Last evening I watched Roland Martin on CNN asserting, to some extent, that charges of racism against the McCain camp are without merit.
Roland Martin from CNN Transcript:
"And, so, I understand that point. The problem here is that he tried to link Bush and McCain specifically with those comments. Now, you might have bloggers, you might have conservative talk show hosts, you might have columnists who are making all kind of comments like that, who are raising these whole -- these various issues. Frankly, Obama made a mistake.
And that's why they did change their tune. They haven't even wanted to talk about it even further. And, so, when the candidate brings that up, you need to have facts to back it up, if you're going to link to it.
That's why the McCain comment was very specific. He said, we did none of this.
Obama's mistake was not saying the larger sort of arena people who might be supporting McCain, those folks may be making these kind of comments. That's a mistake he made. They must own up to the mistakes they made."
Jump for the Hook.
The Hook
I don't understand what all this concern is about , even my grandmother said to me "Isn't it great, they let that nice colored boy run for president, he sounds like he is white"; There's no Racism.
We let them own property, participate in elections, Hell, we even sent one into outer space; There's no Racism.
We let them associate freely, live in our neighborhoods, attend our schools, Hell, they can even be with white girls like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton; There's no Racism.
We let them be equal to make music and entertain us, equal to play on our football and Basketball teams, Hell, we even let them equally compete with the illegals for OUR jobs; There's no Racism.
Now the Case
In listening to Mr. Martin I wondered if he was really a black man living in this country at this time, and if he was, what it was in his experience that allowed him to completely miss the cues in the rhetoric of the last weeks that I heard so clearly.
Racism today rarely takes the form of the full frontal attack of segregation, discrimination, or overt slurs that he may be "Standing Watch" for. The offenses that clearly oppress can be dealt with head on, unfair laws can be challenged, discriminatory practices exposed, and bigoted slurs can be repudiated and disproved. Much more insidious and dangerous than that is the introduction of elements of subconscious fears that I hope to bring to light in this Diary.
To some extent many of "Us" (Hardworking White Folk) may share them. In order to challenge the threat we must first identify the menace.
I grew up in a time and place in Rural Virgina where Racism and Bigotry were the Meme du Jour. The sole African American in our High School was "affectionately" referred to as our "Token Ni**er"; I considered us "friends" at the time(Sad!?). I am sure that I still carry some of these misguided constructs of my youth in my psyche, although intellectually I repudiate (Renounce & Reject) them. I have since been well educated both domestically and abroad, and I have lived and worked all over the world. I consider myself fairly progressive and enlightened.
I can clearly hear the political "Dog Whistle" of the Republican Party especially when Pat Buchanan screeches "He's not one of us". We have to give voice to these prejudices to allow us to confront them, much in the same way that in seeking treatment for any psychological condition one must confront their misconceptions and fears. It does no good to deny them and to let them continue to affect us from within the shadows. (The Bradley Effect)
Why have they (including McCain, who Martin specifically excludes - Wrongly!) gone "Nuclear" with the "Presumptive", "Arrogant", "Risky", "Uppity?" themes of these past weeks, trying to conflate images of crowds, speeches and movements to perhaps include civil rights leaders of the past? Why suddenly the flip-flop on opposition to Affirmative Action? I don't for one second believe that these new themes are by accident or benign, I believe they are designed to give voice to the inner fears that exist within many and have not been subject to self examination. What's next, trying to ethnicize the debate by conjuring images of Air Force One "Pimped out", a motorcade transformed with lowered Escalades and chromed 24" rims, an Presidential Entourage now becomes a "Posse".
When they (McCain included) toss out themes of Risk, Arrogance, Presumption, and Movement, the feelings that are being evoked are ones of Fear, Mistrust, and Anger. Mistrust of his motives, fear of change, anger at losing control. Do "we" really want a Black Man leading the country with a Black Agenda, when it's always been about "us" and "our" agenda? Sure "we" toss 'em a bone every so often; but do "we" really want to be the ones beggin' for scraps?.
Simply put, a black man that is assertive and self determinative is dangerous. MLK demanded, then by force of will and action forced the establishment to deal with Civil Rights Issues, they were not content to wait for condescending acquiesce to that to which they felt they were entitled. For many, evoking images of civil rights militants is often successful in generating the visceral reactions they seek, "that of us losing control", and they're out there.
The "Colored Boy" that remains demure, knows his place, and doesn't assert himself, is not threatening; and therefore it's OK for us to allow him to remain in the "Big House" of National Politics as our "Token Ni**er". But just let him become self assured, confident, assertive and present a "Uppity" vision of someone demanding the place to which they're entitled; and the next thing we see is Willie Horton trying to break in our back Porch and before you know it "The daughter is knocked up and the silver is missing".
While many find these thoughts offensive, and they are, they are real.
Women should be sensitive to these ideas as well for they represent the same themes in that instance: Misogyny, Smisogyny, "We let a woman run for the nomination, we let women in the Senate/Business/Military/etc., Hell, we even sent a woman into outer space". But let a woman/women try to demand their due, they get labeled as being a B*tch, Pushy, Aggressive or some other pejorative traits. Hillary and Barack have so much more in common in that regard, than maybe we realize. It all comes down to control, I am sure the Warden at Gitmo says: "Look, we let those prisoners walk wherever they want, within the box that we have prescribed for them, they have freedom, and are all equal within the box". As long as "we" control the box.
They are content to let that nice fella or gal hold the gavel for a while to continue the myth of equality and opportunity, as long as they have the veto power to decide when it's time for the ride to be over. Obama right now threatens to break out of this box and this is an existential treat to the Good ol' Boys Network(TM) that have controlled this country pretty much since inception (kinda like the Freemasons on steroids).
You may ask yourself just who comprises this Clique?
Now the Payoff
Old white men that (HERE IT COMES) "look like all those other Presidents on the Dollar Bills".