This is clear and calculated language clearly pointed to certain demographics of whites in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana in order to promote the appalling notion that Barack Obama is using his race as an advantage. Historically, African Americans who have risen above institutionalized racism so embedded in our culture have been accused of using "excuses" in blaming external factors instead of accepting their own short-comings as reason for not reaching a certain status sooner. It is a disgusting dichotomy of subversion; your only here because your black, but now that you’re here your only calling me on saying it because your black.
The term "upitty negro" was coined by salve masters to describe a rebellious slave demanding better conditions. Of course as all personifications of this horrid past, similar sentiments plague our culture today in more subtle forms of coded language with the sole purpose to incite and remind certain groups of people(aka whites) that their irrational fears are justified while at the same time taking offense that such fears would be even be suggested. Let’s come down from the abstract and put this into real words; negative connotations of race are very real, the abhorred stereotypes of African-Americans are very real and they are very much still with us. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that such sentiments continue to infest our culture, however to use these sentiments in such a calculated and pointed way in order incite voters into regressing and regurgitating negative images of race is truly despicable.
Allow me to paraphrase the exchange;
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept,"
Well what can be said? This is a blatant dismissal of any innate qualities and experience Obama has; he is an "empty black suit"
Oh but wait, here comes the Upitty Negro....
"Absurd.....
That’s it that was Obama’s response. As it should have been for such a ignorant (but well calculated comment).
And then the real kicker which is in fact much more offensive that the first remark;
"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," she told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"
Yes....I ousted him for being black and he attacks me the only way he knows how, by calling me a racists
Using this dichotomy of subversion as a campaign tactic has no place in our party, however as the Clintons have unfortunately demonstrated throughout this campaign no subject is taboo. Exactly what are the reality and the problems we are facing is she referring to in this context? Mindful of the upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana there is very ugly side to this. By dismissing his achievements up to this point as merely due to the color of this skin she perpetuates popular negative connotations of entitlement, restitution and reprisal for African Americans among the white rural poor. It also suggest that the rational for not electing a black president to this point are valid and the fears that drive that rational are OK to use when electing a candidate. Finally the last comment is a clear indication that to point out the use of subversive and divisive language is a validation of the first point. As if to say you’re a black empty suit so of course the only thing you have to fall on is calling me a racist. This is not supposed to make sense because the irrationality of using race as fear is not based on fact but on twisted logic that can be manipulated by some obviously very dangerous people.
UPDATE - Geraldine Ferraro just got the boot from the HRC campaign.....yep not a winning tactic after all?