Answering Bartcop

I could probably find the original question but I don't feel it is worth the effort.  In essence, the author of the Bartcop, militant liberal humor website, asked why black Americans so readily deserted the Clintons and ran to the camp of a relative unknown, political newby.  I think the question is flawed  but, I will try to address it anyway.

In a lot of ways, Bill Clinton was one of us.  His two major advantages of birth were being born white and really freakin' smart,  His disadvantages, single mother, poor, small town, Arkansas, were easily enough to offset the advantages.  For whatever reason, and I sure do not know how he acquired the skill, Bill Clinton appeared to be able to comfortably be the only white guy in a room full of of blacks.  Somehow, he doesn't even stick out in such a situation, it appears to be the most natural thing in the world.  A lot of black people learn this skill early (well, the reverse).  We learn it through constant repetition, or at least I did, as well as by having some natural "talent" for it. 

I do not doubt for one second, Hillary's bonifides as a liberal.  I believe that she is and has been concerned about the "less fortunate".  I don't doubt her sincerity or, believe that she is anything other than as presented. 

She isn't one of us and she never will be.  That is not meant as an insult or slight or as a pejorative at all.  It is simply an observation and acknowledgment of reality.  I do NOT know Hillary Clinton, I'm not psychic, I'm not privy to any insider information, this is my opinion formed from observation, reading, and essentially living through the last couple of decades and paying a relatively high level of attention.  I doubt that Hillary would be comfortable in that black crowd.  I don't see how she could avoid sticking out or, that it would appear to be a natural situation.  In short, Hillary isn't Bill.  It is an obvious statement but apparently one that needs to be said.  That doesn't mean anything that isn't said.  I'm relatively sure that one-on-one, HRC is comfortable interacting with a wide variety of ethnic groups, cultures, and nationalities.

In my opinion, "we" did not desert the Clintons.  We deserted Hillary.  We were behind Hillary, those of us who were, because of our fond memories of Bill, our disgust of republican policies, her position as the presumptive front runner, and the relative lack of another candidate we felt had the organization and support necessary to win in the general.  (ideologically, I supported Kucinich, pragmatically, I was behind Edwards)  Barack Obama was a name that some had heard but, it was news to me that he had a national following.  As he started showing stronger and stronger, it became increasingly difficult to justify not supporting him.  His political positions were certainly at least as close to mine as Hillary's were.  I obviously do not speak for all blacks but I imagine that many of us had discussions with ourselves asking why would we ask a white to make things right for us and our nation when we had an apparently competent and intelligent black who actually had a chance to win.  Why would we out ourselves to ourselves as an Uncle Tom?

If Obama had arrived in time to run for Bill's 2nd term, I doubt he would have gotten a majority of the black vote.  Hillary was never the president.  Our allegiance was simply not to her.  As we became informed about options open to us, a lot of us decided that for us and what we want for our nation, Obama was a better fit.  I read and hear about these Obamanics who have some ill-defined grudge and want to banish the Clintons.  I have never had one of them out themselves to me.  All of the Obama supporters I have spoken to in this primary season have only admitted to being FOR Obama. 

Insulting Bill and/or Hillary Clinton does not appear to be the primary goal of any of the blacks who have made their views on this election known to me whether by private conversation, blog, radio, editorial or what.  I'm on the verge of believing that I'm being insulted, that it is being said that I could not have higher motivations and/or that if I did, I could not satisfy them with a black person. 

Yea, that's insulting.

CAFKIA

Comments

[Fixer]

Indeed. The pull of shared experience is strong. Even Bill cannot truly comment on the black experience where Obama lived it.

[Brandon Lerda]

Fixer ...... "Even Bill cannot truly comment on the black experience where Obama lived it." Really? Are you sure Bill cannot truly comment on being born white, raised white, educated at private school in Hawaii .... Obama lived the black experience? Prove it. I don't believe it.

[Buzzcook]

You do seem to be making a color of skin argument here. I don't think it's an invalid reason to vote for Obama over Clinton.
It does leave hanging the difference in perceived ability and experience between the two, which I think is Bartcop's point.

[CAFKIA]

black, or even if many folk just suspect it, you will be treated differently. Any one who thinks that Obama got a pass growing up because his mother is white is sorely confused. I rather suspect that what is true instead is that when she was found to have a black child, her treatment level went down, severely down.

But hey, I just lived it. What do I know?

CAFKIA

[Tom]

So, no support for Hill because "She isn't one of us and she never will be?" Who cares? She's a Senator. All the candidates are. Skin color be damned, you and I are a lot more of an "us" than you and Obama could ever be. Can we get over race, soon, please? Can we get over this idea that we're on separate teams, cuz we appear to be wearing different uniforms? Voting for a black candidate just because he's black, or a woman because she's a woman, or a white because he's white, those are the stupidest reasons in the universe to vote someone. Your racism is appalling. Justifying it with this "but hey, I just lived it" crap is pathetic. And if you seriously think that Obama will "make things right" for blacks and the poor in this country, and elsewhere, that's really sad.

[CAFKIA]

No, what is sad is the idea that you can read one feakin' thing I have written and think you know anything past what is in that piece. I have not and would not ever state that Obama is my candidate because he is black nor, would I ever actually do that. There are indeed things I have hopes for that only the election of a black candidate could accomplish but, I would never vote for or talk up someone as incompetent as "Dumbya" simply because of their ancestry. My support of Obama is much more broad in foundation than you give me credit for. And that is the insult I mention. You assume, based on nothing more than my admission that I am black, that the only reason I am supporting Obama is that he is black. You ignore all of my progressive postings here and other places a simple Google away and choose to insult me instead of learning something about me.

Your pathetic assumptions reflect an inferior position and probably an inferior mind. I rather doubt your ancestry has anything to do with it. I suspect you are simply lazy. But to be fair, I don't know you any better than you appear to know me.

CAFKIA

[deuddersun]

Gee, nobody ever asked me why I supported John Edwards. I mean, hey, we're both white folks. But I have been asked why a white guy like me is supporting Obama, although there was a time when I might have supported Hill. And yes, I was asked why a guy would support a woman for President.

It seems there are still quite a few folks who can't see the forest through the trees.

Fact is, I want the best qualified individual running our country - period. So let me ask some of you whom I suspect support McSwine, are you supporting him because he's a White Male, or do you really believe he's the best qualified individual to be President of the United States?

I know that's a tuff one, but I tyuped it slowly so you could keep up.

d.

[Business Answering Service]

The truth is, I want the best qualified individual running our country.

Ben Cliff