Obama: "No doubt if we consolidate the Black vote, that would have a profound shift..."

[journalist3072]

For those of you who believe Barack Obama does not play the race card, I am sitting hear right now listening to him being interviewed by Tavis Smiley, on the podcast of Tavis Smiley's PRI radio show.

Tavis Smiley was asking Obama about the notion that if Barack Obama was getting the support from the Black community that Jesse Jackson got when he ran, Sen. Clinton would "have to go home right now." (Tavis Smiley's words).

Barack Obama replied "There's no doubt that if we consolidate the Black vote, that would have a profound shift in the national polls."

So now Barack Obama sugggests that we in Black America "consolidate the Black vote" in order to make his rise in the polls.

Obama has no moral standing at all, to accuse Sen. Clinton of playing the gender card, when he makes comments like this.

And I'm sorry Barack, but as an African-American woman, I am not willing to "consolidate" my vote, just to see you win the White House. Just because someone looks like me, doesn't mean they represent my interest or values.

[MethuenProgressive]

1. I'm speechless.

And off to search NPR to hear that for myself...

[journalist3072]

3. I'm listening through iTunes...I subscribe to Tavis' podcast....so just find Tavis' podcast

And you'll be able to hear it.

[NMMNG]

2. Prepare to be called a racist

And I'll do the same, because I'm 100% in agreement with you.

[journalist3072]

5. Well, I'm an African-America woman....so if I am racist towards my own race, that's news to me, lol!

[msongs]

7. and being a democrat, you are not a member of the faith community and neither are the

glbts.

Msongs

[NMMNG]

10. Other AA people have made posts critical of Obama

And had people challenge the authenticity of their "claim" of being AA. It's sad the way some people feel so threatened when their candidate is criticized.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. The first thread didn't turn out the way you liked it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2191451

[journalist3072]

6. Well excuse me asshole...but I'm just NOW listening to Tavis' podcast

And I'm sitting hear speechless with Barack's comment about "consolidating" the Black vote...so I thought I would share it here on DU.

Hypocrisy needs to be called out. And this new interview with Tavis is just more evidence of Obama's hypocrisy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Awww...

:nopity:

You're just now listening to something you were posted hours ago?

:rofl:

[FreeState]

11. It doesn't help your cause

when everyone can read here and clearly the post you linked to does not even mention the Tavis Smiley podcast, but rather Tom Joyner's show from a few weeks ago.

[journalist3072]

13. You're not really that stupid are you? Are you really that dumb? In my post from earlier today

I made no mention of Tavis Smiley's interview with Barack Obama, because I had not heard it yet.

In my post from earlier today, I was mentioning Barack Obama's interview with TOM JOYNER. Tom Joyner and Tavis Smiley, although they are friends, are two different people. These are 2 different interviews I have posted about.

And if you will go back to my thread from earlier today, you will see I talked about how, when Barack was on Tom Joyner's show recently, he played the race card.

Tom Joyner was saying that if all the Black people currently supporting Sen. Clinton would just support Obama, it would be a different race...Hillary wouldn't be in the lead. And Barack Obama agreed...He said if that were the case, her lead would "virtually be gone."

And then he said "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity." As if to suggest that we in Black America will never have the chance again to vote for a Black man for President, so we better do it now.

So these are TWO DIFFERENT interviews I posted about....the earlier thread was about the Tom Joyner interview...the one from this evening was about the Tavis Smiley interview.

Get a clue, dummie.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. I'm smart enough to realize...

that you're trying to make the same stupid argument you were earlier, and failing.

[journalist3072]

19. Failing, in your eyes (which are closed by the way).

Seems to me that you are intellectually lazy.

[Occulus]

30. I have it on ignore

I'm sure you fully understand why, after that display.

[emilyg]

27. Bravo!.

[FreeState]

8. That post you linked to is about the same issue but not this new podcast N/T

[ShaneGR]

12. Don't really have a problem with him being honest

Of course if all black people preferred the black candidate the polls would be different. What's wrong with him saying that? Doesn't really matter, there aren't a ton of black voters in Iowa or New Hampshire.

[journalist3072]

14. He said if we "consolidate the Black vote." In other words, he wants us to all

fall in line behind him and "consolidate" the black vote. And yes, as an African-American, I have a problem with that statement.

I've never heard Sen. Clinton suggest we "consolidate" the women's vote.

[ShaneGR]

17. Well, I'm white...

So I don't pretend to fully understand what he meant by his comments. My interpretation was that he was just saying that ya, if all blacks supported me, of course the polls would be different. I don't personally support Obama or Clinton BTW, I think Edwards is the best candidate.

[FreeState]

18. I agree to an extent

I have not listened to the podcast yet (at work). But it sounds from the quote he is stating a "well duh" type of statement. I don't see him saying he *wants* to consolidate it - but why wouldn't he?


Does anyone know the break downs of what percentages of minority groups actually vote in the primary compared to the generals?

[journalist3072]

20. Here's how I would have liked to see respond to Tavis

The appropriate thing would have been to say 'Well Tavis, I don't want anyone voting for me simply on the basis of race, and the desire to see an African-American in the White House. I want people to vote for me because of where I stand on the issues.'

That, in my opinion, should have been the response to Tavis.

The "consolidate the African-American vote" line really turned me off, because it left me with the impression that Obama wants us to engage in group think.

[FreeState]

22. Unfortunately for Obama

his handlers are doing a poor job. He keeps making mistakes and trying to pass them off as just doing things differently. I will definitely have to listen to the podcast when I get home.

Just from my observations on his campaign for the last few weeks it seems he's taking a dive quickly into pissing people off rather than being inclusive.

[Middle finga]

24. He's been saying that all along where have you been?

[journalist3072]

26. No, he has not. I have not heard him say that at all. Furthermore,

if he really believed that, he would not be making statements like "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity" like he did on the Tom Joyner show. In other words, he was saying that we might not ever get the chance to vote for a Black man again for President, so we need to do it now.

[undeterred]

15. Hey Lets Consolidate the WOMEN to vote for HILLARY

Just kiddin'... :rofl:

[maximusveritas]

21. How in the world is this an example of playing the race card?

You're going to have to do better than this. Perhaps the third time will be the charm.

[journalist3072]

23. Perhaps you need to take your partisan hat off for a moment....

If you don't see how the African-American candidate saying that if we in Black America "consolidate" our vote, then the polls would be different....is playing the race card, you are blind.

[maximusveritas]

25. That's obviously not what he's saying. "We" = his campaign

So he's saying if his campaign can consolidate the Black vote, they'll do much better in the polls.

However, even with your incorrect interpretation, it's still not "playing the race card". That phrase refers to pointing to one's race as the reason for why they're being picked on. That's not what Obama's doing here at all.

[NorthernSpy]

28. Big freaking deal! It's called a "statement of fact"...

Let me guess. You're going to start five more threads on this same topic, all laced with insults like "asshole" for the people who try to tell you that even such a one as Barrack Obama is allowed to make mere statements of fact.


Oh, and before I get the inevitable accusation, no: I'm not an Obama supporter. I'm actually for Kucinich. But what I see daily from Hillary's people makes me increasingly disinclined to settle for her. I don't see any meaningful difference between her and, say, Giuliani -- if he's the one Republicans decide to nominate.

[Bluebear]

29. Now THAT is a researched post :)

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

31. What the problem..

Obama's no dummy. I agree with him. We need to consolide that black vote.. I'm all for it...As long as that consolidation goes toward my candidate.

(The following political annoucement paid for by one square black dude for Dennis Kucinich)