Stephanopoulos: "You have a very cool style . . . How much of that is tied to your race?"

[EffieBlack]

This Week with George Stephanopoulos, May 13, 2007:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You have a very cool style when you're doing those town meetings where you're out on the campaign trail, and I wonder, how much of that is tied to your race?

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: That's interesting.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: One of your friends told "The New Yorker" magazine that the mainstream is just not ready for a fire-breathing black man so do you turn down the temperature on purpose?

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: You know, I don't think it has to do with race. I think it has to do with when I'm campaigning I'm in a conversation, and what I don't do when I'm campaigning is to try to press a lot of hot buttons and use a lot of cheap applause lines because I want people to get a sense of how I think about this process, I want them to have some ability to walk through with me the difficult choices that we face.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/obama_on_abcs_t...

Anyone who has been watching Stephanopoulos over the years should not be surprised by his performance during Wednesday's debate. This was not the first time he allowed his rather bizarre views - such as that Obama "turned down" his temperature because, otherwise, he would be a "fire-breathing black man" - to slip through.

He's a real piece of work.

[NightWatcher]

piece of work, NO. Clinton employee- yes

the good thing is, Obama is getting the rest of Bill's cabinet it would appear

[EffieBlack]

14. This came from the "This Week" transcript on Nexis . . .

Here are other links:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05182007/transcript1.html
http://raceproject.org/2007/05/week-in-race-with-obama-stephanopoulos.html

[Coexist]

1. do you have a link for that, because if its true, its pretty disgusting.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Yes, it is.

[roguevalley]

89. sweet god. george is an asshole.

[Eric Condon]

147. That's why he worked at ClintonCo. nt

[Lerkfish]

187. it seems ClintonCO is VERY tolerant of racist thinking

ferraro, several other staffers and campaign workers.

[polpilot]

249. It's quite natural and quite evident.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. It is true. Here's a PBS link where Moyers is discussing it

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05182007/transcript1.html

[K Gardner]

Sheesh.. that transcript from PBS is stunning..

[EffieBlack]

34. This is one of the reasons I pushed back hard against accusations that the Clintons "injected" race

into the campaign in South Carolina. As I have repeatedly said, the media has been viewing this campaign through their narrow racial (and racist) prism from the very second that Obama announced he was running. Yet whenever one of the candidates mentions - or even alludes to - race, the media then jumps all over them screaming, "You're playing the race card!!!"

A bunch of stone cold hypocrites.

[DevonRex]

86. Effie, thank you so very much for posting this. Yep, a bunch

of stone cold hypocrites. We need to send this along to KO and a few others. Even Dan Abrams was pissed about the debate questions and he'd love to go after Snuffleuphisass.

[dbmk]

123. I think everyone agrees that the media shouldn't be in the business of throwing stones on that issue

And I disagree that the Clintons made racial remarks at that time - as such.

I qualify that a bit, because what Bill definately did was that he tried to paint Obama as a minority candidate.
And I am not sure that is so much better. "Hey, I have no problems with peoples skin colour. But lets face it, you guys are a minority. Thanks for playing in the primaries. We will be back to collect in the GE when your candidate is out anyways."

But of course the minority in question, and a lot of other people, will view it within a slightly smaller and more focused angle, when that minority is defined by race. And not for wearing yellow sneakers or being under 60.

[Withywindle]

134. Yup.

How much of it is Obama "playing the race card" and how much of it is him trying (diplomatically, because he almost always is) to kick back against racist stereotypes that OTHER people brought to the table?

[digidigido]

149. "Jesse Jackson won in South Carolina in 84 and 88". Bill Clinton after Hilary lost

I hate to break it to you, but the Clinton's have injected race into this campaign

[EffieBlack]

170. Really? Why don't you check the timeline . . .

May 13, 2007: "How much does this have to do with your race?" George Stephanopoulos

January 20, 2008: "Are you worried that black voters and black leaders are split?" George Stephanopoulos

January 26, 2008: "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina." Bill Clinton

WHO injected race into the campaign?

Unless you haven't been paying attention, the media has been discussing race - obsessing over it, in fact, as evidenced by Stephanapoulos' comments and many, many, many other instances - long before either Clinton ever said a word. You may not like what the Clintons have said and can disagree with their tactics. But it is just plain wrong to claim that they have injected race into the campaign or that absent any effort on their part, race would not have been issue.

[RaleighNCDUer]

227. Just because he didn't do it first, doesn't mean he didn't fucking do it.

Are we supposed to excuse him for it on those grounds?

Maybe I should go rob a bank - after all, I can't get in trouble for it because it's already been done.

[razors edge]

168. This is so true.

The media has made this an issue, and Obama has walked above it so well that they don't know what to do next.

Sadly, they will eventually find a method to bring him down. They haven't tried this hard to just give up now.

[ExPatLeftist]

231. I would say that in the case of Stephanopolous...

it is difficult to know whether he is part of the media you refer to or the Clinton machine?

I think he is both, and would not be surprised at all if much of what he says is planted by design.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

35. I posted the video link down below.

[EffieBlack]

47. Thanks - this was followed by another one of George's lily white "roundtables"

which was spent mostly on discussing Obama's race, how black voters would vote and whether white voters would vote for a black man. The best part was when George Will, a foremost expert on all things racial, pontificated that "the princip{al} problem of African Americans in this country is not racism. It's cultural." And Stephanopoulos just nodded and moved on.

I just love turning on the television on Sunday morning to watch white folks sitting around talking about us black people. It's so much better for them to tell everyone how we think, feel and vote since we are incapable of figuring this out for ourselves, much less articulate it to their viewers.


SAM DONALDSON In your first question to me and in your interview with him, you raise something let's just put it on the table. He is an African American. Is the country ready? Well I think it is. And he said he thinks it is. He said he thinks he will lose some votes because of that. And so the question is what does the word "some" mean? In critical elections not just in the south, it may mean something.

COKIE ROBERTS Well, sure, and it could be huge. But I - I think that the fact that we're having this conversation is - is just wonderful.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS This -

COKIE ROBERTS I mean the idea that we are at this point in 2007, if you had told us that 40 years ago when we were having all the civil rights debates that we would be talking very seriously about a black man being president of the United States in 2008, we would not have believed you.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm naive, but Sam, I guess I think that anyone who is not going to vote for Barack Obama because he is black isn't going to vote for a Democrat anyway. And I wonder if there are as many people who will vote for him because -

GEORGE WILL More. Many more. I mean the place where Barack Obama really helps is in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Right outside Philadelphia.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Exactly.

GEORGE WILL Moderate, mainstream, swing district where it makes people feel good.

SAM DONALDSON But you've already made him the nominee. I'm talking about -

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Not yet.

SAM DONALDSON - the race - no, but I'm talking about the race for the nomination.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Right.

COKIE ROBERTS Right.

SAM DONALDSON Now many states have crossovers, I understand. But the states in which you have to be a Democrat in order to vote in the Democratic primary, that's where -

GEORGE WILL And those who are going to oppose him, have to do it subtly and maybe they won't be able to actually say it, the people who really have to fear in the Democratic coalition, Barack Obama as the nominee, is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, a whole superannuated collection of so-called civil rights leaders. They see this man who really knows that the principle problem of African Americans in this country is not racism. It's cultural.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS And Sharpton has been leaning a little bit more heavily towards Hillary than he has for Barack. But Cokie, the other thing we've seen so far in the polling on the Democratic side is Barack Obama is getting the same voters that Paul Tsongas and Bill Bradley got. The elite voters.

COKIE ROBERTS Absolutely.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS And Hillary Clinton is getting the hard-core blue collar votes.

COKIE ROBERTS And that's the real question. Is he the - is he the whole foods candidate -

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Exactly. It used to be the Volvo candidate.

COKIE ROBERTS - of this election. And a lot of people think that's exactly what he is and that when primaries actually happen he will fizzle out as whole foods candidate.

GEORGE WILL So how many people have a toothache -

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS Unless black voters do -

SAM DONALDSON How many people have a toothache and they're going to go to the dentist they have known all their lives?

COKIE ROBERTS It was exactly what you've said, right?

SAM DONALDSON I think -

COKIE ROBERTS But I, again -

SAM DONALDSON I would say that more than a few.

COKIE ROBERTS I just feel there's a different texture to this. It just feels different than that.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS That is the whole - the question. You saw him on Iraq. He didn't want to commit. Although I thought he was signaling he could vote for a compromise on the war funding. We also saw President Bush this week say he could consider a compromise.

[tblue37]

119. This dog whistling is getting pretty audible.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: ". . . Barack Obama is getting the same voters that Paul Tsongas and Bill Bradley got. The elite voters."

So Steph figures he didn't do enough during the debate. Now he has to keep reminding voters that Barack Obama is a Black man and since his voters are the "elite voters," he hints that Obama must be an elitist, in case they didn't pick up on this reading from all the other BS they have been throwing at Obama.

