What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Blue American — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:10:07 GMT

Maybe McCain can talk proudly about his ancestors who fought for the Confederacy, and about his support for the Stars & Bars in South Carolina in 2000. Heck, he might want to bring along GOP stalwarts Trent Lott and David Duke, and wax fondly over his chums Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

fireworksforjeffy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:17:44 GMT

Blue, you totally forgot his post important talking point- how he voted against making MLK day a holiday. That should go over well.

Andrew, would you just publicly endorse McCain already? The last three columns I've seen from you have been

1- Slamming Clark for saying that POW experience doesn't have any bearing on executive prowess

2- Trying to downplay the fact that John McCain can't use a computer (which is an integral part of the daily life of an overwhelming majority of Americans)

3- Hypothesizing what great things McCain will say at the NAACP meeting

Seriously. Objectivity is completely lost on your columns, and you do journalism and the political process a great disservice by hiding under a veil of 'journalistic integrity'.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

rjpraml — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:24:56 GMT

I AM SO SICK OF PEOPLE BASHING THE CONFEDERACY BECAUSE FO THEIR IGNORANCE. THE REAL CAUSE OF THE WAR WAS ECONOMICS, WHEN THE NORTH DIDN'T REALLY MIND SLAVERY BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET WAS PAID BY THE EXCISE TAX ON COTTON, WHICH WAS NOT A UNIONIZED TRADE. PEOPLE ARE ALSO IGNORANT WHEN THEY CALL IT A CIVIL WAR. A CIVIL WAR MEANS YOU WANT TO OVERTHROW THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT. WHAT THE SOUTH WANTED, WAS TO SECEDE FROM THE UNION, WHICH WAS LEGAL UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. MY ANCESTORS DIDN'T OWN SLAVES, BUT FOUGHT FOR THE SOUTH BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN STATES RIGHTS. JUST ASK WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN, AND THEY ARE JUST AS LOCALLY FOCUSED AS THE SOUTHERN STATES WERE. WE ARE A BETTER NATION AS ONE WHOLE UNIT, BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE ANY ONE GROUP THE RIGHT TO DENIGRATE WHY PEOPLE FOUGHT AND DIED. THE NORTHERNERS WON AND GOT TO WRITE THE HISTORY BOOKS, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS RIGHT. ROBERT E. LEE WAS A GREAT MAN, WHO FOUGHT FOR THE SOUTH AND THEN WORKED TO RECONCILE THE NORTH AND SOUTH AFTER THE WAR, AND WAS NOT A TRAITOR AS SO MANY YANKEES LIKE TO PORTRAY HIM.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

johnwolf — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:27:40 GMT

Grow up! This race is about how the country will need to cope with MAJOR issues before us. One man (President or not) is not going to be the only one needed to create change. We have a great couontry; however, unless Congress gets their act together it wont matter WHO wins the race for President. You can blame the GOP all you want; but, you would be doing so out of ignorance. Wake up and complain to your elected officials that you are tired of the BS and want them to do something about it. Perhaps after ALL the elected officials get the message a President can make things happen for the better.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

kajones55 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:33:42 GMT

I would like to express a happy note, for the person who sent in the comments about the south and the civil war. Thank you for you words-rjpraml. It is nice to tell a side of true and express it in a way that is respeactable to all. Again thank you

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Scientist56 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:38:52 GMT

As for the confederacy, they did have the economic power and that is what spawned the civil war. But one would have to be ignorant not to acknowledge the fact this economic power was based on free slave labor. In turn, anybody fighting for the right to secede was also fighting for the right to continue free slave labor. It was unfortunate that so many "great" men died for such an unjust cause. As for this election, all you can do is pick the candidate with the least number of lobbyist in his pocket. American politics is run by lobbyist and all we can do is pick someone not in bed with them. They all deal with lobbyist, but not all in bed with them, McCain is probably in bed spooning with lobbyist as we speak...... if they are not busy running his campaign.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

paulte — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:39:32 GMT

I think he should go and talk domestic policy for black Americans from a conservative viewpoint. What can be done about making life better in the inner cities for minorities? Education, crime, family life, job training, controlling drugs & illicit sex (I did say this was from a conservative viewpoint!), enterprise zones, etc.

