some opinions among Black people that, in fact, Barack is, well, then....







    I see him.
    reply
  • rikyrah

    1 year ago

    town,


    they were both hilarious.



    But, #2 is the true 'nightmsre' for some folks.



    Hilarious, though.
    reply
  • PTCruiser

    1 year ago

    What Nader said was flat-out wrong and he owes Obama an apology but he is not an enemy. Obama's response was appropriate and to the point. Nader has been warned and won't make the same mistake again. Obama put him in his place.
    reply
  • AnthonyMason2k5

    1 year ago

    The funny thing is that on a whole lot of issues Nader has a more progressive (and dare I say it) and stronger platform than BO. From domestic spying, presidential power, social inequality, america's military, healthcare, public campaign financing....you name it and Nader is a tre progressive. Unfortunately, this is a country that voted and reelected G-Dub, AKA the Worst President in History. I can only hope that BO is a step in the direction of what Nader America would look like.
    reply
  • donna L.

    1 year ago

    I think Ralph's formulation was specifically worded and its timing unmistakable. There is a meme I've seen oft repeated in the past few days in response to the FISA amendment that Obama is a "phoney." These comments almost always contain the sentiments: "You see -- I knew it. I warned you about him!" followed by "Now I'll never vote for him!" There is obviously room for dissent on the FISA deal, but the overriding tone of much of the commentary has been over-the-top hysterical.


    Well, I wonder who else these good progressives are going vote for now?



    Surface Nader. He is trying to exploit a very fragile moment in the democratic coalition and more shockingly, I think he's attempting to tap into the unconscious racial distrust underlying some of the more rabid reactions to the FISA compromise.



    "Progressives, we can't trust this black man who doesn't even care about his own people. You can vote for me and still be pure of heart!"



    Hasn't the country already been through enough of this divisive nonsense from the Clintons for the past several months, not to mention the last 8 years we've endured due to Ralph's 2000 spoiler candidacy? We desparately need the democrats to win this election. Obama will be our nominee and he will win this unless we allow demagogues to fuck with our heads. My response to angry and bitter progressives is, are you willing to throw the only real chance we have to put this country on a better track because Obama is not a 100% PERFECT in your eyes? Ralph is more than willing to race bait and is actively working against Obama, knowing full well that siphoning democratic votes benefits McCain. In my opinion, that effectively makes him the enemy of progress, no matter what good things he's done in the past.
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  • Craig Hickman

    1 year ago

    donna l.,


    Thank you for saying that better than I could have.



    Nader may also be trying to appeal to those voters who had a problem with Barack's Father's Day speech.



    Just a thought to add to the mix.



    Could be a stretch, but desperate times....
    reply
  • jon

    1 year ago

    Awwwwwww ... poor Bill ....


    "The wiki speaks truth, Bill. Read it and weep."
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  • jon

    1 year ago

    oops, sorry about that. that was suppsoed to be a comment in the "Bill Clinton's Miffed" thread. not sure what happened there.


    in this thread, I just meant to say ...



    "pathetic, Ralph".



    sheepishly,



    jon
    reply
  • RhondaCoca

    1 year ago

    And people are right to note that his statement is nearly identical to that of Geraldine Ferraro's. He said that the only thing that separates him is his skin color and implied that he's gotten thus far through white guilt. Ain't that something? Arguably the two most bigoted comments and they both came from "progressive" leaders (Nader and Ferraro).




    Yea, basically.





    "Nader may also be trying to appeal to those voters who had a problem with Barack's Father's Day speech."



    Nope.



    "If Nader type can insinuate that Barack is "selling out" to help fan the flames of some opinions among Black people that, in fact, Barack is, well, then...."



    Not really because I wasn't happy with that move by Barack but I don't side with Nader on this. He probably wanted to say this for a while. I think that I know what he trying to get at then I do not. The wording was poor and the comment offensive overall.



    It is one thing to say that Obama has't address certain issues (some should got research before they make such comments) but its another so mention his race in that fashion and this idea of "talking white". I guess that everyone's true colors are showing.
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  • Ms.Martin

    1 year ago

    Some call it "politics", some call if fake.
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  • heartsandflowers

    1 year ago

    Nader got so many people engaged in what was to have been a progressive movement but after the 2000 and 2004 elections he just walked away. He didn't want to build a coalition, he wanted to be head guy in charge. He has done a lot of good things like with getting auto safety standards upgraded - but that was years ago! I didn't want to label him an election spoiler but he is certainly trying to fit the bill.
    reply
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