[Leopolds Ghost]

243. The message is only elite, rich urban liberals (socially liberal conservatives) will risk voting for

a black man, even what Snuffleupagus & co. calls a "non-threatening" black man.

"the rest of us" "can't afford to take that chance" (present party excepted, as they are exactly the "whole foods yuppies" in question -- culturally liberal and economically right-wing) because "we" have to stay on the offense against "them" (rich white "----" lovers).

Pandering to upwardly-mobile, low-paid, career-obsessed racists as if such people actually controlled their own destiny (which they are indoctrinated to believe they do "by dint of hard work, not giving in top handouts" and a touch of Calvinist religion and greed.)

[jonestonesusa]

131. Amen!

At least this topic is becoming a national conversation, so there's some chance that we can move forward with more understanding and honest communication about racial identity and its effects on politics. Maybe then we can unify around the most critical issues!

I hope Democratic voters are all willing to call out the cynical attempts to derail the momentum on our side with these played-out divide and conquer strategies. Here's to one America!

[mamalone]

157. Oh. My. Lord.

That transcript is appalling.....

GEORGE WILL Moderate, mainstream, swing district where it makes people feel good.


I have no words..........

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

182. FYI, George Will is, himself, an elitist

I think, because of his background. I know he went to a university lab school for high school, and that said school had, at least through the 60s, very very few minorities enrolled. Now an elitist can either continue to stand aloof of everyone or can decide to embrace all people, build bridges, etc. When someone does that, they shake off the elitist stigma. Will has chosen not to do that.

[EffieBlack]

188. He is elitist and a bigot - not to mention his fake erudition

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

205. And there's no excuse for it

if you haven't guessed, Will is an alumnus of the same high school I attended. (A great shame for me, btw.) There was ample opportunity for real scholarship and learning. For example, the requirement of every senior in Social Studies was to write a research paper about a topic no one in the school had done before. Original sources had to be used, and we were allowed to use the university's library. I have no idea what Will's topic was; mine was an original paper on Sojourner Truth. I still remember the thrill of being able to handle one of the original biographies--one that I know Sojourner Truth actually handled when she sold them after her lectures. This was forty years ago, and I still remember the joy of research into a noble woman who was far ahead of her time. I can never fully know the black experience in this country, but through research I hope that I have gained an appreciation and respect for it. I don't know why Will didn't, unless he deliberately chose not to.

[mamalone]

206. Will has

a child with Down syndrome, as do I. I have felt somewhat of a kinship with him due to that, but sadly that is one of the few things we have in common. Interestingly enough he says that son is a liberal- proof positive of the truth that folks with DS have a very high emotional and interpersonal intelligence, I say!

You can refer to him as an elitist... I'll just call him a sanctimonious prig;)

[ShaneGR]

226. I respect her intellectualism, but I'm baffled by her opinions....

Specifically when she says that Obama can't win the Presidency, but not because of race. My questions is, when polling clearly shows that a huge majority of Americans are looking for serious change in government, but crossover polling on the presidential race shows Obama in what amounts to a dead heat with McCain, what does that tell you? I mean, I'm white, I'm not racist, I will and have voted for black men & women in the past, but that doesn't mean I don't meet a lot of white people who are racist. The polling speaks for itself, there are just some americans who will never vote for a black man. Most of them are above 50, some below.

Now, the question really is, regardless of polling on previously active voters, can Obama create huge turnout in the general election. Can Obama win Ohio (I'm from there, I don't know to be honest, but I would expect HEAVY turnout and theirs a Democratic Secretary of State there now). Can Obama win Florida (I don't know, maybe even harder than Ohio, actually, I don't believe he can). If he can't carry those states, can he win North Carolina? What about a red state out west?

I'm very interested to see the results out of Pennsylvania next week.

NOTE: Regardless, I think Obama should get the nomination, he has earned it in my opinion.

[Coexist]

77. thanks for the link

[orleans]

108. omg--i thought this was a joke! the link the op posted doesn't work

but -- if bill moyers has it up then i guess it really happened. i can't believe george s. is such as fucking moron/asshole/jerk/racist/whatever the fuck for saying such STUPID shit!

[Buzz Clik]

115. I found that link, too. I'm sorry, but I am shocked.

Until this week, I have been a steady fan of Stephanopoulos. I cannot believe he said this... I mean, I read the transcript with mouth agape.

Wow.

[kwenu]

120. That Fucker is now on my LIST. Permanently.

[L0oniX]

237. Bill Moyers rox. n/t

[K Gardner]

9. I remember seeing it and my mouth dropping.. couldn't believe no one picked up on it. Let me find

a transcript.

[EffieBlack]

24. I have posted it on DU several times - and it usually just died . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4803561
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4280061

[K Gardner]

32. Honestly, Effie, I think it takes on relevance now and people are paying attention b/o

Steph and the debate. Before, it was just one of MANY racially-based questions he'd had to answer. Thanks for keeping us updated :-)

[PA Democrat]

71. I'm glad you started a thread on this. I don't even have words right now

to express my shock. This makes Stephanopoulos look even worse. I can't believe the tone of that panel discussion afterward, with all of them patting themselves on the back, congratulating themselves on their crack analysis of how race would play in this election. It made me sick.

[EffieBlack]

74. The arrogance and self-entitlement is breathtaking, isn't it?

[PA Democrat]

81. It sure is. I had to check the date of the interview: May of last year.

Maybe George is pissed that they were so wrong in their predictions.

It seems like they had created a fictional character of Obama and have been diligently trying to push that character forward at every turn. The entire beginning of last Wednesday's debate was an attempt to push that caricature onto the American public: an angry arrogant elitist black man who hated America.

[EffieBlack]

91. Sen. McCain, you always seem really stiff and uptight

How much does that have to do with the fact that you're a white man?

Oh, that's right. They would never ask a white candidate such a stupid, insulting and racist question because, after all, what does RACE have to do with anything?

[PA Democrat]

107. Hey, 58 recommendations! Aren't you glad you posted this again!

[Kaleko]

110. You nailed it.

Another reversal: "Sen. Clinton, some say you have a strident, histrionic style...

is that related to the fact that you are a menopausal white woman?"

[Patchuli]

118. Yeah but menopause makes us ALL crazy! nt

x(

[JDPriestly]

150. Look, menopause is over by 60. Hillary is post-menopausal.

These are the best years of her life. Women age differently than men, IMO. The physical demands of the child-bearing years are really rough on a lot of women.

[Leopolds Ghost]

244. Maybe they SHOULD. Pick the scab of double standard.

[mamalone]

158. My exact thoughts..... nt

[anitar1]

141. George S, is a weasel and will always be a weasel. , IMHO /nt

[Coexist]

103. sorry Effie, I don't remember seeing it before.

[Shakespeare]

26. Yep, I remember watching that, too.

Utter disbelief (from me) when those words came out of his mouth. What. The. FUCK.

[Melinda]

23. Found the transcript (link below) and a bit more that I find interesting:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/obama_on_abcs_this_week_with_g.html

STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Durbin, your friend, who talked to the
review board, said a lot of the threats that were coming in are
racially motivated. How serious are they? How much are you told?
How much do you worry about it?

OBAMA: You know, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it
or considering the details of this. But just to broaden the issue,
are there people who would be troubled with an African-American
president? Yes. Are there folks who might not vote for me because
I'm African-American? No doubt.

What I'm confident about, though, as I travel around the country,
is that people are decent at their core in America. The vast majority
of folks want to do the right thing.

If I don't win, it's not going to be because of my race. It's
going to be because I didn't project a vision of leadership that gave
people confidence. It's going to be because of something I didn't do
as opposed to because I'm African-American.

[Usrename]

109. I remember that part of the conversation. That was a year ago.

If he's not afraid to give this a shot, I'm sure as hell not afraid to vote for him.

[TahitiNut]

130. I'm a bit surprised some don't recall that. After all, ...

... I thought there were "EXPERTS" here regarding who played the race-card first. :eyes:

I recall that interview clearly. It was appalling. I thought it was somewhat typical of Stephanopoulus - provoking opponents of the corporate empire hoping to see their self-immolation. He's a detestable twerp.

[vincenzoesq]

207. Here is a link:

http://raceproject.org/2007/05/week-in-race-with-obama-stephanopoulos.html

George obviously has no ethics, no morals, and no sense. What a creep.

[ORDem]

251. And Hillary supporters are probably OK with this, right? Sheeesh.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Get the link up..... this should go to the top

I remember that on the web.

