The problem with comparing Obama to Tiger Woods

[babylonsister]

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15158.html#more-15158

The problem with comparing Obama to Tiger Woods
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

snip//

After checking Nexis, it appears only two television news programs mentioned the Woods comparison. Keith Olbermann’s “Countdown” highlighted the quote, and spoke to Georgetown sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson about the odd, unwarranted comparison.

Dyson, I believe accurately, called the Bellavia comments “pretty ridiculous.”

“I guess one multi-racial black man is interchangeable with another. I think it indicates that the Republicans in broad stroke, and Mr. McCain in particular, have a huge problem with black people. This kind of at least racial insensitivity suggests that there is something disturbing going on here and that they can’t even make a distinction about who the right opponent is of Mr. McCain. <…>

If there was no specific and particular and conscious intent to do harm, that means that this grows out of a pattern of habit that is just a natural reflex, and that one interchangeable African-American multi-racial person is as good as the other or they’re indistinguishable. And I think, at that level, it’s probably pretty problematic. The consequence here is much worse than one’s discernible intent. <…>

“As great a man as Senator John McCain is, when one thinks about the climate and environment that Tiger Woods operates in, that he has produced in this country, one could only aspire toward that excellence in one’s own field. So it is hard to conclude that anything else was meant but a kind of veiled reference to race.”

The only other show to cover the story was Chris Matthews’ “Hardball,” which offered a very different perspective.

The general consensus, the talking heads said, is that it’s “no harm, no foul,” because Tiger Woods is great at golf.

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 an 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.

Am I the only one who finds this offensive?

[niyad]

1. my first reaction was, "what the HELL does a golfer have to do with the election?"

it took me a minute to realize what that moran was saying, and yes, I find it typically offensive.

(by the way, I have had a definite dislike of woods ever since the "let's not let women into augusta" thing a few years ago. that reaction surprised me.

[LisaM]

3. Me too! I've never liked Tiger Woods since then.

Even if he felt that it wasn't appropriate to rock the boat when he won his first Masters, that day is long past and that Hootie guy is gone. IMO, time for Tiger to step up to the tee, so to speak, on this issue.

[Jack from Charlotte]

6. Don't think Woods or anyone else ever said, "let's not let women in...."

They, via their president, said it's a private club and they can let in anyone they want to. Also, their membership list is private and they may currently have women members.

Now I'm disappointed Wood's didn't say he thought there should have been women members by now but somewhat understand why he didn't. He's a golfer. Nothing more. And he, like Michael Jordan do not do politics.

[annabanana]

2. With Allen "Macaca" beaming over his shoulder... these "good 'ol boys"

have a problem...

[Jane Austin]

7. Was George Allen there?

What an aggregation of stupid.

[annabanana]

8. My mistake.. it was Gingrich that Georgia peach. . .

[hisownpetard]

4. It was a gratuitous and stupid remark, indicating the speaker's opinion that one multi-racial man

can be substituted for any other.

If he had said something like, "You can have your Tiger Woods. We have our John Wayne," or something to that effect, it would've been different.
But the way it was said was nasty and meant to be demeaning.

I think that's a requirement for people who want to introduce McCain.

[stellanoir]

5. To lump all multiculturally diverse people together is akin to racism.

When I truly feel that the over riding force in this election will be ageism.

McSame and Hill have antiquated divisive ideologies.

Obama does not.

:hide:

[Cha]

9. All it did was bring

attention to the mental capacity of the speaker and, of course, to john mccain's.