Allen Quip, Geraldine Ferraro both are people who have been damned for what was called racial slurs. The first for calling a young child of color the same thing he had heard his grandmother call children for years and never knew what it meant. The second pointed out that a primary presidential candidate owed a great deal of his success to the large African American following he has that arguably follows him because of his color not his politics.
Both were publicly and privately harassed and both could assume their political careers were over. Let us not forget former president Bill Clinton being called racist for pointing out other past primary presidential candidates had won certain states and for referring to another candidates story about his support against an unpopular war as a false story and a "fairytale". The former president's only saving grace was his popularity. That insulated him somewhat from the full brunt of being accused of racial comments.
Now we read, actually it takes some surfing to find the story but with a little persistence you will find it, that Senator Obama states in an interview his grandmother was a typical white person afraid of strangers (insinuating black strangers). Yet little is said in the negative of this comment.
Perhaps you can say, "I don't see your point."
I could see that.
Let's do it this way. Senator McCain is being interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper. Anderson asks the Senator, "Obama recently demanded a full hearing on the invasion of privacy of his passport records. What do you think about his response?"
Then McCain says in reply, "He's just a typical black person. He sees something strange and immediately thinks someone is out to get him."
Do you see it now? No?
Well, in the fictional situation I proposed with Senator McCain's response would be declared racist. He would be metaphorically tarred and feathered and his political career would be over. Yet McCain would have said nothing different than Senator Obama did about his grandmother. BUT...
Senator Obama's statement is not treated as a racial slur. It would be the same as McCain's fictional response. The only difference was black not white was used. So why would McCain's response be considered racist yet Obama's would not?
Is it because stereotyping can't take place against white people? Is it because a black person cannot be racist against a white person? Or is it because Senator Obama is being given a free pass.
I think he's getting a free pass. Actually, I know he is getting one.
But why?
Why would a white candidate be held to a higher standard than a black candidate?
I am well aware that many people of color believe because of the long history of slavery, Jim Crow laws and inequality all at the expense of people of color make whites guilty by proxy.
But is that a correct thing to do?
Take me, for example. My ancestors were criminals forced to come to America and indentured servants. They were the ones native to this country and the few who were also brought here as slaves. My forefathers never owned slaves nor had much if anything to do with slavery, jim crow or their perpetuation. My ancestors suffered much the same fate as African Americans claim. The native ones were all but massacred. Does this mean no one in my family was racist? No.
By that same token a black American can also have racist in their family. It does not determine the nature or personality of the individual. It's actually a choice everyone (blacks and whites) make.
Who do you want to be to those around you and your family. If you choose racist then that is what you are. If you choose otherwise then you are that.
Obama, in his statement stereotyped me and all whites. Essentially calling all whites bred to be racist. We are not all the same.
He has made a racist comment.
In the fairness of equality Senator Obama should receive the exact same treatment as any political candidate who makes a racial slur.
You and I both know he won't though. It seems many of the political news programs have long ago hopped on the "We Love Obama" bus. He will get a free pass.
I guess even though there really is no such thing as a 'typical' white or black, there is a 'typical' media point of view.