[babylonsister]

4. That's in-your-face overt. Why can't he be just a man

who's in control? George got a jump start, I see. :mad:

[hisownpetard]

12. And, knowing that, ABC chose him to be a moderator?!?

I've never watched or listened to him before.
Didn't know what I was missing...:thumbsdown: :nuke: :thumbsdown:

[hisownpetard]

5. Are those actual quotes?? (Please tell me you're kidding...)

:puke:

[FrenchieCat]

7. Someone should ask if George has an attitude because he is

so fucking short? Maybe he a fire breathing short man. He should turn down the temperature because of that.

[Debi]

20. Did you notice at the debate that they had Gibson sitting in a director's chair

w/Stephanopoulos standing beside him (and Gibson was still taller than George)?

[Kurovski]

63. Here's a question:

"Mr. Stephanopoulos, you seem to bend over so readily for right-wing pundits like Sean Hannity. Is that due to your Greek heritage?"

[goclark]

8. My,my,my they are all drinking the Kool Aid

I thought George was better than that ~

Glad we are finding out in the Primary,what if they had all been sugar and sweet in the Primarys and then waam O!

[Vinca]

10. Are those quotes for real? The idiot should be fired. nt

[BeyondGeography]

11. Boy George also chimed in with an affirmative action question for the black man on Wednesday

Little shit that he is.

[FrenchieCat]

21. Yep....I saw that.

Asshole!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

30. Affirmative Action Question at 17:18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGpjFh5Izkc

[NYDem Observer]

40. Someone needs to make a youtube video

of just the part the OP sited.

[stillcool]

127. I bet there is enough...

shit like this to make a "greatest hits" video.

[meow mix]

13. K&R

[hisownpetard]

15. 5th Rec.

[gateley]

16. I am always gobsmacked

when people younger than I are still in that mind set. (I'm 55)

I thought we came so far -- it felt like we accomplished so much. :(

[libnnc]

17. George, you're so rude and snarky...is that a Greek trait?

Just wondering...:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

51. and you smell of olive oil & ouzo..

:rofl:

[hatrack]

18. Jesus Christ! Did he ask if Obama was a "good dancer", too?

Fucking Stuffinenvelopes. Unbelievable.

[rucky]

29. and you know what else he was wondering

|------------------------------------------------------------------|

[DevonRex]

181. Rucky, you crack me up. Thanks. nt

[rucky]

19. Today on This Week, I'll be interviewing Senator Superfly. n/t

[knixphan]

22. AAAAaaagh!

(looking around)

Is it just me, or....

[meow mix]

25. i love the answer from obama: "thats interesting"

:rofl:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

38. The look on Obama's face right after he says that is classic.

[DerekJ]

27. WTF

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[Umbram]

28. I'd like to say I'm shocked... (nt)

[undeterred]

31. What gives white males the right to condescend to the rest of us?

Black, female, whatever? Stephanopoulous clearly thinks he is superior.

[K Gardner]

36. Same reason an OP was just rec'd up here that said "I MISS WHITE MALES IN OFFICE", or some such b/s.

[undeterred]

41. I alerted on that thread and am waiting for mods to respond.

It is clearly sexist and racist flamebait.

[bigbrother05]

45. Elitists

[SemiCharmedQuark]

33. Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGpjFh5Izkc

19:07

[crankychatter]

56. I tried, I can't sit through Stephanopolous right now

maybe some day I'll feel less like throttling that scum bag

[SemiCharmedQuark]

60. It's right at 19:07.

His smarmy self satisfied look is almost unbearable though.

[crankychatter]

88. oh, NO, he didn't... uh, UH... no way

I'm not capable of typing a non-obscenity right now

[casus belli]

148. What. A. Dick. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

154. I never paid attention to Georgie before, because I don't normally watch

his morning program. But he is a real dickhead, I must say...in that Interview.

Barack really did give a great interview "despite" Mini George.

[gtar100]

213. Yep. Despite the horrible questions, Obama still comes across as smart and articulate

What else can you say to such a stupid, racist question than "That's interesting."

That's what I like about Obama, he can cut through the BS and get to the heart of the matter. Even with questions that are just complete nonsense. He's not falling into their traps. And to have put up with it for so long? Now that's fortitude.

[CreekDog]

37. ack

:puke:

[David Zephyr]

39. K&R. As always, another solid post from EffieBlack

:hi:

[thereismore]

42. Holy shit Batman, this schmuck with a Greek surname is a real scum! he should

get something in return for his racial concerns - how about a boot?

[Elidor]

43. Unbelievable

Ask him if he likes fried chicken, why don'cha, George? Goddamn. I don't know what's more appalling: that he asked that question, or that he's a "respected" media figure. What a POS.

[TheDonkey]

44. "That's interesting" LOL love that response

sort of like "wtf is wrong with you dude?"

[SemiCharmedQuark]

46. Obama looks really pissed off at that.

I wonder what would have happened if Steph hadn't interrupted to "clarify".

[EffieBlack]

54. And even his "clarification" was bullshit

The idea that Obama's natural state was a "fire-breathing black man" but that he had to tone it down in order to attract voters is outrageous - in my view, Stephanapoulos made it worse.

Here's the quote from the New Yorker article that Stephanapoulos referenced:

In the past couple of months, Obama has hosted health-care forums of his own—in New Hampshire, in Iowa. In these forums, he is tranquil and relaxed, as though on a power-conserve setting. He paces slowly, he revolves, he tilts his head. He comments in a neutral, detached way. He doesn’t express sympathy for sickness, or scorn for bureaucracy, or outrage at unfairness. He says that the system is broken and needs to be fixed, but conveys no particular urgency.

This mode of his is often called professorial, and Obama himself likens these forums to the constitutional-law classes that he taught at the University of Chicago. But "professorial" implies that he seems cerebral or didactic, and he doesn’t. Despite the criticism he has received for being all inspiration and no policy, Obama has so far stuck to what appears to be an instinct that white papers belong on Web sites, not in speeches. It is surprising, given the recent electoral record of Democratic policy wonks, that he is not given more credit for the astuteness of this approach, but it’s true that it’s not just strategy—it’s who he is. "He doesn’t have the handicap that a lot of smart people have, which is that they come across as ‘You’re not smart enough to talk to me,’" George Haywood, a private investor and a friend of Obama’s, says. "Adlai Stevenson, another Illinois guy, had that—he came across as an egghead and it was off-putting to people. Barack is the opposite." Probably one of the reasons for this is that Obama seems not to attach much value to cleverness as such. Even in law school, perhaps the place more than any other where sheer cleverness is prized and love of argument for its own sake is fundamental to the culture, he was not much interested in academic jousting.

No, Obama’s detachment, his calm, in such small venues, is less professorial than medical—like that of a doctor who, by listening to a patient’s story without emotional reaction, reassures the patient that the symptoms are familiar to him. It is also doctorly in the sense that Obama thinks about the body politic as a whole thing. If you are presenting a problem as something that they have perpetrated on us, then whipping up outrage is natural enough; but if you take unity seriously, as Obama does, then outrage does not make sense, any more than it would make sense for a doctor to express outrage that a patient’s kidney is causing pain in his back. There is also, of course, a racial aspect to this. "If you’re a black male, you don’t have to try hard to impress people with your aggression," Haywood says. "There was a period when black politicians started to be successful, and it was understood that if you wanted to be mainstream you’d better have gray hair. Doug Wilder was an example. David Dinkins. Mayor Bradley in L.A. To be popular with the broader white electorate, you’d better look safe, you’d better not look angry. Now, I don’t think Barack made a conscious decision to come across this way, but it is a happy accident. Some people may have seen his speech at the Democratic Convention, or heard that he rocked the house, and they may be disappointed, but the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man." (It seems likely that, consciously or not, Obama has learned from these examples, and knows that the election of a President Obama wouldn’t mean a revolution in race relations, any more than women prime ministers were a sign of flourishing feminism in South Asia. Bigotry has always made exceptions.)

Obama’s calm is also a matter of temperament. The first thing almost everybody who knows Obama says about him is how extremely comfortable he is with himself. “He was almost freakishly self-possessed and centered,” Christopher Edley, Jr., one of Obama’s professors at Harvard Law School, who is now a dean at Berkeley, says. There is something freakish about Obama’s self-possession—it’s conspicuous, it draws attention to itself, like the unnatural stillness of someone able to lower his blood pressure at will. He doesn’t strive for an Everyman quality: he is relaxed but never chummy, gracious rather than familiar. His surface is so smooth, his movements so easy and fluid, his voice so consistent and well-pitched that he can seem like an actor playing a politician, too implausibly effortless to be doing it for real. Obama has become known for his open-necked shirts—he may do to the tie what John Kennedy did to the hat—but he never looks casual. “Gore and Bush both have this jokey quality, and I’ve never seen that in Obama,” Robert Putnam, a Harvard political scientist who has spent time with all three politicians, says. “It’s not like he’s a sobersides, but Bush can be goofy, Gore can be goofy; Obama is not goofy.”