One concept that particularly appeals to me is a total redisign of the urban landscape. This is not possible in all cities like NYC which is built to the sky. But some cities could experiment with garden apartments instead of high rises, as much greenery as is possible, malls for shops with security, churches and schools and social clubs in another section. Then there would be an industrial section for light industry seperated from homes, schools, etc. It's sort of an orbital concept. Section for living, section for work, section for social activities, section for shopping with plenty of green separating the orbits. People always feel better about themselves when they live in a pleasant space.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Scientist56 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:44:41 GMT

I respect McCain for even addressing the NAACP. Who was the last GOP nominee to do so? But he has to do this, even though he will make no headway.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Reinald — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:46:08 GMT

Rjpraml-- The articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution, which in my opinion was a very good move, as the national government was previously unable to do pretty much anything but deliver the mail and beg the states for money. Also, I'm from VA, but I consider myself a "Yankee", as you so put it, and I somewhat do admire Lee for what he did, and I do understand his position, I think, it having been presented to me in social studies since the third grade. Not everyone paints him in such a bad way, or the rest of the South, for that matter, just what happened then and what is perceived as being so backward (then slavery, now lingering on the Civil War. This article is about the NAACP and McCain, not the Civil War. I don't mean to call you backward, by the way).

Back to the present campaign, I think it's great that McCain is appearing before the NAACP. He was criticized for not showing up last time and additionally he has something to say. It follows that he would talk to them after having talked so much about the forgotten parts of America. Also, both candidates naturally need as many votes as possible, especially in such a tight race. Personally, I would be OKAY with Obama as president, but McCain is my preferred candidate.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Reinald — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:54:06 GMT

Paulte-- I've thought about something like that before, and I think it'd be great to green the cities up some. You should look into the green roof idea if you haven't already (Wikipedia "green roof", perhaps). Keeping all residential and all commercial and all industrial apart isn't always the most pleasing, though. I mean it works fairly well on a small scale, but then with larger cities it would just mean more transit time and distance, so integrating light commercial and industrial with medium density residential with lighter spread residential on the outskirts would be better, I think.. which isn't too far from what I see around Charlottesville (near where I live), but it could all definitely be greener.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

lilyrp — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:59:42 GMT

Dear fireworksforjeffy :

You write: "would you just publicly endorse McCain already?", which is the typical protective attitude all Obama supporters have, that will ignore any good information regarding your candidates oponents and any negative information regarding your candidate (but of course, there is no actual negative information about Obama, is there?). The funny thing is to see you attack Romano, who obviously thinks Obama is the greatest thing on earth too. He just happens to also acknowledge that sometimes there's good things on the other side (and only recently, mind you). But of course if you ask him he thinks he has been objective the whole time. And to prove it he has guys like you ("I'm objective! I get complaints from the right AND the left"). It's a hoot to watch.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Softail — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:02:55 GMT

Why do "Southeners" think "Yankee's" hat them. To be honest, most "Yankee's" don't even think "Civil War" when they think of SC,NC,GA,TX,LA, etc. It's the "Southerner's" that "can't let go of the past". Now, somewhere south of Washington DC there just HAS to be a statue of Abraham Lincoln.....right? Anywhere? hmmmmmmmmm.....nope! Now who be hatin?

As for the McCain speach....he should say ... "Get a job, Got to school, get a degree and get the hell outta here." Red, Yellow, Black, Brown or White....that is the ONLY way out of a sh*thole.

If you sit and wait for the Gov-Ment to give you money....you gonna be waiting a long long long time. And YES it will be HARD to do. Most things worth doing....are HARD to do."

Then hand out job and college applications. Message delivered.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

tboz6547 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:07:04 GMT

States Rights, my a$$...

It was about the state's right to allow some people to own, trade, and enslave people who had a darker skin pigmentation than them.

Hiding behind the classic states' rights argument is just a clever way for rednecks to rationalize their way out of their own brutal and racist heritage which basically continued until they were forced kicking and screaming to treat black people as human beings and not some lesser species in the 1960's... If it weren't for the Civil War and Civil Rights movement forcing them to act right, southerners would probably still treating black people in all kinds of inhumane ways today.

Robert E. Lee may have been an all right guy, but the bottom line with him and the rest of the confederates was that they thought it was OK to own other people, beat them and work them to death. Frankly, I don't really need to hear any argument after that....

