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Palin-Biden Debate: Black Politicians- Bias Charges for Debate Moderator Ifill

Just as Obama's and that of the black Olympic basketball players patriotism were questioned, along with recent survey results of some white voters, believing that Black Americans are less patriotic as their white counterparts. We now have some John McCain supporters questioning whether Gwen Ifill can be a fair moderator in Thursdays debate, despite her impressive journalistic credentials.

A book written by the moderator of the upcoming vice presidential debate has some in the blogosphere and beyond buzzing over whether she's biased. Critics charge that Gwen Ifill's upcoming book, 'The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,' is pro-Obama, while others call the label partisan spin. Ifill, who hosts 'Washington Week' on PBS, will moderate Thursday night's debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

Fact: The McCain Campaign was fully informed weeks ago of Ifills book when they agreed to her as moderator. Why now are they all of a sudden questioning her impartiality, despite her impressive
journalistic credentials?

What Is white privilege?

This election and America's future aren't a matter of black versus white. It should solely be about competence. Who is truely qualified to lead? Historicly 1 in 3 presidential v.p.'s wind up being president. This is an insightful observation on the subject of white privledge as it relates to Republican Nominee Sarah Palin. Mary does an excellent job at shedding light on this subject.

By

Mary Mitchell -Chicago Sun Times

on September 16, 2008 1:30 PM

The following essay recently landed in my e-mail. The author is Tim Wise, and the article first appeared at BuzzFlash.com, but I've heard the same sentiments expressed by friends and associates:

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.

White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good churchgoing Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Racism In America: Why Can't Obama Close the Deal With Some?

We've heard throughout the presidential election campaign the constant question posed "Why can't Obama close the deal with rural white voters?" Those hard working, blue collar, white voters that the media describes as red blooded Americans. Black people know what the truth is and so do those whites who are willing to be honest with themselves. Now a recent Stanford University survey reveals what we all have known. Some of these white, blue collar Americans can't bring themselves to vote for a Black candidate, despite his qualifications, despite the poor economy and the $700 Billion bailout,a 750,000 job loss and the costly war. This excellent video series will help you to understand the anti Black brain washing that has taken place over time and is passed from some white rural blue collar generations to the next. This video series will also reveal why some whites in this recent Stanford University survey said African Americans could do better if they would only work harder. Hopefully, there will be enough fair minded whites, fed-up blacks, determined young people, unemployed joe six pack red necks and educated hockey moms, who realize that Obama represents a better future for all of America.

RACISM IN AMERICA. WHO KEPT IT ALIVE part1

RACISM IN AMERICA. WHO KEPT IT ALIVE part2

RACISM IN AMERICA. WHO KEPT IT ALIVE part3

RACISM IN AMERICA. WHO KEPT IT ALIVE part4

RACISM IN AMERICA. WHO KEPT IT ALIVE- Negro's Are Ugly Savages? part5

Many Whites Have Always Seen Themselves As The Only True Americans. Not Even the Japanese Could Be Included.

What Is Whiteness? East Indians, Asians Are Not White, Juris Ruled.

How Economic Racism Was Legislated By The US Government To Create All White Suburbs To The Exclusion Of Black GI's

Federal Programs Made Sure Housing Segregation Was The Law

Housing Segregation Ensured The Accumulation Of White Wealth From One Generation To the Next.

Racism and Rage: A Bad Mix

 

Dr. Susan K. Smith, Senior pastor, Advent United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio.

I have always taught that fear and faith do not and cannot mix. The presence of fear means the absence of faith, and real faith cancels fear out.

Put together, fear and anger produce bad and dangerous reactions in people, like water falling in hot grease. They just do not mix.

I would like to say that I am not afraid, but I am. As I've listened to the rage expressed at McCain rallies, I am more and more frightened. The fears we all have about how to make it in this faltering economy are serious, to be sure. When you don't know how you're going to make a paycheck pay the bills and still be able to feed the family, you grow afraid. The $700 billion bailout isn't very reassuring to people on Main Street, in spite of the reassurances.

Times are rough and they promise to get rougher. We all know that, and for some people, their fear about how they're going to make it has led to absolute and total despair. Faith loses when despair grows; instead of believing that "trouble don't last alway," as an old Negro spiritual says, people held captive by fear believe that a bad moment is THE end and not merely a page in the chapter of one's life.

I don't feel that kind of fear about the economy, not on a personal level nor as it regards this nation. Good economic times are cyclical; one rides out the bad times, looking forward to the good times returning.

But this rage - fueled by this nation's unhealed racism - this rage scares me, because it's not cyclical. It is a chronic disease which has never been treated. Nobody wants to say that THE ISSUE underneath the rage is racism. People do not want a black man to be president; some would rather endure more years of economic hardship than have to say that a black man is their president.

My thought is that because we continue to act like the racial hatred that is so much a part of the American experience isn't really so bad, or, for some who say we live in a "post racial society," that it has disappeared, is that if Obama wins, there will be an explosion of anger the likes of which we cannot imagine.

What is even more daunting to me is that much of the fear about a black man being president is fueled by ignorance; it is amazing to me that, even now, in the 21st century, there are way too many white people who have never met a black person in their lives.

Fear is always greater when it walks hand in hand with the unknown.

For far too many whites, black people are mysteries, and bad mysteries at that. I have been in places where whites have asked, "Do black people take baths?" "Do black people work?" "How do you get your hair to be like that?" "How did you learn to speak so well?"

That's ignorance, which feeds the fear which leads to the rage.

That is a bad, bad mix.

