Nader says Obama "Talking White"

[wra]

I don't support Obama for president but this is really low IMO.

Talking white? That is incredibly racist. Are we to presume any time a black man who is educated and that education is easily identified in his speech patterns and presentation means he is "talking white"?

Who could Nader possibly win over with that rhetoric?

Until we as a society can look beyond speech patterns and identify educated people without having to racially label the identifying characterisitics, we are doomed to dwell in the gutters of racial bias.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/nader-critical-of-obama-for-trying-to-talk-white/

[jn_powell]

"I is Obama and I be wantin' you to vote fo' me fo' President of da United States." What the hell is he supposed to sound like.

"Ah man, ja mofo but laid me to da bone she jackin' me up. Tight me"

[chrisvet]

I don't support Obama for president but this is really low IMO.

Talking white? That is incredibly racist. Are we to presume any time a black man who is educated and that education is easily identified in his speech patterns and presentation means he is "talking white"?

Who could Nader possibly win over with that rhetoric?

Until we as a society can look beyond speech patterns and identify educated people without having to racially label the identifying characterisitics, we are doomed to dwell in the gutters of racial bias.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/nader-critical-of-obama-for-trying-to-talk-white/

He won't win / pissed on his own foot / but he's arguably right (@ the wrong place, wrong time.)

[wra]

"I is Obama and I be wantin' you to vote fo' me fo' President of da United States." What the hell is he supposed to sound like.

"Ah man, ja mofo but laid me to da bone she jackin' me up. Tight me"

Exactly. As long as we identify educated speech as "white" we are promoting racism.

Funny how no one ever accuses an Asian of "acting white" when they speak as if they are well educated :rollseyes

This to me is a direct attack on black america. Yes it is supported by blacks accusing each other of "acting white" but that doesn't give the green light for others to compound that racial persona.

[ric]

Talking 'whitey or black-assed' is political nonsense...

The issue is Obama is placing his efforts on trying to convince people that he understands the plight of the “little guy”. It's nothing more than a cheap cynical election tactic. Obama is the definition of a silver spoon liberal and he’s a fucking socialist…So, if you want to see your taxes increase by 30/40/50%, go ahead and vote for him.

[droogsteve]

First let me say that I can't stand Obama and would never consider voting for him. Having said that, Nader is an idiot. "Talking white"? What's he supposed to talk like: "I'm gonna economically bitch slap China and restore America back to our glory days of Big Pimpin'. Fo' shizzle!"


Forget about "talking white", I actually have more of a problem when intelligent African Americans try to "talk black". I once saw this video that compared side by side clips of Oprah Winfrey. In one speech she was speaking to an white audience, the other, a black audience. In front of the white audience, she was an extremely intelligent, well spoken business- savvy woman. In front of the black audience, she transformed into Shaniqua the Ghetto Queen: deliberately poor pronunciation (a'ight!), ebonics slang, the whole nine yards. Everything short of opening a 40 and pouring out some for her dead homies.


It was actually quite jarring to watch. The black community as a whole will never get anywhere as long as community pressure forces intelligent people to act like mush-mouthed idiots, lest they be accused of "not keepin' it real". Or as Chris Rock said "Yeah, they're keepin' it real. Real DUMB!"



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?

Again, let me stress how much I hate Obama. But to be fair, have any of the other candidates talked about these issues? Let's look at them one by one.

Payday loans: Not a federal issue. They are already illegal in many states, including here in NY.

Predatory lending: states set their usury rates.

Asbestos and lead paint: Already illegal in new construction, by law must be removed when found in existing structures.

So what's to talk about?


Talking 'whitey or black-assed' is political nonsense...


The issue is Obama is placing his efforts on trying to convince people that he understands the plight of the “little guy”. It's nothing more than a cheap cynical election tactic. Obama is the definition of a silver spoon liberal and he’s a fucking socialist…So, if you want to see your taxes increase by 30/40/50%, go ahead and vote for him.

Agreed. There are plenty of reasons to hate Obama, Nader's "talking white" nonsense is not one of them.

[Dayve]

Are we to presume any time a black man who is educated and that education is easily identified in his speech patterns and presentation means he is "talking white"?

Actually... YES!

You're absolutely right, that is exactly how he is talking... white. He is a product of white western culture and white western education. Back in Africa he'd be talking like Mugabe... "We iz sovrin country, not to be interfeared wid, the election iz mine!"

But he isn't talking like Mugabe because he grew up in the white west. So yes, anybody who isn't white who grows up in a white culture and recieves a white education, is talking white.