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

lilyrp — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:19:06 GMT

For the record I'm a Democrat and will likely vote for Obama. You guessed it, I'm a Hillary supported. I thought I would grow more comfortable with Obama since I seem to agree with him on most things. However, after he won the primaries I've seen him turn against his word on FISA, on public financing (which it was never a good realistic choice to stay in the system, but he lost my respect because we already knew that before, we've always known the republicans were going to play dirty - the only thing that changed is that Obama realized he could raise more money than he ever thought he could, yeah, that's a "different" candidate all right), go on record calling against "partial-birth" abortions, using the pro-life's language (the correct term is late term) and say that mental distress was not a reason, say he supports the states right to band them (even thought he voted against it in Illinois) and be for the death penalty in some cases. Yeah, I know the crime for which he supported it is horrible when you look at it, but they are always horrible, that's why they get the death penalty - the system doesn't work and the only thing we do is practice "eye for an eye" where many people later turn out to be innocent.. Of course he said it because it sounded "right" - so many of the things he say "sound right" but are not right. He also praised the Supreme Court decision that will strike many cities’ gun control laws. And you could drive a semi trough the wiggle room he left himself in the beautifully worded comment after the verdict ("I always support the second amendment BUT I also think we need to get guns of the street" - stating both position and saying nothing in concrete, fairly typical). What a disappointment. Too bad I disagree too much with McCain. McCain might be a lot of things, but he’s a decent human being. I’m not sure I feel the same about Obama any more. He said what he needed when he was pandering to the left, and now “he’s moving to the center” that’s “apologist” for doing an about-face.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Scales of Justice — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:25:02 GMT

As an African American, I admire John McCain for his decision to go and speak to the NAACP. I have often wondered why the GOP has not done a better job of "courting" black voters, particularly since black Americans generally oppose abortion and gay marriage. On a separate note, the comment about the South and the Confederacy has me puzzled. While I love America, I have found it difficult to term as "great" people such as George Washington, Robert E. Lee and others during colonial and civil war times. Given that this country was "allegedly" found on Christian principles, it astounds me that for, shall we say, 150+ years, these "good" white men went to church Sunday after Sunday, presumably read their Bibles, went home and beat, slept with and otherwise owned people. Was this their demonstration of God's love? Even after slavery ended, it was still another 100 years of discrimination, oppression, murder of radical blacks and whites who were agitators and stirring up things. It is just hard for me understand how "they" professed to love God and country but practiced just the opposite. Go figure.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

sanrioscenario — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:26:21 GMT

It's nice that Obama has the whole NAACP speech up on his website, but 23/6 has got a hold of the, erm, edited version that is much more hilarious. By far. And he's still got nuts!

http://www.236.com/news/2008/07/15/barack_oballsa_makes_an_appear_7750.php

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

tboz6547 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:30:54 GMT

I agree with you on the moving to the right, but I don't see how you can question whether he is a "decent human being!" Please....

Like your girl, Hillary has never tried to score a few poltical points... or moving to the center for that matter..

If youre a democrat at all, McCain isn't even a realistic option...

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Politicswithagrin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:36:42 GMT

I wonder what McCain really expects to achieve by speaking to the NAACP. Maybe he expects some splintering in the African American community (in the vein of Jesse Jackson v. Obama) and hopes to swoop in?

http://politicswithagrin.blogspot.com/

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

SPORTLOCK09 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:03:41 GMT

What will McCain say to the NAACP?

It doesn't matter what he says. All blacks see is Black and white period. If John McCain thinks he will receive 1 single vote from someone at a NAACP meeting this man is nuts. Doubt me? Is Barack Hussain Obama black enough for the black vote about says it all. I know McCain isn't going to be black enough. Goes to show you how far black America has come as far as race relations. Is he black enough is the most important question when it comes to his presidency. Not what are his goals and objectives? Is he black enough was the main question from black America. As far as I can tell it seems Black America are the ones who need to work on their prejudices and fears of white America. Maybe they should address that at the next NAACP convention.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Cloudosmoke — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:08:17 GMT

McCain isn't gaining a thing. He has empty rhetoric with empty actions. He is out of touch with everything. He's a flip flopper (GOP invented word used against them). Bush is a flip flopper. Cheney is a flip flopper (used in every other sentence a GOP states). Rice is a flip flopper. They are all flip flopping, out of touch, surrogating surrogates of an elitist dogmatic domagoguic camp.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

kirt — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:11:53 GMT

I think this is a good thing, though it will be a up hill climb the GOP must reach out to all demographics in this nation. As a Black American I can say with full confidence that we are consevative on some issues and liberal on others as a whole. We need a two party system that is inclusive and not exclusive. It will become a better day in politics when conservatism is not tide to the Jim Crow of the past.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

steph valleygirl — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:18:40 GMT

The only thing that bothers me is that he exuse himself last year and well when was the last time he came to the NAACP convention. I feel like the only reason he when is because Mr Obama is black. Now if he was white I do not believe he would have when. To me that just seem fake on this part. I truely feel like I can't trust a word out of his mouth and that he is just a puppet for the republican party.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

SPORTLOCK09 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:36:38 GMT

Who are the racist in America?