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar?currentPage=all

In saying that America wasn't ready for a "fire-breathing black man," Obama's friend did NOT even IMPLY that Obama was any such thing or was making any effort not to appear to be one. In fact, he said just the opposite. Stephanopoulos was being dishonest in his "clarification" - there is absolutely nothing in that piece to suggest Obama's "cool demeanor" was the result of his concern about appearing to be "a fire-breathing black man."

[SemiCharmedQuark]

59. I agree.

I think Obama handled it well. Much better than I would have.

[knixphan]

106. And me.

I would have really struggled with the urge to open a (verbal) can of whoop-ass...

[TheDonkey]

122. lol, agreed w/ all above

George just showed out of touch he is with reality, class, and journalism.

[K Gardner]

146. I swear, I could visualize Obama just smakin that pissant upside the head. You could

see that "WTF??!!" glint in Obama's eyes.. what restraint he has. "Interesting."

[SoCalDem]

48. He's a slug...

:puke:

[IsItJustMe]

49. That is some pretty fricked up questioning. Sounds like george has some issues.

[blonndee]

50. WTF?!? I don't remember this. Please add link.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

53. Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGpjFh5Izkc

19:07

[blonndee]

65. Thanks.

I didn't realize it had been linked upthread when I posted. What a freaking offensive question that confirms a lot about little Georgie. :-(

[Quixote1818]

52. I wouldn't push this. They want us to think of Obama as the Black candidate

and if Obama or his people react, then others will scream that Obama's people always scream racism like with Ferraro. This is race baiting and it's best to let it pass for now. Once he becomes President, we can take on these type of battles. For now, lets not let them bait us into reacting.

He may be asking such stupid questions on behalf of the Clinton's so something will start.

[Arrowhead2k1]

64. Agreed.

Let's just put that debacle behind us. It happened, it's done, and we've learned from it. We've also learned how becoming too negative or whiny can have an unwelcomed blowback effect. Let's leave all of that for our opponents. We want change!

[stillcool]

135. too whiny?

typical.

[stillcool]

136. As if Obama is not the "Black" candidate?

Where've you been?

[goldcanyonaz]

255. Obama is the black candidate, just like Hillary is the woman candidate.

We should celebrate both, and not try to pretend it isn't what it is. Both, blacks and women have come a long way but we have a lot further to climb before this is over.

[kentuck]

55. Obama is a Leo...

He is a fire-breathing man. :-)

[NOLALady]

69. Leo?

Damn.

[Triana]

57. Jeeesus Keeeerist on a Stick!!!

:wtf:

:mad:

[whistler162]

58. The classy response......

Yeah it is tied to my race.

"My mother was a very cool person!"

[slinkerwink]

61. wow

[Jed Dilligan]

62. The only part that should be bolded

is Obama's excellent response. Stephanopolous and his racist questions should be forgotten by history--a Wikipedia stub; a man without accomplishments.

[Ichingcarpenter]

66. EffieBlack!!! Put this link in your OP .. please while you have time

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/obama_on_abcs_this_week_with_g.html


Its even more damning on Stefenogolous.

[EffieBlack]

68. Done - thanks!

[Ichingcarpenter]

75. Links are very important

glad you had time to put it in.

[EffieBlack]

76. I appreciate you giving me a link

I got it from Nexis, but it's a subscription service, so my link wouldn't have been any good. Thanks for your help!

[mod mom]

185. This man should not be allowed to host any news program. Sensitivity counseling

should be demanded. UFB!

[TexasLady]

67. My daughter is a redhead with a temper

is that tied to her race? She hates the smell of alcohol, so that may hinder her Irishness after all.
But her great uncle fights when he's drunk!

George, grow the hell up.

[Window]

70. How insulting.

:thumbsdown:

[Schema Thing]

72. omg, what a racist shitbag

smarmy li'l douche


I love Barak's anwer though, "that's interesting".

[KittyWampus]

214. thanks for the perfect epithet. Racist shitbag sounds about right

[lastliberalintexas]

73. Good lord

What a racist troll. Reminds me of why I don't watch US media anymore, too.

[uponit7771]

78. How many white candidates get asked this question? Steph, has jumped a HUGE shark

[2rth2pwr]

79. Look at how he answered those questions, what happened to that Barack?

[Occam Bandage]

95. He's still around. Believe it or not, Taylor Marsh ain't reality.

[City Lights]

80. Gee George, your style sucks, how much of it is tied to your race?

:eyes:

How much is _abc paying you to be an unprofessional, racist, arrogant asshole?

[DefenseLawyer]

82. "Senator Obama, in your experience, does Colt 45 work every time?" n/t

[jgraz]

83. Holy shit. It's going to actually take me a bit to believe this really happened.

:wow:

[Arugula Latte]

84. That little prick has gone too far.

He needs some payback for the debate and this.

[Tribetime]

85. unbelievable, fuck that piece of shit

[redqueen]

87. Thanks for posting this.

*sigh*

My head hurts now. x(

[blogslut]

90. I remember that

Very well.

:hi:

[2rth2pwr]

92. This won't make any difference to some of you here, but I still want to put this on the record.

George was refering to this article in The New Yorker Magazine. Barack's

friend George Haywood said "the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man". Also if you go to the link for the transcript of the Stephanopoulos
interview you will see that this was also the point in time where he was using this in his speeches all the time-
OBAMA: There is not a black America and a white America and
Latino America and Asian America. There's the United States of
America.

-----------------------

The Conciliator
Where is Barack Obama coming from?
by Larissa MacFarquhar
May 7, 2007

There is also, of course, a racial aspect to this. “If you’re a black male, you don’t have to try hard to impress people with your aggression,” Haywood says. “There was a period when black politicians started to be successful, and it was understood that if you wanted to be mainstream you’d better have gray hair. Doug Wilder was an example. David Dinkins. Mayor Bradley in L.A. To be popular with the broader white electorate, you’d better look safe, you’d better not look angry. Now, I don’t think Barack made a conscious decision to come across this way, but it is a happy accident. Some people may have seen his speech at the Democratic Convention, or heard that he rocked the house, and they may be disappointed, but the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man.” Haywood is George Haywood, a private investor and a friend of Obama
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar?currentPage=all


That is all.

[EffieBlack]

96. No that is not all and you should know better since I posted the entire pertinent portion

Nowhere in that New Yorker piece did Haywood say or even imply that Obama purposely "toned down" his demeanor because he didn't want to be seen as a "fire-breathing black man." In fact, he said that Obama's demeanor was perfectly natural for him and had nothing to do with any desire on his part appear non-threatening.

In the very excerpt you posted, Haywood said explicitly, "I don't think Barack made a conscious decision to come across this way, but it is a happy accident. Some people may have seen his speech at the Democratic Convention, or heard that he rocked the house, and they may be disappointed, but the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man." This quote followed several paragraphs in which the writer noted Obama's "calm" demeanor, a demeanor that was just part of who he is, not some effort to avoid scaring white folks with his "fire-breathing."

One has to have a certain mindset to extrapolate from "Obama does not make a conscious decision to come across as laid back as he does, but it's good that he does because the mainstream isn't ready for a fire-breathing black man," an assumption that leads to the question: "Do you tone down your style because the mainstream isn't ready for a fire-breathing black man." Only someone who believes that Obama's natural style is that of a "fire-breathing black man" but he's toning it down because the mainstream isn't ready for it would think that such a leap is rational. Only someone who believes that it is unnatural for a black man NOT to be a "fire-breather" would buy such a ridiculous argument.

The fact that you would even try to defend Stephanopoulos' bigoted assumptions and question by posting such a transparent and shoddy mischaracterization says alot. But you're not fooling anyone.

[mcg]

112. George is implying that Obama is a "fire-breathing black man" but faking coolness.

Let's look at what he said...

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: One of your friends told "The New Yorker" magazine that the mainstream is just not ready for a fire-breathing black man so do you turn down the temperature on purpose?

Sounds like George is implying that since Obama is a black man, he's "fire-breathing", but he doesn't want people to see that, so he fakes being otherwise ("turn down the temperature on purpose"). He didn't want to come out and say that, so he asks this rhetorical question, which is not really a question at all. Asking "do you turn down the temperature on purpose" implies there is a temperature to turn down and that Obama does turn it down, maybe to deceive. It's like asking "When did you stop beating your wife?", or maybe a little like asking a white man "A friend said you're a skinhead, so do you wear a wig on purpose?" all while no friend really said that. Obama's friend didn't say Obama IS "fire-breathing".

I didn't watch the debate, I'm starting to see why there is so much condemnation of the moderators.

[EffieBlack]

124. Yes! you explained it so much better than I was able to!

You nailed it!