[wra]

Actually... YES!

You're absolutely right, that is exactly how he is talking... white. He is a product of white western culture and white western education. Back in Africa he'd be talking like Mugabe... "We iz sovrin country, not to be interfeared wid, the election iz mine!"

But he isn't talking like Mugabe because he grew up in the white west. So yes, anybody who isn't white who grows up in a white culture and recieves a white education, is talking white.

America isn't England. We were born a multicultural society. Acting white is a racial slur at worst and racial bias at best.

[Methuser]

I agree with droog on the fact that it gives me douche chills when educated blacks try and talk as if they just rolled out of the ghetto.

Oprah does it all the time.

[jboogie_78]

"I is Obama and I be wantin' you to vote fo' me fo' President of da United States." What the hell is he supposed to sound like.

"Ah man, ja mofo but laid me to da bone she jackin' me up. Tight me"

lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Henkie]

Congrats on fully reading and understanding the article to all of you!

Nader's point was that Obama is actively ignoring specific issues of african-americans to be less threatening and more appealing to white voters. In essence, he's argueing that black people should rather be voting for Nader than Obama. This has nothing to do with Obama's accent.

The problem with this argument is ofcourse that the symbolic power of Obama becoming president is much bigger than what Nader could do for the black americans, or what McCain will do if Obama doesn't.

[_jax]

Actually... YES!

You're absolutely right, that is exactly how he is talking... white. He is a product of white western culture and white western education. Back in Africa he'd be talking like Mugabe... "We iz sovrin country, not to be interfeared wid, the election iz mine!"

But he isn't talking like Mugabe because he grew up in the white west. So yes, anybody who isn't white who grows up in a white culture and recieves a white education, is talking white.
its a white manz world

[wra]

Congrats on fully reading and understanding the article to all of you!

Spoken like a true outsider with a very limited understanding of American Culture.

Nader's point was that Obama is actively ignoring specific issues of african-americans to be less threatening and more appealing to white voters. In essence, he's argueing that black people should rather be voting for Nader than Obama. This has nothing to do with Obama's accent.

The problem with this argument is ofcourse that the symbolic power of Obama becoming president is much bigger than what Nader could do for the black americans, or what McCain will do if Obama doesn't.

I never brought up his accent. The term "talking white" is a racial slur when used by a white person in America to describe a black man or woman who is educated and when that education is easily identified in their speech patterns and presentation. It is purposely limiting the vernacular of all black people in America to a specific tone and accent when nothing could be further from the truth.

It doesn't matter how Nader attempted to justify the phrase, it is the impact of that phrase that matters in the public eye.

BTW, if you want to join the discussion there is no reason to begin by insulting everyone here.

[BJ and UT5]

Spoken like a true outsider with a very limited understanding of American Culture.



I never brought up his accent. The term "talking white" is a racial slur when used by a white person in America to describe a black man or woman who is educated and when that education is easily identified in their speech patterns and presentation. It is purposely limiting the vernacular of all black people in America to a specific tone and accent when nothing could be further from the truth.

It doesn't matter how Nader attempted to justify the phrase, it is the impact of that phrase that matters in the public eye.

BTW, if you want to join the discussion there is no reason to begin by insulting everyone here.

Thats the guy's point. Hes not actually criticizing his speaking mannerisms. He's criticizing the content. Nader is saying that Obama is avoiding going hardline on social issues like poverty and racial discrimination to avoid alienating white middle class voters. Its a very accurate statement. Obama has tried hard to shy away from people like Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan, even though thats probably not thrilling his black constituency. He's doing it to hold on to white moderates.

[IrishNed]

Thats the guy's point. Hes not actually criticizing his speaking mannerisms. He's criticizing the content. Nader is saying that Obama is avoiding going hardline on social issues like poverty and racial discrimination to avoid alienating white middle class voters. Its a very accurate statement. Obama has tried hard to shy away from people like Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan, even though thats probably not thrilling his black constituency. He's doing it to hold on to white moderates.
Here is how the Writer summarizes that same Rocky Mountain News articleNader 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."I'm sure Obama talks 'Black,' like Oprah Winfrey and maybe Al Sharpton do when they are talking to a predominantly Black audience. Those are their Consistuency. Oprah was on the Obama Bandwagon early; Why?? It was not because of his Politics or Policies; It was simply because he's a 'Brother!' And that's why the majority of U.S. Votors of the African American persuasion voted for him in the Primary elections.