National polls released today reflect a different answer.

Whites voting for John McCain 49%

Whites voting for Obama 42%

Not a huge differece here it seems

HOWEVER

Blacks voting for BArack Obama 94%

Blacks voting for John McCain 1%

White man pulls 1% of the entire black population.

Wonder why the media continually makes statements like can Obama

pull the white voter?

Should it read, Can a white man get a black vote running against a black candidate.

Seems the numbers MORE then answer the question of racism in America

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

pissed-off — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:47:35 GMT

hey I would not dout his seriousness yet he's been here a long time and in power to try or have tried to at least help the black race in some sort of way he does not even mention serving with us in the military sthis just pandering as people say or how many black people do he really know's or has helped all he can say is I'm sorry

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

fireworksforjeffy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:10:21 GMT

lilyrp

With all due respect, I am critical of what I consider flawed arguments and poor analysis on Andrew's behalf. With Net Neutrality about to become a major legislative issue, I am on the side that believes that our next president (who will likely have some weight in the debates over it) should have at least an elementary understanding of technology, and thus the actual pros and cons of a free or tiered internet. It is a choice that will ultimately have major effects on future technology and the American and global economy.

As a programmer, I definitely fear that the side that lobbies harder (which, undoubtedly, will be telecom companies and the RIAA/MPAA, who stand to make significantly more money off a tiered internet) will win their 'tiered internet', ending an era of unprecedented technological innovation. Asserting that McCain's lack of technological savvy is acceptable for an executive leader in the 21st century, where we're living in what's dubbed 'the information age', is asinine, as is your post. I have yet to see Andrew put Obama as a "greatest thing on earth" in any way. Obama has his flaws too, I'm quite upset about his fisa 'compromise', but to say "Oh, you're just a typical Obama supporter" is to completely miss the point. The argument should be critical of both candidates, and it's awfully hard to find journalism that is taking McCain's rather glaring flaws (lack of knowledge over economy, for example) .

If you really want to have an intelligent argument, post up something that supports your assertions. I made references to three different columns that supported mine; you just threw out a bunch of random 'self-truths' with no backing information.

I'll continue to call it as I see it. I have been very unsatisfied with what I consider a very obvious opinion bias towards John McCain both on MSNBC.com and in "Stumper", and I will continue to voice that opinion as I see fit.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

SnglMom — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:15:02 GMT

Sportlock ask yourself this.... If a black man wasn't running why can't a Rethug get the AA vote? Why are you so worried about it? How does it affect you? Why does it keep you up at night??

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

mikeant50 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:25:00 GMT

Sportslock,

I find your comparison flawed. Let's look at the last three elections. Clinton, Gore, Kerry. All white candidates who got between 85-95 percent of the African American vote. You also forget that African American candidates were in these races and African Americans still chose the white candidate. Maybe the reason that we are supporting Obama is because we feel he has the qualifications to be president. We didn't support Jackson and Sharpton becuase we knew they weren't qualified to be president. If Obama was a white candidate, would you make the same argument? I think not. I guess we were also racist when we supported Clinton, Gore and Kerry.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

rstrid — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:26:08 GMT

Maybe Obama should come and speak to the NAAWP convention.....oh, there isn't one, Maybe the white Caucus, oh, there isn't one....Why do we continue to have organizations based on race? I find this offensive, as the blacks did in the 40's and 50's (white only). I wish people would look at our citizens as equal and vote on the best cadidate, regardless of race.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

Proud Okie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:41:56 GMT

Quit holding all of us responsible for the sins of those who came before us! I never had a slave nor would I have for that is so wrong in so many ways, I didn't take any land from the native americans nor do I expect the Federal government to give me so many tax exemptions it's ridiculous even though I have some native american blood in me, and I have never discriminated against those who don't share my beliefs. I am just tired of people accusing me of that and I'm tired of having to continue to pay for those wrongs done to them till the end of time. The idea of everyone getting handouts is one of the biggest financial problems our country faces. Look in your owncamp to see who is truly prejudiced.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

