The problem with comparing Obama to Tiger Woods
By Steve Benen Tuesday Apr 08, 2008 8:16pmFollowing up on an earlier item about David Bellavia comparing Barack Obama and Tiger Woods, I found the analysis on "Hardball" last night pretty striking.
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Silent Patriot)
The general consensus, the talking heads said, is that it’s “no harm, no foul,” because Tiger Woods is great at golf. Apparently, to argue that one multi-racial black man is interchangeable with another is acceptable according to Matthews & Co.
Consider the quote again: “Rest assured that people like Senator McCain will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate and admire. You can have your Tiger Woods. We have Senator McCain.”
In other words, don’t admire the ethnically diverse golfer who reminds this guy of Barack Obama.
And the "Hardball" taking heads don't find this offensive?
I'm not entirely sure what the comment meant; maybe he was insinuating that McCain is Man's Man and Tiger Woods is "just" a golfer.
I'm not sure it's about race but it is a bizzaro comment.
You know, "they are all the same" to guys like tweety.
I can't say I'm upset. When Barack announced his candidacy, it struck me that he was the political equivalent of Tiger. That's a good thing, no? Not sure that's how that guy meant it, but hey, bring it on. It's not like they're saying they "pimped him out," no?
W/out listening to Tweety, I think its more than moronic, its ironic as well, as the image that idiots comment suggests is McCain will get beat in November by the worlds greatest golfer.
Yea, he got that part right
1) McCain having been a prisoner for 5 years has nothing to do with being President. Sorry I don't get it.
2) Comparing Tiger Woods with Obama is so insane and so frigging idiotic that it truly boggles the mind.
Matthews reminds me of Fuzzy Zoeller after Tiger won his first Masters. Zoeller said on record, " I guess we'll be having watermelon and fried chicken at next years dinner". He was refering to the fact that the Masters winner picks the meal the nest year for the golfers. In my mind both comments are very thinly veiled racist statements. If anything, I would figure that means McCain is toast in the general election because Tiger just wastes the field when he wants to play.
Chris Matthews sure wants to make sure nobody thinks there is anything strange about the comment. No harm no foul. This guy is pathetic.
It also sounds like another chance to discuss, ad naseum, anything but the issues or the person's positions concerning politics, religion or policy. No; let's just attack, defame, disparage, nitpick or failing all of that make silly comparisons to other celebrities. It's all just pablum. If they stick to pablum, people like McCain look better. If they discuss the facts and issues, people like Obama do better. Thereforrrre...!
If I was Obama or Woods I would be offended. Bellavia is a repug jerk.
None dare call it racism.
Know why?
It would hurt the racists' feelings.
Hey, is the pot supposed to call the kettle 'beige'?
Tiger Woods has broken racial boundaries by becoming the all-time greatest at a sport that was exclusively an "all white only" club ; John McShitstain is a far below average student , pilot , intellect , Senator and GOP presidential candidate. You can keep him , jerkoff.
Oh , and BTW ; explain to your 2 boys how Woods is married inter-racially to a woman who is his one-and-only wife , as opposed to McShitstain , who divorced his ill wife after cheating on her to marry a cash-cow who got him his Senatorial seat............
I wish I was Tiger Woods.
FWIW, I think the guy was just comparing a popular culture hero (media created) to a war hero (real). The choice of Tiger Woods was, at worst, a Freudian slip.
Don't get me wrong. I'm looking for anything to beat the fascist crowd senseless with, but this just ain't it. (I'm not worried though... there's gonna be _plenty_ to go apeshit about... trust me ;-)).
McCain, the man who did the bidding of his racist pals and voted AGAINST a holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King?
That alone shows ignorance of King's contributions to race relations and civil rights. So when he says Iran is training Al Qaeda, remind me again what this man knows about anything?
John McCain is the warmongers poodle and the military types and very wealthy right wing assholes are the only people listening to McCain. Or his minions who warm up for him
MCMetal @ 12:
any bets on how long she sticks around after McCain loses?
Another reich-winger that fails to be make coherent analogy.
getalife @ 13:
Have you seen what his wife looks like?
Hoochiemama..........that is one beeeautiful woman.
As someone whose fhter plays golf and has been around many older golfers I can tell you there is a lot of hostility in the white male world of golf for Tiger. I can't imagine if Jack Nicholas, John Daley, Greg Norman or any of the major white guys were as good as Tiger there would be so much animostity. But for some reason the particular groups of golfers I know are truly spiteful of him.
This comment was directed at those men.
getalife @ 13:
Me too. Great golfer, rich, babe of a wife. Bring it on.
When you take the quote in context, it's even worse. It seems to express a sentiment similar to Trent Lott's comments on Strom Thurmond ('if they'd listened to him years ago we wouldn't have all these problems today').
It's a kind of not-so-subtle way of saying, 'you can keep all this modern equality crap-- give me the old days'.
*father
**animosity
Sorry for the typos.
So, he compares Barack to another Black phenom/superstar. It could come off as racist I guess. But everybody loves Tiger Woods. And he doesn't really evoke any kind of polarizing politics. And it wasn't like a comparison to Sharpton(who I like, despite his faults) or Jackson, which clearly would attempt to do so- cue Bill Clinton.
It was almost at the point of denial in that the wave of support and awe for Obama, like Woods, is undeniable and defines an individual who is clearly above the pack.
Regardless, I'm voting for Obama. :)
but racists are mccain's base.
I'm compared to other white people all the time, but I never knew I made me the victim of a hate crime.
Thank god! I was starting to feel left out!