I am not a 'Brother;' so I am left out of their Black Brotherhood & Sisterhood. But neither is Obama! He was not with Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights movement of the '60's; his ancestors didn't come to the U.S. on Slave Ships. He is a first generation American, born to a Black Nigerian man and a white American woman. He does not relate to American Blacks (although he accepts their Political support)

Harvard educated Obama is a great Public Speaker; but is that the whole 'Package?' I don't like the way he has voted (or failed to vote) on certain issues before the U.S. Senate.

I'm with you, Ralph Nader!

[Henkie]

Spoken like a true outsider with a very limited understanding of American Culture.

BTW, if you want to join the discussion there is no reason to begin by insulting everyone here.

Oh, the irony! Even if you weren't so painfully wrong, I don't think you could actually pull this off, without seeming like an extreme jerk. But what do I know, it's not like I have any understanding of American culture, right?

[Roushpimpn]

Congrats on fully reading and understanding the article to all of you!

Nader's point was that Obama is actively ignoring specific issues of african-americans to be less threatening and more appealing to white voters. In essence, he's argueing that black people should rather be voting for Nader than Obama. This has nothing to do with Obama's accent.

The problem with this argument is ofcourse that the symbolic power of Obama becoming president is much bigger than what Nader could do for the black americans, or what McCain will do if Obama doesn't.


QFT. Took the words right out of my mouth. I expected someone to bitch racism and totally miss the point.

[Yuseke]

Dis heez a lotta jive turkey. Nader just needz ta get off Obama's kool-a.....OH LAWDS! A WATERMELON!

[wra]

Oh, the irony! Even if you weren't so painfully wrong, I don't think you could actually pull this off, without seeming like an extreme jerk. But what do I know, it's not like I have any understanding of American culture, right?

You began by attacking everyone here telling us all how wrong we were and how right you thought you were.

And its our fault for pointing out your mistake?

And no, after weighing your answer it is my judgment your knowledge of American culture is very limited.

Are you surprised? You don't even live here. But I take it from your sig, your need to feel superior to others isn't limited to this argument.

I'd appreciate it if you could enter the discussion without generalizing everyone before you. It helps keep the discussion in context.

Talking white as I said earlier is a racial slur because it is an attempt to generalize the speech patterns of everyone who is of a certain skin color and generalizes speech patterns of the educated as being white.

It does not matter how one justifies the use of the phrase, the implication in society is well known.

[Henkie]

You began by attacking everyone here telling us all how wrong we were and how right you thought you were.

And its our fault for pointing out your mistake?

And no, after weighing your answer it is my judgment your knowledge of American culture is very limited.

Are you surprised? You don't even live here. But I take it from your sig, your need to feel superior to others isn't limited to this argument.

I'd appreciate it if you could enter the discussion without generalizing everyone before you. It helps keep the discussion in context.

Talking white as I said earlier is a racial slur because it is an attempt to generalize the speech patterns of everyone who is of a certain skin color and generalizes speech patterns of the educated as being white.

It does not matter how one justifies the use of the phrase, the implication in society is well known.

"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?"

This is what Nader says. This has nothing to do with the way Obama talks, it has to do with the issues Obama does and does not adress. It's all there in the article. It's not that hard to understand. Because none of the people who posted before me seemed to understand this, I concluded that either they didn't read the article, or they didn't understand it.

Let's put in more understandable words, on what do you base the idea that Nader was hinting at the way Obama speaks? A quote from the article, please.

[wra]

"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?"

This is what Nader says. This has nothing to do with the way Obama talks, it has to do with the issues Obama does and does not adress. It's all there in the article. It's not that hard to understand. Because none of the people who posted before me seemed to understand this, I concluded that either they didn't read the article, or they didn't understand it.

Let's put in more understandable words, on what do you base the idea that Nader was hinting at the way Obama speaks? A quote from the article, please.

For the third time, the term "talking white" has its own racial implication in our society.

Nader's justification or attempt to redefine it is pointless since the implication is there by the phrase itself.

This is already a racially charged election. Obama has been dealing with people claiming he isn't black enough or doesn't sound black enough. Nader's use of a very common phrase in our society that by its very definition is linking education with white speech is inexcusable and racist no matter how he attempts to redefine it after the fact.

[Henkie]

For the third time, the term "talking white" has its own racial implication in our society.

And it's not what Nader is talking about. At worst, you might consider him racially insensative for using a charged phrase, but you're just plain wrong if you suggest that Nader has anything to say about the way Obama speaks.

[chrisvet]

For the third time, the term "talking white" has its own racial implication in our society.
.

I agree Nadar is just pissing on his foot with these comments, but he still hit hit the nail on the head.