Obama's Influence in the Sports World: Why the Right Has a Big Decision to Make on Race
By John Amato Wednesday Nov 12, 2008 12:00pm
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After Watching Brandon Marshall almost pull out a white and black glove to celebrate the unity he feels in America with the election of Barack Obama as President at the end of the Cleveland-Denver game after he scored the winning touch down last Thursday, I realized something...
I have a feeling that they will take every opportunity they can to highlight bad behavior by African Americans and other minorities, kind of like FOX News on Election Day, promoting the phony Black Panthers story in Philly that was meant to scare whites. It was the same throughout the 2008 campaign.
So the Right can do just like they did with Willie Horton and nearly every presidential election since -- or they can take the high road, rebuild, move away from the Christian conservatives and become a more moderate party.
I was interviewed by the NY Daily News Sports columnist Michael O'Keefe and we talked about what the impact of Obama's victory on Nov. 4th would have in the sports world.
I knew that his election would spark a very positive reaction, but now I see it will have an even bigger impact. Obama has a chance to reach a new generation of voters through sports figures who were never touched by politics previously. When have you ever heard Tiger Woods make a political statement before?
All minorities are standing up tall today, and that is bad business for Republicans. How will they deal with it? I think you already know, but we can all still hope they don't go down that path...
After Watching Brandon Marshall almost pull out a white and black glove to celebrate the unity he feels in America with the election of Barack Obama as President at the end of the Cleveland-Denver game after he scored the winning touch down last Thursday, I realized something...
"Barak Obama's election as the 44th president of the United States is a tremendous symbol of unity," Marshall said. "I want to create that symbol of unity because Obama inspires me... In my own way I wanted to pay respect to our nation that we've made so I got a white glove and painted it black, half and half. It's not about "It notabout black power, it's not about white or black, it's about U.S.A. red, white and blue. But Stokely came over and said it's too close a ball game, you might get flagged....The American Right has a big decision to make as we move forward in the history of America and as Obama takes office. They can revert back to the Lee Atwater school of politics and try to tear this country apart or they can re-brand themselves and start over.
I have a feeling that they will take every opportunity they can to highlight bad behavior by African Americans and other minorities, kind of like FOX News on Election Day, promoting the phony Black Panthers story in Philly that was meant to scare whites. It was the same throughout the 2008 campaign.
So the Right can do just like they did with Willie Horton and nearly every presidential election since -- or they can take the high road, rebuild, move away from the Christian conservatives and become a more moderate party.
I was interviewed by the NY Daily News Sports columnist Michael O'Keefe and we talked about what the impact of Obama's victory on Nov. 4th would have in the sports world.
I knew that his election would spark a very positive reaction, but now I see it will have an even bigger impact. Obama has a chance to reach a new generation of voters through sports figures who were never touched by politics previously. When have you ever heard Tiger Woods make a political statement before?
"I think it's absolutely incredible," Woods told CNBC. "He represents America. He's multiracial. I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. My father was hoping it would happen in his lifetime, but he didn't get to see it. I'm lucky enough to have seen a person of color in the White House." When asked by the cable news outlet how his father Earl would have reacted to Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States, Woods didn't hesitate. "He would have cried. Absolutely. No doubt about it."More and more athletes will speak out about how proud they feel that Obama was elected just like Brandon Marshall and Tiger Woods did. We've talked about the youth vote before when discussing actual voter turnout, but Obama really can have an impact I think on future generations of voters with the help of these role models for the young. And yes, they are role models for many kids...
All minorities are standing up tall today, and that is bad business for Republicans. How will they deal with it? I think you already know, but we can all still hope they don't go down that path...
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4 simple pictures
http://www.dubyad40.com/2008/11/last-tuesdays...
Really...almost enough to make me feel guilty about being a skeptic...
not about the sincere outpourings of comity...
but about their persistence, when there is still so much money to be raised for promoting division...
"The Owners" fear more than anything else is the loss of their "White" audiences. The NBA has struggled most arduously to deflect 'criticism' that the league was 'too black.' Remember what happened to Carlos and Smith? And that was just the Olympics...Imagine the outcry if the black athletes in the country seized a moment on national tv to celebrate Obama's victory? The White-wingers would NEVER shut up about it...
....to express his political opinion.
