her speech is powerful. Kudos to Black Women for Obama for sharing the full text of her speech. She gives good background information on her husband.At one point, Sis. Obama lays out a powerful statement that hits home with me for a variety of reasons:
Ask yourselves: of all the candidates, who will fight to lift Black men up so we don’t have to keep locking them up; who will confront the racial profiling and Jena justice that continues to afflict this nation; the voter disenfranchisement that rears its ugly head every few years; and the redlining that persists in our communities, keeping prosperity out and hopelessness in. Who will use the bully pulpit of the presidency to call on Black men to accept their responsibility and raise their children; who will refuse to tolerate Corridors of Shame in this country – of all countries? The answer is clear – Barack Obama. Not because of the color of his skin. Not because of what he’s said. But because of what he has done. How he has lived his life. Fighting for justice for all Americans; from all walks of life.
I'm still amazed that Black women have any difficulty understanding the unique historical opportunity that exists. First, the perfect storm exists for the Democratic presidential candidate to sweep into office next November. Therefore, the big decision is who
will win the Democratic primary ... Obama, Clinton or Edwards. This is the first time in the history of our country that an African American is a legitimate and QUALIFIED candidate for the presidency. Why are Black women hesitant to throw their full support behind this man and his family?Villagers, why are Black women hesitant to support the Obamas?
I've never been much of an Oprah Winfrey fan before. However, I am hopeful that her four major campaign appearances on Dec 8-9 for Barack Obama in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina will provide women of all colors a reason to re-consider their support of Hillary Clinton. Women should't vote for the first woman president, they should vote for what they need. I think that America needs Obama. Villagers,What say u?
16 comments:
You know Villager, I personally think that it's Obama's overall burden in this election, proven history and Clinton charisma. Not Hillary Clinton charisma, but Bill Clinton charisma.
What we know about Obama is that he's educated, very smart, articulate, definitely a leader, a good husband and father by his wife's account, and an honest man who's chosen his path deliberately. That's all good, and good enough, especially when you stand him up against most of the other candidates. But when you stand him up against his own party's very tried and true Hillary Clinton who shares his same failings in some senate votes, she just keeps your attention. I have far less problems with Obama than I do with Hillary Clinton. However, Hillary comes attached at the hip, if you will, of a man that excited this country for the first time in a long time and still holds a lot of that love internationally. And that is not easy for Obama or any of the other democratic/republican candidates to overcome. I really don't know if anyone can. I did believe though, that if anybody could, Obama could.
The piracy of George Bush's administration has people desperate for someone that we can trust. Is that Hillary? I don't know, but we just don't know any of the other candidates as intimately as, let's face it, the Clintons.
Shelia - Your point about the impact of Bill Clinton are well-taken. My attitude is that Bill Clinton as a past president can be just as helpful internationally in a Obama administration as he would be in a Hilary administration. But, that is the purpose of the campaign ... to see if anyone can overcome those natural advantages that you mention for Hillary. Do you think that Oprah's entry into the campaign will have an effect on the women vote, Black women in particular?
The problem with the campaigning is that most of the candidates television appearances i.e. debates, interviews are so contrived that we end up focusing on issues from those appearances rather than the totality of the candidate. And if we don't have the opportunity to see them in person at a campaign stop, we're left making a vast decision from literature and bad television. That said, those avenues are actually in Obama's favor. He interviews earnestly and his books are wonderful.
Oprah, as we all know, is that bright shining example of what is possible for all of us, she proves it over and over again. At the same time, she has not wanted to step outside of her comfort zone on a lot of issues, and that's her right. But, for me, what it does in instances such as her campaigning for Obama is.......nothing.
Obama is a favorite of hers, is of Illinois and has her blessings, but so does Rachel Ray and Dr. Phil; and they are virtually meaningless to me. I must admit that Oprah is in such a rotten position, she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. That, however, makes her choices all the more significant, especially to us. And frankly, when it comes to my political persuasions, Oprah is the last person that I look to for decision making purposes.
If anything it shows that Barak needs to take off the kid gloves and start throwing haymakers at his opponents like they are doing. He seems to be doing more of that now and that will begin to hopefully add an air of charisma and personality to him.
He's not nearly as good a spokesman for himself as Michelle is. Stop throwing nice-guy jabs and mix it up a little for real. That'll help Black women and everybody else perk up and take better notice.