Seriously, are we Liberals or pussies?
Yea right, like any kids on this planet would want to be like McLame. What are these ass hats smoking?
Sarah @ 25:
It's not as bold as saying Hillary is a "bitch" like one of the pundits said, but I don't think holding a sign that said "Pick my cotton!" would be laughed off the same as "Iron my shirt" was by the MSM.
Play a round of golf with a few old farts in Palm Springs, CA and you'll know exactly what that guy was implying.
Why can't we just talk about the issues?
Ah yes the issues, how about racism? That is definitely America's number 3(?) issue, behind the war and perhaps the poor white people actually enduring the economic downturn.
Is being a POW an accomplishment? If so, why are the guys sitting in Gitmo running?
This was a stupid comment, rich country club types know that Tiger Woods is awesome, and that John McFlip-flop is not a safe bet on any issue.
I think they're just daring someone to make a big deal out of this, which Obama is too smart to do. This story has no legs.
chuck @ 28:
If the talking heads' producers have their way? Fat chance. Pablum serves the dual purpose of keeping the least inquisitive or least informed among us watching so that they can sell us cars and laundry soap while at the same time keeping us ignorant and ill-informed.
I think you might want to compare a black politician to another politician first. Then maybe to a black politician.
You could really make a stretch and compare him to a quarterback or something, but what the hell does golf have to do with politics?
Utterly bizarre. It's as if Bellavia is utterly unaware that Tiger Woods' fame comes primarily from his sheer skill at the game.
It's as if he thinks Tiger Woods is an Anna Kournikova or Dennis Rodman, where the "sexy difference" that made the player a breakout star didn't matter in the long run because they lacked skill, discipline or seasoning. But Tiger Woods is a whole different kind of star: he's someone with superior, record-breaking skills, achieved at a stunningly early age, who also happens to have category-breaking appeal.
Bellavia seems to want to say that McCain is the "real deal" while Obama is a media-friendly flash in the pan.... but his analogy is way off track. If Obama is Tiger Woods, then McCain is an aging, punch-drunk shoulda-been who won't walk off the green until he gets his shot at the title -- and he doesn't care how dirty he has to play to win it.
Remember when golf officials were panicking to "Tiger-proof" the courses in order to level the playing field? McCain's handlers better figure out how to Obama-proof the election.
chuck @ 28:
If race is not an issue in this country in your mind you need an education or some exposure to the racism that is out there. Then again, perhaps you have been exposed and think it is ok. If so this issue is one i hope you pay close attention to.
Enough of this nonsense! This is exactly the kind of insubstantial racial "gotcha" crap Obama was saying we should move beyond! That guy is an idiot for sure, but did I miss the part where he was equating Obama with Tiger Woods? He was saying he wants his kids to have McCain as their role model, rather than a sports star. That's idiotic enough without trying to twist it into something racist. This is rediculous. Even Keith Olbermann is jumping on this silly bandwagon.
MOVE ON AND STOP TRYING TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING IT'S NOT!
gwen @ 35:
Open your eyes and see what it really is. Black people 60 years ago were only to be seen as entertainers or not at all. This man's statement screams that that is exactly how he wants it to be right now.
MCMetal @ 12:
That's not an accurate statement. Tiger Woods is always quick to point out his admiration for many before him who helped pave the way:
Lee Elder, Pete Brown, Calvin Peete, Jim Thorpe, and Jim Dent, just to name a select few. It hasn't been an 'all-white' sport for a long, long time- Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Roberto De Vincenzo.
Oh, I don't think the guy was making a distinction between a multi-millionaire sports star who earned it all on his own and an old white guy who married a multi-millionaire trophy wife. No, somehow I just don't think the idiot has that much intelligence or finesse. It's more basic, it's part and parcel of the Republican strategy to do everything possible to make this a race-based election. The good news is that apparently the idiot
is running for Congress in New York state, so he'll probably get his clock cleaned.
I like this site very much, and your heart is in the right place, but I don't think you realize what is troubling about the following statement:
to argue that one multi-racial black man is interchangeable with another
"multi-racial black man"? This calls forth memories of Jim Crow, a codified racist ideology by which a person is considered "black" regardless of how many generations one must go back to find the black ancestor.
Remember for a moment that Obama, racially speaking, is as white as he is black. Why not say "multi-racial white man"?
Just curious.
Calm down White folk... there ain't no there there. The allusion is pretty clearly an attempt to say Obama is simply "star" not a hero. Tiger Woods isn't an insult - he's the best in the world at what he does. Obama could easily reverse this by saying so is he!
Please - let's not take offense every time there is a mention of race. Racism has little to do with recognizing race and everything to do with doing so in a derogatory, or demeaning way, based on negative stereotypes. Obama is mixed race (African and Euro-Caucasian) and in America that means he is treated as Black. Recognition of that fact is NOT racist. What is racist is the attempt to play on that fact by alluding to a lot of negative stereotypes, with a knowing smile or a wink and a nod.
Over reacting to every mention or recognition of race is what makes talking about race in America so difficult. We are laden with history and guilt and tilt at shadows - on both sides of the divide. It simply doesn't help to see shadows every time the light shifts.
The reference here is not racist - it is merely an attempt to set Obama apart as being "merely a star" not a genuine American, American hero... in America...
chuck @ 39:
Ingrained racism not only in our society's attitudes but also in our country's laws (at least in some states) weher you have to prove you only have "x" % black blood in you to be listed as a white person.