Interestngly, unlike Obama,John McCain is known for a demonstrably hot temper and is also known to be purposely "turning down the temperature" so that people don't see that side of him. But I have never once seen him described as "fire-breathing," much less "a fire-breathing white man."

Maybe George will take this opportunity during Sunday's interview to ask McCain, "You're known to have a pretty hot temper. Are you purposely turning down the temperature because you know that minorities and women will be reluctant to vote for a fire-breathing white man?"

Perhaps he'll ask him this after he grills him about his past adulteries, procurement of prostitutes, the Keating Five and his relationship (sexual and otherwise) with lobbyists since those issues may come up in the fall and, thus, are fair game now.

I won't hold my breath!

[mcg]

128. McCain? Procurement of prostitutes?

Are you speaking in part about "Marie the Flame of Florida"?
I don't know much about this. The corporate media doesn't talk
about these things much, not when they're about republicans.

Holding your breath would be not be good.

[EffieBlack]

160. No - I'm talking about what McCain wrote about

in his book, according to Keith Olbermann - who said that McCain hinted that he partook as a young Naval officer.

[PA Democrat]

161. Excellent point about McCain.

McCain has exhibited his anger time and time again to his fellow Senators. Senate staffers voted for him as having the 2nd worst temper in the Senate (behind Stevens of Alaska). Link here:

http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1666.html

Obama is painted by the media as an angry black man based upon blatant racial stereotyping and then later because of some things his former pastor said.

McCain's very real anger problem is ignored by the media. They are too busy trying to fabricate one for Obama.

[yardwork]

233. I don't see how that makes it any better, at all.

What does that other quote have to do with what Stephanopolous said? As far as I'm concerned, his question is indefensible. Anyone who defends it is defending racism.

That is all.

[2rth2pwr]

93. This won't make any difference to some of you here, but I still want to put this on the record.

George was refering to this article in The New Yorker Magazine. Barack's

friend George Haywood said "the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man". Also if you go to the link for the transcript of the Stephanopoulos

interview you will see that this was also the point in time where he was using this in his

speeches all the time-

OBAMA: There is not a black America and a white America and
Latino America and Asian America. There's the United States of
America.

-----------------------

The Conciliator
Where is Barack Obama coming from?
by Larissa MacFarquhar
May 7, 2007

There is also, of course, a racial aspect to this. “If you’re a black male, you don’t have to try hard to impress people with your aggression,” Haywood says. “There was a period when black politicians started to be successful, and it was understood that if you wanted to be mainstream you’d better have gray hair. Doug Wilder was an example. David Dinkins. Mayor Bradley in L.A. To be popular with the broader white electorate, you’d better look safe, you’d better not look angry. Now, I don’t think Barack made a conscious decision to come across this way, but it is a happy accident. Some people may have seen his speech at the Democratic Convention, or heard that he rocked the house, and they may be disappointed, but the mainstream is not ready for a fire-breathing black man.” Haywood is George Haywood, a private investor and a friend of Obama
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar?currentPage=all


That is all.

[yardwork]

236. Posting this twice doesn't make it any more relevant.

Stephanopolous's question was racist. Period. Anyone defending it is defending racism.

[boppers]

94. That's interesting....

:puke:

Holy hell, how is this racist still accorded, or deserving of, any kind of air time?

[ScarletSniper]

97. Wow...thanks for posting. Disgusting and quite telling..

[EffieBlack]

98. This explains much of the Jeremiah Wright hysteria . . .

I have always suspected that there is an element of folks who fear black people and are afraid that even "the good ones" are, deep down, "fire breathing black people," who will do some kind of damage to white people if given the chance. These people are deeply suspicious of Obama, fearing that, despite his message of unity, his unthreatening demeanor, his calm language and, even the fact that he's half white, that he's REALLY "one of those."

So they have been scrutinizing him deeply, fervently, and endlessly, trying to find some evidence that he isn't really what he appears to be, that he's not really one of the "good ones," that if given half a chance, he will show his true colors and pose some threat to white folks.

That's why Jeremiah Wright scared them to death. After all, he DOES seem to be one of those "fire-breathing black men." And Obama not only knows him, not only associates with him, but he seems to actually LIKE and RESPECT him! Isn't that evidence that Obama is really "one of those?" After all, how can you tolerate a fire-breathing black man like Wright, how can he not have "gotten up and walked out" when the fire-breathing black man said something objectionable UNLESS you actually AGREE with him?

Rev. Wright scared these folks silly because they think he's evidence that Obama is, if not a fire-breathing black man, someone who associates with fire-breathing black men and who might actually let fire-breathing black men have some say, influence, access or power.

Stephanopoulos revealed much more than he probably intended with that question; his incessant harping on Wright during Wednesday's debate revealed even more. He's trying to "smoke out" Obama's "fire-breathing black man" because he MUST be in there somewhere!

[stillcool]

138. They are trying to smoke us out...

as much as Senator Obama. Reverend Wright was a blatant example of attempting to fan the flames or racism...trying to bring to the surface every dormant sentiment of race that might be found.

[mcg]

143. Yes, he is half white, and you would think that to anyone who ...

views being white as so supreme, that would make him just as good as all white (is anyone?), since it would just override all the "non-whiteness", like Mr. Clean or something, because being any bit white is so great, all that "white power" you know. But instead, many bigots feel quite differently, they think the "whiteness" is overridden. It's all so silly. I read that in terms of genetics, the whole concept of race is a bit of a myth. I also read that there is more genetic diversity within Africa than there is outside of Africa.

I think quite a few bigots would be surprised to find out who their ancestors are.

After the George Allen flap, I found out while looking at some genealogical data that, gasp, I might be part Jewish, maybe officially Jewish. There was a rumor in my mother's family about someone in the family being Jewish. If I am, that's fine with me, I'm going to a Seder Service on Sunday (well, a U.U. version of one).

[JDPriestly]

152. That was my question -- Which race?

Obama was raised in a primarily white household in a pretty white/Pacific environment. He is mixed as are many Americans. Stephanopolous is quite simply a racist, as are many Americans.

[Glimmer of Hope]

99. stfu!! I used to live near him. He is such a little runt in person.

[populistdriven]

100. You can't be serious? No way he said that? If Rush Limbaugh said that imagine the outrage here!!!!

FUCK CLINTON AND HER CORPORATE MEDIA STOOGES

FUCK THEM ALL THE WAY TO HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[natrat]

101. stephanopoulos big pos needs some bad luck going his way-curse him

[Kablooie]

102. What the fuck? That's hardly even *Fox safe*.

Who the hell was behind this insult?

Since both moderators did this crap, the order must have come from somewhere above.

(Actually I work right next door to the ABC headquarters in Burbank. Wish I knew who of the jerks
I see walking around is responsible for this crap. )

[ecstatic]

104. I'm speechless

What a POS. :wow:

[BlueJac]

105. George is a fucking dick head.......

The in the Clinton pocket fool that is so out of touch with the American public!

[Not Sure]

111. What a douchebag

Oh, sorry, that was a little too harsh. Douchebags actually could serve a purpose.

[JerseygirlCT]

113. Whoa!

I had never heard those. How outright bigoted could he be? And that just went right on by? Stereotypes of the black man?

That's really disgusting. It's amazing he's still employed.

[brindis_desala]

114. Never mind the fact that race is always viewed through this

superficial black/white prism. Why do we never hear from Asian voters or Native Americans or Latinos
when debating issues of race and electability? oh right... their votes don't really count either...

[Buzz Clik]

116. Kick and recommend (rec number 70!!!)

[evolvingsteve]

117. Stephanopoulos..

...is a disgrace to journalism.....he is a shit head and doesn't represent freedom of the press....I despise this man just as much as Bill O' Reilly and Ann Coulter, dunces.....


ABC should be NOT BE WATCHED AND FUCK THEIR RATINGS, AS WELL AS FOX NEWS!!!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[redstate_democrat]

121. George is a real cock sucker. Fuck him.

[defendandprotect]

125. A question like that should get Stephy thrown out of journalism and ABC ---

In fact, I'm wondering if these two -- Step and Gibson --- were thrown in because ABC
considers them expendable --
let them do the dirty work -- ??

Steph is one of the long list of "journalists" who seek success by moving to the side of power ---
no matter how evil it may be.

[defendandprotect]

126. I think we are quickly learning that people of color are generally smarter than we are ---

and cooler ---

Seemingly the "whiter" we get the stupider we get ---

Great response by Obama !!!


PS: And it brings to mind Rep. Charles Rangel's comments on W Bush . . .
that he puts the question of white superiority to rest for all time.

Charlies is really funhy!!!

[angie_love]

129. What a fucking idiot.

[stillcool]

132. Thank You Effie!

I don't watch these shows, so I did not know about the consistency of these hosts derogatory questioning. It was obvious with Reverend Wright that all of these 'news' shows were deliberately fanning the flames of racism. And no one has taken them to task for that. That was criminal. And anti-American. Obviously they've been going down this road for a while now. Talk about a bunch of elitists.