Shelia - You make two excellent points about televised debates. Obama has been doing poorly in the televised debates up to this point. There are four more televised debates coming up in the month of December. He must do better in them in order for him to keep his momentum through the Jan 3 Iowa caucus.
re: Oprah. I don't watch Oprah so her endorsement and active involvement don't mean anything to me. However, somebody is watching ... presumably women ... who are also buying her magazine and watching the after Oprah nighttime version of her show. Also, she is leaving her comfort zone of Chicago and going to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina in person. Perhaps her being there in person will attract some women from those three states to attend the event ... while at the event they will get to hear Obama in person (in a forum in which he seems to excel) and perhaps that is enough to flip their votes for the primary election in each of those three states. I imagine that is what Obama is hoping. I hope that Michelle attends as well. The more that I hear her ... the more impressed I am that Obama is married to her (smile).
Martin - I should have addressed the last comment to both you & Shelia as it applies as a response for you as well. I agree. Obama needs to take the gloves off in his televised debates. I'm under the impression that he does so in his town hall meetings. Anyhow, I still wonder why Black women don't get it about the brother...
I am such a Barack Obama fan that there is virtually nothing that can change my mind about my vote for him...and I am proud of the fact that I made the decision because of my own research on him; not based on media coverage, not based on what Oprah says or doesn't say (although I love her, but I disagree with her on a lot of things), and not based on the color of his skin; no, I am voting for him because he is someone I trust to uphold the values and morals I think the President of this country should have. Those are the things that I think Hilary is lacking...I loved Bill Clinton, but his wife? Not so much...I think she is a flip-flopping, conniving, backstabbing liar...and that is the nicest way I can put it...and this is also based on my own research and not on what the media has said about her...
Villager you are right in that you want to draw the crowd however you can, and Oprah is certainly good for that. It'll be his job to win them over.
Ms. Marvalus, if Obama is going to take anyone around with him besides Michelle it ought to be you, because yours is a solid vote for Obama and no other reason.
Ms. Marvalus - One thing we know is that Hillary Clinton stayed with Bill solely for this opportunity to run for president. Bill owes her bigtime for her loyalty during the Lewinsky affair. She is definitely conniving. I wonder if others can see that about her? I heard today that most Blacks in the country support Hillary. Why?
Villager, you e-mailed me a question regarding an explanation as to why Black women are hesitating to support Barack Obama. Well, the short answer is I'm not the Black woman that can answer that question. I've been a supporter of Obama since early in the campaign. I've sent him $600 of my hard-earned money to prove it and I plan to send more. I haven't given any of the other presidential campaigns financial support and I won't.
What's up with my Blck sisters? The same thing that's up with my Black brothers.
Marty touched on it in a previous post regarding Black leaders and Obama. Our so-called Black leaders are likely thinking that Obama won't win because he's Black. They are passing on that same mentality to other Blacks who somehow feel beholding to them for jobs or perhaps promises of jobs or some kind of remuneration. It's just sad. We may not be on an auction block but we're still being sold as a people --- by our people.
I'm not mad with Hillary but this move, with Brother Bill by her side, is so transparent and insulting to my intelligence that it makes me want to hurl. Their marriage is one of opportunity to do just what they're doing now. I like Brother Bill but he won't get me to vote for Hillary.
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't support Obama because he's Black. All skin ain't kin. I do support him because he's the right person to lead this country. I can't add any more to what has already been posted here, especially the words of my sister Michelle Obama.
Great post, Villager.
Vanessa - I'm so grateful to you for sharing your village voice. I love your comment ..
all skin ain't kin
I hadn't heard that phrase before. Bill Clinton has been a detriment to Hillary this week with his comments on the Iraq war and such.
It looks like Obama may have some momentum entering into final 30+ days of the Iowa & New Hampship primaries.
Thanks, Villager, it was an honor that you contacted me.
I didn't make up that phrase. It's one of those sayings I grew up with. Maybe it's a Southern thing or an island thing, I'm not really sure.
I agree that it's time for Obama to seize the momentum.
Vanessa - Your village voice is very much appreciated and I hope you will visit with us often in the future. As for Barack Obama ... it would be nice if the brother can do better in the four televised debates coming up in December....
BLACK WOMEN WILLO NOTE VOTE FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE HE'S A BLACK MAN. THEY HAVE GOTTEN SCREWEDOVER PUT DOWN HUMILATED AND TREATED AS NOT WORTHY OF BLACK MEN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVE WEALTH. THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE THAT WIIL BEST SERVE THE NEEDS OF BLACXK WOMEN. BLACK MEN HAVE NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND NEITHER VWILL OBAMA. BLACK WOMEN VOTE WILL BEST BE SERVED BY ELECTING A WHITE MAN.
Airio - That seems like a circular argument. You indicate that Black women won't vote for Obama simply because he is Black. However, you conclude that Black women will vote for a white man simply because he is white.
I may have missed it ... but, when have white men in America had the best interests of Black women in their hearts and actions?
And, which of the white men running for president do you see as the best choice for Black women?
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