The really important question Tweety & Co. need to ask:
"Who is the better bowler - Barack or Tiger?"
plainbrown1 @ 40:
And you think that's not racist?
chuck @ 39:
Ah! Interesting point. Yes, words mean things and sometimes we have to pick them more carefully than others.
plainbrown1 @ 40:
As we were saying on the other thread, that is indeed the thrust of the comment. But why use Tiger Woods then? If not because of the multi-racial backgrounds they share, why invoke Tiger Woods?
Bonkers Hussein @ 44:
This was more than mere words. This was an attempt to trivialize a man's entire life into a something you could put into a box and stick in a closet and forget about which, if you think about it, is all racism is all about.
xoites defends Constitution @ 46:
No, I know. That point isn't lost on me. I don't think they were "mere" words; I actually think words and how we communicate is important. But if you sensed that maybe I was being cavalier or something like that, then I am sorry for giving such an impression.
I was aghast at all of these "experts." Of course, a Buchanan will always say that there's far too much talk about racism in the country. There's no racism, and when it shows up, it's BLACKS that are racist. Dennis Prager should have been included in this bunch of howling morons.
He seems to be saying that Obama is the Tiger Woods of politics. I think Obama should send him a thank you note. Maybe we all should...
Karen @ 45:
Karen- I can post as many links as you'd like to see, but it'd be easier if you just google 'Tiger Woods & Barack Obama'. The comparisons have been made going back over a full year, many many times. Obviously it's not common knowledge, but it's not a brand new comparison, either. Tiger has even commented on his admiration for Obama.
No one has ever made an issue from those comparisons though. My question to anyone here who is deeply offended by this guy's comment yesterday, is why not?
Tiger Woods exemplifies excellence, integrity, and a new generation. I don't think there is anything remotely offensive about comparing Obama to him.
Much too much is being made about this lame and pathetic comment by a forgettable moron.
Bonkers Hussein @ 47:
Sorry. i was not implying nor did i assume you were being cavalier. I was actually supporting your point. :)
Get over your big bad selves. Tiger Woods is a "role model." John McCain is a "role model." The guy didn't say anything wrong. You should be happy that we have gotten to the point where black, white, and asian be held as role models by ALL.
Or is everyone here so freakin' bigoted that whites can ONLY be referred to by a white person and ONLY blacks have the right to refer to blacks. Are you INSANE?
Stop it! Stop LOOKING for crap! There's enough of the real thing - you don't need to create more. Just STOP.
Medford Tim @ 54:
When it stinks it stinks. And when it does you do something about it. Your tolerance for intolerance does not impress.
Everybody relax - Tiger Woods tends to win.
Obama is black; Woods is black. He's calling attention to his race. What more is there to say? And here's Tweety again sticking up for McCain. Who are these idiots he puts on his show?
Princess has a stiffy for Tiger Woods. She sure has been spending a lot of time having a hissy fit over this topic.
Let's face it, Matthews thinks if he talks louder he doesn't sound as stupid. His sensitivity, intellect and insight is generally about an inch deep. He has a tough job these days. He preceeds Keith each night, where Keith out analyzes him on current events everynight. Add Rachel Maddow to the mix, with a little Alter, Turley, Robinson, etc and Chris is just shallow and quite often off the mark.
Tiger Woods and Barack Obama are similar in the fact that they are light years better than their next competitor. It's Barack Obama VS "The field."
And it's "No Contest."
Emma Hussein Goldman @ 57:
There isn't anything left to say. You're dead on correct. Any attempt to spin this other wise is completely obtuse and disingenuous. This is little reich-wing prick wasn't trying to pay a compliment to Mr. Obama by comparing him to Mr. Woods. This little reich-wing anti-American douche was invoking race. The audience knew it, you could hear their reich-wing childish response.
There are plenty of good reasons to oppose Obama. Don't contaminate them with idiocy like this.
I guess rainbow is the new negro.
Chrissie appears to limit his man-crushes to white men only.
Obama should thank his mom and dad for making someone chrissie wants no part of.
jwrjr @ 63:
where would you start?
oswald @ 23:
could improve your golf score!
Who are you people to go around acting like you need to be offended all the time? STFU/STFD. Seriously.
evie @ 51:
And that is the most offensive part of it.
Take away the excellence and all that is left is the color.
Dietrich @ 67:
Your brand of ignorant trolling will only get this one response from me.
I'm not going to stoop to your level.
I just thought I'd let you know.
Well, there's a few precious minutes of my life I won't be getting back.
Isn't there a war on?
This clip is proof that American presidential campaigns WAY the f*ck too long.
Dietrich @ 67:
That is what is so great about the Internet. It enables pompous blowhards to connect with other pompous blowhards in a vast circle-jerk of pomposity."
If you heard the entire introduction, the racist jackass goes on to declare that John McCain is the "true audacity of hope". That was the link to Obama, and the evidence this was a racist remark.
Emma Hussein Goldman @ 57:
No, YOU are calling attention to his race. Don't you see that?
If Obama is Woods, then McCain is Bob Lurtsema.
tiger will be wearing a green jacket on sunday.
rascism is alive and well on planet earth.
This is much ado about nothing. Some ignorant repuglican made a stupid comparison. So what? He compared him to a successful and much admired multi-racial man - it was stupid but not racist.
What should we compare Bill O'Reilly to?
http://tinyurl.com/37pjav
Yes it was offensive but this little prick is nobody so it doesn't matter. Racism is weak.
That's the whitest looking/sounding black woman I have ever seen in my life-ever-where did they find her?A reject from the Cosby thing?Please...it was a racist statement,however subtle from a whop...oh wait...I mean a peckerwood...oh wait...I mean a neo nazi ass clown...oh wait...I mean a facist...oh wait....I mean a McCain supporter.
