RE: Barack Obama

 
To claim that his name has anything to do with his keynote and reception is
utter bullshit.   Clearly, he's an extremely talented man who is able to
craft and deliver a hell of a speech and touch and energize people
profoundly.  He has the fundamental skills needed to help improve the
Democratic party.  But it doesn't sound as if you want it to improve.
Methinks you simply want it to be destroyed. 
 
Look, I'm not saying that he's not a good speaker. I did say I think he is a
very good speaker, in fact. So is Peter Camejo. Actually, I'm sure Camejo
could run circles around the guy. Regardless, you don't see Peter Camejo
being invited to speak, although he would pretty efficiently bring in much
of the far left to at least watch were that the case: The reason is, he does
not toe the party line. 
 
What I'm pointing out is not cynical about this man's talents (any more than
anyone should be of a STATE SENATOR who has NEVER HELD FEDERAL OFFICE beying
the KEYNOTE SPEAKER at the NATIONAL CONVENTION), but cynical about the
Democratic Parties use of his image, which, in a text-based society, is at
least partially based in one's name. 
 
Barack Obama does not sound like a 6'3", 285 white dude in a tractor hat and
overalls. He does not sound white. His name immediately brings a mental
picture to mind of a black man. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING. What I am saying is
that I heard this man's name mentioned a lot more than I did ex-candidate Al
Gore's on the day that he was to speak, and more than even Clinton, the last
guy Dems have put up to run with any semblance of a personality (oh yeah,
and a 2-termer). THEY HYPED HIM - Which is actually a pretty blatant insult,
if you ask me - and USED him for his name. 
 
Now, like I said, the guy belonged there based on his talents. So did a
million other people, I'm sure. The DNC, which no longer serves any purpose
other than PR - see the demonstration space picture that David sent around
if you think issues are being raised there - is about bringing out the
people you want to represent the face of your party, people that will
attract the target demographic. Barack Obama did nothing wrong by speaking
at this engagement, but the Democratic Party is not about equality, it's
about protecting their interests. Sorry if it's not sunshine and roses, but
realism starts to look a lot like cynicism if you only get your news from
the party line. It is very much in their interest to court black voters, as
it's typically a Democratic-voting group. With Bush's NAACP snub and the
importance being placed on Florida (notice the rapidly increasing amount of
noise being made about last election's debacle - where was this 4 years
ago?), locking up the black vote in at least one VERY key state could very
well turn the tide. So what do you do? You take stock of the available
resources for accomplishing this task, and you take the one with the chance
to make the biggest impact and make it your centerpiece. 
 
That's what the Democratic Party reduced him to, and Obama most likely had
an understanding of this. He's aiming high - good for him - but he's aiming
high in the DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEURACRACY, which, while being a wonderful boon
to their corporate sponsors, is not a good model of how to best help the
American people: If you don't believe me, just ask David.
 
 Frankly, your cynicism is depressing and counterproductive.  If you don't
believe me, just ask Jesse.  
 
Always glad to depress and be counterproductive to the Dems -
 
A(m)

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