[Eurobabe]

133. Snuffy is a real fucking tool.

I can't believe he said that to Barack, what disrespect. He would never ask those questions of a white politician. JMHO.

[TragedyandHope]

137. George should to be shipped off to Antarctica

where he can serve out the rest of his years as South Pole Bureau Chief.

:puke:

[anonymous171]

139. Don't be too hard on him.

As an old style politician, it's hard for him to see Obama as anything but the "black candidate."

[pedo]

140. i remember this when it happened and you could tell

obama was offended by the question when he said "thats interesting."

[SlicerDicer-]

142. woah.. what a moron

[provis99]

144. did George take racial sensitivity lessons from Jimmy the Greek?

Is Jimmy George's uncle? Their attitudes on black men seem about similar.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

145. oh he's blowing the dog whistle to alert white voters

warning warning danger don't vote for the black man!

[jpertello]

151. I wish someone would interview George Stephanopolous

and ask him "George, your wife tells us you like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I wonder if it has anything to do with your Greek heritage of diner owners and food service?"

[intaglio]

153. I'm surprised Stephanopoulos didn't ask

"You seem to have an excellent sense of rhythm, how much of that is tied to your race" or "You play basketball; how much of your ability at that tied to your race?"

Because I am not a politician I would have liked Obama to fire back "It's linked to my race like ouzo drinking and Zorba dancing is to yours"

The other question that Stephfordhusband didn't ask was "Hillary, dear, you wear the most delightful ensembles - how much of that is tied to your sex, you little minx,"

[jcla]

155. Stephanopoulos = nitwit

Now I can say racist nitwit. The junior senator from Illinois hit just the right tone. Obviously his style comes from years of effective speaking in front of audiences the same race as he is...HUMAN. I can only guess Stephanopoulos has NEVER read any of Barack's books, that is if he can read.

[EffieBlack]

165. Funny how those who so consistently accuse Obama of "playing the race card"

never seem to notice how often Obama refuses to "play the race card" even when the likes of Stephanopoulos deal it to him from the bottom of the deck.

[Tab]

156. He's an ass

I'm mystified by the total turn of fortune, but regardless - I don't listen to what he has to "say".

[EffieBlack]

167. Talk about white privilege!

Anyone who doesn't believe that institutional affirmative action for white men is alive and well in America need only look at Stephanopoulos and try to imagine a black man with his background, qualifications and skillsets having this job handed to him and being immediately accepted as a bonafide journalist fully deserving of his position.

[tavalon]

159. I've ben mystified by George S. for a while

The way he's been in the aughts is so, well, Republican and knowing he was one of the Press Secretaries for the Clinton administration, it just didn't match. I finally decided that he had a brain transplant or that he was a pod person. I hate cognitive dissonance. After that, I just started disregarding him completely. I've never liked Charles Gibson. So, I didn't bother to watch the debate, knowing those two were the "moderators", it's too much like pretending that Faux "News" is really news. I suspected this was going to be a hit job rather than a debate so it isn't so distressing to me.

But yes, Steph is a supreme jerk. I'm sorry both of our candidates had to put up with such inanity.

[PerpetuallyDazed]

162. I am stunned!

"...how much of that is tied to your race?" ????? How does George even defend asking that?? Is that, like, "what the people want to know"?? This question is not only racist but BEYOND absurd.

Also, I have to say that Obama deserves a hearty round of applause for not simply offering some reactionary response to this. (Like any average person would do in this situation.) Instead he simply replies with: "That's interesting." HOW FABULOUS IS THAT! The more I watch the crappy media test him, the more I totally love the guy. :applause:

[The Backlash Cometh]

163. You are frickin kidding me.

What a buffoon Stepho is. I didn't watch the sham, so seeing all their questions in writing is shocking the hell out of me.

[bluerum]

164. He didn't ask that - did he? No - tell me it's not so.

[1776Forever]

166. I am not going to watch him any more on Sunday's - Found he belongs to Bilderberg Group:

Per wikipedia Stephanopoulos is a member of the Bilderberg Group:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephanopoulos

More on the group here - very interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group

Attendees of Bilderberg include central bankers, defense experts, mass media press barons, government ministers, prime ministers, royalty, international financiers and political leaders from Europe and North America.

Some of the Western world's leading financiers and foreign policy strategists attend Bilderberg. Donald Rumsfeld is an active Bilderberger, as is Peter Sutherland from Ireland, a former European Union commissioner and chairman of Goldman Sachs and of British Petroleum. Rumsfeld and Sutherland served together in 2000 on the board of the Swedish/Swiss engineering company ABB. Former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary and former World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz is also a member. The group's current chairman is Etienne Davignon, the Belgian businessman and politician.

Conspiracy theories

Critics say the Bilderberg Group promotes the careers of politicians whose views are representative of the interests of multinational corporations, at the expense of democracy. Journalists who have been invited to attend the Bilderberg Conference as observers have discounted these claims, calling the conference "not much different from a seminar or a conference organized by an upscale NGO" with "nothing different except for the influence of the participants."

The group's secrecy and its connections to power elites has provided fodder for many who believe that the group is part of a conspiracy to create a New World Order. Radio host Alex Jones, a well known conspiracy theorist, promotes the claim that the group intends to dissolve the sovereignty of the United States and other countries into a supra-national structure similar to the European Union. Madrid-based author Daniel Estulin, writing in the conspiracy theory magazine Nexus, claims that the long-term purpose of Bilderberg is to "Build a One-World Empire". He states the group "is not the end but the means to a future One World Government".

Reporter Jonathan Duffy, writing in BBC News Online Magazine states "In the void created by such aloofness, an extraordinary conspiracy theory has grown up around the group that alleges the fate of the world is largely decided by Bilderberg."

.........

A list of Bilderberg attendees has Bill AND Hillary Clinton listed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bilderberg_attendees

............

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:hide:

[marshall]

169. Round Two: Mention that Obama was raised by whites

They'll play both ends against the middle. First race bait to white voters by mentioning Obama's blackness more often than Cheney's lesbian daughter was mentioned in the last election. Then when the whites are whippped into a frenzy, start talking about Obama's white mother and grandparents who raised him in Hawaii to try and alienate him from the black community.
Isn't that called reverse triangulation?

[Medusa]

171. Little Georgie is a Clinton suck-up

why ABC continues to employ him is a mystery.

[burythehatchet]

190. His official title is Senior Clinton Fluffer.

[rox63]

172. Snuffy is a racist asshat n/t

[workinclasszero]

173. Little George is a tool

of the corporate jackasses that run this country and a true Clinton puppet to boot.

Hillary has her hand so far up Georgie's ass, she can tickle his tonsils!

[yellowcanine]

174. And no doubt he can sing and dance as well! And dunk a basketball!

:sarcasm: One would think we were still in the 1960s the way Boy George talks.

[madrchsod]

175. actually he`s not a very good dancer...find the "ellen" clip

..other than that , he`s what we need at this point in time... who else can bring 35,000 people to hear them speak?

[yellowcanine]

178. Must be the white boy in him......

[madrchsod]

184. that has to be it !

it will be nice to see barack and michelle dancing at the ball...

[madrchsod]

176. so many are going to be on the washington "D list" in january

[mwb970]

177. Stephanopoulos has become ridiculous.

I will not watch him again, ever. He goes on my Ignore list along with O'Reilly, Hannity, Coulter (haven't heard from her in a while), and the other right-wing shills. What a putz.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

179. I'm surprised Stephanopoulos didn't ask Obama

if he didn't just love watermelon or something. Really, the words are about as racist as it gets. I'm glad to see Obama's answer was dignified--the question didn't deserve such a dignified answer.

[JPZenger]

180. How diplomatic of Obama

That shows how diplomatic Obama is. What he really wanted to say was: " What the fuck are you talking about, you over-achieving plastic little cracker."

[chyjo]

183. what a

dickhead

[bridgit]

186. Obama: Is Bill Clinton really a 'brother'? I'd have to see him dance

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/22/obama-is-bill-clinton-really-a-brother-id-have-to-see-him-dance

I think all of it is disgusting. Barack has played into it. His supporters have been enabling the question for months now. Nobody bats an eye when dozens of threads were posted about Obama being a basketball player, case it was cool. Nor when in response to his lack of bowling prowess he declares instead, "I can play basketball." Or when BO 'got down' on Ellen. Now *that* was cool; slippery little come-hither moves, clean sexy teeth. Barack was good too.

The race/cool card has been being played for a long time. It is faux-outrage to become hyperventilated about it now.

[EffieBlack]

189. If you don't see the difference between the two sets of questions,

how sad for you.