Where's a Lincoln when we need one?Oh yeah,that's right,dead-for hundreds of years.
Tiger is a multi-racial man that can play golf like a riot,Barrack is a multi-racial man who can speak fantasy to the people.Tiger can deliver,it remains to be seen if Barrack can.
I hate MSM and talking heads.
it was a stupid comment
was it racist? borderline
but thats ok....cuz just like tiger whoops ass on the competition, obama is gonna whoop mcfeebles, flacid white ass
we need an english teacher in here: A blank is to blank as a blank is to blank. if he had said ' you can have your tiger woods we have our jack nicklaus' it'd still be divisive and crude but at least it wouldn't be lumping this 'bi racial' guy with that 'bi racial' guy. it'd be about golfers. a metaphor if you will. but since it wasn't about golfers... it was obviously about race.
think about it. tiger is the only real icon of mixed race that has made a huge impact on america. maria carey doesn't really count.
you guys are giving tigers' 'status' too much importance. just because tiger's a great man doesn't mean this assclown wasn't trying to deride the fact that he's not good ol' white mccain.
it's racist through and through. trust me. i've heard this shit before.
the guys a bigot.
benjamin
bi racial baby.
Bill Maher @ 71:
-bill maher
BaScOmBe whose saying "NO REPUGS" @ 69:
I'm not trolling. It's just sad to see a once-great people flutter like so many hens all agreeing with one another on the exact level of offended-ness that should be felt at any one time. Go break a sweat doing something useful for an hour, then come back and tell me how offended you are at this trivia. Yeah, lamestream media sucks but it's not because of stuff like this.
Matthews: "Can at least the three of us (the white men, not the black woman) agree - no harm, no foul?"
How far into your mouth can you stick a shoe, Tweety?
OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE
This is not rocket science people. Stereotyping blacks as being good at sport is not a new thing. It is a well-worn racist tactic, plain and simple.
It does not matter that golf used to be a white sport. So did baseball. So did all the sports!
The racist program is (1) try as hard as you can to stop them doing it, (2) when that fails [as it must] you act like it was never a big deal anyway--after all it's just *sport*, not a *real* talent.
I despair that the TV pundits are so far up their own cracks that they cannot even call this as racism, but it QUITE CLEARLY IS.
Oh and Dietrich@{84,67}, go and talk to a few black intellectuals and see how they like the "blacks are great sportsmen" characterization. It's right up there with "they sings and dances real good". Either you are a poor troll, or you are just brick stupid. Either way, think some more before you post and we'll all be better off.
Incidentally when I said this...
...what I meant was "the racism is not lessened because golf used to be a white sport".
BaScOmBe whose saying "NO REPUGS" @ 65:
Where would I start? How about: since he is too busy running for president to hold hearings in the subcommittee that he is the chairman of, what reason is there to think that he will have the time to do his job as President?
I know Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was a friend of mine. Mr.McCain you are no Tiger Woods!
OK.... let's apply some anal-o-sis on this one....
Here are the options as to the meaning:
1-- the speaker incorrectly assumed that Tiger Woods became famous NOT for his skill, but for his pre-determined celebrity, thereby making an analogy with Obama's campaign, or
2-- the speaker incorrectly picked the wrong "black guy", and instead meant to have picked a poorly skilled and embarrassing 'black' man to compare Obama to..
3-- the speaker incorrectly thought that Obama was an excellent golfer.
In any case, it calls attention to his entire lack of logic or sense... but there's more!!
Yes.................there's more...........
One must ask the following questions perhaps, to highlight some of these obvious problems:
1---- What other than skin pigment does Tiger and Obama have in common? Does Tiger bowl?
2---- What "disparaging" trait does Tiger and Obama share, in order to make such an analogy relevant to supporting his opponent McCain? (Careful here... if all you have is skin pigment here, then we may have gone past just racial insensitivity)
and......
3--- does one have to be completely retarded to not intuitively understand that the speaker was CANDIDLY revealing the fact that not only is he pissed off that a BLACK MAN keeps winning major tournaments, but that a BLACK MAN might ruin his other favorite hobby, politics?
He made a comparison to a successful, multi-racial, upstanding national sports icon... someone who actually is GOOD at the field he has chosen... why??? Does TIger have a health plan we haven't heard of? Does Tiger have some Supreme Court nominees he is withholding? NO... it's because Tiger is black (skinned) and famous and it bothers him. He could have actually gotten away easier with "you can have your Jeremiah Wright..", but he picked another prominent black man that bothered him for being too "clean" I guess. (BTW, I am a white (skinned) man, who is a huge Nicklaus fan.. but I love watching Tiger win the Master's on a course that he wouldn't be allowed to play otherwise) oh yea.. and I am sending money to Obama's church, after hearing Rev. Wright, I just had to, lol. Amen.
"Apparently, to argue that one multi-racial black man is interchangeable with another is acceptable according to Matthews & Co."
It's acceptable to virtually all white Americans - that's of course the problem. Black folks: you're all the same to white folks - never forget that, no matter how nice they sound to your face.
Makes no sense because if you believe it was a complement which it wasn't , they admitted Obama is the better candidate , if he's the Tiger Woods of candidates . Tiger Woods is the best golfer , but we know it was a racial comparison by a "good ole boy " , who felt comfortable in his surroundings and I'm sure that clown is a real big tiger fan , ya right .
