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pnwmom

(108,990 posts)
70. West has applied racist epithets to the President. That's indisputable.
Sun Sep 13, 2015, 06:57 AM
Sep 2015

He could have chosen instead to simply criticize specific policies, but instead he chooses to spew personal diatribes.

He's been seething with jealously ever since Obama rose to the Presidency and didn't give him the recognition he felt was his due. It's pathetic, really.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121550/cornel-wests-rise-fall-our-most-exciting-black-scholar-ghost

NOR HELL A FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED” is the best-known line from William Congreve’s The Mourning Bride. But I’m concerned with the phrase preceding it, which captures wrath in more universal terms: “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned.” Even an angry Almighty can’t compete with mortals whose love turns to hate.

Cornel West’s rage against President Barack Obama evokes that kind of venom. He has accused Obama of political minstrelsy, calling him a “Rockefeller Republican in blackface”; taunted him as a “brown-faced Clinton”; and derided him as a “neoliberal opportunist.” In 2011, West and I were both speakers at a black newspaper conference in Chicago. During a private conversation, West asked how I escaped being dubbed an “Obama hater” when I was just as critical of the president as he was. I shared my three-part formula for discussing Obama before black audiences: Start with love for the man and pride in his epic achievement; focus on the unprecedented acrimony he faces as the nation’s first black executive; and target his missteps and failures. No matter how vehemently I disagree with Obama, I respect him as a man wrestling with an incredibly difficult opportunity to shape history. West looked into my eyes, sighed, and said: “Well, I guess that’s the difference between me and you. I don’t respect the brother at all.”

SNIP

This is where Congreve’s insight on love decomposed to rage comes crashing in. West has repeatedly declared that he did 65 engagements for the presidential campaign in 2008, and was offended when the president didn’t provide tickets to the inauguration. (Obama later told me in the White House that West left several voice messages, including prayers, from a blocked number with no instructions of where to return the call, a routine with which I was all too familiar.) In a 2011 interview with Chris Hedges on Truthdig that appeared under the headline “The Obama Deception: Why Cornel West Went Ballistic,” West recalled his indignation during the Inauguration, when he arrived at his Washington hotel with his mother, and she noted that the bellman had a ticket to the event but not her son. “I couldn’t get a ticket for my mother and my brother,” West said. “We drive into the hotel and the guy who picks up my bags from the hotel has a ticket to the inauguration. My mom says, ‘That’s something that this dear brother can get a ticket and you can’t get one, honey, all the work you did for him from Iowa.’” Thus the left-wing critic found it unjust that the workingman and not the professor had a ticket to the inauguration. Only in a world where bankers and other fat cats greedily gobble rewards meant for everyday citizens would such a reversal appear unfair. J.P. Morgan might have been mad; Karl Marx would have been ecstatic.

