First, Question #5.

I think people (as in some ignorant masses) still do believe he’s Muslim. I know this because some have told me, because I’m still getting those emails, because it’s still showing up in blogs and because it’s still been mentioned in interviews. It’s simply that the media and the right wing can no longer dwell on it because Rev. Wright made for juicy sound bytes and videos. They had to stop talking about him being Muslim so that they could use this. It was decided by the right that they could use the Rev. Wright more to their advantage because in fear mongering - it is more frightening to have a President who is an American that hates America than it might be to have someone who possibly might maybe be a Muslim. With Wright, they had concrete proof (in their minds) that someone Obama was associated with hated America. Couple that with Michelle’s statement about the first time she was proud of her country and the reluctance to hold his hand over his heart and wear the lapel pin - and this becomes a MUCH stronger tactic.

However, if you watch some of the video clips of the people being interviewed in anti-Barack states such as WV, there was still a bunch of comments about ‘Hussein’…… For those that dont keep up with the recent tactics of the right wing or the media sensationalization (wow thats a cool word) the Hussein thing is something that is still present at dinner tables. It’s an easy justification for people that dont like him for other reasons (i.e., he’s…omg….black) to say why they dont trust him. Because it’s acceptable in mainstream America to be fearful of Muslims…while it is unacceptable to be openly fearful of African Americans.

Question #7

What can they do about it? Our system isnt really set up with a set of rules about how the parties can campaign against each other. There’s ethics…but thats not an issue, clearly. Operation KKKhaos is taking advantage of a system in need of reform. But, we need to win the election first, get our people in office, then reform the system so that it can’t happen again.

Question #11

No. It doesn’t. Or…remember that job application I told you about that they classified them as white?….maybe that’s it. Maybe, if you are Muslim/Middle Eastern, etc….you are ‘white’ until you give whites a reason to exclude you. (i.e. you want to run for an office or something).

Question #12

That depends, is Bill Richardson the VP candidate?

Question #13

Nothing? Unless we established that the disabled traditionally vote Democrat or Republican and come out in large numbers….then they will be courted with promises. Maybe that’s a smart tactic….you should write a letter…

Question #15

This frustrates me daily. Ron Paul challenges the system. America is hungry for change. Even the Republicans know things are messed up. So…he’s their ‘change’ candidate. That’s all they see. They refuse to really examine what he’s saying.

Question #17

Because there isn’t enough literature out there available to working class people to explain NAFTA and what it has done. Your average working class American doesnt have the time to immerse themselves in the Times and CNN…so they don’t know what NAFTA has really done. If we went out door to door and explained it in layman’s terms and then told them who was responsible……things would be different.

Question #23

Two reasons. 1) American’s are so down and out and have been for so long that optimism seems foolish. It’s why my conservative friends keep smirking at me at calling me ‘idealist’ like its a bad thing. Because realism and pragmatism seems to be the way to go when you are destitute… and 2) He’s black.

Question #26

Because you are. It’s a way to get you to be quiet for a minute about the economy.

Question #29

Because until the pain of staying the same hurts MORE than the pain of change, people will stay the same. They know it’s messed up but are fearful of fixing it. I likened it to failed marriages that people stay in for years. What if the grass isn’t greener?

Question #32

YES!!!! This is been my question all along. Does the figure head matter all that much? If we started some serious progressive grassroots organizing and lobbied for some real change ourselves - could Obama, Clinton or McCain refuse it? If we made the voices of the people heard, how much does it matter? Is it possible to make enough noise that they’d have to listen, even if they didn’t want to or if their party politics went against what we asked for?

Awesome, awesome, awesome, Mr. McCoy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

As a Chicagoan, it makes me ill to see people like yourself, falling for the ,Axelrod crafted, Chicago Machine Political banter.

Please examine Chicago’s extensive political corruption, failed healthcare system, and collapsing public transportation infrastructure-all due to political leaders who support obama, and to whom Obama has supported……do your research, you may change your conclusion……

The truth is not as pretty as the picture that has been painted.

http://www.chicagoagainstobama.com

Email me back if you’re interested.

I looked over your blog and it looks really good. Do you ever do link exchanges on your blog roll? If you do, I’d like to exchange links with you.

Let me know if you’re interested.

Thanks..

As one professor once remarked to me while I was an undergrad, sometimes you need to get inside the head of those you disagree with to understand what it is you are finding problematic in their course of action.

So, I have been on both sides of the equation so to speak, up close and personal, and this has helped me see a bit more clearly.

Below I have added to this comment section part of a recent email I sent to Austin which was inspired while I was listening to the pundits one evening. I edited it (the text of the email) some because that day was one of those days when my ability to write was hampered more than usual.

From a recent email from me to Austin et al:

(Edited email text):

To Austin and those like us,

I found the Clinton expression of “experience’ false and disingenuous. Yet at the same time I found the literal facts suggest that Clinton is/ can be/ a truly novel and refreshing change for America.

So, in my mind, as a former Bush supporter, the truly important thing is that people see the end point to all of these things, which in my mind is Senator Barack Obama, who is the real choice for America (and so the world) to make things better. Yet, if we can find room to see a ‘dream ticket’ where we have Obama and Clinton together as president and vice president, then I would be one of the foremost true-blue supporters of such a ticket.

Whatever we decide finally this year in terms of political formations, what is most important is that we save the future – literally!
Consider what I have said - this from a former Bush supporter – and one that worked the campaign for Ralph Nader in 2000.

Peace.

Hank Osborne – Graduate Liberal Studies student

(End of ‘edited’ email text)

So, I voted for Barack Obama last week and hope and expect to vote for him in November; which is my tiny formal way (as a voter) to aid the future of that ‘world house’ Austin speaks of. Let’s keep in touch.
Hank Osborne