Now we're all adults. We know veiled subtext when we see it . I'm not saying this man is a racist. I'm not even saying the words themself are racist. What I am saying is what I'm seeing. This pattern, not started by this incident but continued since the primaries in South Carolina, of interjecting race and tribal divisions by way of subtle subliminal coded language threatens to not only halt any progress we can make as country in the face of the rest of a world that surpasses us everyday but also forfeits any maturity this nation has earned by way of the sacrifices and battles those before us fought so brave and valiantly to afford us today.
You might be asking yourself why are this idiot's comments really harmful. They're harmful because they appeal to the worst, most juvenile intellectual instincts of otherwise reasonable and rationale individuals who may have decided on a candidate who most spoke to their worries and concerns, or even voters who may not have reached a conclusion for who most fits their ideals but are leaning one way regardless of the race or demographic of that candidate, and completely tries to undermine the issues and the things that matter and burden people with silly tribal and racial constraints to consider in their decision-making.
Let me repeat, this isn't overtly racist, but it is racial. Because what we do know is racial isn't good for Barack Obama. It never has been. It's not advantageous to present yourself to the American public and/or self-identify as black to country that is 74% white. It's not an accident that white men have been on a 43 election win streak in America and that we just happened to not have any other demographic serve as commander in chief. I'm not saying it's owed or due, just holding a mirror to the country and showing how America tends to vote. Now it seems to me, Obama as a candidate runs his strongest and most effective when his race is in the background of his presentation to America and that his attributes and character have a chance to be on display to the voters. It's like when he talks, people's eye sight wane and their hearing sharpens and in a way they hear him more than they actually see him and what he is and what that means but when people serve up a heaping of race they count of voters to lose the objectivity of their judgment in favor of their own prejudices and we always divert back to children and we never progress.
For those keeping score at home, score this one for the bad guys.
OF COURSE, Matthews and his talking heads all agreed that racist comment was no harm no foul. They also agreed that Michelle Obama referring to her husband as an "accessory" was cute.
If ANYONE on the Clinton side had used the Tiger Woods reference or if Bill or Hillary Clinton had referred to the other as an "accessory", Matthews and his talking heads would have agreed it was the final straw of a "racist" and "dismissive" blight on American Society and they'd devote the next two weeks to being shocked and dismayed about it!
Look, Matthews and his talking heads never mention Michelle Obama playing the Race Card first and biggest last November when she characterized Barack as the black candidate by asserting on an MSNBC interview that "black America" will start rejecting Hillary Clinton and supporting Barack as soon as they "wake up and get it" but never fail to mention Bill Clinton's innocuous Jesse Jackson reference whenever possible.
Matthews and his MSNBC brethren (except Morning Joe) now have one primary directive; elevate Obama and forgive McCain while denigrating Clinton. Period.
Shorter Tweety: "C'mon, it's just a little harmless racism..."
wtf is wrong with these hyenas?
.
It would have been different HAD they said, "You can have your Obama, we have our John McSame." But they didn't. They substituted another black man to paint a broader image.
Had they stuck with the directness of Obam V. McSame, the compare/contrast of "street cred" had been genuine and deserved legitimate discussion.
However that is NOT what they did.
Now, PAID PUNDITS(read: collects a pay check for) legitimise using "another" man of color because he's...
... A R T I C U L A T E!
Articulate, when used to describe a minority, infers "EDUCATED" and/or "OBEDIENT" (read: Knows one's place)
Not just any black man... but an articulate black man. I don't hear Woods giving articulate lectures/speeches, especially like Senator McSpeak... DO YOU?
----------------------
ar·tic·u·late
I don't think 5,6,7,8,9,10(in part),11,12,13,14,17,18, and I hope they aren't infering 19... NO?
.
Oops,
Should read: I don't think they meant to argue 5,6,7, etc...
xoites defends Constitution @ 10:
Oh NO...
YOU DID!
ROFLMAO
.
Republicans think the "R" by their politicians name means racist.
I found the analogy troubling AND bizarre. Why would you compare a politician to an athlete at all, and why an athlete with brown skin? I can only conclude that it was a veiled racial reference. He wanted to denigrate Obama, by noting his darker skin color, but couldn't do it directly, so picked a surrogate, Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods had to tolerate racist comments on his rise to the top too. I think that many white men are genuinely feeling threatened, and can't handle the idea of having a president with brown skin, even though he is half white. As for Chris, the idiot, Matthews, we're constantly forced analyze these situations after having them filtered through the lenses of old white men who just don't have a clue. Anyone catch Cobert last night. He had drawings done by young kids of the presidential candidates. One of McCain had him colored a ghostly white. He said something like, "he used by favorite Crayola color, Republican" (referring to the white crayon).
Dear Mr. Matthews,
Granted that both Barack Obama and Tiger Woods are both American heroes, one a great African-American politician, one a great Thai-American golfer. Also, granted that John McCain was a prisoner-of-war. However, he was no hero -- he was shot down over North Vietnam trying to bomb innocent civilians. As for Lindsey Graham, we know that he is a well-known liar for the Bush Administration (and a secret, legal gay guy in the military). The truth shall set you free, right? Lindsey Graham, definitely not a hero. And Joe Lieberman, who didn't volunteer for the Vietnam War, didn't he also seek deferments from actually fighting or even joining the Army? War hero? I think not. Coward? More likely.
Care to dispute me on the facts, Mr. Hardball?
The fact is Lindsey Graham is a despicable suck-up to John McCain (I, personally, don't care that he is a homosexual, anymore that I care that Joe Lieberman is a suck-up heterosexual Zionist). They are just all war-mongers - Bush, McCain, Graham, and Lieberman. They are all willing to send naive, innocent, and poor Americans to die in a war for oil and conquest. They don't care that other, less fortunate American people are dying for their beliefs, however mistaken and fucked-up they are.