Thx MrS irisblue Sep 2015 #1
I've been saying this for the longest time Chitown Kev Sep 2015 #2
I just sent it to my friend who shot me the blog post MrScorpio Sep 2015 #8
OMG! Thanks. I needed that. Tarheel_Dem Sep 2015 #111
Wait... progressoid Sep 2015 #132
If there’s anything we’ve learned from the presidency of Barack Obama cui bono Sep 2015 #3
No, he will not "fight". There isn't anyone he can punch Recursion Sep 2015 #4
What a ridiculous response. cui bono Sep 2015 #5
No, what's obtuse is pretending that "fight" means something in this context Recursion Sep 2015 #7
Please don't forget the endless squawking about how Obama could make everything happen Number23 Sep 2015 #11
Oh, I'm not Recursion Sep 2015 #13
Yeah, the BS supporters didn't care to listen to what the Pres actually said.. just pass the Cha Sep 2015 #43
People who point out that CheneyBush was able to push their agenda through congress tblue37 Sep 2015 #38
Bush got almost none of his agenda through Recursion Sep 2015 #54
Or 911 treestar Sep 2015 #102
but, but, but..., Bobbie Jo Sep 2015 #91
And people don't even know what the "bully" in "bully pulpit" means kjones Sep 2015 #143
That's a nice bit of presidential history. thanks for that! Number23 Sep 2015 #144
A concrete sense of "fighting" Jim Lane Sep 2015 #26
What's wrong with Geithner? Recursion Sep 2015 #55
Geithner was from government but had the Wall Street mindset. Jim Lane Sep 2015 #79
+1, very good answer with specifics Martin Eden Sep 2015 #75
After six years of that rhetorical metaphor being used (and explained, repeatedly) Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #82
Or maybe Obama did it the way he thought best treestar Sep 2015 #96
Second guessing is perfectly legitimate -- it's how we make progress. Jim Lane Sep 2015 #107
I don't think that is presumable at all treestar Sep 2015 #128
to me, fighting would include druidity33 Sep 2015 #74
+all. nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #83
not true; Obama did not run on single payer treestar Sep 2015 #97
Very true... msrizzo Sep 2015 #103
Since we're NOT taking into account how the SYSTEM makes our leaders do what they do… MrScorpio Sep 2015 #6
Put it in your diary! But I actually made the post at 10:44pm ;) cui bono Sep 2015 #10
The Senate GOP's Unprecedented Obstruction In Five Charts MrScorpio Sep 2015 #16
I completely agree that the GOP was obstructionist, however, cui bono Sep 2015 #19
One person's "bankster" is another person's guy who knows where the bones are buried… MrScorpio Sep 2015 #20
You can't redefine someone's career history. n/t cui bono Sep 2015 #25
Zero Bankster Prosecutions Yallow Sep 2015 #37
What law were the "banksters" JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #78
yeah that one is so over general and unreasonable treestar Sep 2015 #100
you're absolutely correct Mr Scorpio.. you're not the one who's "trying to define history".. it's Cha Sep 2015 #44
Obama didn't turn on progressives, he's kept 75% of what he said he'd do and that's conservative... uponit7771 Sep 2015 #12
Obama asked for the people to hold his feet to the fire at the beginning. cui bono Sep 2015 #21
You prove my point, Obama made a compromise to get ACA passed... uponit7771 Sep 2015 #24
Obama more than compromised. He didn't try to get what he said he wanted. cui bono Sep 2015 #28
LOL!! So it OK for Sanders to compromise just not "MORE THAN" compromise!?!? Sanders supporters uponit7771 Sep 2015 #119
What? I said nothing of the kind. cui bono Sep 2015 #140
you can't talk to them, uponit.. they've dug their heels in and determined to keep pushing their Cha Sep 2015 #46
Cha, this HAS to be FUD... The ONE person who talked about Primaring (sp) Obama gives Obama tepid uponit7771 Sep 2015 #123
Right. He has accomplished a great deal under extremely challenging circumstances. n/t pnwmom Sep 2015 #29
yeah, notice how those trying to bring him down never mention All his accomplishments.. they're Cha Sep 2015 #47
He is going to have to compromise to get anything done steve2470 Sep 2015 #14
I agree with your last statement. But I think it would be far better off if Sanders cui bono Sep 2015 #23
I certainly hope that Bernie Sanders' tenure as POTUS is one gigantic battle after another. delrem Sep 2015 #30
eh, I guess we disagree steve2470 Sep 2015 #32
FDR did not compromise on EVERYTHING. delrem Sep 2015 #34
hm ok, have a lovely evening nt steve2470 Sep 2015 #35
Tell it to Pete Seeger Recursion Sep 2015 #71
Yes, the two world wars were incredibly awful. delrem Sep 2015 #138
Well, Seeger opposed intervention until Hitler attacked Stalin Recursion Sep 2015 #139
Sorry, I have no opinion about "the Professional Left", as you call it. delrem Sep 2015 #141
Whatever Recursion Sep 2015 #142
And how does that work under our Constitutional system of checks and balances pnwmom Sep 2015 #48
Oh I dunno! Just you wait and see! delrem Sep 2015 #53
Yeah. Uh-huh. pnwmom Sep 2015 #56
President Obama has passed some very Progressive EOs but the ones trying to bring him down Cha Sep 2015 #49
yep! :) nt steve2470 Sep 2015 #50
yes, and Pres Obama, SOS Kerry, & VP Biden did Brilliant work on the Iran Deal! Cha Sep 2015 #51
they did awesome work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! steve2470 Sep 2015 #52
There is nobody on DU, except for "cavers", who doesn't admire Pres. Obama for what he's done. delrem Sep 2015 #58
Wrong. Then are plenty here who are pushing the insults of Cornel West, pnwmom Sep 2015 #60
You're just slandering Cornel West, and by proxy Bernie Sanders. delrem Sep 2015 #61