I tried to find the exact quote from Jim Brown from his appearance on the pregame show on the NFL network last Thursday but I couldn't. He said something to the effect that maybe Obama's election will force people like Michael Jorden and Tiger Woods out of the shadows and make them more willing to not just be satisfied with being rich and popular.
After scoring a TD, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Canadian Football) lifted their jerseys to reveal Obama '08 shirts. :o)
http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/...
Pretty darn cool! Too bad they lost a close game...
it doesn't matter if nothing changes in society.
does the black(or white) athlete feel it is ok for obama to continue the same policies as bush?
the last thing everyone wants is the new boss same as the old boss
i would like to know why this blog is not all over the shady dealings going on with the banking and credit industry?
By only quoting black (or mixed race) athletes, this just plays into the hands of the right wing who will undoubtedly point and say "see, they want to take your
womenmoney and give it to unemployed black guys too"Just fuck 'em. I refuse to be 'Afraid' of bullshit like that. So the fuck what? Then they still control it all.
FUCK 'EM
Mike Komisarek
See this comment for his support, and any racial balance you may need to feel 'comfy'
down thread... Not that it should matter but he is white.
My kid is a football fan and I really don't think he pays attention to the color of the skin of the players he idolizes... At ten years old even he understood why Barack Obama is clearly the best man to lead the nation. Yep... I am raising little liberals here! heh
to separate the wheat from the dross...
I always recommend Calculated Risk, even though there's usually a bit of 'econ' boiler-plate through which to slog. The comments are usually illuminating, rather like reading Pharyngula on PZ's more abstruse days...
but these guys are amazingly influential. If more influential people do speak like this, they won't be able to stop the train.
Right on, sports guys.
George Laraques and Mike Komisarek before the elections:
"Canadiens forward Georges Laraque waded into the political arena and predicted a victory for Barack Obama in today's U.S. presidential election.
But Laraque said the election results will be closer than it should be.
...snip...
Laraque, who is black, said the fact Obama is ahead in the polls is an example of how far blacks have come in recent years."
...snip...
Defenceman Mike Komisarek said he mailed in his absentee ballot last week.
"I think it's important to know the issues, know what's going on and have a say," Komisarek said.
Komisarek said he didn't want to divulge his choice, but he sounded like an Obama supporter when he said: "Everyone knows there needs to be a new person in there that's going to bring stability and a fresh start. The last eight years have been difficult for the U.S.
"There are so many issues going on right now - the real estate market, the credit crisis, the war, the economy, all these things the new president is going to face.
"People's perception (of Americans) is lower than it has been in the past and it will be good to have someone raise morale, get a fresh start.""
Laraques is Canadian but he does have good reason to care... Mike Komisarek is from Long Island, New York.
Komisarek after the elections:
"Komisarek backed Obama: Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek was coy Monday when he was asked about his choice in the U.S. presidential election, but now it can be told: He was behind President-elect Barack Obama all the way.
"I was happy to see that Obama pulled through," Komisarek said yesterday. "I think he's the right person moving forward in a new direction. He's going to have some tough decisions and I don't know if anyone wants to be in his shoes, but I think he's more than capable."
When asked if he was worried about Obama raising his taxes, Komisarek replied: "No, I'm pretty sure that's going to happen. I don't know if the taxes are going to be as high as here in Quebec, but they're definitely going to be higher. But I think it's a good change in the U.S. and the overall worldwide perception of Americans is going to be better with Obama in there.""
If you don't believe me check out the blogs at ESPN.com or Fox Sports.com. Then check out any sports talk radio station. The socially retarded comments that come from these truck driving, construction, fireman types would embarrass the most ignorant 23%er.
Accepting African Americans and other minorities as equals would be great. It would be helpful for everybody and everyone.
But if that were to happen, the troglodytes, the knuckle-draggers, the prognathous-jawed moth-breathers wouldn't have anyone over whom to feel superior. Everybody's gotta have somebody to look down on, someone doin sumpthin dirty decent folks can frown on...
And they don't believe in evolution cuz they haven't evolved.
Example: Canada Dave below.
I love it. The Obahhhhmanauts will overlook every betrayal, every shift from election promises and every question mark about their messiah, like where are his university records, where is his birth certificate, hell, he was even supposed to be the editor of the Harvard Law Review and you can't find anything he has written.
If Bush pulled half the crap that Obama has pulled, you idiots would be pulling your hair out, but if Obama does the same things, it's great news! You idiots have to start asking if Bush did this would we be OK about it? It's the only way you are going to understand what is happenning to America today.