A friend of mine, white, said that a friend of hers, also white, is worried "that the black people will riot if Obama doesn't win." She said he said he has his gun ready.

That just takes the wind out of me.

I don't think black people will riot. In fact, I know they won't. If there's suspicion that the voting hasn't been fair, there will be calls for recounts, lawsuits, investigations ... but no riots.

But if Obama wins, I worry that there will be a flurry of hate crimes, because fear will have fueled the rage that comes from this chronic, systemic disease of racism never having been ever treated or cured.

Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops Was One Of The Best

 

Growing up in Harlem, the Four Tops were the epitome of excellence when they performed at the famous Apollo Theatre. As talented, well groomed entertainers, many young Black boys wanted to look and dress like them. You would hear their songs at all of our dances and family gatherings. They had positive lyrics the entire family could sing. But they were equally as popular among whites the world over, because excellence has no color. Levi Stubbs was the ultimate crooner. Married for over 48 years, he was also a strong family man. I and my wife had the privledge, 15 years ago by chance, meeting Levi after his show in an elevator in Las Vegas. He was a true gentleman. Levi, the world is going to miss you but you're singing with the angels now.

 

The Four Tops Performed Together For Over 40 Years.

We All Serve One God. We are all Americans.

Although Senator Obama is speaking here about unifying America along racial, political and economic lines, his message has meaning throughout the world. Many times Dr. King was asked by devout segregationists, "What do you people want?" He is said to have replied on several occasions, "We want the same things you do." This same response can be given by all of God's people. Barack is speaking for all who want a better, more fair America and world.

But Despite Obama's Efforts To Reach out To All Americans, There Are Those McCain, Palin Supporters Who Don't Hide Their Racial Hatred And Fear. This Is Why Palin Has Been So Appealing To Small Town, Rural America.

Slavery By Another Name :How Many Major U.S. Corporations, White House And US Capitol Building Were Build On The Backs Of Black Slaves.

You have no idea the degree to which many well known major corporations were determined to make money off of free Black people long after slavery was legally outlawed. Listen carefully to how the American capitalistic system was build on the backs of Black people from free labor.

A new book by award-winning journalist Douglas Blackmon uncovers the forgotten history of neo-slavery imposed on hundreds and thousands of African Americans that continued well after the Civil War and persisted right up to the 1940s. Using extensive archival sources, Blackmon uncovers the shameful system created to re-enslave African Americans. Under new laws, they were intimidated, arrested, charged with exorbitant fines, and then sold as forced laborers to corporations, mines and plantations or compelled into involuntary servitude.

Slavery by Another Name. GREAT INTERVIEW-2/2

Proof That America Could Not Have Been Built Without Slavery U.S.Capitol and White House Built By Slaves

John McCain's Black Daughter (Child) And (Ancestors) Family Members

John McCain does have a dark skin daughter, who, after being brought home from Bangladesh as an infant by Cindi McCain, was the subject of racist rumors that he had fathered an illegitimate Black child by a prostitute.  So, while Senator McCain may not admit it, he knows the sting of bigotry first hand by some of his own followers.

 

Despite John Mc Cainʼs initial claim that his family did not own  slaves, his Black family members, descendants of slaves owned by McCain's ancestors,  have come forward to say,  "We,  too, are real,  hard-working, patriotic Americans who love our Country!"  Note that John McCain's brother, Joseph, has attended McCain family reunions of these Black ancestors and apparently acknowledges the relationship.

Sarah Palin, A Heart Beat Away: In Her Own Words

A friend of mind sent me this interesting observation about McCain/Palin supporters who say race has nothing to do with their choice:

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* If you grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, you're a quintessential American story

* If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* If you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* If you graduate from Harvard Law School, you are unstable. * If you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system, while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

If You Understand What She Said Please Explain. If McCain is elected and unable to finish out his term, She Would Be The Next President of The United States. Racial Hatred Could Finally Do To America, What No Other Super Power Has Been Able To Do.

Medical Racism: Doctors subconsciously favor whites

Findings may explain racial disparities in health care, researcher says.

CHICAGO - Doctors subconsciously favor whites over blacks, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday in a finding that may explain widespread racial disparities in health care in the United States. A long line of studies have found that U.S. blacks get inferior care for cancer and a variety of other ailments compared to whites but experts concerned about the disparities have struggled to understand why. "This supports speculation that subtle race bias may affect health care, but does not imply that it will," said Janice Sabin of the University of Washington in Seattle, who presented the study at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in San Diego. Sabin said it was too early to know if there was a direct link between the findings and the quality of care delivered to blacks in the United States. She said the findings reinforce other studies showing racial bias is common in the general population. "But we have to remember people are not racist if they hold an implicit bias," she said in a statement.

 

White Healthcare vs. Black Health: Doctor Kenneth Cowens

Sabin used data from a study of more than 400,000 people who took an online test between 2004 and 2006 about their attitudes on race. More than 2,500 of the test-takers said they were doctors. Subconscious signs Rather than overt racism, the test looks for subconscious signs of bias by asking a series of questions. For example, people were asked to quickly say whether photos of blacks and whites were positive or negative. "We don't call what these tests show prejudice. We talk about it as hidden bias or unconscious bias, something that most people are unaware they even possess," said Anthony Greenwald of the University of Washington, who created the test and helped with the study. Overall, 86 percent of people who took the test said they lived in the United States. Out of 2,535 physicians, 76 percent said they were U.S. residents. Of the entire sample, 69 percent said they were white, while 66 percent of those who said they were doctors identified themselves as white. Doctors in all racial and ethnic groups showed an implicit preference for whites versus blacks except for black doctors, who did not favor either group.