Americans are not dying in Iraq for "freedom and democracy," they are dying for the oil-greed imperialist policies of Bush, Cheney, Lieberman, Graham, and McCain. The villains are here in Washington, not in Baghdad.
Please don't forget that when you write your articles and editorials. You have, from the beginning, been too caught up in the "war fever" to be objective.
America is very capable of doing evil (see the history of the CIA in Iran, Guatemala, Chile, etc.), whether you want to recognize it or not. We are not yet a perfect nation.
In our ideals, we are the best. Our reality leaves a lot to be desired.
May someone like Barack Obama lead us to the true Promised Land. May we be pure and unsullied once again.
P.S. I'm serious. We need to go in a totally new direction from the cynical "triangulation" of the Clintons and the total idiocy of George W. Bush, who is truly, hands down, "THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER."
It is unbelievable (and disgraceful) that such a great country has such a moron as a President. (And the NY Times, the Washington Post, the WSJ, and the LA Times are guilty of supporting this creepy, loathsome man and his policies at critical times.) Shame on you. Shame on all of us for passively accepting this bloody, expensive idiocy. We will be paying for this for decades.
Because the press refused to stand up for the truth.
The bozos didn't even realize what they'd done. Essentially they stated "you can have the consistent superstar, we'll stick with our senile curmudgeon."
This guy is soo stupid he was trying to insult Obama and actually complimented him!!!
What I see is racial overtones that keep coming up. The sutle remarks and statements about race slowly brainwashing the public. The MSM will give McCain another pass on this.
What a shame. How many remarks similar to this before MSM calls Republicans alike out?!!
Tiger Woods and Barack Obama have a lot in common, aside from being mixed-race celebrities. Both are very intelligent and well spoken. Both have a strong work ethic. Neither is focused on race in his work, preferring to let his record speak for itself. Both are ambitious and unafraid of success. Both are charismatic without trying to be.
Leave it to a self-absorbed twit like Matthews to draw a racial comparison between two exceptional men whose lives and careers transcend race. Maybe somebody should compare Matthews to other late-middle-aged men with phony blond hair.
xoites defends Constitution @ 55:
Any YOUR Pseudo-IntellectualSpeak only impresses those who cant think for themselves.
Nothing about his comment was racist. Ironically, what I find racist is the implication that the comment couldnt be just about comparing a vapid cultural icon to one with grit and substance (not my words...personally, i think obama is just as qualified as mcCain).
So knock it off and stop joining the small chorus of voices that insists on making every racial nuance some sort of crusade.
I wish Woods would respond to Matthews nonsense.
I also hope Woods will endorse Obama soon.
He never compared Tiger Woods to Obama. Period. This is madness. Stick to the real issues.
The irony of all this is that Tiger Woods would probably be a better US Senator AND President than John McCain...
They both like swinging their big clubs?
The papers say there's some movement from the Edwards camp toward Hillary. They had a quote from Elizabeth Edwards praising Hillary's health plan.
ubetcha @ 109:
or Obama...
The comment was racist in that Black people get to associate Barack with Tiger. The racism however is against white people. Why can't we have someone better than McCain to look up to. Mayb a comparison: Barack is to Tiger as McCain is to Tom Cruise, or McCain is to Jeffries (the polygomist), or McCain is to Rush Limbaugh.
Pick a nut, any nut, and we white people always come out on he short end of the stick.
Spicegal @ 101:
I agree with you totally. Funny, this was not on FOX news. As a black man,
I know this was an insult against Obama but I would not insult Americans by saying McBush is a racist or waist time about Hagee or Parsley or Cunningham.In my life, I have been used to such statements and have developed a thick skin. That is what surprises me about the Wright thing. They make such a big thing out of this.
Its a thinly veiled shot at being a mixed race individual, but the problem is, it doesn't help McCain's case. Tiger woods is the best ever at what he did, so given the jacka__'s statement, I'd take Barack over McCain based on the idea that he may be the best ever at being president. I think it was an attempt to be clever and somehow undermine Barack that just made the guy look like an idiot who obviously doesn't understand that diversity is a good thing.
gwen @ 35:
Yes, you did miss the part where he was equating Obama with Tiger Woods.
gwen @ 108:
Gwen, get help, please.
gwen @ 108:
Gwen,
If you keep a wet towel on your head the voices won't creep in.
The very first time most of us had ever heard of Barack Obama was at his 2004 DNC Convention speech.
Immediately after his speech, Conservative columnist David Brooks compared Obama to "Tiger Woods".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEzrJ-k9vH0
This isn't new.
Left&Left @ 118:
I copied this from Joseph on another site. I can imagine FOX playing this over and over again except McBush is their man. Hypocrites to the max.. Gwen how did you react to the Wright issue?
John McCain Gets Another Pass From The Media
Recall, Rev. Wright was all over the news when he made a so-called racist comments. Why is there only a debate about whether John McCain should bare a measure of responsibility for what Sgt David Bellavia said? I think I will call him Sgt. Bigot. This was racism in the “good oh boy fashion.”
I see a double standard in the media; at best, a selective process that favors Republican bigots and their representing Senators. John Amato has highlighted the free pass the media has given McCain, and in this video, it highlights that free pass in process. It is really kind of simple: Right-wing media supports right-wing candidates; bigots supports bigots.