He is now backtracking on all his election promises. Obama won't be repealing the torture, the warrentless wiretapping, the Patriot Act, has now decided that hiring lobbyists is OK -- now that he's elected -- and he voted for FISA after saying he was not only against the bill but would filibuster (which he didn't.) He supported the Banker Bailout Bill -- hell, he was instrumental in getting it passed the second time around -- which was opposed by the vast majority of callers to Congress by a ratio of thousands to one. So far the Banksters have spent $3.5 trillion thanks to the bill which equates to over 20% of US GDP annually. And of course nothing is making its way to the average person in financial trouble.
He taps Rhal Emmanuel as his Chief of Staff who is about as big a warmonger and Israel first supporter as there is, and continues to threaten Iran, supports a surge in Afghanistan and even thinks war with Pakistan is not out of the question. Ya, this sure smells like change. Oh, and the US might not be leaving Iraq for a while, he has to "assess his options."
His VP Biden, Colin Powell and Madaline Albright all say that he is going to be hit with a crisis shortly after he is inagurated -- another false flag maybe to justify more war and increased tyranny? -- where the US position is morally questionable according to Biden.
He wants to create a homeland military force -- as well funded as the US military -- which is essencially a draft. Hilarious!! If Bush did this, there would be Democrats rioting in the streets, but if Obama suggests this it barely draws a yawn.
On top of that he isn't black he's Mullato, which is half white, half black. But being marketed as black is better for his puppet handlers. Hell, his handlers -- because Obama will run nothing -- might even like the idea of having a black president who isn't strictly speaking black in office when they pull the plug on what is left of America, creating racial tensions that they can further exploit to justify more police state.
We shall see how long people are elated by their messiah -- as he is portrayed in the media lately -- being dropped "by God" into the White House. I wouldn't even be surprized if within six months people start looking at the Bush years as the good old days, even though Bush was an abomination of everything that the US supposedly stands for. Obamanation, how ironic.
It wouldn't be so bad if sites like this were a little more critical of their chosen one, held his feet to the fire, but I understand that now that your
dictatorpresidential candidate has won, you want to bask in your glow as "winners". But they are playing their base like a violin and they are going to destroy what is left of America faster than Bush ever could.Send your bullshit diatribe to SNL, ASAP.
I hear they're desperate for some funny Obama material.
We shall see who is laughing soon enough.
And thanks for demonstrating that the Obama Koolaid drinkers are just as blind and deranged as the Bush koolaid drinkers ever were. If it wasn't for the fact that the health of the planet now depends a great deal on what happens in America, it would be genuinely funny.
"On top of that he isn't black he's Mullato, which is half white, half black."
Obviously you're neither black or mullato, but I can tell you from experience that racists don't halve their hatred towards your friends and family members when informed that the objects of their hatred are half black and half whatever.
And the fact that it seems so important for you to point out Obama's race makes me question the motivation behind you
sheetcomment.Ya, that's right. If you question any aspect of Obama's "blackness" you are a racist. And even if you don't, well the only reason you would question his policies are because you are a racist.
How convenient!
I have no problem with anyone's race, which is a false category in that at our core we are all human beings, period, nor would I have a problem with a black, brown, yellow, white or purple candidate becoming president if I believed the individual was sincere, honest and authentic. The fact is Obama isn't sincere, honest or authentic, period, as his actions shortly after being elected has amply demonstrated, let alone all the stuff he pulled enroute to the White House.
I do have a problem with spin, with the superficial garbage that passes as political discourse lately and with the fascist state unfolding below my country that threatens the entire planet. Obama's election, the new superman, mirrors other times in history when facism was about to overtake a country, notably Italy and Germany pre WW2. Those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it, in this case with a vengance. You sheeple want to bleat your support for your man, knock yourselves out. Still, I am going to point at all the things you are ignoring and highlight that your blind obedience to Obama is just as insane as the supporters of Bush.
PS The wars in Afganistan and Iraq are not just racist, but genocidal, but Barky seems to have no problem with either of those situations anymore, in fact he wants to kill more people in Afghanistan with a "troop surge". And Dems seem OK with that too, as long as he's in charge of the killing.
Don't be giving me
sheetabout being a racist, I am trying to wake people up so that the killing can stop. You support Barky blindly, you are as much a racist as anyone.You don't fucking get it, pal. You think a lynch mob stops to look at the pictures in a victims wallet or that the mob goes down to the county hall of records to make sure they're stringing up a purely black man?
