Ralph Nader on Obama
"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American,"
Wow Nader, thanks for pointing that out, we never realized that! But that expression 'half African-American' is insane. It is not possible for a person to be 'half African-American' or 'half Chinese-American'. Yes, in Obama's case, he is half African and half American, but not 'half African-American'. Nader: You are a Lebanese-American, but are you half Lebanese-American? No! In your case, you are 100% Lebanese, and I guess 100% American? You see where I am going with this? It is insane the way you described Obama as 'half African-American', because you are confused.
"Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."
Nader: I think there is a time for glory and a time to let go and enjoy the sunset. You are making so many amazingly stupid statements for what used to be a smart man. You say you don't know if Obama being 'half African-American' would make a difference? Why would that be? Isn't he running for office as an 'American'? Isn't an American president's job the welfare of all Americans and not only of blacks? Were you running for office for the sake of the Lebanese-Americans? You ask 'what's keeping him from doing that' in regards to not voicing his opinions regarding predatory lending in the black communities. It is for same reason that you never brought up Israel or aipac. There are certain issues that would seal a candidate's fate, and standing for the poor, no matter the race of the candidate would hinder the candidate's chance. Obama is running to win and not to lose, whereas in your case you know you will lose and yet you don't have the courage to bring up Israel. Why don't you, Nader? Your above statement is just loaded with so many insane statements. What do you mean 'he wants to talk white'? How does one talk 'white'? Malcolm-x talked 'white' because people pick up the manner of their speech from the environment where they grew up. So was Malcolm talking 'white'? And how does Jessie Jackson come into the picture? I guess what you are trying to say is that Jessie talks 'black'? Again, Jessie talks the way he does because of the environment where he grew up. What about you Ralph? Do you talk 'white'?
"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician, he wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."
Oh my! Nader: time to let go! Let go Nader and go. It is time to go. Your statements are insane and bizarre. I wonder who the other 'politically threatening African-American politician' was. I have been thinking and I don't know who that could be. What wrong do you -Nader- see in a candidate wanting to show that he is not 'threatening'? Who would be lining up to vote for someone who is deemed to be threatening? 'White Guilt'? But Nader dear, you forget that Obama has no connection to slavery, how is 'white guilt' connected with Obama? You say: 'You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful.' You mean by not saying, 'Black Power'? Are you out of your mind? What chance in hell would a black candidate have taking a stand that you are suggesting? Isn't it absolutely amazing that Obama has made it this far as a black person, no matter how much he may have tried to appeal to white voters, that white voters are seriously considering of putting a black man as their leader? Isn't that stunning in and of itself, Nader? "Whites just eat it up"? One insane statement after another, Nader! Why do 'whites' eat it up, Nader? What about the rest of 'people of color' in America? Do they not eat it up? Are you 'white', Nader. Just curious?
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader accused Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic Party nominee, of downplaying poverty issues, trying to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt" during his run for the White House.
Nader, a thorn in the Democratic Party's side since the 2000 presidential election, has taken various shots at Obama in recent days while ramping up his latest independent run for president.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Rocky Mountain News on Monday, he said he is running because he believes Democrats, like Republicans, are too closely aligned with corporate interests.
Economic exploitation
Nader was asked if Obama is any different than Democrats he has criticized in the past, considering Obama's pledge to reject campaign contributions from registered lobbyists.
"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."
The Obama campaign had only a brief response, calling the remarks disappointing.
Asked to clarify whether he thought Obama does try to "talk white," Nader said: "Of course.
"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."
"We are obviously disappointed with these very backward-looking remarks," Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said.
Plans to visit DNC
Nader said he plans to travel to Denver during this summer's Democratic National Convention, hoping to highlight an alternative agenda that he thinks the party should pursue. His appearance in the city is sure to anger some Democrats who believe his presence on the ballot during the contested 2000 election cost Al Gore votes, helping Republican George Bush win the disputed election.
Nader rejects that blame, saying Democrats "scapegoated" him instead of looking at other factors that contributed to the defeat.
'Appeal to white guilt'
Nader said he is not impressed with Obama and that he does not see him campaigning often enough in low-income, predominantly minority communities where there is a "shocking" amount of economic exploitation.
He pointed to issues like predatory lending, shortages of health care and municipal resources, environmental issues and others.
"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/nader-critical-of-obama-for-trying-to-talk-white/