Originally posted by sos37
But there's been no rebuttal by Michelle O. either, so I cannot say that the rumor is busted either.
So, if she came out and said something like, "I've been hearing people say I'm racist and I just wanted to let you know that it's not true. I'm
not racist." Then the rumor would be busted? I don't think so. The rumor lives in the minds of people who wish to see her that way.
Personally I find it plausible given some of the video I've seen of her talking and some of the statements that she's made, one in particular where
she was asked during the campaign about Obama lagging behind Hilary Clinton in the polls and she replied that she wasn't worried about it because
"she believed black America would wake up".
So, do you think that making that statement means she's racist?
And secondly, have you read the transcript of that "sound bite"? In fact, it was about the low number of African American voters being willing to
vote for Obama because they didn't think he could win. Read the whole exchange from November 12, 2007 and see if you can get a glimpse of what she's
saying.
It's a perfect example of people taking part of a sentence and repeating it over and over and giving it a life of its own.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: The polls are showing your husband is trailing Hillary by 46% to 37% in the African-American community. What's going on here?
MICHELLE OBAMA: First of all, I think that that's not going to hold. I'm completely confident: black America will wake up, and get [it]. But
what we're dealing with in the black community is just the natural fear of possibility. You know, when I look at my life, the stuff that we're
seeing in these polls has played out my whole life. You know, always been told by somebody that I'm not ready, that I can't do something, my scores
weren't high enough. You know, there's always that doubt in the back of the minds of people of color. People who've been oppressed and haven't
been given real opportunities. That you never really believe. That you believe that somehow, someone is better than you. You know, deep down inside,
you doubt whether you can do it, because that's all you've been told, is "no, wait." That's all you hear, and you hear it from people who
love you. Not because they don't care about you, but because they're afraid. They're afraid that something might happen.
BRZEZINSKI: It's interesting that you say that, excuse me. Because a stewardess yesterday, a 52-year old African-American, and I asked her if she
was interested in Barack Obama, if she would vote for him. And she said, like this, she said: "I don't think so, because he probably can't win,
because he's black."
OBAMA: That's right. That's the psychology that's going on in our heads, in our souls, and I understand it. I know where it comes from, and I
think that it's one of the horrible legacies of racism and discrimination and oppression.
Source
[edit on 27-1-2009 by Benevolent Heretic]
What I don't understand is the concern over it. As long as the Obamas don't DEMONSTRATE that entitlement, then the interest
group (whatever it is) can whine all they want, right? I mean, it could be PETA, the ACLU, the Christian Coalition, or black designers... As long as
the Obama's don't cave to their whining and demands, we're cool. 