PatriotMan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:50:25 GMT

As a white male Republican who will be voting for John McCain I am strruggling with his decision to address the NAACP. On one hand, I find at admirable that he wants to reach out to the "Black Community" (if there is such a thing) and attempt to find common ground on an agenda that all Americans regardless of race should be in agreement with. On the other hand, I find it troubling that he is willing to waste his time for perceived politcal gain because addressing this group is an absolute waste of time. Blacks vote democratic - period. He could have given the most compelling speach of all time and even convinced a few folks to give him a second look but in the end 99% of all black voters are going to feel obligated to vote for Barack Obama.

Not saying I can even blame blacks in America for voting for the first ever black candidate to receive a party nomination - if the roles were reversed and the past 43 presidents had been black and McCain were the first white to run I might do the same. My point is, I am confused...was this an honorable thing to do or a political stunt to make whites feel good about voting for McCain since he took the high road and made and effort to reach out to an historically closed minded voting block? Thoughts?

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

dancingdiamonds4 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:53:56 GMT

To Scales of Justice - Just a footnote for you...slavery didn't end after the civil war, it just took another form such as forced labor camps and indentured servitude. This form of slavery was enforced by the southern states upon black people in the form of vagrancy laws etc. Black people were systematically arrested for these so called offenses and then sent to prison to do forced labor or sent to work in factories or on farms to pay off "debts". The south's insatiable apetite for slave labor had become so ingrained in their society that even the 14th Amendment couldn't stop these states from enslaving black people. This form of slavery continued until World War II when President Roosevelt and Congress passed specific laws to outlaw the practices. White people in general, are too arrogant to understand the incidious racism that was ingrained in this country and still exists today. I don't blame every last black person for voting for Barack Obama and feeling proud and excited to do so. Perhaps this is the beginning of real racial equality for black Americans and not just the standard lip service we here now.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

dlaurels — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:56:02 GMT

McCain is so full of it -- if he actually cared about education for the blacks, he would have done something at some point in these years in the Senate. He is pandering -- he is the biggest panderer I have seen. Though goodness knows he would like to label Barack Obama as a panderer. Wrong, McCain. Go away -- can't November come quickly, please.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

BeenFranklin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:09:26 GMT

The Republican Party has no African American elected to any national office. Not one Governor, not one Congressman, not one US Senator. It hasn’t for closer to a decade than not and it looks like that fact won’t change after this next election cycle either. And with what is being paraded as an immigration debate by the GOP even more people of color, Hispanics in particular, seem to be being “put in their place” so much so that even Florida Senator Mel Martinez stepped down as RNC general Chairman over the heated immigration rhetoric. Replaced by, you guessed it, a white male.

This is just yet another example the Republican Party fails miserably at. It’s called, minority recruiting. The party’s members seem to be just fine with president Bush being the first president since Warren G. Harding not to meet with the NAACP. With their party’s Presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, voting against celebrating the national holiday we call Dr Martin Luther King Day. The GOP’s big issue today, illegal immigration, seems to be just a smokescreen for hate speech against people of color.

While being conservative or liberal does not denote a skin color, one thing seems to be very clear; conservatives of color are no longer welcome in the party of Lincoln.

Sources -

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018340/posts

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article_1366988.php/Mel_Martinez_out_as_RNC_chair

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/rnc-chair-to-st.html

http://www.justabovesunset.com/id249.html

http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2007/01/mccain_spends_m.html

http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2008/02/hate-speech-over-immigration-must-stop.html

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

jedsma — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:04:55 GMT

I am guessing it took alot of convincing on the part of the McCain camp to get him to address the NAACP. It is true he will not get the vote,but not b/c he is a republican.McCain is from (what I call) the Jim Crow generation,whether people wish to see it or not. I believe this fact bothers alot of people not only blacks.However, I must admit I see nothing wrong with him speaking to the NAACP,we often get overlooked by republicans.As a young African American woman I am voting for the canidate that I belive represents my community and will stand up for what he believes in and not what's always been done. No, I am not closeminded so McCain go ahead I may not agree, but I will definetly listen.

re: What McCain Will Say at the NAACP

grandma9 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:05:18 GMT

John McCain continues to prove himself a man of courage, conviction with an attitude of "Never give up." My admiration for him only continues to grow and I pray he will be our next President.