resolved: of angry, black, and president, you can be no more than 2 out of 3.

[unblock]

much as i'd love to see obama kick butt and take names, if only i thought he could get away with it, i can't help but recall back to the primary and general election season when various forces were trying to get under obama's skin and provoke him into an angry outburst. they were consistently rebuffed by obama's now famous unflappability.

ironically, unflappability was a huge liability for dukakis and gore, but that's another story.

with respect to obama, the idea was that the racist stereotypes about an angry black man are more provocative and engender more fear in more people than the mere sight of black skin. so obama and his campaign worked like hell to avoid any such outburst, or any response that could be portrayed as such.


now obama's hardcore supporters are calling for the exact thing that his foes were hoping for during campaign season.

i don't get it.

i simply thing anger is verbotten for obama. he can be tough as nails, but he can't SHOW THE EMOTION OF ANGER. i think that's simply off limits for a black president.



just to be clear, i think it's absolutely ridiculous that there be any distinction -- why on earth should a black president be held to a different standard than a white president. yet, i think this is a sad reality of american politics.

[treestar]

1. The whole meme is annoying

When did Chimpy get angry? Did the media ever question him not getting angry? Any POTUS who displayed actual anger would be trashed in the media for it, and of course it would be worse for the black President. They are just trying to create their own drama. Instead of going and finding facts to report.

[unblock]

2. i think reagan displayed anger, as did poppy i think.

there's something about anger that's seems to be ok if you're a republican.
or at least white.

but yes, not if you're black.

[mopinko]

3. i think you are sadly correct.

very sadly, considering who much he, and we, have to get angry about.
well, they tell me it doesn't do much good, anyway. mostly, it has not helped my much, except when it has turned around the immovable. if only i could get the hang of recognizing the futile from the fertile.