RE: Barack Obama

It's nonsensical to suggest that Camejo should speak at the Democratic
convention.  I guess you think Cheney should be there too.   Also,
millions of people don't have Obama's speaking talents and skills, which
are extremely rare.  I saw Camejo debate during the California recall
election, and he sure as hell couldn't run circles around him.
 
Ask David who?  Does he have better credentials than Jesse Jackson or Al
Sharpton?   These guys don't toe the party line (and never have), but I
don't see them hoping to destroy it.
 
I think you give yourself too much credit.  The Dems aren't depressed,
and I imagine that ticks you off to no end.  Looks like your man Bush is
going down, no matter how hard you work on his behalf.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Adam Miller
Sent: July 29, 2004 5:30 AM
To: 'list for the ballistic helmet heads'
Subject: RE: [ballistichelmet] 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)

_______________________________________________
heads mailing list
[email protected]
http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/
http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/