I must point out that the article does not reflect Obama's views. When the article hypothesizes about the impact of some of the words we've all been forced to watch over and over, it specifies that the words are not Obama's words. Sowell attributes the words to Rev. Wright.
You continue to insist that these views Sowell challenges are Obama's views but that is not the case. Obama's views are Obama's views and I quoted those words above. If you have primary sources or direct quotes attributed to Sen. Obama where he expresses views akin to those Sowell rightly derides, I'd appreciate you posting them here for us all to discuss.
CCK, I honestly feel like we are cross-talking and not hearing each other.
Please understand, I am not dismissing Sowell's ideas, but saying his attacks on the sort of 'victimhood politics' of the past are valid and that from what I've heard and read Sen. Obama agrees with him on that point. Malcolm X was among the first to see some black politicians railing against the system and absolving black people of personal responsibility, and he accused those who did use the victimhood philosophy of perpetuating a system that sees black people as separate and unequal. Sowell's ideas are not new, and they do not resonate with me deeply because I have heard them before from everyone from W.E.B. Dubois to Malcolm X to increasingly mainstream politicians. I agree with him, but believe his arguments are better addressed to Rev. Wright.
From Obama's website. Just one example of what, in my opinion, is his victimhood rhetoric:
"Over the last few decades, too many American families have worked hard their whole lives only to find that sometimes the game is rigged against them. Too many rungs have been removed from the ladder to middle-class security, and the safety net that's supposed to break any falls has grown badly frayed. Many families face increased anxiety when it comes to paying medical bills or balancing their home and work life or finding ways to send their children to college. At the same time, others have tumbled into poverty, watching jobs disappear, and the chances for their children's success slip further and further away."
Families do experience financial problems, but I vehemently disagree that the system is "rigged against them".
I agree it was pertinent to mention that Sowell is African-American. I only attempted to point out my belief that I think both Sowell and Obama are both defined more by their ideology than their race.
But when the topic IS race, then their races are relevant.
I hope you do not think I called you a racist on the other thread you mentioned, and I would be extremely sad if anyone else did.
It wasn't you, I believe it was Buster(?)
I don't think you are a racist. I'd hoped to point out that the same fears that were manipulated to capitalize on religious prejudices a few months ago are now being used to provoke a similar fear based not on religion but race. I was not saying that fear was being stoked in you, I was trying to draw your attention to the similarities in the attacks -- similarities down to the same people sending me the shocking and scary (if taken at face value) emails about both candidates. Those who cherry-picked a few statements by a LDS leader and tried to imply that because Mitt Romney belonged to the LDS church he must believe these things and must, deep in his heart, be unworthy of the Presidency, are the same people now doing the same thing with the UCC and Barack Obama. I thought maybe, because you saw how Romney was unfairly treated in the media, how small or obscure things were blown out of proportion, and how often his views were misrepresented, maybe I could appeal to you to give Sen. Obama a second look and read at least his website, if not his book. I do not think you are reacting to the blackness of his church with fear, I do not think you are racist.
Fair enough, and I do see your point, and appreciate it. I do not have a closed mind. If every controversy went away, I still would not support Barack Obama because we have fundamentally different views on many issues, particularly economics and the war in Iraq.
I do think you have accepted a spun version of Obama's ideas as the truth. I also think Sowell's opinion piece is propaganda. Despite Obama's appeal to return to issues in this campaign, a piece like Sowell's keeps the divisive topic alive. It intellectualizes an essentially race-based attack on Obama instead of his pastor. It is a misrepresentation of Sen. Obama's views. It was a politically savvy attack aimed at redefining Barack Obama and keeping the debate on race and away from the issues that matter in the election.
Rapunzel, it is ALL spin. Every article written has a "spin" on it. Every speech given by every candidate has a spin. Obama's books have spin. Your posts and my posts have spin. It is called point of view. I happen to respect Sowell's point of view and find his arguments interesting. You obviously disagree with their premise. However, you are not an impartial judge so although you are passionate about your beliefs, you are also trying to persuade me to see things as you do. While I greatly respect you, I do not have the same respect for Obama. He has chosen to associate with people who bring up a lot of questions. I don't trust Obama that he is who he says he is.
