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I think people target their Presidents any way they can. George Bush Jr was White, has an Anglo-American surname and his daddy was also President. It wouldn't make much sense to say he was born in Kenya.Quote:
Originally Posted by OumaFan
Obama's birthplace is a bit different to past presidents seeign as his father was Kenyan. I don't see why it's racist.
Were his name President Hau Sun Woo and his dad was from Bejing I guess the same doubts might arise.
Well no I can't say specifically it was 50% racism, 20 % funny sounding name, 20 % lived somewhere else as a kid, etc., etc. And I'm sure not everyone who latched onto it did so for racist reasons, some love a conspiracy, some may have just been angry about the election for purely political reasons, etc. But there is no doubt in my mind that it was a major factor in the whole thing. I would argue it was the main factor but obviously I can't say that for sure. Still, would a White President with a somewhat funny name who spent time living out of the country been subject to the same scrutiny? Of course its just a hypothetical but I think its fairly clear he would not have been.
The race card is played far too often. And not just with Black people in the US, you should be able to criticize Israel without being called an anti-Semite according to Miles. But that doesn't mean that racism is never an issue. The race card is played too often, without a doubt, but I would also argue that its used to stifle debate at times.
George Bush isn't a good example though.Quote:
Originally Posted by BilboI think people target their Presidents any way they can. George Bush Jr was White, has an Anglo-American surname and his daddy was also President. It wouldn't make much sense to say he was born in Kenya.Quote:
Originally Posted by OumaFan
Obama's birthplace is a bit different to past presidents seeign as his father was Kenyan. I don't see why it's racist.
Were his name President Hau Sun Woo and his dad was from Bejing I guess the same doubts might arise.
A better hypothetical is if there was a White guy, born in America to an American mother and a Polish born father (or whatever) with a Polish sounding name. Do you really think there would be this much speculation about whether or not he was born in America? If you do then, well we'd just have to agree to disagree.
Yeah I think it might well come up in all honesty. It's not really any different to me than when the backgrounds of other people are challenged, for example the universities they went to.Quote:
Originally Posted by OumaFanGeorge Bush isn't a good example though.Quote:
Originally Posted by BilboI think people target their Presidents any way they can. George Bush Jr was White, has an Anglo-American surname and his daddy was also President. It wouldn't make much sense to say he was born in Kenya.Quote:
Originally Posted by OumaFan
Obama's birthplace is a bit different to past presidents seeign as his father was Kenyan. I don't see why it's racist.
Were his name President Hau Sun Woo and his dad was from Bejing I guess the same doubts might arise.
A better hypothetical is if there was a White guy, born in America to an American mother and a Polish born father (or whatever) with a Polish sounding name. Do you really think there would be this much speculation about whether or not he was born in America? If you do then, well we'd just have to agree to disagree.
The healthy eating guru Gillian McKeith over here had loads of controversy about whether her doctrate was genuine or not, or whether she just bought it online.
I think it's more to do that Obama's early life is rather obscure and vague. I don't think it's because he's black. The name, and the links to Islam are more real sources.