The rest of your bullshit is just off topic. The name Obama doesn't give you free rein to project every one of your theories of possible conspiracies. You're trolling big time. The majority of what you're pecking out would be flame bait on an open thread, so I definitely won't address it here.
....does your girl, or life partner give Obama that look you used to get? Did some "Mulatto" get all girls from you in high school? Did you catch mommy rubbing herself during one of Obama's "inspiring"(literally) speeches? It is obvious from your posts that your Canadian ass has a big problem with our "Mulatto" President. I hope in these next eight years you take advantage of your Country's generous health care system and get that much needed therapy.
Nevermind, you just keep rubbing yourself and drinking the koolaid, enjoy the glow of being a "winner" which will probably last a month or so before the economy collapses worldwide leading to the unfolding of a new global financial system run by the same banks that are currently draining your country -- with Barky's enthusiastic support, BTW -- and when you wake up one morning and realize you have been totally and completely betrayed -- not sure what that is going to take, most Dems seem to have no backbone from all the times they have been stabbed in the back -- maybe then some of what I have presented will sink in.
I also notice despite say six replies, no-one counters any points I raised, maybe because you can't? Oh, except the racist thing, which would likely have come up anyway because that's going to be used everytime someone makes a point you Obahhhmanauts can't come up with a counter argument for.
Again, if it wasn't so genuinely tragic for more than just America, it would indeed be hilariously funny.
you're spouting weren't so genuinely tragic, it'd be funny. You're so last week. Go away and think up some new crap. I'm getting tired of hearing the same old same old crap.
What smells worse, new crap or old crap?
I sure do hope the minutemen can keep your ass out.
"Never argue with an idiot...onlookers can't tell the difference"
Chinese proverb.
It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Put down the pills and step away from the keyboard.
In Louisianna, at one time, they had a 1/8 rule to determine "blackness." All you had to be is that percentage to be considered black, with all the Jim Crow laws applying against you. So I think if any of your great-grandparents were black, and every one else of your ancestors were white, you would still be considered black.
They used the term octaroon, which to me sounds like some kind of cookie.
Duncan Donuts sells a Moo'latte, which is a pale brown iced coffee drink.
"Citations Needed"
Your comments lack a basis in reality and your arguments reek of bias and one-sided thinking.
For example, members of the Harvard Law Review are editors, usually chosen for thier high class rank. While many contribute to the paper in the form of notes and to talk about recent court cases, they are not required to contribute articles. (source: Harvard Law Review Website)
Why bring up the whole Harvard Law Review thing at all when his involvement is clearly documented?:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?re...
It weakens the validity of everything you say after that.
More over, you say that "he decided to hire lobbyists." Well, he is accepting the help of lobbyists, but he's not accepting their money and they're not allowed to work as a lobbyist while they're working for him or lobby him for one full year after they're done working for him. He created even more rules to keep things ethical..I believe they have an article about it @ www.change.gov.
But you didn't mention that part.
You said, "Obama won't be repealing the torture, the warrentless wiretapping, the Patriot Act..." However, he WILL be closing down Gitmo and reversing over 200 of Bush's signing statments. And h's making these things priorities.. stuff that will hopefully get done shortly after the inauguration.
Okay, I stopped reading after that. I just couldn't make it any further through your article. Try again with some facts and sources. You MAY have a valid argument somewhere in there (if you did some research, used some logic, and stopped the overflow of stupidity).
"They can revert back to the Lee Atwater school of politics and try to tear this country apart or they can re-brand themselves and start over".
Re-brand? You've got to be kidding. The GOP is the party of Rule or Ruin. It's who they are. It's what they do.
Rule and ruin.
Obama's Influence in the Sports World:
He dribbles his balls?
LOL
To bad there isn't enough room on that glove, or in America's heart, to put the full RAINBOW instead of just black and white.
After a touchdown in last Saturday's Canadian Football League playoff, players for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lifted their jerseys to display the Obama logo. Very cool.
http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2008/11/the-blue-bombers-support-barack-obama/
After 400 years, Americans black and white and whatever have more in common than they would like to know.
Our DNA is all the same - Human!
Race is not a genetic concept.
They call us "Legend", for we are many...
Should have said, "Legion," not Legend.
Legion. Meaning millions of evil smileys living in his head.
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