West has called Obama a "n***ized President," a "black puppet" and a "black mascot." pnwmom Sep 2015 #63
I totally appreciate your out of context slander. delrem Sep 2015 #67
West has applied racist epithets to the President. That's indisputable. pnwmom Sep 2015 #70
Slandering Sanders by proxy metrics. That sounds 100% serious! betsuni Sep 2015 #68
Oh well, I never did like those Bernie supporters. So gauche! delrem Sep 2015 #69
Totally whacked. Cha Sep 2015 #62
Just because it is criticism does not mean it is fair or deserved treestar Sep 2015 #98
That's quite some writing! delrem Sep 2015 #9
When I'm needing a lecture on the classical implementation of dialectical materialism, MrScorpio Sep 2015 #15
Oh dear me! delrem Sep 2015 #18
Sanders himself says not to give him any benefit of the doubt MisterP Sep 2015 #17
I have a picture in mind - KT2000 Sep 2015 #22
good point steve2470 Sep 2015 #27
Very true, steve. brer cat Sep 2015 #64
There was more than one path leading away from the precipice. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #86
THIS IS SO TRUE!!! pnwmom Sep 2015 #31
What a superb essay! MADem Sep 2015 #33
So Bernie supporters see him as the "Great Liberal Messiah come to save us all" RichVRichV Sep 2015 #36
Wow. This is what I wish I were eloquent enough to post. Bravo! nt Not Sure Sep 2015 #41
What would you call someone who calls the President "the first n****ized President"? pnwmom Sep 2015 #45
Nice post. wilsonbooks Sep 2015 #59
I only agree with about seven percent of what you've just written… MrScorpio Sep 2015 #73
No one said the Presidency was powerless treestar Sep 2015 #101
+1 nt stage left Sep 2015 #106
most importantly, this has all happened before! they're lecturing our faction on what we learned the MisterP Sep 2015 #108
+ a brazillion. Excellent response--should probably get turned into an OP! nt tblue37 Sep 2015 #118
I agree with the part that says it should be an OP MrScorpio Sep 2015 #120
You're right. Probably AA is not the place for it--but it was responding directly to the tblue37 Sep 2015 #125
Thank you RichVRichV for your most excellent spot-on comments. -nt- 99th_Monkey Sep 2015 #127
the sensible adults are speaking again noiretextatique Sep 2015 #39
Jesus Christ, we finally get an authentic liberal candidate... Not Sure Sep 2015 #40
Clinton wasn't mentioned anywhere in the article or OP. Not sure what you're on about. nt betsuni Sep 2015 #57
I know. Isn't that funny? They have lost the ability to see straight. pnwmom Sep 2015 #66
Obama is an authentic liberal who has accomplished a great deal. pnwmom Sep 2015 #65
Sounds like the drivel they've been writing at the Guardian about Corbyn rpannier Sep 2015 #42
That's truly lame. Scuba Sep 2015 #72
I see DNC desperation bahrbearian Sep 2015 #76
My husband calls him JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #77
+1 nt steve2470 Sep 2015 #80
You don't have to lie to be wrong, or lacking in understanding. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #81
Beautiful. Thank you! djean111 Sep 2015 #85
Comment 36 was even better. Worth the read if you haven't already. nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #87
Doesn't speak for me tblue Sep 2015 #84
I agree with this analysis Gothmog Sep 2015 #88
I agree... Spazito Sep 2015 #89
Hi-ho, a-cherrio, under-the-bus-is-where-he'll-go! MrScorpio Sep 2015 #93
Yep, the governance system was set up to be deliberately adversarial and ... Spazito Sep 2015 #112
Damn Skippy! nt MrScorpio Sep 2015 #116
He might use drones! gwheezie Sep 2015 #104
I did read Sanders isn't opposed to the use of drones... Spazito Sep 2015 #113
In fact why haven't they been disappointed already treestar Sep 2015 #105
Good question... Spazito Sep 2015 #117
Completely and enthusiastically unrecommended. Enthusiast Sep 2015 #90
Laughably stupid for sure. It jumps the shark right out the gates Exultant Democracy Sep 2015 #92
I never saw anything mentioned about Hillary in that article MrScorpio Sep 2015 #94
neither did I nt steve2470 Sep 2015 #95
Work on your reading comprehension, it is clear that I was saying the Exultant Democracy Sep 2015 #109
Except that no comparisons were made between Bernie supporters and Hillary's… MrScorpio Sep 2015 #115
Duh exactly the comparison was between Bernie and Obama supporters was inane. Clinton fits better Exultant Democracy Sep 2015 #131
And how they think the system is corrupt treestar Sep 2015 #99
BS is the consummate "politician", and that fact will come into clear focus should he win the WH. Tarheel_Dem Sep 2015 #110
I'm kind of torn on this. Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #114
+1, just posted to BS supporter that Obama made a couple of compromises with the ACA to get it passe uponit7771 Sep 2015 #126
Tragic. Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #129
just like with Sanders saying he wont end the Drone program JI7 Sep 2015 #133
He would have to deal with the same political landscape Obama has had to. Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #134
it confirms to me why i think many of them don't like Obama JI7 Sep 2015 #136
Me, too. Seeing more and more of It's Okay If You're A Bernie. nt betsuni Sep 2015 #135
Reading this interesting breakdown of his record tonight. Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #137
Rings true on many points to me. Skidmore Sep 2015 #121
And the caucuses can't get here too soon enough for the likes of me. MrScorpio Sep 2015 #122
Absolutely! Skidmore Sep 2015 #124
Reminds me of Hillary Clinton mocking Obama. GeorgeGist Sep 2015 #130
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