I remember when this kind of bigotry would not be tolerated. We are definitely in a setback of sorts. The worse is yet to come. The right-wing bias will present full force during the general election. The Republicans have to catch up in a big way, especially if the Democrats unite.
Joseph
The dishonesty of the various apologist on this thread and others is sad. Listen to Bellavia's tone and body language. He clearly meant the comparison in a subtle, nasty way. Also examine the crowd and their response. This was race carding at it's worst.
Remember the Joe Walsh album, "You can't argue with a sick mind"? My believe is that he was trying to be racist and he's such an idiot that he destroyed his whole point.
I'll take our Tiger Woods any day over your Grandpa "Bob Knight".
Mugsy @ 119:
Thanks for the video but I think this is a little different. The tone was hateful. Look at the anger in this cracker's face.
Left&Left @ 121:
I'm inclined to agree. He knows McCain is running against Obama. He knows that Obama (and Billary too...) are both looking to pull troops out of Iraq, which goes against that group's position.
Listen to the tone and inflected of the Sgt's voice. There is clearly malice in it when he says "You can have your Tiger Woods"
. He seems to be knocking both Tiger and Obama, implying that McCain is a better role model than anyone with 1 drop of black blood (which seems to be the main connection that Obama and Woods share).
Yes, this isn't as outlandish or hyper-racist as the Cunningham incident, but if you're looking for a pattern, there you go...a pattern of racial smears by McCain surrogates.
gwen @ 35:
I took it to mean that kids should grow up to admire a white John McCain rather than a black Tiger Woods. I definitely took it to be racist. He could have picked any other sports star, but selected a black.
Leave it to Tweety and all the boneheads who support him at GE/MSNBC to always get things wrongs, and get them wrong with full malice of intent.
missmarple @ 125:
Where's Sean Hannity on this?? I mean, this is the injustice he screams about every night. Of all the news people, I hate him the most.
There are two very big problems with her "Tiger Woods" comment. The first is that she is clearly one of the people who feels TIger Woods only gets attention because he is black. This isn't the first time some conservative has "implied" this sentiment. I think Limbaugh and even O'Reilly have made similar comments at some point. The idea is that Tiger Woods doesn't get attention for his accomplishments in the golf world, but because he is black. And that this is unfair to all the White people who are just as talented in the eyes of the conservatives (yet those other people don't win as much) but don't get enough media praise.
It's all about media praise. Consider the context...the media can have their tiger woods, but conservatives will keep McCain. The media has done everything in their power to shield and protect McCain and call him a straight talker while nitpicking Obama for even the slightest of issues. Look at the preacher incident. Obama gets slammed while racist bigots supporting McCain are fine in the eyes of the media. Obama's experience constantly gets called into question while no matter how many stupid and ignorant comment McCain makes, they are ALL just "senior moments' and "gaffes". Nothing to worry about because we all just know in our heart of hearts that McCain is right regardless of what he says or does.
But in the eyes of conservatives, this mafia-like protection of McCain isn't enough. They want their guy to be seen as a Rockstar. They want their guy to have his speeches praised and they want young people lining up to listen to him. The fact that they aren't must be the fault of the liberal media and their liberal desire to give Obama affirmative action.
THAT is what is so offensive and racist about her comment. She isn't saying black people are interchangeable, or that Obama isn't black enough. She's saying he doesn't deserve to be where he is, and is only here because he's black and getting special treatment. Treatment that isn't being afforded to McCain, who in their eyes is perfection and if the general public doesn't see that it is because the liberal media's agenda.
I still took that comment by that airhead as racist. But the funny thing is Tiger Woods is only 1 quarter black and Obama is half black. This shows once again stupid these right wing idiots are. I guess any bit of black is worth stereotyping to them. They automatically put these guys in a category because most republicans are racist anyway. Matthews is a McCain fan so he'll give him a pass every time.
Paul @ 126:
I could not believe these boneheads. As the black sister worse of all. Thats why I watch Keith Oberman. It was such a obvious hit on Obama. I am not saying this guy is a racist but it sure was offensive. Consider the quote again: “Rest assured that people like Senator McCain will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate and admire. (Not some Negro) You can have your Tiger Woods. We have Senator McCain.”
Where's Joe Scarborough on this. He is so busy dissecting any word Michelle Obama says but not this. Where's Miki Brizinski on this, where Juan Williams on this, where Alan Colmes on this? These so call liberals are on the payroll of neo-con shows and/or networks just to appease liberal but have no balls. I wish I could see more of Phil Donahue. Someone who will not cower to these bullies.
gwen @ 108:
In a weaselly, somewhat subliminal way (to unaware white people, anyway) he did.
Racism is a 'real' issue, if you're not a member of the majority which keeps claiming racism is no longer a problem, that is.
I guess that means enough affirmative action legislation has been knocked back so white guys have the edge again...
I really think that this whole thing has gotten out of control. Is it possible that the gentleman was simply attempting to elevate a war hero and senator above a golfer most consider a role model for young boys?
T @ 132:
Hell No. You know better than that.
greg @ 133:
And he is not a war hero. He is a veteran got shot down and was held in a POW camp. And now he doe not want to support the GI Bill.
Would be funny if Tiger endorsed Obama, and played a round with Linsey, not that I think he really helps McCain.