[bridgit]

197. It's not sad for me, it is sad for you if you aren't able to see the snake eating it's tail

Till people stop dancing round nuance itself, it will be sad for *all* of us including you including me. This "how sad for you" tack is the lowest form of "Oh, you poor little bubble-head" race baiting; and by that I mean the lowest form of electrical charge delivered, just a little zap, and it is time to move past all of it.

[PA Democrat]

240. First of all, lets use the actual quotes. Obama was asked about Bill Clinton

<snip>

CNN’s Joe Johns asked Barack Obama whether he thought former President Bill Clinton was the nation’s ‘first black president,’ an observation famously coined by black Nobel laureate Toni Morrison.

“Bill Clinton did have an enormous affinity with the African-American community, and still does, and I think that’s well-earned,” said Obama, who has spent the past few days locked in a high-profile war of words with the former president, who has been stumping on behalf of his wife Hillary Clinton.

So, once again it was not Obama who introduced the issue of race into the election process. Then, he gave a very nice compliment to Bill Clinton, and after THAT he added the remark "I'd have to see him dance."

Also, what are the rules here, Obama is not allowed to dance or to say he plays basketball (my white son plays basketball) or have a nice smile, because that shows he is what? Just what are you trying to say?

Sounds to me like YOU are very uncomfortable with your own feelings on race. Don't project onto others.

[bridgit]

246. hahahaha, I love the way BHO supporters project nothing *but* themselves onto others...

Snippy, snarky, mean spirited, frat boy, sorority girl condescension. If someone here posted some goofy thing about basketball/Obama ='ing black they'd be jumped on like white on rice. That is only allowed in a reverse sense. You, for instance, accusing me of being racist. I have a white son too yay me; but I am quite sure you care less that my "white" son's GodFather is a black man; and no I am not going to recite my family's associations with Americans minority or otherwise. You are simply wrong, while being simultaneously too predictable. As though if they interfere with BHO, and the views of his supporters...then they have no right to an opinion whatsoever.

There is a newer, more agile political creature stalking the landscape. It is a reaction to the neocon, and referred to as: neoliberal. Or I suppose: neolib. And I find the terra firm ripe for such a composite political entity, an alloy of liberal-speak, no real answers, and votes for positions that will end up curling many a hair: an inverse image of g.w. bush, still...

Obama didn't have to introduce race into election politics, his supporters were more than happy to do so on his behalf. His job has been to high-side the whole thing while answering as few questions as possible. But he knows exactly what has been said and what is going on, in fact he says that he does routinely. So your post is a strange one to be sure.

Second of all; you left out the part of the quote where BHO entwines projections, 'frames' such as "dance" "brother" i.e. here: the quote you blissfully left behind, 'But he wasn’t quite ready to grant Clinton Morrison’s honorary title just yet. “I would have to investigate more Bill’s dancing abilities, you know, some of this other stuff before I accurately judged whether he was in fact a ‘brother,’” joked the Illinois senator.'

"joked the Illinois senator" that's what he seems to bo the very best. Painting them behind duck-blinds, referring to them as Annie Oakley, brushing it all off like dandruff and all to guffaws, and high-larry-ass crowd approval.

If that's what floats your boat then...that's what floats your boat so...float on citizen http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5564485&mesg_id=5565938

[PA Democrat]

247. Nice generalization of Obama supporters.

I've only recently made up my mind to support Obama, but don't let that stop you from your snarky remarks. I don't view any candidate through rose colored glasses. They are all political creatures; I just happen to view Hillary Clinton as a more imperfect candidate than Obama. If you want to claim that Obama has been the one to inject race into his campaign, go for it. As someone who watched his candidacy unfold as a non supporter in the beginning, I disagree.

I find it rather interesting that you talk about neoliberalism. Bill Clinton moved forward many neoliberal economic policies as president and his activities since leaving office have continued in the same direction. The truth is that we have been suffering under neoliberal policies for quite some time. It began in the 80's under Reagan, and Bill Clinton, despite his rhetoric continued down the same path.

http://www.logosjournal.com/issue_5.2/golub_harvey.htm

Simply put, the establishment of a global free capital market was essential for the economic and financial well being of the world’s leading debtor. This helps to understand the continuity of US global liberalization policy since the mid 80’s. In 1985, Ronald Reagan set out to knock down barriers to trade, foreign investment and the free movement of capital between industrialized countries, especially in Japan. His successor continued this effort though the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, designed to support free markets and the free movement of capital in the western hemisphere. The policy was globalized under Bill Clinton: "Previous administrations had pushed for financial liberalization principally in Japan, but under President Clinton it became a worldwide effort" directed in particular at the new area of wealth accumulation in East Asia, "seen as a potential gold mine for American banks and brokerages". According to The New York Times, the Clinton White House worked out a plan, coordinated by the Department of Commerce, that “identified 10 rising economic powers from the Pacific to the Atlantic whose economies were to be opened up, and it called upon all government departments, from the CIA, to US Ambassadors abroad”.

http://www.monthlyreview.org/0401albo.htm

The book’s central indictment is that President Clinton, in submitting his welfare, budget, and tax bills from 1995-1997, “signaled surrender: the Reagan revolution was going to achieve its major goals.” The Reagan neoliberal program of small government, tax cuts, deregulation, free trade, and monetarist financial policies was more than just consolidated. In signing the Welfare Reform Bill of 1996 and the subsequent 1997 budget compromise, Clinton broke the back of the New Deal. The government commitment, however modest and poorly implemented, to protect the poor against the worst ravages of the market was thus ended. A central redistributional bargain crumbled as well: the top 20 percent of income earners in the United States would gain after-tax relief, while the bottom 20 percent of Americans would further suffer the marginalization of deepening poverty. The bulk of the text is devoted to a compelling examination of the neoliberal “revolution in economic policy” against postwar Keynesian demand management and welfare policies. Meeropol emphasizes the policy continuity between Reagan and Clinton over the chimerical differences of presidential campaigns.

[bridgit]

250. Oh yes, without doubt; this would seem a primary of style over substance...

or even answers. But as a 3-D thinker of worldwide thoughts; I do not point to Clinton for a lack of them per se. I point to g.w. bush and his handlers. They were the ones that answered none while pushing their bully puppet past all. And that includes they that preceded him, making his rise even possible i.e. Reagan & Nixon, in particular, having opened China for what they thought would be the single largest market of 'wire twisted coat hangers' the world has ever known only to discover that the Chinese were no-less than both, a) watching, and, b) tired of living in squalor by the 100's of millions hungering beyond that for the respect an ancient realm 1000's of years old deserves just for living that long, no...

That was not Bill Clinton. Clinton did not spin from whole cloth 'globalization'. NAFTA does not send jobs elsewhere. Clinton does not seek people living in squalor so the bottom lines of corporations and the investor class goes through the roof for little more than sitting on their leather sofas. That is the cold black heart of corporate America working it's ill will by way of it's invisible hand. And it has been doing so since before little ole Bill Clinton was even born. And for someone to have not understood as a summary notation that the whole world was opening up is to imo deny truth fluttering in the face of truth herself. The question was, and remains, what to do about it. Among Reagan's plans, sponsored by Paul Wolfowitz, was to transfer missile technology to China.

Ronald Reagan did not bring the The Wall down. The Wall was brought/fell down down (was falling anyway) by republican deficit cold & hot war spending. Bush 41 ran the school bus into the ditch, and seemed proud of having done so as is his kid. Clinton understood that treatment of entitlements coupled with targeted taxes, spending and such; was the answer to republican abuse of America The Beautiful for decades. Clinton left government with a surplus in the treasury. These things do not happen by accident. And that is among his legacies. I am saddened to report, however: some medicine tastes like medicine.

Reagan's program was not a neoliberal one. It was a conservative one. That may sound specious to someone's ear, but not to mine.

My husband and myself are native Californians. I've been a SAG member since I was a teenager. Reagan sold his own union members down the river as president of SAG while cozying up to the studios. And that was before he became governor. But we survived, at least physically (checking elbows for gritty deposits good seems OK), that's what that old coot was all about. There was nothing liberal in Reagan's tool box that didn't travel through a conservative lens, or decoder ring first. That was Ronald reagan. I hear he used to crack jokes with Top O'Neill too. But that doesn't sound very funny to me either.

Reagan was another one that slipped past skidding on style over substance i.e. "It morning in America again.", America had never seen so many red, white & blue balloons till Reagan entered the game. Now our troops are flat-out used as a backdrop, not good.

There is imo no more time to resolve matters & issues. We have had months now to ask the proper questions of ourselves, and our candidates. The die is not cast as were the case too often in medieval MacBeth. Though what will be is about *to* be. Still, that is no longer the question. As in either event, every question already has an answer. It is a one size fits all answer. Whether embroidered with gold filigree (yeah, I know, ouch!), or resplendent with spring Jennifer Flowers...the answer is Bill Clinton's penis.

