What if things were reversed?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2001
What if things were reversed?
80
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 6:59pm
This is my first time posting on this board.  It seems like there are alot of very well-informed and passionate people here!  I look forward to hearing all your thoughts.

 

This was sent to me by a friend, and another ivillage friend suggested I share it here.  It certainly makes you think.

 

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class? What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard? What if Obama were a member of the "Keating 5"? What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

--permission from darrell taylor to reprint for discussion purposes.--


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 9:32pm

~eye roll~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 9:43pm

The fact that people still try to tag him as Muslim suggests to me there is a significant racist element... but there is also a more subtle one, something perhaps not actively pondered but which makes someone sort of skittish.



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"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2008
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 10:16pm
Thanks. Much better than being ignorant.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2001
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 10:34pm

First off, let me be clear in saying (again) that this was not my writing.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 10:38pm

Yes, Hagee might have been considered such an individual, but McCain’s never been a friend of Hagee’s, was never a supporter of his church or message and (In continual underinformed McCain style) asked for Hagee’s endorsement but then ran away from Hagee as soon as Hagee’s messages came to light.


IT's well-known there was no

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-27-2008
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 10:40pm
Frankly, I see no point in this type of "what if" discussion.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2001
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 11:10pm

If there is no "what if", there is no debate.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2008
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 11:15pm

*** First off, let me be clear in saying (again) that this was not my writing. The writer is credited, so there should be no confusion.

Ok…but you obviously found value in the hack piece of propaganda for to repost it here.

*** Secondly, the difference in underscoring the negatives of McCain and the positives of Obama is that the things that are factual and negative about McCain's *character* are things he is trying to use to run on.

The points raised were purposeful distortions and only reveal the partisanship of the writer…and others who support them.

*** The point I got out of the message was, honestly, less about race, and more about you can't have it both ways.

The point of the message was Obama propaganda disguised as some kind of inane discussion about race.

*** You can't run on a Christian platform when you have lived a life that would be condemned by the group you're appealing to...oh, wait a minute, yes you can. Bush did, and won.

More lies and distortions.

*** I used to admire McCain. I admired him for crossing party lines and doing what he thought was right. He has turned from "maverick" to "puppet".

More lies and propaganda.

*** And his wife has done good things, but no better or more influential than Michelle Obama.

And wrong yet again. List the charitable things that Michelle has done for others?

*** It is a slap in the face to all of us "non-politicians" who've been active in our own communities as laypersons with passion for Obama's service to his community to be ridiculed because he didn't have to win an election to get there.

Obama is ridiculed because he was a failed community organizer, a failed state senator, and a failed US senator…and thinks he’s qualified to be President.

*** The posts I read that criticized this statement could largely have been lifted from Rush Limbaugh - the only news you really need, after all.

Or maybe Rush Limbaugh can recognize the truth when he sees it too.

*** How else to we keep Americans ignorant enough to vote for short-sighted people?

Run on a campaign of “hope and change?”

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2001
Mon, 09-15-2008 - 11:30pm

*** First off, let me be clear in saying (again) that this was not my writing. The writer is credited, so there should be no confusion.


Ok…but you obviously found value in the hack piece of propaganda for to repost it here.


I actually found quite a bit of value in the piece.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2008
Tue, 09-16-2008 - 1:16am

<<< Ok…but you obviously found value in the hack piece of propaganda for to repost it here.

*** I actually found quite a bit of value in the piece. I was clear that it was not my writing not to separate it, but because responses to me were phrased in such a way that made it clear that people thought I wrote the piece.

No surprise you support the propaganda and share it’s ideology, so I’m not sure how saying someone else wrote it insulates you in any significant way except copyright fraud.

*** Secondly, the difference in underscoring the negatives of McCain and the positives of Obama is that the things that are factual and negative about McCain's *character* are things he is trying to use to run on.

<<< The points raised were purposeful distortions and only reveal the partisanship of the writer…and others who support them.

*** Can you correct any wrong statements?

Sure…we can start with the biased, out of context comparisons in the OP…also McCain isn’t running on a “Christian platform”…McCain isn’t a “puppet”…Michelle Obama has done as much charitable work as Cindy McCain…etc

<<< *** The point I got out of the message was, honestly, less about race, and more about you can't have it both ways.

<<< The point of the message was Obama propaganda disguised as some kind of inane discussion about race.

<<< *** You can't run on a Christian platform when you have lived a life that would be condemned by the group you're appealing to...oh, wait a minute, yes you can. Bush did, and won.

<<< More lies and distortions.

*** Please share the facts...I do not lie. It is terribly uncivil of you to tell me I've lied and not back it up.

Lie. Neither McCain or Bush has a “Christian platform.” Lie. Neither McCain or Bush has lived a life that would be condemned by the “group they’re appealing to.”

<<< *** I used to admire McCain. I admired him for crossing party lines and doing what he thought was right. He has turned from "maverick" to "puppet".

<<< More lies and propaganda.

*** What lie? Please explain.

Lie. McCain is no puppet.

<<< *** And his wife has done good things, but no better or more influential than Michelle Obama.

*** And wrong yet again. List the charitable things that Michelle has done for others?

Both women, have been involved in productive things. Michelle's work apparently focuses on increasing the participation of young people in social causes. (PublicAllies/Americorps), whereas Cindy McCain's admirable work focuses on helping children with special needs.

I asked you to list the charitable things Michelle’s done for others, not offer silly generalities. I’m guessing that you didn’t because you can’t…just more propaganda.

<<< *** It is a slap in the face to all of us "non-politicians" who've been active in our own communities as laypersons with passion for Obama's service to his community to be ridiculed because he didn't have to win an election to get there.

<<< Obama is ridiculed because he was a failed community organizer, a failed state senator, and a failed US senator…and thinks he’s qualified to be President.

*** Failed in your eyes, perhaps, but clearly not in the eyes of those who are supporting his candidacy.

We’re not talking about the adulation of starstruck groupies, I was talking about tangible, factual achievements. Again, I’m guessing that you didn’t bowl me over with an impressive list is because there isn’t one.

<<< *** The posts I read that criticized this statement could largely have been lifted from Rush Limbaugh - the only news you really need, after all.

<<< Or maybe Rush Limbaugh can recognize the truth when he sees it too.

*** Rush Limbaugh is one of the most self-serving celebrities going. Big spin-doctor, will cut anyone to shreds to increase his ratings. He's no better than a shock-jock with a political theme.

Sounds like you’re describing Keith Olbermann…who was apparently too biased even for MSNBC.

<<< *** How else to we keep Americans ignorant enough to vote for short-sighted people?

<<< Run on a campaign of “hope and change?”

*** I suppose "Country first" is somehow...enlightened?

Absolutely.

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