For me, the problem with the tiger Woods comparison is that it's just juvenile as a point of debate, lame as a political strategy and distracting as a national focus... Personally, I like them both... And that's pretty much where it begins and ends for me. Tiger is a good golfer and Obama has shown himself to be capable as a politician campaigning for the presidency.. What more is there to this? Some trumped up racial angle??? Not buyin it...sorry... In the meantime, while everyone bitches and moans about this Jr. High 'I'm better than you are' popularity contest crap... Real shit relevant to both the presidential campaign of all three applicants as well and ongoing national and international issues that will bite us all in the ass gets ignored in favor of this press feeding frenzy over bullshit......JD
jack damage @ 136:
I agree this is all bs. but my point is stop the bs on both sides. Tell me Jack Damage, what is your opinion of the Wright bs?
A very stupid analogy.. What is next with this idiot?
Not racial? Well, then, does this make any sense?
"Rest assured that people like Senator Obama will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate and admire. You can have your Jack Nicholas. We have Senator Obama."
Huh? Huh? Huh?
This can't be big news. News flash: Some republicans are racists.
Other news: Iraq, torture memos, etc. Come on guys. Let this one go.
zugzug @ 140:
Yeah, you are right. But it was fun. On to the torture memos. Lets see what becomes of this.
Well Greg;
IF I thought Rev. Wright was running for president? I'd be very concerned.. Pissed in fact. But he's not and Obama has done as much as he reasonably could to distance himself from those comments without denigrating or denying the guys right to express them... Just proves there are dumbasses everywhere that spew bullshit without thinking of the consequences... Some are obviously men of the cloth... Some sit in an oval office and make choices that screw up the world.. Some probably think I say shit without thinking or use bad analogies... don't know.. I guess one thing this all proves is ya don't have to be a white boy redneck wearing a white shroud and talking like a freaking hick from the sticks to be a racist and/or bigot... or hold grudges...
Frankly, what I really get from that little bruhauhau is the fact that separation of church and state isn't just a little bit of hyperbole written into the constitution to make it look pretty... It was and remains a damned good idea.... Reverend Wright and his hateful take on an admittedly disgusting bit of Americana history on interracial relating while true as a rant about racism and slavery is a distraction for Obama, it just is. (And ya know what, slavery was a bad thing, horrible and should not have happened and I am against the concept and the ridiculous rationale that allowed it in its entirety, but it did happen and now it doesn't happen in that specific way anymore though slavery as an institution still exists)... And a lot of helpless women from S.E. Asia for instance will likely attest to that last statement...
What seems to have happened as a result of these horrible acts purpetrated for thousands of years by a lot of different ethnic and/or racial pursuasions against a lot of other ethnic and/or racial pursuasions including black on black enslavement in the 16th, 17th and 18th century is that, in the here and now? We use these acts from another time and place whose bad actors and the principle purps for who blame should be pointed are long since dead and gone, are now used to stir up old pains and hard feelings for political advantage and obsfication of relevant here and now issues by one side against the other.
So, the result? We find that because a firebrand reverend who in his own way is no more demogogic then a Billy Graham is thru his words and personal associations, makes a furious speech using hateful words and phrases that is suddenly damaging to a presidential candidates aspirations... I don't like that but I can't change it because too many people want to dwell on this and piss at each other over it.. I note that one never see this crap with republicans who suck up and tody to the Dobsons, or the Roberts, or all the rest of those evangilical misfits who spew plenty of hate and divisive rhetoric of the right.. Nope never see the circular firing squad form up over their shit... which is plentiful and all over the place everyday....
Personnaly, for what its worth as something to think about or take away from my post, I won't be basing my voting choices on what Wright had to say anymore than relying on whatisname Dobson or Reverend Haggards opinion or even Reverend Lovejoys notions passed to Homer... These men of the clothes opinions are something they can hold dear if they want... It's their right.. But it it meaningless to me as a point of analysis to rely on in my personal choices for who I want to lead this nation. There are other and much better criteria to judge people who want to be president by, than who their reverend happens to be or what these reverends or preachers or whatever happen to say..
Finally Greg, I want you to know that I think people who want to be racists and bigots are going to be those kinds of assholes regardless of reality... But don't hang that shit on me.. I ain't buyin into it...(not that I think you are Greg), I reject racism in its entirety... Ending racism begins with me and my personal attitude and behavior towards those unlike me in appearance or background... Like most other bad things and behaviors, ending it ends up being a personal choice not to be like that. I have a lot of friends, most of them don't look a damn thing like me.. racially or any other way.. I like it that way. I like the diversity a multi-race world provides.. But that's just me.. for what it's worth.....JD
Casual racism is just that: casual. For some people it's as comfortable as an old pair of slippers and just as innocuous. That's what makes it so insidious.
greg @ 141:
Well, greg, since this is really only all about fun for you, let's have some fun and make a prediction whether or not this makes much of a splash among the morally-superior faction. You know, teh one's who aren't apologists for this Bellavia guy.
Or better yet, let's see if it even makes it to Olbermann's Worst Person in the World.
Village Voice Mike Lacey's Racial Slur Caught on Tape
I won't be holding my breath for either one.
dennis @ 144:
Not really fun. I am just kind of tire of this right now. But you are right. I was dismissing this. Only Olbermann gives me hope.
jack damage @ 142:
JD
Thanks for your kind thoughts JD. I think I am suffering from Political 24 hour cable news fatigue. Too much bs and not enough news.
Bud Osama Bin Laden Hussein @ 42:
Shhh! don't give them any ideas!!
dennis @ 144:
Oh no, please let it go away. This age of U-tube is good and sometimes bad. Too much information, too much information, tooooo much information!!!!!!!!!!!!!
El.Kabong @ 14:
Uh sorry, "War Hero"? What is getting shot down and rotting in the Hanoi Hilton that makes one a "war hero"?