All the best to you & yours, here's wishing peace, light & understanding

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5582338&mesg_id=5582338

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00213

[PA Democrat]

252. Neoliberalism is an economic policy and causes much confusion because it really is not "liberal"

as far as how people traditionally think about that term. Reagan's presidency was classic neoliberalism. Check out the definition of neoliberalism and I'm sure you would agree. I worked in the financial services sector during the 80s and it was a common topic of discussion. I became a "liberal" in the traditional sense of the word based upon my concerns over what I saw happening with corporate influence on the government.

Reagan was a train wreck. Bush I more of the same. Clinton, I believe had good intentions, but gave in on welfare reform, deregulation (he sign the overturn of the Glass-Steagall Act), trade policy, and privatization (he expanded Bush I's privatiztion of the military).


The main points of neo-liberalism include:

THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone." It's like Reagan's "supply-side" and "trickle-down" economics -- but somehow the wealth didn't trickle down very much.

CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care. REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply -- again in the name of reducing government's role. Of course, they don't oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business.

DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminsh profits, including protecting the environmentand safety on the job.

PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.

ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replacing it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy."

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=376

[BanzaiBonnie]

191. Are insulting racist slurs

what's passing for edgy from snarky Stephanopoulas?

[BlooInBloo]

192. That's just how white folks are. They really think that black folks are different from white folks

"That's interesting." - LOLOLOL :rofl:

There's so much hilarity between the lines of Obama's entire response, it's amazing the transcript fit on one page.

[EffieBlack]

193. All white folks aren't that way. It's just that a whole lot of the ones who DO think that way

control our public airwaves and political discourse, so it may SEEM like there are more of them than there really are.

[BlooInBloo]

196. The "few bad apples" theory is just one more tool to allow white folks to continue being racist....

.... It leads neatly into "you, black dude are soooo oversensitive".

Peddle the lie elsewhere.


EDIT: As long as it's only "a few bad apples", there's really no problem to fix. Because there will ALWAYS be "a few bad apples". And no problem to fix is precisely what white folks reinforce each other with.

[EffieBlack]

203. WHAT are you talking about?

Do you really believe that ALL white people are bad or buy into this?

[yardwork]

234. This white folk strongly disagrees with that characterization and with George's ugly racist comment.

[JPZenger]

194. Reminded of skit with Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase - 1975 on SNL

For some reason, I am reminded of this classic skit from the first season of SNL, where Richard Pryor comes in for a job interview with Chevy Chase.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/214912/

[Infinite Hope]

195. What was teh rest of Obama's response? "That's interesting...." n/t

[K Gardner]

199. I went back and looked at this segment a couple times, and you can

tell its been edited away from Obama's expression. There's a very brief flash where he can be seen looking away, then it cuts to asswipes "fire breathing black man" question and then Obama is seen laughing. I think there was definitely some creative editing done here.

[Maven]

198. Wow...that's some racist bullshit.

I'm really surprised. :wow:

[Buzz Clik]

200. Kick. This needs to stay at the top.

[terrya]

201. I'm astounded at the crass racism in that.

Senator Obama has more patience with that kind of not even thinly veiled racism than I would have.

[npincus]

202. THIS is what passes for journalism these days?

:puke:

[baby_mouse]

204. WHAT... the .... FUCK?

:0

WHAT?

[merh]

208. I think someone needs to address George S's issues

.

[kestrel91316]

209. That's way off the top of my Disgust-O-Meter scale.

[Imagevision]

210. Stephanopoulos; "fire-breathing black man" George are you KKK or what?!!!

[Imagevision]

211. STEPHANOPOULOS, tell us did you accomplish what was directed of you?

[Why Syzygy]

212. What an asshole. He and Dick Morris should really say something about Willy's people.

[dailykoff]

215. Stupidopoulos's pantsuits make him look like a small dark man with breasts.

:mad:

[proud2BlibKansan]

216. George is truly a pig

[backscatter712]

217. "That's interesting"

That's the kind of thing that you say, when you want to say "YOU BIGOTED ASSHOLE!!!" but rules of classiness, style and civility prevent you from doing so.

[Major Hogwash]

218. Stephanopoulos is a fucking punk!

I'd like to see him try to say that kind of shit off of teevee in a bar sometime!

[LuckyLib]

219. No doubt Obama sat down that evening with his wife, and one of them said,

"Can you believe this shit?"

[leaningprog]

220. George S. is teaching a great lesson, let's absorb it

George Stephanopoulis was a fresh faced young kid when he was
the media rep. for a candidate named Bill Clinton and was later
to be his press secretary. He fought back against the Republican
attack machine and earned his stripes in the scuffles and lobbing
of attacks and counterattacks.

It is natural once you end up on the winning side, which he did,
that you begin to think that you are always right, and your side
is always correct because it won.


Barack Obama is not locked into the dogma of always being correct
or battling you to the death to prove he was when he wasn't.
He has said time and time again that he intends to do his best
with the issues the American people give him to pursue and the
issues he has to pursue for the American people, like a strong
national defense, the institution of all out diplomacy and
fact finding before all out war.

It is up to us to help to break the cycle of refusing to talk
and compromise and heal to prolong a stalemate or skirmish that
we have become attached to from experience or it's longevity.

We are going to have to put our words and actions where our
hopes and aspirations with our candidate and ourselves exist.
We are going to have to allow dialogue, and compromise, and
progress to take place.

If we are the people we have been waiting for, we are going to
have to act like them. Let's not blow the opportunity of Barack
Obama by staying in the behaviors that have failed our country,
even if we know them well and they are comfortable to us.

We are going to have to lead, each of us in our own little spheres
of influence, and it is going to be hard, the old ways run deep,
even if they simply do not work, as we have seen with our own eyes.

[ooglymoogly]

221. Big kick and No;"I want them to have some ability to walk through with me the difficult choices "

Those are the words of a great leader....RockonBarakObama...We got your back.

[whatchamacallit]

222. Kudos to Obama for not standing up and kicking the shit out of that little fuck

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Olney Blue]

230. Barack's composure and class in answering that assinine question

was very impressive.

[whatchamacallit]

232. Indeed.

[bow-tie]

223. As a huge Clinton

supporter "in the day" I am bowled over by their performance in this campaign. Could I (we) have been that mistaken???

[Uncle Joe]

224. Apparently, they've taken that page down, it says page cannot be found.

Thanks for the thread, EffieBlack.

[bjobotts]

225. Don't be too upset, George is still seeking "the precious" that makes him act this way.

He's always been a back stabbing sneaky little attack dog doing exactly what his corporate masters want him to do...drag everything and everybody into the gutter to make himself look important. If he just disappeared it would not be noticed. It's "the precious".

[whistle]

228. Is George Stephanopolis a British Agent working for the Duke of Windsor

...Prince Phillip?

[newmajority]

229. Geezus, Snuffy.... that's just so wrong. Racist little dwarf (no offense to dwarves who aren't DLC )

Guess George must buy his white sheets in the kids' section at Wal Mart?

What the fuck was he expecting Obama to do at the Town Hall meetings? Hire a DJ and rap his way through the damn thing?? :grr:

[L0oniX]

235. Uhm ..his race? You mean weasles are a race?

[Baby Snooks]

238. They hijacked the media as well...

The Republicrats, aka the neo-con artists, hijacked both parties. And the courts. And the media. When are people in this country going to wake up? The leadership of both parties are one. They depend on the partisanship the way a magician depends on diverting attention when performing. Karl Rove is one of many of the magicians.

This is yet another example of how the Clintons get other people to play the race card while acting innocent about it. They are not innocent at all. ABC News as far as I'm concerned has the credibility of Faux News.

They don't run stories. They run press releases and propaganda. They don't conduct interviews. They conduct q&a sessions with someone else providing the q. And hoping the public doesn't like the a.

The Clintons like the Bushes have gotten away with it so to speak. The people who support them have also gotten away with it or simply want to be able to so they support them hoping the "above the law" rubs off.

We no longer live in a democracy. We live in an oligrachy. Until the people restore the democracy at the polls.

And the democracy will not be restored with Hillary Clinton or John McCain.

[Joe Chi Minh]

239. Which one? Anglo-Saxon? Celtic? African? Nordic? How about you?

Are you a Heinz 57? Most people are. Well... everyone is!

[ToughLuck]

241. Thanks for bring this hideous information to light!!!

What a bumch of slime balls......pathetic. Where does Obama get the patience from?? God bless that man.
I would have told these idiots to go fuck off long ago.

[Martunez]

242. Senator Obama

is the same fucking race you are, George.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

245. He should have asked George why Willy Wonka fired him.

[EffieBlack]

248. You're very bad . . .

[EffieBlack]

253. kick

[myrna minx]

254. Kick n/t

:kick: